Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1909-09-01

the basement door ana prepared 10 as
cend. Instantly the cause of the dis
turbance flashed upon him.
His strangle 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 If 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 there!"
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
word, not a whisper, not a sound until
l call you!"
She gave him one frightened and
piteous glance, then, unquestioning
slipped quietly behind the portieres.
To Anisty, again: Turn your peck
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
representation 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 trunk closet, from which
a window"
II 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, TRUSTING the
door violently open, struggled into the
hallway.
Blue cloth and brass buttons mo eed
conspicuously in the van, grim face
flushed and perspiring beneath the he'll
NETS vizor 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 black mustache. O'Hagan' g
agitated countenance doomed over a
dusty shoulder, and the battered silk
hat of the nighthawk brought up the
| 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 its muzZle, upon a divan.
"O'Hagan," he called, on second
thought, Jump downstairs and see
that all New York doesn't get in. Let
nobody in!"
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 was indulging in target practice
at this time of night?"
(Which way'd he go?"
Back of the fiat-through the win,
dow to the fire-escape, l suppose.
took couple of shots after him, but
missed, and, inasmuch as he was
armed, didn't pursue"
Hickey stepped forward, glowering
unpleasantly at the young man.. "Yeh
go along" he told the uniformed man
nd see 4 he's tellin' the truth. I'll
stay here md keep him company"
His tone amused Maitland. In the
reaction from the recent strain upon
his wits and nerve, he laughed openly
And who are you?" he suggested
smiling, as the policeman dumped
heavily away.