The Huttig news., 1909-02-06

 was in deathly peril and terror.
 A sob that was at the same time an oath rose to his lips Baf1ied helpless, he fell back, tears of rage starting to his eyes, her accents ringing in his ears as terribly pitiful as the cry of lost and wandering soul.
 "God," he mumbled ineoherently and in desperation sent the pistol butt crashing against the glass. It was tough, stubborn; the first blow scarce ly fawed it. As he redoubled his ef forts to shatter 1t. Hickey's hand shot over bis shoulder to aid him. And with startling abruptness the barrier seemed to dissolve before their ayes, the glass falling inward with I shrill clatter
 Quaintly, with the effect of a pic ture cast by cinematograph in a darkened auditorium. there leaped upon Maitland's field of vision the pic ture of Anistv standing at bay, face drawn and tense. lips curled back eyes lurid with defiance and despair He stood, poised upon the balls of his feet. like a cat ready to spring n the doorway between the inner and outer offices. He raised his hand with an indescr. .bably swift and vicious gesture, and a flame seemed to blaze ont from his fingertips.
 At the same instant Hickey's weapon spat by Maitland's cheek; the young man felt the hot furnace breath of it.
 The burglar reeled as though from tremendous blow His inf1amed fea- lures were suddenly whitened and his right arm dropped Imply from the shoulder revolver falling from fingers involuntarily relaxing
 Hickey covered him. "Surrenderi" he roared. And fired agaia. For Anisty had gone to his knees, reach ing for the revolver with his unin- ilred arm.
 The detectives second bullet winged through the doorway over Anisty's head. and bit through the outer win dow. As Anisty, with tremendous strain upon his failing powers, strug- gled to his feet Maitland. catching the murderous gleam in the mans eye. pulled trigger. The burglars answer ing shot expended itself as harmlessly as Maitland's. Both went wide of their marks.
 And of a sudden Hickey had drawn the bolt, and the body of police be hind forced Maitland pell-men into the room. As he recovered he saw Hickey huriing himself at the criminals throat one second too late. True to his pledge never to be taken alive. Anisty had sent his last bullet crashing | through his own skull
 A cry of horror and corsternation forced itself rom Maitlands throat The police halted, each where he stood, transf1xed. Anisty drew him self up. with a trace of pride in his pose: smiled horribly; put a hand mechanically to his lips
 And died
 Hickey caught him as he fell, but Maitland. unheeding. leaped over the body that had in life resembled him so fatally, and entered Bannerman's private office
 The gray girl lay at length in corner of the room. shielded from ob- servation by one of the desks. Her eyes were closed, her cheeks wore the hue of death; the fair young head was pillCweG on one white and rounded forearm. in an attitude of natural rest, and the furnished hair its heavy coils slipping from their fastenings, tum- bled over her head and shoulders in shimmering glory, like splash of liv- ing flame.
 With a low and bitter cry the young men dropped to his knees by her side. In the outer office the police were as sembled in excited conclave blind to all save the momentous fact of Anisty's last, supremely consistent act. For the time Maitland was utterly alone with his great and aching lone illness.
 After a little while timidly he touched her hand. It lay upturued. white slender fingers like exotic petals curling in upon the rosy hollow of her palm And it was soft and warm.
 He lifted it tenderly in both his own, and so held it for space. brood ing. marveling at it's perfection. And inevitably he bent and touched it with his lips, as if their ardent contact would warm it to sentience.
 The fingers frightened upon his own, slowly, surely; and in the blinding joy of that moment he was made con scious of the ineffable sweetness of opening, wondering eyes.