The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1910-06-09
ANGEL ESQUIRE
BY EDGAR WALLACE

the overture to 'Lohengrin."
The crowded room suited their moods.
Jimmy, In his preoccupation, found the
noise, the babble Of voices in many
tongues, and the wall of the struggling
orchestra, soothing after the exciting
events Of the past few hours. To An
gel the human element in the crowd
formed relaxation. The ud-speaking
men with their flashy jewelry, the
painted women with their automatic
smiles, the sprinkling Of keen-faced
sharps he recognized, they formed
part of the pageant Of life-the life
| 70 Angel saw it. =
/ They sat slipping their wine until
there came man who, glancing care
lessly round the room, made an imper-
ceptible sign to Angel, and then, as If
having satisfied himself that the man
/ he was looking for was not present,
left the room again.
| Angel and his companion followed.
'Well?" asked Angel.
SPEEDING goes to the safe tonight"
said the stranger.
Good" said Angel.
THE guard at the safe is permanent
| ly withdrawn by Spedding's order"
THAT / know" said Angel TT was
withdrawn the very night the Borough
Lot came. On whose behalf is Sped
ding acting?"
ION behalf of Connor, who under
stand is one of the legatees."
Angel whistled.
"whew Jimmy. this is to be the
Grand Finale"
He appeared deep in thought for a
moment.
TT will be necessary for Miss Kent to
be present" he said after while.
From neighboring district messen-
| a garage, and within half an hour they
were ringing the bell at Kathleen's
modest little house. '
The girl rose to greet them as they
entered. All sign of the last nights
fatigue had vanished.
Yes" she replied Il have slept the
greater part of the day."
| Angel observed that she studiously
kept her eyes from Jimmy, and that
that worthy was preternaturally inter-
ested in a large seascape that hung
over the fireplace.
This is the last occasion we shall be
troubling you at so late an hour" said
Angel, but / am afraid we shall want
you with us tonight"
Il will do whatever you WISH" she
answered simply. You have been,
both Of you, most kind"
She flashed a glance at Jimmy, and
saw for the first time the surgical
dressing on his head.
"You--you are not hurt?" she cried
in alarm, then checked herself.
mot at\ ALL" said Jimmy loudly,
nothing, l assure you"
| He was in an unusual panic. and
wished he had not come.
"He tripped over hearthrug and fell
against marble mantelpiece," lied
been in the possession Of my family for
centuries, and is now badly, and fear
irretrievably, damaged"
Jimmy smiled, and his smile was in
fictitious.
"A gross libel, Miss Kent" he said.
recovering his nerve. "As a matter of
| fact"
"As a matter of fact" interrupted
Angel impressively, Jimmy was walk
ing in his sleep"
BE serious, Mr.. Angel" implored the
girl. who was now very concerned as
she saw the extent of Jimmy's injury,
and noticed the dark shadows under his
eyes. was 1t Spedding?"
1T was" said Angel promptly. "A
little attempt which proved a failure"
Jimmy saw the concern in the girls
eyes, and, manlike, 1t cheered him.
1T is hardly worth talking about"
he said hastily, "and I think we ought
not to delay our departure a second"
Il will not keep you moment longer
than I. can help" she said, and left
the room to dress herself for the jour
ney.
Jimmy" said Angel, as soon as she
had gone, "cross my hand with silver,
pretty gentleman. and I will tell your
| fortune"
Don't talk rot" replied Jimmy.
IT can see a bright future, a dark
1 lady with big gray eyes, vho-"
| For heavens sake shut up," growled
Jimmy. very red; she's coming"
They reached the Safe Deposit when
| ha ha1 Of ha nj y hn
half hour after II.
"Shall we go in?" asked Jimmy.
| Better not" advised Angel. TT
SPEEDING knows we have key 1t might
spoil the whole show"
So the car slowly patrolled the mar
row length Of Lombard street, an OBJ
ject Of professional interest to the half
dozen plain clothes policemen who were
on duty there.
to wait. for midnight had rung out from
the belfries long before q big car
came gliding into. the thoroughfare
from its western end. It stopped with
jerk before the Safe Deposit and q
top-hatted figure alighted. As he did
| SO, Angels car drew up behind and the
three got down.
| Speeding. professionally attired in q
frock coat and silk hat. stood with
one foot on the steps Of the building
and his hand upon the key he had
| fitted.
He evinced no surprise when he saw
Angel, and bowed slightly to the girl
| Then he opened the door and stepped
inside and Angel and his party followed.
He lit the vestibule. opened the inner
door. and walked into the darkened
! hall.
Again came the click Of switches, and
every light in the great hall blazed.
The girl shivered little as she looked
| up at the safe, dominating and sim
lister q monument Of ruin, q mate
REALIZATION Of the dead regrets of a
thousand bygone gamblers. Solitary,
alone, aloof II rose. distinct from the
magnificent building In which II stood
IA granite mass set In fine gold. Old
Reale had possessed a good eye for con-
trasts, and had truly foreseen how
well would the surrounding beauty of
the noble hall emphasize the grim real
| ity OF the ugly pedestal.
| SPEEDING closed the door behind them
and surveyed the party with trium-
plant smile.
| II am afraid" he said In HIS smooth
est tones. you have come too late.
Il am afraid We have" agreed An
! gel, and the lawyer looked at him sus-
piciously.
Il wrote you letter" he said. IBID
you get ite''
| II have not been home since this
afternoon" said Angel. and he heard
| the lawyers little sigh of relief