The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1908-11-28

@z ~
Dearest" He Said Gently, "PIease
Don't Run Away from Me Again."
breathed through trembling lips. "You
you've been" But there was q
sob in her throat. and she hung her
head again.
mot a word" ordered Maitland.
"Sit here for a few minutes, IL you
can, drink the water and-ah-fix up
your hat, you know" damn Hickey!
Why the devil did the fellow insist on
hanging round so!) land I will go and
make arrangements"
"Th-thank you," whispered the small
voice shal1ily.
; Maitland hesitated a moment, then
turned upon Hickey in sudden exas-
peration. His manner was enough;
even the obtuse detective could not
ignore it. Maitland had no need to
speak.
"I'm sorry, sir" he said. standing
his ground manfully but with trace
more of respect in his manner than
had heretofore characterized 1t, but
there's uh gentleman-uh-your fren'
Bannerman's outside md wants tub
speak tub yeh.'
'"Tell him to-
Excuse me. He says he's gottuh
see yeh. If yeh don't come out, he'll
come after yeh. thought yeh d
ruther-"
That's kindly thought off," Matt
land relented. "I'il be there in . min
Ute" he added, meaningly.
Hickey took an impressive face to
the doorway, where, whether or not
with design, he stood precisely upon
the threshold, filling it with his burly
shoulders. Maitland bent again over
the girl, and took her hand.
Dearest" he said, gently. please
don't run away from me again."
Her eyes were trimming, and he
read his answer in them. Quickly-it
was no time to harry her emotions
further; but SO much he had felt he
must say-he brushed her hand with
his lips and Joined Hickey Thrust
ing the detective gently into the outer
room, with not unfriendly hand
upon his shoulder, Maitland closed the
door. 10.
Nov, see here" he said quietly and
f1rn.7, you must help me arrange to
get Wis lady away without her becom-
ing identified with the case. Hickey,
I'm in position to say good word
for you In the right place; she had
positively nothing to do with Anisty,"
(this, so far as he could tell, was as
black lie as he had ever manufac-
tured under the lash of necessity,
'and-there's wad in 1t for the boys
who help me out"
well. :" The detective shift
ed from one foot to the other, eying
him intently. 81 guess we can fix 1T
freight elevator md side entrance.
Yeh have the cab waitin', nd"
I'LL go with the lady, you under
stand, and assume all responsibility.
You can come round at your con-
venience and arrange the details with
kind
II dunno" Hickey licked his lips.
watching with a somber eye the prep
arations being made for the removal
of Anisty's body. I'D We give a farm
| IL could we caught that son OF a gun
alive" he added at apparent random,
and vindictively. "All right Yeh be
| responsible for tn lady, IL she's want
ed, will yeh?" n
Positively" ~,
Il sottuh have hes name i nd add.
ress"
els that essential?"
! "Sure. Gottuh protect myself n
case anythin' turns up. Yeh oughttuh
=, to know that"
"I-don't want it to come out" Matt.
land hesitated, trying to invent a
plausible lie.
"well, any one can see how you feel
| about it."
Maitland drew a long breath and
anticipated rashly. Its Mrs. Matt.
land" he told the man with tremor.
Hickey nodded. unimpressed. "Uh'
huh. I knowed that all along" he
replied. But seem as yeh didn't want
it talked about - And, appar.
entity needless of Maitland's startled
and suspicious stare: IF yeh're goin'
/ to see yer fren', yeh better get Z
! wiggle on. He won't last long"
"Who? Bannerman? What the
deuce do you mean?"
Hes the Teller I plugged. in the
! elevator, that's all. Put hole through
his lungs. They took him into an Of
nee on the twenty.hrst door, right
/, opp'site the shaft"
But what in Heavens name has
he to do with this ghastly mess?"
Hickey turned shrewd eye upon
Maitland. Il guess he can tell yeh
better'n me"
With a smothered exclamation
Maitland hurried away, still incredu
lous and impressed with a belief, arm
or with every minute, that the wound
cd man had been wrongly identified.
He found him ~ Hickey had said