The newspaper., 1909-02-05

luHtAiDit iO0S "hO -
wanted will be sent for. Now 60
Higgins, you may stay"
"Yes. sir. Yes. sir. But wot an
'orrid 'appenin. sir. If you'll permit
me-
Il won't Be quiet and listen. This
man is Anisty-Handsome Dan Anisty,
the notorious jewel thief, wanted badly
by the police of 4 dozen cities. You
understand? I'm going now
to motor to the village and get the
constables: / may he invented. des-
perately, "be delayed-may have to get
a detective from Brooklyn. II this
scoundrel stirs, don't touch him. Let
him alone-he can't escape If you do.
Above all things, don't you dare to re-
move that gag"
Most cert'inly. sir. i shall bear In
mind wot you says"
You'd best" grimly. Now I'm off.
No; l don't want any attendance
know my way. nd-don't-touch-
that man-till return"
VERY good, sir"
Maitland stepped over to the safe.
glanced within. cursorily. replaced a
bundle of papers which he did not re-
call disturbing closed the door and
twiried the combination.
Nothing gone" he announced. An
inarticulate gurgle from the PROSTATE
man drew a black scowl from Malt
land. Recovering. Good morning. he
said politely to the butler. and striding
out OF the house by the front door.
was careful to slam that behind him.
ere darting into the shadows.
The moon was down. the sky cold.
opaque gray. overcast with light
drift of cloud. The park seemed very
dark, very dreary: a searching breeze
was sweeping inland from the sound.
soughing sadly In the tree tops:
chill humidity permeated the air. pre-
cursor of rain. The young man shiv-
cred. both with chill and reaction from
the tension of the emergency Just past.
He was aware OF an instantaneous
loss OF heart, subsistence OF the
elation which had upheld him through
out the adventure; and TO escape this.
to forget or overcome IL. took imme-
diately to his heels. scampering madly
for the road. oppressed with fear lest
he should find the girl gone-with the
Jewels.
That she should prove untrue. faith
less. lacking even that honor which
proverbially obtains In the society OF
ctIminals-a consideration of such
possibility was intolerable. as much
so as the suspense Of Ignorance. He
could not. would not. believe her
capable of ingratitude 10 rank; and
fought fercely. unreasoningiy. against
the conviction that she would have fol
lowed her thievish instincts and
made on with the booty.
Judgment meet and right upon him
for his madness,
Heart In mouth. he reached the
gates. passing through without dis
covering her. and was struck dumb
and witiess with relief when she
stepped quietly from the shadows OF
a low branching tree. Offering him n
guiding hand.
Come" she said. quietly. This
way"
without being exactly conscious OF
what he was about he caught the
hand in both his own. Then. he ex-
uIted almost passionately-"then you
didn't"
His voice choked In his throat. Her
face. momentarily upturned TO his,
cleaned pale and weary In the dreary
light: the face OF a tired child.
troubled. saddened: yet with eyes In.
expressibly sweet. She turned away.
tuRging at her hand
You doubted me. after all" she
T-no. You misunderstand me.
Believe me. ="
"Ah. don't protest. What does II
make or mar. whether or not you
trusted me- You have" she
added. quietly. the jewels safe
enough. | suppose?"
He stopped short aghast. II, The
Jewels
II slipped them in your coat pocket
before"
Instantly her hand was free. Matt
land ramming both his own into the
side pockets of his top coat. They're
safei"
She smiled uncertainty.
I'VE have no time" said she. Can
you drive"
They were standing by the side OF
her car, which had been cunningly hid
den in the gloom beneath a spreading
tree on the further side OF the road.
Maitland. crestfallen. offered his hand;
the tips of her fingers touched his
Ill -. t.