Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-07-20


. She sat down without being forced into the chair
Her alert and evermovins eyes blazed luminous from
/ had already counted m tho sore dior 90 +,
swung back, making a barrier the corner in
whicn she sat This found to be the case. I took
second precaution, however, by showing tilted chat,
BACK firmly In under the edge of the safe Jock
Knew as stopped before the open strong boy
that she could make no sudden move without m,
Delng conscious of it also knew that time wa.
precious So reached into the depths of the almost
empty safe and lifted out number Of papers neatly
hed together by rubber band.
These placed on the safe top. Then snapped off
the hand and examined the first document On ths
back OF it, neatly inscribed in French was the emin.
entity satisfactory legend plans and Specifications
-Four Submarines BIS. Lake Torpedo COMPANY Bridge.
port" The next packet was blueprint of war pro.
aeches, and on the back of it written: Model
Tracings through Jenner, from the Bliss G. Company
Works-1S-Sef-Projector
The third packet carried inscription But as
opened 1t saw at a glance what it was. / knew
in moment that held before me the governmental
wheel code of wireless signals in active servira t.
the code that had been stolen from Leutenapt
Palmer. The fourth and last paper I found, was
plainly the dummy which had been taken from the
same officer that night in Madison Square The case
was complete. The chase was over and done
What want to know" said I banded the
four papers together and thrust them down in my
pocket lis just how you got that first code from my
young friend the lieutenant?'
Would you like to know" she said lifting her
face and looking with that older half-mockinc glance
into my She was speaking slowly and deiber.
ately, and l could the slight shrug she gave to
pantherlike shoulder would I be SO out Of
place in ballroom? Ah have not more things than
hearts been lost when man dances with a woman?'
II see you mean you stole it. at the Plaza
Not at all, monsieur" she murmured langudly
back. Then she drew deeper BREATH and sat more
rigid in her straight-back chair
Something about her face, at that moment puz-
zled me- 1t seemed to hold some latent mode of con
fionce. The last trace of fear had fled from it,
There was something strangely like triumph, muaed
fear shot through me, as stopped peering into
her shadowy eyes 1t went through my entire body,
ike an electric shock. 1t brought wheeling sud
tO he nd facp tba
open room.
Then understood I saw through it all, in one
tingllns second For there, facing me- stood the
nGure or man in navy blue. 1t the same
figure that had followed through the square
But now there was nothing secretive circuitous
about his attitude. 1t quite the other way; for
as he stood there he held blue barreed revolver
in his hand And could see, only plainly that
it leveled directly at me-
The man took three four steps farther into the
ROOM His revolver still covering me l heard
little gasp from the woman as she rose 70 her f"at
took 1t for gasp of asonishmcnt
You are going to kill him. she cried, in Ger
Haven't got to 2" asked back the man. He spoke
in English and without an accent. Don't you under
stand he's Sofc-brcakcr! Hes broken into this
house? SO! He's caught in the act-shot in self
defense, :"
watched the gun barrel The mans calm words
seemed to horrify the woman at my side But there
was not trace of pity in her voice she spoke
again
Wait" she cried
"Why:' asked the with the gun.
lie has everyt ming the code the plans, everything !"
"Where?'
ION HMM his poclIets.'
Get them! commanded the man.
but he's armed" she explained.
sneer crossed the others impressive face What
II he is: Take his gun; take everything.'
The woman stepped close to where | stood Again
l came within the radius OF her perfumes could
even feel her breath my face. Her movements
were more than ever pantherlike she through
my pockets one by one, Yet her flashing and dex-
hands found revolver, for the simple reason
there was none to lind. This puzzled and worried
Hurry up" commanded the man covering me-
She stepped back and to one sde with the packet
in her hand.
"Now close the windows" ordered the man.
My heart went down in my boots heard the
thud of that second closed window. There was going
to be of time
thought of catching the woman and holding her
sheldke before my body thought of the telephone,
and then Of the light switch and then of the window
But they all seemed hopeless
The woman turned away, holding her hands over
her ears The homogeneous thought flashed through
that two hours before l had called the city fiat
and stale; and here within rifle shot of my cwn
door, standing face to face with death itself
Look here cried, much as hared to- what do
you get out OF this:"
"Your' said the man.
"And what good will that do?"
It'll probably shut your mouth, for one thing
But there are other mouths" / cried And I'm
afraid they have great deal to say"
I'm ready for 'em :" was his answer.
l could see his arm raise little. and straighten
out as it raised. The gun barrel was nothing but a
black at the end Of my line of vision. felt my
heart stop, for surmised what the movement meant
Then laughed outright aloud, and altogether fool
!shly and Historically.
The strain had been too much for me- and the snap
Of the release had suddenly, too unexpected
ly could the with the gun blink perplexe ed
ly, for second two and then l could see the
tightening Of his thin Tipped mouth. But that was not
all | had
For through the half-closed door had caught sight
OF the slowly raised iron rod, the very rod | had
wrenched from the outer hall window. | had seen
its descent at the moment realized the hnality in
those quickly tightening lips
1t struck the its downward sweep. But
it not in time to stop the discharge of the re-
volver. The report Numbered through the room as
the bullet ripped and Splintered into the pine of
the floor. At the rIoment the DISCHARGED ire
went spinning across the room. and the man
who held it down With the blow, young Pa liner
himself swung toward me through the drifting smoke.
As he did so turned to the woman with her
hands still pressed to her ears With fierce
jerk tore the rubber-banded packet Of papers from
her clutch.
But he code?" gasped Palmer, he tugged crazly
at th' safe door.
did not answer him, for sudden movement from
the woman arrested my attention She had stopped
and caught up the fallen revolver, The man in blue.
rolling over on his hip, WAS drawing second gun