The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1909-08-10


he had hardly thought any coherent
thing about the matter. The ring OF
the girls mol" had startled him, and
he had somehow thought, vaguely.
thatO'Hagan had surprised her in the
fat. But more than that
He glanced swiftly aside at the girl
standing still beneath the chandelier.
the match in one hand burning to-
ward her finger tips, in the other An
isty's revolver. Their eyes met, and
in hers the light of gladness leaped.
and fell like living fame, then died.
to be replaced by a look of entreaty
and prayer so moving that his heart
in its unselfish chivalry went out to
her
Who or what she was, howsoeyer
damning the evidence against her, he
would believe against belief. shield her
to the end at whatever hazard to him.
self, whatever cost to his fortunes.
Love is unreasoning and unreasonable
even when unrecognized.
His senses seemed to xibrate with
redoubled activity, to become abnor
mally acute. For the first time be was
conscious of the imperative clamor OF
the electric bell in O'Hagan's quarters,
as well as of the janitor's rich brogue
voicing his indignation as he opened
the basement door and prepared to 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 t.
the girl, lifting her hand and gently
taking the revolver from her fingers.
Below, O'Hagan was parIeying
through the closed door with the late
callers. Maitland could have blessed
his hot-headed Irish stupidity for the
delay he was causing.
Already Anisty was on his feet
again, blind with rage and crouching
as If ready to spring, only restrained
by the sight Of his own revolver,
steady and threatening in Maitland's
haGI5.
For the least part of a second the
young man hesitated, choosing his
way. Then, resolved, in accents OF
determination: Stand up, you hound!"
he cried. Back to the wall thereI"
and thrust the weapon under the burg
lars nose.
The move gained instant obedience.
Mr.. Anisty could not reasonably hesi-
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 alcoYe there, at oncel And not a
word, not whisper, not sound until
1 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 Quit" commanded Maitland.
Quick, you fool! 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, crispIy,
without raising his voice Now listen
to me- At the end of the hall, there,
you'll find a trunk closet, from which
window"
II know"
Naturally you would Now got"
knisty 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 shiyered 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, a grim face
flushed and perspiring beneath the he'll
NETS vizor. a revolver poised menac-
ingly in one hand, locust as ready in
the other. Behind this outward and
visible manifestation of the laws
majesty bobbed a rusty derby. cooked
Jauntily back upon the red, shining
forehead of a short and thick-set per
son With a black mustache. O'Hagan's
agitated ccuatenance doomed over q
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