The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1909-08-03

Above all things, don't you dare to re-
move that gagl"
Most certinly. sir. shall bear in
mind wet you says"
You'd best" grimly. Now I'm on
No; don't want any attendance
know my way. And-don't-touch-
that man-till I 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
twirled the combination.
Nothing gone,' he announced An
inarticuIate gurgle from the PROSTATE
man drew a black scowl from Matt
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 a 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; a
ckill humidity permeated the air, pre-
cursor OF rain. The young man shiy-
cred, both with chill and reaction from
the tension of the emergency just past
He was aware of an instantaneous
loss Of heart, a subsistence Of the
citation which had upheld him through
out the adventure; and to escape this,
to forget OF overcome it, 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
pIoverbially obtains in the society of
criminals-a consideration of such a
possibility was intolerable, as much
SO as the suspense of ignorance He
could not, would not, believe her
capable of ingratitude so rank; and
fought fiercely, unreasoningly. against
the conviction that she would have fol
lowed her thieyish instincts and
made on with the booty. A
Judgment meet and right upon him
for his madnessl
Heart in mouth, he reached the
gates, passing through without dis
covering her, and was struck dumb
ard witless with relief when she
stepped quietly from the shadows Of
a low branching tree, offering him q
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,
Juggling at her hand.
you doubted me. after ALL" she
commented, trifle bitterly.
I-nol You misunderstood me.
Believe me, L"
"Ah, don't protest What does It
make or mar, whether or not you
trusted me? You have" she
added, quietly, the jewels safe
enough, SUPPOSE"
He stopped short, aghast. Il! The
/, 5eBelsi"
al 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
palm lightly as she jumped in He hes-
itated at the step.
you wish Lle to-"
She laughed lightly. Most assured
s4v~s Eou Hay assure yourself that
shsn;t try TO elude you again
II would I might be sure OF that,
he said. steadying his voice and seek
ing her eyes.
aProcrastination won't make it any
more assured
He stepped up and settled himself
in the drivers seat, grasping throttle
and steering wheel; the great machine
.shrilIed to his touch like live thing
then began slowly to back out INTO
the road. For an instant it seemed TO
hang palpitant on dead center, then
ebof out like a hound unleashed, ven
tre-a-terre-Brooklyn miles away over
the hood
It seemed but a minute ere they
vere laundering over the Myannls
bridge. A little further on Maitland
s1owed down and, jumping out, lighted
T.. the seat again-no