Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1909-09-23

ing that he had solved her secret; for
she had hoped against hope that the
only words he could have heard her
speak would have had too cryptic
significance for his comprehension.
AS, slowly and composedly, he re-
placed the receiver on its hook and
returned the instrument to the desk,
a short and rotund figure of a man, In
rumpled evening dress and wearing a
wilted collar, hoped excitedly into the
room. cast at the girl one terrified
glance out of eyes that glittered with
excitement like black diamonds, set
in face the hue of yeast, and
clutched the burglars arm.
"Oh. Anisty, Anisty!" he cried,
piteously. What is It? What is It.?
Tell mel"
Its all right" returned the burglar.
Don't you worry, little man. Pull
yourself together" And laughed.
but what-what--" stammered the
other.
"Only that she's given herself away"
chuckled Anisty: beautifully and
completely. The brass bowl says she
thinking | never saw one on Malt.
lands desk!-and O'Hagan, and who
the divvle are your says the man on
the other end of the wire, when I ask
who he is"
And? And?" pleaded the little
man, dancing with worry.
And 1t means that my lady here re.
turned the jewels to Maitland by hid.
| ing them under q brass ash.receiver on
his desk-ass that | was not TO know f!
You are cute, my LADY," with an
ironic salute to the girl, but you've
met your match in Anisty."
And" demanded the other as the
burglar snatched up his hat and coat
what will you do. Anisty?"
Dor" contemptuously. why
what is there to do but so and get
them? We've risked too much and
made New York too hot for the two
of us, my dear sir, to get out OF the
game without the profits"
| But beg of you"
You neednt"-grimly. 1T won't
bring you in any money"
but Maitland"
rs out. O'Hagan answered the
phone. Don't you understand"
But he may return!"
That's his lookout I'm sorry fol
him II he does" Anisty produced the
revolver from his pocket, and twirled
the cylinder significantly. II owe Mr.
Maitland something" he said, noddins
to the white.faced girl by the table
and ! shouldn't be sorry to"
And what" broke in the newcomer
what am | going to do meanwhile?'
Devil the bit | care! Stay hero
and keep this impetuous female from
calling up police headquarters, for q
good guess. Speaking of which, | think
we had best settle this telephone bust
ness once and for ALL"
The burglar turned again to the
desk and began TO work over the in
strument with a small screw-drivel
which he produced from his coat
pocket, talking the while.
Our best plan. my dear Banner
man, is for you to come with me, al
least as far as the nearest corner
You can wait there II you're too COW
ardly to go the limit, like man. III
get the loot and join you, and we car
make a swift hike for the first train
that goes farthest out Of town. pity
for we've done pretty well, you and |
old boy; you with your social entree
and bump of locality to locate the
spoils, me with my courage and skill
to lift EN-, and an equitable division
oh, don't worry about her, Banner
man! She's as deep In it as either
Of us, only she happens to be senti
mental, and an outsider on this deal
She won't blab. Besides, you're
ruined anyway, as far as New York;
concerned. Come along. That's fin
ished; she won't send any importan
messages over that wire tonight.
guess.
my dear young LADY," Rising an,
throwing the overcoat over his arm
he waved his hat at her in sardoni
courtesy. Il can't say 1t has been
pleasure to know you, but-you hav,
made 1t interesting, | admit And
bid you very good night. The char
woman will let you out when sh
comes to clean up in the morning
Adieu, my dear!"
The little man hustled after him
bleating and fidgeting; and the loci
clicked.
i She was alone-utterly and forlorn
~ alone-and had lost-lost all, al
that she had priced and hoped to win
even-eyen him.
She raised fluttering, impotent white
hands TO her temples, trying to collec
herself
In the outer room clock was tick
ing. Unconsciously she moved to tn,
doorway and stood looking for a time
at the white, expressionless dial. i
was some time-a minute or two-be
fore she deciphered the hour.
Ten minutes past two! All, the life
time she had lived In the past II
minutes! And the futility OF 1t all!
CTo BE CONTINUED)
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