The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1909-09-16

| NNNNNNNWh HNNNNiNf Ot1NIitN MANNH
In his smoking room. while his assail.
ant. in tho bedroom, ears keen 10
catch the least sound from without,
was rapidly and cheerfully arraying
himself In the Maitland gray-Htrlped
nannols and accossorles--even to the
gray socks which had been specified.
The less chances one takes. the
better" solloquized Mr. snaith."
lie stood erect in anothsr mans
shoes. squaring back his shoulders.
discardlng the Disgusting stoop. and
confronted his image In a pierglass.
Good enough Maitland" he com.
mented. with a little satisfied nod 20
his counterfeit presentment But
wen make Il better stIll"
A single quick Jerk denuded his up
per lis: he slowed the mustache care
fully away In his breast pocket. The
moistened corner OF a towel make
quick work OF the crows feet about his
eyes. and. simultaneously. robbed him
OF dozen apparent years. A pair Of
yellow chamois gloves. placed conven-
icntly on a dressing table. covered
hands that no art could make resemble
Maitlands. And u was D,siel Malt.
land who studied himself in tle pier.
| glass
Contented. the criminal returned to
| the smoking room. A single glance
assured him that his victim was stiii
dead to the world. lie sat down at the
desk. drew OF the gloves. and opened
the bag a peep within which was
enough. with a deep and slow intake
OF breath he knotted the drawstrins
and dropped the bag into his pocket.
A jewcled cigarette case OF unique do
sign shared the same fate.
Quick eyes roaming the desk Oh
served the telegram form upon which
Maitland had written Cressy's mans
and address. Momentarlly porplcxcd.
the thief pondered this; then. with a
/ laughing oath. seized the pen and
scribblcd. with no attempt TO initiate
the others handwriting. n message;
Regret unavoidable detention. l et.
ter OF explanation follows"
To this Maltland's name was slgnci.
THAT ought 10 clear him neatly. n I
/ understand the emergency"
The thief rose, folding the telegraph
| blank. and returned 20 the bedroom.
taking up his hat and the muIderous
cane as be went Here he gathered to-
gcther all the articles OF clothing that
he had discarded. conveying tho mass
to the trunkroom. where an empty and
unlocked kt-bag received Il all
! That. | think. Is about all
lie was very methodical. this Grim.
inal this Anisty. Nothing essential
escaped him. lie rejoiced In the mi.
nutlae Of detail tina, went 20 cover up
his tracks so Thoroughly that his cam.
paigns we're as remarkable for the
clues he did leave with malicious do
sign. as for those that he didn't
One final thing held his attention;
A bowl Of hammered brass. inverted
beneath a ponderous book. upon the
desk. Why? In a twinkling he had
removed both and was studying the
impression OF a woman's hand bi the
dust. and nodding over u.
That girl" deduced Anisty. Nov.
fee. poor little fool,-or she wtuldnt
have wasted time searching here for
the jewels. Good locker. though
from what little he"-with a glance =,
Maitland-"gave me a chance 20 see
OF her. Seems TO have shared him. all
right, II she did miss the haul. q.
Little IDIOT What right has a woman
In this business. anyway Well.
here's one thing that will never land
me in the pen"
As, with nice care. he replaced both
bowl and book. a door slammed below
stairs took him TO the hall in ap In.
slant. Maitland's Panama was hang
ing on the hatrack. Maitland's collec.
ton OF walking sticks brisued In a
stand beneath II. Anlsty appropriated
the former and chose one OF the latter
Fair exchange" he considered. with q
harsh laugh. After all. he loses
nothing but the Jewels"
He was out and at the foot Of the
stairs Just as oHagan reached the
ground floor from the basement.
"Ah. oHagan!" The assumption OF
Maitland's ironic drawl was impec.
cable. O'Hagan no more questioned Il
than he questioned his own sanity.
Here. send this wire az once, please;
and" pressing a coin into the ready
palm, keep the change. was hur'
ried and didn't bother to call you. And.
l say, O'Hagan!" from the outer door:
"Yissor"
III that fellow Snaith ever calls
again. Pm not at home"
VERY good. sor."
Anisty permitted himself the slight.
est OF smiles. pausing on the stoop TO
draw on the chamois gloves. As no
did so his eye fiekered dislnterested.
ly over the personality OF man stand.
ing on the opposite walk and staring
at the apartment house. He was
short man. OF stoutish habit. slopplly
dressed, with a derby pulled down
over one eye. cigar butt protrudlng ar
Togantly from beneath a heavy black