Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-08-30
plauded. whispering. as the heavy door
swung outward without jar.
.sIInshln ha canfi0nad har

Hush" he cautioned her.
In his veins that night madness was
running riot, swaying him at its VIII.
With never q doubt. never . thought
OF hesitancy. he forged ahead, willfully
blind to consequences. On the face
Of 1t he was playing FOOLS part; ne
knew it; the truth is simply that he
could not have done other than as he
did Consciously he believed himself
to be merely testing the girl; subcon-
sctously he was plastic in the grip OF
an emotion stronger than he-motst
clay upon the potter's whirling wheel.
The interior Of the safe was re.
vealed in a shape little different from
that Of the ordinary household strong
box. There were several account
books, lsdgers and the like. together
with some packages Of docketed bills.
In the pigeon holes. The cash box.
itself a safe within safe, showed q
blank face broken by small combi-
nation dial. Behind this. In q Sc
cieted compartment. the Maitland heir
looms languished. half forgotten OF
their needless owner.
The cash box combination offered
less difficulty than had the outer dial.
Maitland had it open in q twinkling.
Then. brazenly lifting out the inner
framework bodily, he thrust FUN
bling hand into the aperture thus dis
closed and pressed the spring, re-
leasing the panel at the back. 1t dis
appeared as though by witchcraft,
and the splash Of light from the bulls
eye discovered canvas bag sQuattlng
humbly In the secret compartment:
fatlittle canvas bag. considerably soiled
from much handling, such as Is used
by banks for coin. sturdy, .matter-oi-
fact, every day sort Of canvas bag,
with nothing about It OF hauteur. no
air OF self-impOrtance or ostentation,
to betray the fact that 1t was the re-
ceptacle of a small fortune.
At Maitlands ear, incredulous:
How did you ,guess?" she breathed.
He took thought and breath. both
briefly. and preyaricated shamelessly:
"Bribed the head clerk OF the safe
manufacturer who built this
Rising, he passed over to the center
table, the girl following. STEADY with
tho light" he whispered; and loosed
the string around the mouth Of the
bag, pouring its contents. glistening.
priceless. flaming. iridiscent treasure
horde, upon the table.
OH" said q small voice at his side.
And again and again: "Oh, Oh! On!
Maitland himself was moved by the
wonder of it. The jewels seemed to
ill the room with flashing. amazing.
csruscant glamour, rainbow-lfke. His
breath came hot and fast as he gazed
upon the trove: a queens ransom,
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;
Ct 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 a tiny,
tremulous whisper shrilied 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.
All, but 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 10 him.
Forgive me" he began.
But Nsten!"
For q space he obeyed, the silence
1t 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, nrm pressure
Of her fingers steadied him. He
thought quickly.
"Quick." he told her In TIE least q
whispers. Leave BY the window you
opened and wait for NE BY the motor
GER"
Not"
There was no time to reus0nstrsse
with her. Already he had slipped away.
shapins q 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
vas to be saved. whatever tie hazard.
Afterwards-
The tapestry rustled, but he was