Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1909-08-26

the alcove there, at once! And not a
word. not whisper, not sound until
l call you'll"
She gave him one frightened and
piteous glance. then, unquestioning,
slipped quietly behind the portieres.
To Anisty, again: Turn your peck
cts out!" commanded Maitland.
Quick, you fooli The police are be-
low; your freedom depends on your
haste"
Anisty's hands few to his pockets,
emptying their contents on the floor.
Maitland's 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 trunk closet, from which
window"
Il 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 it's 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, grim face
flushed and perspiring beneath the he'll
NETS vizor, revolver poised menac-
ingly in one hand, locust as ready In
the other. Behind this outward and
visible manifestation of the laws
majesty bobbed rusty derby, cooked
jauntily back upon the red, shining
forehead Of short and thick-set per-
son with black mustache. O'Hagan's
agitated countenance doomed over a
dusty shoulder, and the battered silk
hat Of the nighthawk brought up the
rear.
Come In, everybody" Maitland
greeted them cheerfully, turning back
into the study and tossing the revol-
yer, shreds of smoke still curling up
from it's muZzle, upon divan.
"O'Hagan," he called, on second
thought, Jump downstairs and see
that all New York doesn't get in. Let
nobody I'M"
AS the janitor unwlllingly obeyed,
policeman and detective found their
tongues. A volley of questions, to the
general purport of What's tn meapin'
of all this here?" assailed Maitland as
he rested himself coolly on an edge
of the desk. He responded, with one
eyebrow slightly elevated:
"A burglar What did you suppose
That was indulging in target practice
at IHlS Ill1e VI ulSuJ!
Which way'd he go?"
Back of the fiat-through the win.
dow to the fire-escape, l suppose.
took couple of shots after him, but
missed, and, inasmuch as he was
| armed, / didn't pursue"
Hickey stepped forward, glowering
unpleasantly at the young man. "Yeh
go along" he told the uniformed man,
md see f he's tellin' the truth. I'll
stay here nd keep him company"
His tone amused Maitland. In the
reaction from the recent strain upon
his wits and nerve, he laughed openly.
And who are your" he suggested,
smiling, as the policeman dumped
heavily away.
Hickey spat thoughtfully into a
Satsuma jardiniere and sneered Il
s'pose yeh never saw me before?"
Maitland bowed affirmation. I'm
sorry to say that that pleasure has
heretofore been denied me-"
"Uh-huh," agreed the detective
sourly, 81 guess that's hot one, too
He scowled blackly in Maitlands
amazed face and seemed abruptly to
swell with mysterious rage. my
names Hickey" he informed him, ven
omously, "and don't yeh lose sight OF
that after this. It's somethin' it won't
| hurt yeh to remember. Guess yeI
mem'ry's taking a vacation, huh?"
my dear man." said Maitland, "you
speak in parallels and-if you'll par
don my noticing it-with some un
called-for spleen. Might suggest that
you moderate your tone? For" he
continued, facing the man squarely, I'll
you don't, it will be my duty and
| pleasure to hoist you into the street.
81 got a photograph of yeh doing
1t" growled Hickey. "Still, seeing as
yeh never saw me before, / guess II
won't do no harm for yeh to connect
with this" And he turned back his