The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1909-09-10


she felt, lay her strongest weapon. She
must keep calm and self-possessed, re-
fusing to be terrified into quick and
thoughtless answer.
This afternoon" ne said, harshly,
you stole from me the Maitland
jewels. Where are they?"
II shall not tell"
He bent swiftly forward and took
one of her hands in his. Instinctively
she clenched 1t; and he wrapped his
strong hard fingers around the small
white fist, then deliberately inserted
a hard finger joint between her sec
ond and third knuckles, slowly in.
creasing the pressure. And watched
with absolute indifference the lines of
agony grave themselves upon her
smooth unwrinkled forehead, and the
color leave her cheeks, as the pain
grew too exquisite. Then, suddenly dis
continuing the pressure, but retain
ing her hand, he laughed shortly.
will you speak, my lady, or will
you have more?"
Don't" she gasped, please"
where are the jewels? Will your"
mo"
''Have you given them to MaitSnd?"
mo"
where are they?"
81 don't know"
stop that nonsense unless Where
| did you leave them?"
Il won't tell won't All, please,
pleased"
Tell mel"
Never. Ah-hl"
An abrupt and resounding hammer.
| ing at the outer door forced him to
leave off. He dropped her hand with
an oath and springing to his feet drew
his revolver then, with a glance at
the girl, who was silently weeping,
tears of pain rolling down her cheeks,
mouth set in a thin pale line of de-
| termination, strobe out and shut the
door after him.
AS it closed the girl leaped to her
feet, maddened with torture, wild eyes
casting about the room for a weapon
of some sort, of offense or defense; for
! she could not have endured the tor
ture an instant longer. II forced TO it,
to fight, fight she would. If only she had
something, stick of wood, to defend
herself with. But there was nothing,
nothing at all.
The room was a typical Office, we'll
but severely furnished. The rug that
covered the tile floor was OF rich
quality and rare design. The neutral
tinted walls were bare. but for
couple of steel engravings in heavy
wooden frames. There were three
heavily upholstered leather arm-chairs
and one revolving deskchair; roll
top desk, against the partition wall,
waste-paper basket, and a iat-topped
desk, or table. And that was all.
Or not quite all, else the Office equip
ment had not been complete. There
was the telephone!
But he would hear! Or was the par
tition sound-proof?
AS if in contradiction of the sugges-
ton, there came to her ears very clear
ly the sound of the hall door creaking
on it's hinges, and then mans voice,
shrill with anger and anxiety.
You fool. Do you want TO ruin
us both? What do you mean"
The door crashed to, interrupting
the protest and drowning Anisty's
reply.
Il was passing" the new voice took
up its plaintive remonstrance, land
the Waterman called me in and said
tba+ ,-o,, xvoro taIapbopipy fo,. ,,,a''
Damn the interfering fool" inter
rupted Anisty.
but what's this insanity, Anisty?
What's this about a woman? What"
The newcomers tones assembled high
scale of fright and rage.
Lower your voice, you asst" the
burglar responded sternly. And"
He took his own advice; and for a
little time the conference was con-
Quoted in guarded tones that did not
penetrate the dividing wall save as
deep rumbling alternating with an inn
passioned squeak.
But long ere this had come to pass
the girl was risking all at the tele-
phone. Receiver to ear she was i'm
ploring central to connect her with
Ninety-eight-ni Madison. If only she
might get Maitland, tell him where the
jewels were hidden, warn him to re-
move them-then she could escape
further suffering by open confession.
what number" came centrals Ian
guild query, after space, did you
say ne-ought-nine-eight?"
mo, no, central. Nine-o-eight-nine
Madison, please, and hurry-hurry!
"Ah, I'm ringin' EN-. They amt
answered yet. Gimme time. There
they are. Go ahead"
Hello, hellol"
"Pwhat is ut?"
Her heart sank; O'Hagan's voice
meant that Maitland was out.
"O'Hagan--is that you? Tell Mr.
Maitland"
He's GAVIN ont Cor tae nolght an"
Tell hiR'. pleaGe-"
But hes CIT. EiEg up in the
Il