Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1909-09-25

unrecoSn1zaDle SuDS1deds he even
smiled. And the girl trembled, know
ing that he had solved her secret; for
she had hoped against hope that the
only words he could have heard her
speak would have had too cryptic
significance for his comprehension
As, slowly and composedly, he re-
placed the receiver on it's hook and
returned the instrument to the desk,
a short and rotund figure of man, in
rumpled evening dress and wearing
wilted collar, hoped excitedly into the
room, cast at the girl one terrified
glance out of eyes that glittered with
excitement like black diamonds, set
in a face the hue of yeast, and
clutched the burglars arm.
"Oh, Anisty. Anisty!" he cried,
piteously- What is it? What in it?
Tell mel"
Its all right" returned the burglar
Don't you worry. little man. Pull
yourself together And laughed.
| But what-what-" stammered the
| other.
only that she's given herself away
chuckled Anisty; beautifully and
completely. The brass bowl says she
thinking I never saw one on Matt
lands desk!-and 'O'Hagan, and who
Tic 1tfAS dlS yOus Soy tnC lAcaA OA
the other end of the wire, when l ask
/ who he is
"And? And?" pleaded the little
man, dancing with worry
And it means that my lady here re-
| turned the jewels to Maitland by hid
| ing them under a brass ash-receiver on
his desk-ass that I was not to know!
You are cute, my 1ady." with an
ironic salute to the girl, "but you've
! met your match in Anisty.
And" demanded the other as the
/ burglar snatched up his hat and coat,
what will you do, Anisty?"
| 'Do?" = contemptuously. why,
what is there to do but go and get
them? We've risked too much and
made New York too hot for the two
! of US, my dear sir, to get out of the
game without the profits"
But 1 beg of you"
I You n't''-grimly. 'It won't
bring you in any money"
But Maitland
rs out o'Hagan answered the
phone. Don't you understand"
But he may returni"
That's his lookout. I'm sorry for
him if he does" Anisty produced the
revolver from his pocket, and twirled
4 l.
| Maitland something" he said, nodding
to the white-faced girl by the table,
"and I shouldn't be sorry to
| "And what" broke in the newcomer,
what am 1 going to do meanwhile? ?"
Devil the bit I care! Stay here
and keep this impetuous female from
calling up police headquarters, for a
| good guess. Speaking of which, think
| we had best settle this telephone bust
ness once and for ALL
The burglar turned again to the
| desk and began to work over the in
strument with small screw-driver
which he produced from his coat
| pocket, talking the while.
! Our best plan, my dear Banner
man, is for you to come with me, at
least as far as the nearest corner.
| You can wait there, if you're too cow
| ardly to go the limit, like a man. I'll
get the loot and join you, and we can
make swift hike for the first train
| that goes farthest out of town. A pity,
for we've done pretty well, you and 1,
| old boy; you with your social entree
and bump of locality to locate the
/ spoils, me with my courage and skill
to lift 'em, and an equitable division.
Oh. don't worry about her, Banner
man! She's as deep in it as either
| of us, only she happens to be senti-
/ mental, and an outsider on this deal.
! She won't blab. Besides, you're
ruined anyway, as far as New York's
| concerned. Come along. That's fin
ished; she won't send any important
messages over that wire tonight, 1
| guess.
MY dear young LADY," Rising and
throwing the overcoat over his arm,
| he waved his hat at her in sardonic
courtesy. II can't say it has been a
/ pleasure to know you, but-you have
| made it interesting, 1 admit. And
| bid you very good night The char
| woman will let you out when she
comes to clean up in the morning
Adieu, my dear!''
The little man hustled after him,
beating and fidgeting; and the lock
| clicked.
She was alone-utter1y and forlorn-
| " alone-and had 1ost-lost all, all
that she had priced and hoped to win,
even-even him.
She raised f1uttering, impotent white
hands to her temples, trying to collect
| herself.
! In the outer room clock was tick
| ing. Unconsciously she moved to the
doorway and stood looking for time
/ at the white, expressionIess dial. It
was some time-a minute or two-be-
| fore she deciphered the hour.
Ten minutes past two. All, the life
time she had lived in the past 10
minutes! And the futility of it all.