Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-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 loud-sr eaking
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
as 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ly withdrawn by Spedding's ORDER"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 l know" said Angel. 1T was
withdrawn the very night the Borough
Lot came. On whose behalf is Sped
ding acting?"
ION behalf of Connor, who l 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 a while.
From neighboring district messen-
ger office he got on by the telephone to
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 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 I 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 glance at Jimmy. and
saw for the first time the surgical
dressing on his head.
"You-you are not hurt?" she cried
III dldTIil, lIleI checked n0rSelT.
Not at ALL said Jimmy loudly,
nothing / assure you"
| He was in an unusual panic and
wished he had not come.
He tripped over hearthrug and fell
against marble mantelpiece," lied
| Angel deliberately. THE marble has
been in the possession of my family for
centuries, and is now badly, and I fear
irretrievably, damaged"
Jimmy smiled, and his smile was in
fictitious.
"a gross libel, Miss Kent" he said,
recovering his nerve. LAS matter of
| fact"
LAS 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 Jimny'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 it cheered him.
1T is hardly worth talking about"
he said hastily, "and I think we ought
not to delay our departure a second"
II will not keep you moment longer
than 1, 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.
II can see a bright future, dark
| lady with big gray eyes, vho-'
For heavens sake shut up growled
| Jimmy, very red; she's coming"
They reached the Safe Deposit when
the bells Of the city were Ginning the
half hour after IL.
SHALL we go fn?" asked Jimmy,
Better not" advised Angel. .sIf
| SPEEDING knows we have key it might
| spoil the whole show"
So the car slowly patro1led 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.
They had three-quarters Of an hour
to wait, for midnight had rung out from
| the belfrfes long before q big car
came gliding into the thoroughfare
from its western end. 1t 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. ana
every light in the great hall biased.
The girl shivered a 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 1t rose. distinct from the
magnificent building In which It stood
IA granite mass set In fine gold. Old
Reale had possessed 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 a 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.