Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1910-06-10

the lawyer. Il now
Before you go any further, Mr..
SPEEDING" said Angel, q" might re-
mind you that there is a lady present
n that you have your hat on" ,
"A thousand pardons," aid the law
yer with a sarcastic smile. and re-
moved his hat. Angel reached out his
hand for It and mechanically the law
yer r~elinquisLed 1t.
Angel looked at the crown. The nap
was rubbed the wrong way, and was
covered with fine dust.
IF you desire to valet me-" said the
lawyer, Il have no objection"
Angel made no reply, but placed the
hat carefully on the mosaic floor Of the
hall.
If" said the lawyer, before I open
the safe, there is any question you
objection you would wish to raise, I
shall be happy to consider it,"
Il have nothing TO say" said Angel.
o your" addressing Jimmie.
Nothing" was the aconic answer
"Or Miss Kent, perhaps"
Kathleen looked him straight in the
face as she answered coldly:
Il am prepared to abide by the action
Of my friends"
There is nothing left for me to do"
said the lawyer after the slightest
pause, but to carry out Mr.. ConnoTs
Instructions"
He walked to the foot of the steel
stairway and mounted. He stopped for
breath half way up. He was on a
little landing, and facing him was the
polished block of granite that marked
where the ashes of old Reale reposed.
Pluvis Cinis ct Mill"
Said the inscription. Dust, cinders
and nothing" muttered the lawyer,
IAN apt rebuke to one seeking the
shadows of vanity"
They watched him climb till he
reached the broad platform that front
ed the safe door. Then they saw him
pull a paper from his pocket and ex-
anime 1t. He looked at it carefully,
then twisted the dials cautiously till
one by n the desired letters came
opposite the pointer. Then he twisted
the huge handle of the safe, He twisted
and pulled, but the steel door did not
move. They saw him stoop and ex-
anime the dial again, and again he
seized the handle with the same result.
A dozen times he went through the
same process, and a dozen times the
unyielding door resisted his efforts.
Then he came Gathering down the
steps, and almost reeled across the
floor of the hall to the little group.
His eyes burned with an unearthly
light, his face was pallid, and the pers-
piration lay thick upon his forehead.
THE world" he gasped. TITS the
wrong word"
Angel did not answer him.
Il have tested 1t a dozen times"
cried the lawyer, almost beside himself,
and it has failed"
Shall ~So I I tyr ,,s asked ed Angel ssI.ss .pv
heaven, no! 1 will try again. One Of
the letters is wrong; there are two
meanings to some of the symbols"
He turned and remounted the stairs.
"The man is suffering" said Jimmy
In an undertone.
Let him suffer-" said Angel, a hard
look in his eyes. HE will suffer more
before he atones for his villainy. Look,
he's up again. Let the men In, Jimmy:
ne will find the word this time-and
take Miss Kent away as soon as the
trouble starts"
The girl saw the sudden mask Of
hardness that had come over Anglers
face, saw him slip off his o~vercoat, and
heard the creaking Of boots in the nall
outside. The pleasant, flippant man
OF the world was gone, and the re-
morseless police officer, ~inscrutable as
doom, had taken his place. 1t was a
new Angel she saw, and she drew
closer to Jimmy.
An e~xultant shout from the man at
the safe made her raise her eyes. With
a f1utter at her heart, she saw the
ponderous steel door swing slowly
open.
Then from the man came a cry that
was like the snarl Of some wild beast
Empty" he roared.
He stood TUNED and dumb; then he
flung himself into the great steel ROOM,
and they heard his voice reverberating
holloway. Again he came to the plat
form holding in his hand a white en-
velope. Blindly he b~lundered down the
stairs again. and they could hear his
heavy breathing.
Empty" His grating voice rose to
a scream. Nothing but this!" He
held the envelope out, then tore it
open.
It contained only q few words
Receive on behalf of Miss Kathleen
Kent the contents of this safe
"(Signed) James Cavendish STAN
naTd, Bart Christopher Angel
Dazed and bewfldered, the lawyer
read the paper, then looked from one
to the other.
$50 it was you,- he said.
Angel nodded CURLY.
Your" said Speeding again
Yes"
you have robbed the safe-you-a
police officer"
Yes" said Angel. not removing HIS
eyes from the man. He motioned to
Jimmy, and Jimmy with a whispered
word to the girl, led her to the door.
I; Behind him, az &c returned 10 Angels
side, came six plain clothes officers.
S you think you've got me. do
you? ?" breathed SPEEDING.
Il don't think" said Angel Il know
IF you M SO much. do you know
how near to death you are?'
That also I know" sal Anglers
even voice. I'm all the more certain
of my danger since I have seen your
hat"
CONTINUED Next week,