Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-08-24
BY LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE
Author OF The Private War
Terence O'Rourke, Gentleman
Adventurer
Copyright, 1907, The Dobbs-MerrilI Company.

From any point of view" said Snaitf
obstnately. THE man breaks into youl
house. steals your jewels"
This is getting tiresome," Maitland in
terrupted CURLY. rs it possible that yor
suspect me of conniving at the theft OF
my own property"
Snaith's eyes were keen upon him
Stranger things have been known Anc
yet-the motive Stacking. You are moi
financially embarrassed,-so far as we car
determine. at least"
Maitland politely interposed his fingers
between his yawn and the detectives IN
tent regard. "You have ten minutes
more, I'm sorry to say" he said, glanc'
ing at the clock.
"And there is another point more sig
nihcant yet"
"Ah?"
Yes" Snaith bent forward, elbows on
knees. hat and cane swinging, eyes i'm
placable, hard, relentless. 'Anisty' he
said slowly, '1eft a tolerably complete
burglars kit In your library.
"Well--he's a burglar, isn't her
mot that kind" Snaith shook his head.
But his departure was somewhat hur-
ried. I can conceive that he might aban-
don his kit"
But il was not his"
Not Anisty's?"
"Anisty does not depend on such an
tiquated methods, Mr.. Maitland; save that
in extreme instances, with a particular
stubborn safe, he employs high eX-
plosive that so far as we can find out,
is practically noiseless. Its nature is a
mystery. But such old-fashioned
strong-boxes as yours at Greenf1elds he
opens by ear so to speak-listens to the
combination. He was once an expert. rep
utably employed by a prominent firm of
safe manufacturers, in whose service he
gained the skill that has made him-what
he is
"But'-Maitland cast about at random,
feeling himself cornered-"may he not
have had accomplices?"
He's no such fool. Unless he has gone
mad, he worked alone. 1 presume you
discovered no accomplice?"
II? The devil, nor
Snaith smiled mysteriously, then fell
thoughtfully. bordering.
You are an enigma he said, at length
az can not understand why you refuse
us all information. when 1 consider that
the jewels were yours"
Are mine," Maitland corrected.
mo longer"
ct beg your pardon; l have them"
Snaith shook his head, smiling incredu-
lousy. Maitland flushed with annoyance
and resentment. then on impulse rose and
ing with a small canvas bag.
you shall see for yourself, he
said, depositing the bag on the desk and
fumbling with the drawstring. 'If you
will be kind enough to step over here"
Mr.. Snaith. still unconvinced, hesitated,
then assented, hating a brief distance
from Maitland and toying abstractedly
with his cane while the young man pluck
ed at the drawstring.
''Deuced tight knot, this" commented
Maitland, annoyed.
mo matter. Don't trouble, please.
I'm quite satisfied. believe me-"
"Oh, you are!'
Maitland turned; and in the act of turn
ing, the loaded head of the cane landed
with crushing force upon his temple.
For an instant he stood swaying, eyes
closed. face robbed of every vestige of
color deep lines of agony craven in his
forehead and about his mouth: then fell
like a lifeless thing, limp and inverte-
brate.
The soi-disant Mr.. Snaith caught him
and let him gently and without sound to
the floor.
Continued in Next Issue.