The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1908-09-19

11I66AuS, yOu uldy stay.
Yes, sir. Yes, sir. But wot an
'orrid 'appenin'. sir. If you'll permit
me"
Il won't. Be quiet and listen. This
man is Anisty-Handsome Dan Anisty,
the notorious jewel thief, wanted badly
by the police of dozen cities. You
understand? I'm going now
to motor to the village and get the
constables; I may" he invented, des-
perately, "be delayed-may have to get
detective from Brooklyn. If this
scoundrel stirs, don't touch him. Let
him alone-he can't escape If you do.
Above all things, don't you dare to re-
move that gag!"
Most cert'inly, sir. shall bear in
mind wot you says"
You'd best" grimly. "Now I'm of.
No; I don't want any attendance
know my way. And-don't-touch-
that man-till 1 return"
Every good, SIR"
Maitland stepped over to the safe,
glanced within, cursorily, replaced a
bundle Of papers which he did not re-
call disturbing, closed the door and
twirled the combination.
Nothing gone" he announced. An
inarticulate gurgle from the PROSTATE
man drew black scowl from Matt
land. Recovering, Good morning." he
said politely to the butler, and striding
out of the house by the front door.
was careful to slam that behind him,
ere darting into the shadows.
The moon was down, the sky cold,
opaque gray, overcast with a light
drift of cloud. The park seemed very
dark. very dreary; searching breeze
was sweeping inland from the sound,
soughing sadly in the tree tops; a
chill humidity permeated the air, pre-
cursor Of rain. The young man shiv-
cred, both with chill and reaction from
the tension of the emergency just past.
He was aware of an instantaneous
loss Of heart, subsistence of the
citation which had upheld him through
out the adventure; and to escape this,
to forget or overcome it, took imme-
diately to his heels, scampering madly
for the road. oppressed with fear lest
he should find the girl gone-with the
Jewels.
That she should prove untrue, faith.
less, lacking even that honor which
proverbially obtains in the society of
criminals consideration of such a
possibility was intolerable, as much
SO as the suspense of ignorance. He
could not, would not, believe her
capable of ingratitude so rank; and
fought f1ercely, unreasoningly, against
the conviction that she would have fol-
lowed her thievish instincts and
made of with the booty. A
Judgment meet and right upon him
for his madness!
Heart in mouth, he reached the
gates, passing through without dis.
covering her, and was struck dumb
and witless with relief when she
stepped quietly from the shadows of
q low branching tree, offering him a
guiding hand.
Come" she said. quietly. "rhts
way"
Without being exactly conscious of
what he was about he caught the
hand in both his own. "Then," he ex-
ulted almost passionately-'then you
didn't"
His voice choked in his throat. Her
face, momentarily upturned to his,
cleaned pale and weary in the dreary
light; the face Of q tired child,
troubled, saddened: yet with eyes in.
expressibly sweet. She turned away,
tugging at her hand.
"You doubted me, after ALT" she
commented. trife bitterly.
"I-no! You misunderstood me.
Believe me. l."
"Ah, don't protest. What does it
make or mar. whether or not you
trusted me? =. You have" she
added, quietly, ''the jewels safe
enough, suppose?"
He stopped short. aghast. Il! The
jewels!"
II slipped them IN your coat pocket
before"
Instantly her hand was free, Matt
land ramming both his own into the
side pockets of his top coat. They're
safe:"
She smiled uncertainty.
1--WE have no time," said she. "Can
you drive"
They were standing by the side Of
her car, which had been cunningly hid.
den in the gloom beneath spreading
tree on the further side of the road.
Maitland, crestfallen, offered his hand;
the tips of her fingers touched his
palm lightly as she jumped in He hes
1tated at the step.
you wish me to-"
She laughed lightly. Most assured
ly. You may assure yourself that l
shan't try to elude you again"
Il would 1 might be sure of that"
he said, steadying his voice and seek
ing her eyes.
"Procrastination won't make it any
more assured"
He stepped up and settled himself
In the drivers seat, grasping throttle
and steering wheel: the great machine