The Red Cloud chief. [volume] (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923, 1909-08-18

tnp basement UOOl anu prepared u as
cend. Instantly the cause of the dis
turbance flashed upon him
His strangle hold on Anisty relaxed,
he released the man, and, brows
knitted with the concentration of his
| thoughts. he stepped back and over to
the girl, lifting her hand and gently
| taking the revolver from her fingers.
Below O'llasan was parleyng
| through the closed door with the late
callers. Maitland could have blessed
his hot.hcaded Irish stupidity for the
delay he was causing.
| Already Anisty was on his feet
again, blind with rage and crouching
as IL ready to spring, only restrained
! by the sight of his own revolver,
steady and threatening in Maitland's
hand
For the least part of a second the
young man hesitatcd, choosing his
way. Then, resolved, In accents Of
determination: stand up, you hound!"
he cried. Back to the wall there"
and thrust the weapon under the burg.
lars nose.
The move gained instant obedience.
.lr. Anisty could not reasonably hest
tate in the face of such odds.
And you," Maitland continued over
his shoulder to the girl without remov.
ing his attention from the burglar. into
the alcove there. at once! And not a
word, not Il whisper, not sound until
call you!"
She gave him one frightened and
piteous glance. then, unqucstioning,
slipped quietly behind the porticrcs.
To Anisty, again: Turn your peck
cts OUT" commanded Maitland.
Quick, you fool The police are be.
low: your freedom depends on your
haste"
Anisty's hands flew to his pockets,
emptying their contents on the floor.
Maitlands eyes sought in vain the
shape of the canvas bag. But time
was too precious. Another moments
procrastination and
THAT will do" he said, crisply,
without raising his voice Now listen
to ME. At the end of the hall, there,
you'll find a trunk closet, from which
n window"
II know"
Naturally you would. Now go!"
Anisty waited for no repetition OF
the permission. Whatever the mad
ness of Mad Maitland, he was con.
cerned only to profit by It, Never be-
fore had the long arm Of the law
stretched hungry fingers SO near his
collar He went. springing down the
hall in long, soundless strides, vanish
ing into its shadows.
AS he disappeared Maitland stepped
to the door, raised his revolver, and
pulled the trigger twice. The shots
detonated loudly in that confined space
and rang coincident with the clash and
clatter of shivered glass. a thin cloud
of vapor obscured the doorway, sway
ing on the hot, still air, then parted
and dissolved, dissipated by the en-
trance of four men who, thrusting the
door violently open. struggled into the
, hallway.
Blue cloth and brass buttons moved
conspicuously in the van, n grim face
flushed and perspirng beneath the hcl
NETS vizor, a revolver poised menac
, ingly in one hand, locust as ready II
the other. Behind this outward anC
visible manifestation of the laws
, majesty bobbed rusty derby, cooked
jauntily back upon the red. shining
, forehead of a short and thick-set per
, son with a black mustache. OHagan's
, agitated countenance doomed over
dusty shoulder, and the battered sill
. hat of the nighthawk brought up the
rear.
Come in, everybody" MAITLAND
greeted them cheerfully, turning bacl
into the study and tossing the revol
;, yer, shreds of smoke still curling NJ
q from its muzzle, upon divan
9 "OHagan," he called, on SECOND
q thought, Jump downstairs and see
o that all New York doesn't get in. lie
O. nobody in"
@ AS the janitor unwillingly obeyed
policeman and detective found thei
A., tongues. A volley Of questions, to thu
=, general purport of whats tn meanin
|, of all this here?" assailed Maitland a
he rested himself coolly on an edg
@ of the desk He responded, with ont
, eyebrow slightly elevated:
6 "A burglar. What did you suppose
q That was indulging in target practic,
y at this time OF night?"
(Which way'd he go?"
- Back of the flat-through the win
;. dow to the fre-escape, suppose.
a took a couple of shots after him, bu
Il missed, and, inasmuch as he wa
q armed, didn't pursue"
I. Hickey stepped forward, glowerin
II unpleasantly at the young man. "Ye)
g go along" he told the uniformed mar
r md see T he's tellin' the truth II
O stay here nd keep him company"
4, His tone amused Maitland. In tn
II reaction from the recent strain upo
If his wits and nerve, he laughed openly
d And who are you?" he suggested
y, smiling, as the policeman clumpe
% heavily away.
Hickey sDat thOughtfully into