Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1911-09-02


the basement door and prepared to as
cend. Instantly the cause of the dis
turbsnce flashed upon him.
His strangle hold on Anisty relaxed
he released the man, and. brows
knitted with the concentration of his
thoughts. he stepped back and over to
the girl lifting her hand and gently
taking the revolver from her fingers.
Below, O'Hagan was parleying
through the closed door with the late
callers. Maitland could have blessed
his hot-headed Irish stupidity for the
delay he was causing.
Already Anisty was on his feet
again, blind with rage and crouching
as if ready to spring. only restrained
by the sight of his own revolver
steady and threatening in Maitland's
hand.
For the least part OF a second the
young man hesitated, choosing his
way. Then, resolved, in accents of
determination: Stand up, you houndi :"
he cried. Back to the wall there!"
and thrust the weapon under the burg
lars nose.
The move gained instant obedience
Mr.. Anisty could not reasonably hest
tate in the face of such odds
And you" Maitland continued over
his shoulder to the girl without remov-
ing his attention from the burglar, Into
the alcove there, at oncel And not a
word. not a whisper, not a sound until
l call you'll"
She gave him one frightened and
piteous glance, then, unquestioning
slipped quietly behind the portieres.
To Anisty. again: Turn your peck
cts out!" commanded Maitland.
Quick, you fooli The police are be-
| low; your freedom depends on your
haste"
| Anisty's hands flew to his pockets,
| emptying their contents on the floor.
Maitlands eyes sought in vain the
shape of the canvas bag. But time
was too precious. Another moments
procrastination and
THAT will do" he said, crisply,
without raising his voice. Now listen
to me. At the end of the hall, there,
you'll find a trunk closet, from which
| a window"
IT know"
| Naturally you would. Now gol"
'
| the permission. Whatever the mad
ness of Mad Maitland, he was con
cerned only to profit by it. Never be-
fore had the long arm of the law
stretched hungry fingers so near his
collar. He went, springing down the
hall in long, soundless strides, vanish
ing into its shadows.
As he disappeared Maitland stepped
| to the door, raised his revolver, and
pulled the trigger twice. The shots
| detonated loudly in that confined space
and rang coincident with the clash and
clatter of shivered glass. A thin cloud
of vapor obscured the doorway, sway
| ing on the hot, still air, then parted
and dissolved. dissipated by the en-
trance of four men who, thrusting the
door violently open, struggled into the
hallway.
Blue cloth and brass buttons moved
conspicuously in the van, grim face
flushed and perspiring beneath the he'll
NETS vizor, revolver poised menac
ingly in one hand, locust as ready in
the Other. Behind this outward and
visible manifestation of the laws
| majesty bobbed a rusty derby. cooked
4
| forehead of a short and thick-set per
son with black mustache. O'Hagan's
agitated counteRanee doomed over q
dusty shoulder, and the battered silk
hat of the nighthawk brought up the
rear.
Come in, everybody" Maitland
greeted them cheerfully, turning bach
into the study and tossing the revol
| yer, shreds of smoke still curling VI
from it's muzzle, upon a divan
"O'Hagan," he called, on second
thought, Jump downstairs and see
that all New York doesn't get in. Let
nobody I'M"
AS the janitor unwilling1y obeyed
policeman and detective found theil
tongues. A volley of questions. to thu
general Burport of Whats tn meanin
of all this here?" assailed Maitland as
he rested himself coolly on an edge
of the desk. He responded. with one
eyebrow slightly elevated:
"A burglar What did you suppose
That was INDUCING in target practices
at this time of night?"
Which way'd he go?"
Back of the fiat-through the win
dow to the fire-escape, l suppose.
took a couple of shots after him, but
missed, and, inasmuch as he wa;
armed, 1 didn't pursue"
+ Hickey stepped forward, glowerins
4klnpleasantly at the young man. "Yel
MO along" he told the uniformed man
- nd see 4 he's tellin' the truth. II
stay here nd keep him company"
His tone amused Maitland. In The
reaction from the recent strain upoT
his wits and nerve, he laughed openly
And who are your" he suggested
smiling. as the policeman clumpeG
heavily away.
Hickey spat thoughtfully into I