The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1911-06-02

please him. His brows cleared. the
wrath that had made his face almost
unrecognizable subsidized; he even
smiled. And the girl trembled. know
ing that he had solved her secret; Tor
she had hoped against hope that the
only words he could have heard ner
sneak would have had too cryptic .
| significance for his comprehension.
AS. slowly and composedly, he re-
placed the receiver on its hook ana
returned the instrument to the desk.
short and rotund figure of a man, IN
rumpled evening dress and wearing
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 a face the hue Of yeast, and
clutched the burglars arm.
.'Oh, Anisty. Anisty!" he cried.
niteously. 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 I never saw one on Matt
lands desk!--and 'O'Hagan, and who
the divvle are your says the man on
the other end of the wire, when l ask
who he is"
"And? And?" pleaded the little
man, dancing with worry.
"And it means that my lady here re-
turned the jewels to Maitland by hid
ing them under brass ash-receiver on
his desk-ass that l was not to know!
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?"
"Do?' contemptuously. why.
what is there to do but go and get
them? We've risked too much and
made New York too hot for the two
game without the profits"
But l beg of you"
You eedn't'-grimly. 1T won't
bring you in any money"
But Maitland"
us out. O'Hagan answered the
phone. Dent you understand"
'But he may return!"
That's his lookout. I'm sorry for
him if he does" Anisty produced the
revolver from his pocket, and twirled
the cylinder significantly Il owe Mr..
Maitland something" he said, nodding
to the white-faced girl by the table,
"and l shouldn't be sorry to"
And what" broke in the newcomer,
what am going to do meanwhile? ?"
Devil the bit l care! Stay here
and keep this impetuous female from
calling up police headquarters, for a
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 small screw-driver
which he produced from his coat
pocket, talking the while.
"Our best plan, my dear Banner.
man, is for you to come with me, at
least as far as the nearest corner.
You can wait there, if you're too COW
ardly to go the limit, like a man. I'll
get the loot and join, you, and we can
make swift hike for the first train
that goes farthest out of town. A pity,
for we've done pretty well, you and l.
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's
concerned. Come along. That's fin.
ished; she won't send any important
messages over that wire tonight, l
guess
My dear young LADY," Rising and
throwing the overcoat over his arm,
he waved his hat at her in sardonic
courtesy. II can't say it has been a
pleasure to know you, but-you have
made it interesting, l admit. And /
bid you very good night The char
woman will let you out when she
comes to clean up in the morning.
Adieu, my DEAR"
The little man hustled after him.
bleating and fidgeting; and the lock
clicked.
She was alone-utterly and forlorn.
" alone-and had lost-lost all. all
that she had priced and hoped to win,
even-even. him.
She raised fluttering. impotent white
hands to her temples. trying to collect
herself.
In the outer room a clock was tick.
Ing. Unconsciously she moved to the
doorway and stood looking for 4 time
at the white, expressionless dial. It
was some time-a minute or two-be-
fore she deciphered the hour.