Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1909-09-29

4
unacceptable subsidized; he even
smiled. And the girl trembled, know.
ing that he had solved her secret; for
she had hoped against hope that the
only words he could have heard her
speak would have had too cryptic a
significance for his comprehension.
AS, slowly and composedly, he re-
placed the receiver on it's hook and
returned the instrument to the desk,
short and rotund figure of a man, in
rumpled evening dress and wearing a
wilted collar, hoped excitedly into the
room, cast at the girl one terrified
glance out of eyes that glittered with
excitement like black diamonds, set
| in face the hue of yeast, and
| clutched the burglars arm.
ooh, Anisty, Anisty," he cried,
piteously. What is it? What is it?
Tell mel"
Its all right" returned the burglar.
Don't you worry, little man. Pull
yourself together" And laughed
"But what-what-" stammered the
other.
"Only that she's given herself away"
chuckled Anisty; beautifully and
completely. The brass BOWL says she
thinking never saw one on Matt
lands desk!-and 'O'Hagan, and who
the divvle are your says the man on
the other end of the wire, when 1 ask
who he is"
"And?. And?" pleaded the little
man, dancing with worry.
"And it means that my lady here re-
turned the jewels to Maitland by hid
ing them under brass ash-receiver on
his desk-ass that l was not to know!
You are cute, my lady!" with an
ironic salute to the girl, "but you've
met your match in Anisty."
And" demanded the other as the
burglar snatched up his hat and coat,
what will you do, Anisty?"
"Do?" - contemptuously. ''Why,
what is there to do but go and get
them? We've risked too much and
made New York too hot for the two
of US, my dear sir, to get out of the
game without the profits"
''But 1 beg of you"
you needn't"-grimly. 'Tt won't
bring you in any money"
But Maitland"
'Is out. O'Hagan answered the
phone. Don't you understand"
''But he may return!"
That's his lookout. I'm sorry for
him if he does" Anisty produced the
revolver from his pocket, and twirled
the cylinder significantly. Il owe Mr.
Maitland something" he said, nodding
to the white-faced girl by the table
'and I shouldn't be sorry to-"
"And what" broke in the newcomer
what am 1 going to do meanwhile?'
Devil the bit I care! Stay here
and keep this impetuous female from
calling up police headquarters, for g
good guess. Speaking of which, think
we had best settle this telephone bust
ness once and for ALL"
The burglar turned again to the
desk and began to work over the in
strument with a small screw-drivel
which he produced from his coal
pocket, talking the while.
Our best plan, my dear Banner
man, is for you to come with me, al
least as far as the nearest corner
You can wait there, if you're too COW
ardly to go the limit, like a man. II
get the loot and join you, and we car
make a swift hike for the first trair
that goes farthest out of town. A pity
for we've done pretty well, you and I
old boy; you with your social entree
and bump of locality to locate the
spoils, me with my courage and skill
to lift 'em, and an equitable division
Oh, don't worry about her, Banner
man! She's as deep in it as either
of us, only she happens to be senti
mental, and an outsider on this deal
/ She won't blab. Besides, you're
concerned. Come along. That's fin
/ ished; she won't send any important
messages over that wire tonight,
guess.
, my dear young LADY," Rising and
throwing the overcoat over his arm
he waved his hat at her in sardonit
l courtesy. Il can't say it has been g
: pleasure to know you, but-you have
: made it interesting, admit And
bid you a very good night. The char
woman will let you out when she
SoHIeS W CiedH up III the IuOTulHS
Adieu, my dear!"
/ The little man hustled after him
bleating and fidgeting; and the lool
, clicked.
She was alone-utterly and forlorn
t ly alone-and had lost-lost all, all
: that she had priced and hoped to win
even-even him.
She raised fluttering, impotent white
hands to her temples, trying to collect
? herself.
In the outer room a clock was tick
ing. Unconsciously she moved to the
doorway and stood looking for time
at the white, expressionless dial. II
was some time-a minute or two-be
2 fore she deciphered the hour.
Ten minutes past two! All, the life
2 time she had lived in the past "a