The newspaper., 1909-02-19
CHAPTER VIII.
Dance Of the Hours.
Four d. m.

study chimed resonantly and with de-
liberation; four double strokes: and
while yet the deep-throated music was
dying into silence the telephone bell
shrieked impertinently.
Maitland bit savagely on the gag
and knotted his brows. trying to bear
it. The effect was that of coarse
file rasped across raw quivering
nerves. And he lay helpless, able to
do no more toward endurance than to
dig nails deep into his palms.
Again and again the fiendish clamor
shattered the echoes. Binding flashes
of agony danced down the white-hot
wires strung through his head, taut
from temple to temple.
Would the fool at the other end
never be satisfied that he could get
NO answer? Evidently not: the racket
continued mercilessly. short series OF
shrill calls alternating with imperative
rolls prolonged until one thought that
the tortured metal sounding-cups would
crack Thought, nay, prayed that
either such would be the case. or else
that ones head might at once merci-
fully be rent asunder.
That anguish SO exquisite should
be the means of releasing him from
his bonds seemed a refinement Of
irony. Yet Maitland was aware. be-
tween spasms. that help was on the
way. The telephone instrument, for
obvious convenience, had been
equipped with an extension bell which
rang simultaneously in O'Hagans
quarters. When Maitland was not at
home the janitor-valet, SO warned.
would answer the calls. And now. in
the still intervals. the heavy thud Of
uhhurried feet could be heard upon
the staircase. O'Hagan was coming
to answer: and taking his time about
II. 1t seemed an age before the rattle
of pass-key in latch announced him:
and another ere. all unconscious of the
figure supine on the divan against the
further study wall. the old man shut
fed to the instrument, lifted receiver
from the hook. and applied IT to
his ear.
We'll. well7" he demanded with that
impatience characteristic of the illit-
crate for modern methods of communi-
cation. "Pwhat the divvle ails ye?"
nay rDitAo W fts mo teAhf ohN Nso
sorry am I didn't know twas
Teddy"
Hes not"
Wan O'Clock. there OF thereabouts."
Faith. and he didn't say"
"Pwhat name will be tellin' him2"
"Kape ut to yersilf. thin. 'Tis none
OF me business"
IF We do. I'll not answer. Sure. am
to be climbin' two flights av sthairs
ivry foive minits-"
''Good-by yersilf.. hanging up the re-
ceiver. And the divvle fly away wild
ye." grumbled O'Hagan.
As he turned away from the instru-
ment Maitland managed to produce
sound. something between a moan and
z'rsngles ~ouyr The old man
vhiried on his heel. "Pwhat's thot?"
The next instant he was bending
over Maitland. peering into the face
drawn and disfigured by the gag. The
SAINTS presarve us, And who the
d.vvle are ye at all? Pwhy don't ye
spake?"
Maitland turned purple: and emitted
a furious snort
"Misther Maitland. be all thot's
strange! Is ut mad / am? Or how
did ye get back here and into this fix.
sor. and me swapin' the halls and
pclishin' the brasses fernist the front
dure iv'ry minute since ye wint out?''
Indignation struggling for the upper
hand with mystification in the Irish
mans brain. he grumbled and swore:
yet busted his fingers. In a trice the
binding gag was loosed, and ropes and
straps cast free from swollen wrists
and ankles. And. with the assistance
| OF kindly arm behind his shoulders,
Maitland sat up. grinning with the
pain Of renewing circulation in his
| limbs.
wild these two oies mesilf saw ye
lave three hours gone, sor. and
c'u'd swear no sowl had inferred this
house since thin. Pwhat does ut all
name, be all thot's holy7"
1T means" painting, brandy and
soda. O'Hagan. and be quick"
| Maitland attempted to rise. but his
legs gave under him. and he sank
back with a stifled oath, resigning him
self to wait the return OF normal con
ditions. AS for his head, 1t was threat
ening to split at any moment, the tight
wires twanging Internally between his
temples: while the corners Of his
mouth were cracked and sore from the
pressure Of the gag. All Of which