Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1909-08-28

as well as of the janitor's rich brogue
voicing his indignation as he opened
the basement door and prepared to as
cend- Instantly the cause OF the dis
turbance flashed upon him.
His strange hold ON Anisty relaxed,
he released the man, and, brows
knitted with the concentration of his
thoughts, he stepped back and over to
the girl, lifting her hand and gently
taking the revolver from her fingers.
Below, O'Hagan was parleying
| through the closed door with the late
callers Maitland could have blessed
his hot-headed Irish stupidity for the
delay he was causing.
Already Anisty was on his feet
| again, blind with rage and crouching
as IL ready to spring, only restrained
/ by the sight of his own revolver,
steady and threatening in Maitland's
hand.
For the least part of a second the
| young man hesitated, choosing his
| way. Then, resolved, in accents of
determination: Stand up, you hound!"
| he cried. Back to the wall therei"
and thrust the weapon under the burg
lars nose
The move gained instant obedience.
Mr.. Anisty could not reasonably hest
tate in the face of such Odds
"And you," Maitland continued over
his shoulder to the girl without remov-
ing his attention from the burglar, into
the alcove there, at once! And not a
word, not whisper, not sound until
I call you'll"
She gave him one frightened and
piteous glance, then, unquestioning,
slipped quietly behind the portieres.
| N mic IN
cts QUIT" commanded Maitland.
Quick, you fool! The police are be-
| low; your freedom depends on your
| haste"
Anisty's hands flew to his pockets,
emptying their contents on the floor
Maitland's eyes sought in vain the
shape of the canvas bag. But time
was too precious Another moments
procrastination and
THAT will do" he said, crisply,
without raising his voice. Now listen
to me. At the end of the hall, there,
you'll find a trunk closet, from which
window"
I IT know"
| Naturally you would. Now go.''
| Anisty waited for no repetition of
the permission. Whatever the mad
ness of Mad Maitland, he was con-
cerned only to profit by it. Never be-
fore had the long arm of the law
stretched hungry fingers so near his
collar He went springing down the
hall in long, soundless strides, vanish
ing into it's shadows.
AS he disappeared Maitland stepped
to the door, raised his revolver, and
pulled the trigger twice. The shots
detonated loudly in that confined space,
and rang coincident with the clash and
clatter of shivered glass. A thin cloud
of vapor .obscured the doorway, sway
ing on the hot, still air, then parted
and dissolved, dissipated by the en-
trance of four men who, thrusting the
door violently open, struggled into the
hallway
Blue cloth and brass buttons moved
conspicuons1y in the van, grim face
flushed and perspiring beneath the he'll
NETS vizor, a revolver poised menac-
ingly in one hand, locust as ready in
the other. Behind this outward and
visible manifestation of the laws
majesty bobbed a rusty derby, cooked
| jauntily back upon the red, shining
forehead of short and thick-set per-
son with a black mustache. O'Hagan's
| agitated countenance doomed over a
dusty shoulder, and the battered silk
!. /
| rear.
Come in, everybody, Maitland
greeted them cheerfully, turning back
into the study and tossing the revol-
yer, shreds of smoke still curling up
from it's muzzle, upon divan
: "O'Hagan,'' he called, on second
, thought, Jump downstairs and see
, that all New York doesn't get in. Let
, nobody I'M"
AS the janitor unwillingly obeyed
policeman and detective found their
) tongues. A volley of questions, to the
general purport of Whats tn meanin
of all this here?' assailed Maitland as
he rested himself coolly on an edge
of the desk He responded, with one
eyebrow slightly elevated:
"A burglar. What did you suppose
That 1 was indulging in target practice
, at this time of night?"
(Which way'd he go?'
Back of the 1at-through the win
dow to the fire-escape, I suppose.
, took a couple of shots after him, but
, missed, and, inasmuch as he was
, armed, didn't pursue"
Hickey stepped forward, glowerine
unpleasantly at the young man. ''Yeh
, go along" he told the uniformed man
md see f he's te1lin' the truth III
, stay here md keep him company"
His tone amused Maitland In the
/ reaction from the recent strain upon
f his wits and nerve, he laughed openly