Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1909-07-03
Maitland,

ant, in the bedroom, ears keen to
catch the least sound from without,
was rapidly and cheerfully arraying
himself in the Maitland gray-striped
hannels and accessories-even to the
gray socks which had been specified.
The less chances one takes, the
better" soliloquized Mr.. Snafth'
He stood erect. in another mans
shoes, squaring back his shoulders,
discarding the Disgusting stoop, and
confronted his image in pier-glass.
Good enough Maitland" he COM
mented, with little satisfied nod to
his counterfeit presentment But
Wen make it better still"
A single quick jerk denuded his up
per lip; 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-
iently on a dressing table, covered
hands that no art could make resemble
Maitland's. And it was Daniel Matt
land who studied himself in the pier
glass.
Contented, the criminal returned to
assured him that his victim was still
dead to the world. He sat down at the
desk, drew off the gloves, and opened
the bag; peep within which was
enough. With a deep and slow intake
of breath he knotted the drawstring
and dropped the bag into his pocket.
A jeweled cigarette case of unique de-
sign shared the same fate.
Quick eyes roaming the desk OBJ
served the telegram form upon which
Maitland had written Cressy's name
and address. Momentarily perplexed,
the thief pondered this; then, with a
laughing oath, seized the pen and
scrubbed, with no attempt to initiate
the others handwriting, a message:
Regret unavoidable detention Let
ter of explanation follows
To this Maitland's name was signed.
THAT ought to clear him neatly, if I
understand the emergency"
The thief rose, folding the telegraph
blank, and returned to the bedroom,
taking up his hat and the murderous
cane as he went. Here he gathered to-
gether all the articles of clothing that
he had discarded, conveying the mass
to the trunkroom, where an empty and
unlocked kit-bag received it all.
Ihat, l. think, is about all.
He was very methodical, this Grim
inal, this Anfsty. Nothing essential
escaped him. He rejoiced in the mi
nutiae of detail that went to cover up
his tracks so thoroughly that his cam
paigns were as remarkable for the
clues he did leave with malicious de-
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 in the
dust, and nodding over it.
THAT GIRL -deduced Anisty. ttNov-
ice, poor little fool,-or she wouldn't
have wasted time searching here for
the jewels. Good locker, though
from what little he''-with glance at
Maitland me chance to see
of her. Seems to have shared him, all
right, if she did miss the haul. /.
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 an in
slant. Maitlands Panama was hang
ing on the hatrack, Maitland's collec-
ton of walking sticks bristled in a
stand beneath it. Anisty appropriated
the former and chose one of the latter.
Fair exchange" he considered, with a
| harsh laugh. after all, he loses
nothing but the jewels"
He was out and at the foot of the
stairs just as O'Hagan reached the
ground floor from the basement.
"Ah, O'Hagan!" The assumption of
Maitland's ironic drawl was impec-
cable O'Hagan no more questioned it
than he questioned his own sanity.
Here send this wire at once, please;
and" pressing a coin into the ready
palm, keep the change. I was hur-
ried and didn't bother to call you. And,
| 1 say. OHagan!" from the outer door:
"Yissor."
IF that fellow Snaith ever calls
| again, I'm 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 he
| did SO his eye fiickered disinterested-
| Iy over the personality of a man stand
| ing on the opposite walk and staring
at the apartment house. He was a
short man, of stoutish habit, sloppily
| dressed, with a derby pulled down
over one eye, cigar butt protruding ar
rogantly from beneath heavy black
mustache, beefy cheeks, and thick
| soled boots duly polished.
~