The Red Cloud chief. [volume] (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923, 1909-09-16

you stole from mo the Maitland
Jewels. Where are they"
Il shall not tell"
He bent swiftly forward and took
one of her hands in his. lnstinCtively
she clCnChcd it, and he wrapped his
strong hard fingers around the small
white fist. then deliberately inserted
hard finger joint between her sec
ond and third knuCklvs, slowly in
crcasing the pressure. And watched
with absolute indifference the lines of
agony grave themselves upon her
smooth unwrinklcd forehead, and the
color leave her checks, as the pain
grow too exquisite Then, suddenly dis.
continuing the pressure. but retain.
ing her hand, he laughed shortly.
will you speak, my lady, or will
you have more
Don't" she gasped please"
where are the jewels? viii you?"
mo"
"Have you given them to Maitland?"
NO"
where are thcy?"
81 don't know"
stop that nonsense unless Where
did you leave them"
Il won't tell won't All, please,
| please!"
Tell me-"
Never. Ah.h."
An abrupt and resoundng hammer.
! ing at the outer door forced him to
| leave off. He dropped her hand with
an oath and springing to his feet drew
! his revolver: then, with glance at
! the girl, who was silently weeping
tears of pain rolling down her cheeks,
mouth set in a thin pale line of de-
termination, strobe out and sshut the
| door after him.
AS it closed the girl leapcd TO her
! feet, maddenod with torture wild eyes
casting about the room for a weapon
of some sort. of OlfensC or defense; for
she could not have endured the tor.
! turo an instant longer II forced to It,,
! to fight fight she would. If only she had
something, sticl, Of wood. to defend
| herself with. But there was nothing,
nothing at all.
The room was a typical Office well
! but severely furnished. The rug that
! covered the tile floor was of rich
quality and rare design. The neutral
! tinted walls were bare, but for n
couple Of steel cngravings in heavy
wooden frames. There were three
| heavily upholstered leather arm-Chairs
! and one revolving dosk-chair; a roll
! top desk, against the partition wall,
a waste-paper basket and ilat.topped
| desk, or table. And that was all.
Or not quite ALL else the Office equip.
ment had not been complete. There
was the telephone,
But he would hear! Or was the par.
tition sound-proof?
AS if in contradiction of the sugges-
ton, there came to her ears very clear
~ the sound of the hall door crcaking
on it's hinges, and then a mans voice,
shrill with anger and anxiety.
You fool, Do you want 10 ruin
us both? What do you mean
The door crashed to, intcrrupting
the protest and drowning Anisty's
reply.
Il was passing" the new voice took
up its plaintive rcmonstrancc, "and
the Waterman called me in and said
that you were telephOning for me"
Damn the interfering fool" inter
rupted Anisty.
But what's this insanity, Anisty?
What's this about woman? What"
The newcomers tones assembled high
scale of fright and rage.
Lower your voice, you asst" the
burglar responded, sternly. And"
He took his own advice; and for a
little time the conference was con.
Quoted in guarded tones that did not
penetrate the dividing wall save as a
deep rumbling alternating with an i'm.
passiOned squeak.
But long ere this had come to pass
the girl was risking all at the tele.
phone. Receiver TO ear she was i'm.
ploring central to connect her with
Ninety-eight-nine Madison. If only she
might get Maitland tell him where the
jewels We're hidden, warn him to re,
move them-then she could escape
further suffering by open confession
What number" came centrals Ian.
guild query, after a space Did you
say e-oughtnine-cight?
NO. no, central. Nine-o.eight.nino
Madison, please, and hurry--hurry!"
"Ah, I'm ringin' 'em. They amt
answered yet. Gimme time. There
they are. Go ahead"
Hello, hello"
"Pwhat is ut?"
Her heart sank; OHagan's voice
meant that Maitland was out.
"O'Hagan--is that you? Tell Mr.
Maitland"
He's GAVIN out for the nolght an
Tell him, please"
But he's out. Ring up in the
marnin'."
But can't you take this message
for him? Please"
The door was suddenly jcrked open
and Anisty leaped into the room, face
white with passion. Terrified, the
girl srang from the desk, carrying the