The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1908-09-12
ehr lsoy = r.sl eosss-sssna... GO.

upon the trove; queens ransom, a
fortune incalculable even to its owner.
AS for the girl. he thought that the
wonder of it must have. struck her
dumb. Not sound came from the
spot where she stood.
Then, abruptly, the sun went out;
At least. such was the effect; the light
Of the hand lamp vanished utterly,
leaving a partly-colored blur swim
ming against the impenetrable black
ness. before his eyes.
His lips opened; but small hand
fell firmly upon his own, and tiny,
tremulous whisper shrilled in his ear.
"Hush-ah, hush!"
'What-?"
STEADY some one coming.
the jewels"
He heard the dull musical clash of
them as her hands swept them back
into the bag, and cold, sickening fear
rendered him almost faint with the
sense of trust misplaced, illusion re-
solved into brutal realities. His fingers
closed convulsively about her wrists;
but she held passive.
"Ah. but l might have expected
that" came her reproachful whisper.
Take them. then, my-my partner
that was" Her tone cut like knife,
and the touch of the canvas bag, as
she forced 1t into his hands, was hate.
full to him.
Forgive me-" he began.
But listen!"
For a space he obeyed, the silence
at first seeming tremendous; then,
faint but distinct, he heard the tinkle
and slide of the brazen rings support.
ing the smoking room portiere.
His hand sought the girls; she had
not moved, and the cool, firm pressure
Of her fingers steadied him. He
thought quickly.
Quick" he told her in the least Of
whispers. Leave by the window you
opened and wait for me by the motor
car"
moi"
There was no time to demonstrate
with her. Already he had slipped away,
shaping course for the entrance to
the passage. But the dominant thought
in his mind was that at all costs the
girl must be spared the exposure. She
was to be saved, whatever the hazard.
Afterwards
+ The tapestry rustled, but he was
yet too far distant to spring. He
crept on with the crouching, vicious
attitude, mental and physical, Of q
panther stalking its prey.
Like thunderclap from a clear sky
the glare Of the light broke out from
the ceiling. Maitland paused, trans
fixed, on tiptoe, eyes incredulous, brain
striving to grapple with the astounding
discovery that had come to him.
The third factor stood in the door
way, slender and tall, in evening dress
AS was Maitland-a light, full over.
coat hanging open from his shoulders;
one hand holding back the curtain, the
other arrested on the light switch. His
lips dropped open and his eyes, too
were protruding with amazement. Fea.
ture for feature he was the counter.
+, part of the man before him; in word
here was the real Anisty.
The wonder Of it all saved the day
for Maitland; Anisty's establishment
was sincere and the more complete
In that, unlike Maitland, he had been
unprepared to find any one in the
library.
For mere second his gaze left
Maitland and Travelled on to the girl
then to the rifled safe-taking In the
| whole significance Of the scene. Wher
he spoke, it was as II dazed.
by God!" he cried-or, rather, the
syllables seemed to jump from hit
lips like bullets from a gun.
| The words shattered the tableau. Or
their echo Maitland sprang and fas
tened his fingers around the others
throat. Carried of his feet by thu
sheer ferocity of the assault, Artist,
gave ground little. For an instant
they we're swaying back and forth
with advantage TO neither. Then the
] burglars collar slipped and somehow
tore from its stud, giving Maitland's
hands freer play. His grasp frightened
/ 0OOuL Iu0 Ludu 6u1lSL, AC SuUOh lllU
mercilessly. Anisty staggered, gasped
/ reeled, struck Maitland once or twice
: upon the chest-feeble, weightless Ell
! bow jabs that went for nothing, ther
concentrated his energies in vail
attempt to wrench the hands from hi
throat. Keeling. tearing at Maitland''
wrists, face empurpling. eyes staring
in agony. he stumbled. Mercilessl!
Maitland forced him to his knees ant
bullied him across the floor toward tn
nearest lounge-with premeditated de
sign; finally succeeding in throwing
him fiat; and knelt upon his chest, re
tanning his grip but refraining from
throttling him.
AS 1t was, all strength and though
Of resistance had been choked out o
Anisty. He lay at length. gaspinl
painfully.
Maitland glanced over his shoulder
and saw the girl moving forward, ap
parently making for the switch.
moi" he cried. peremptorily. Don