The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-12-14

sound; OF that I was certain. Yet some
sixth sense must have warned her Of my
presence. For without rhyme or reason
she suddenly stood erect, and swinging
about in her tracks, confronted me.
Her face, which had been a little flushed
from STOPPING. went white She stared
at me without speaking, her eyes wide
with terrified wonder.
I stared back at her with singulary
disengaged mind. I felt, in fact, very
: much at my ease, very much the master
of the situation.
Her next move, however, threw new
complexion on the situation. For she un-
expectedIy let her hand dart out to the
] wall beside her, Just behind the safe TOP
As she did so, could hear the snap OF
switch button; the next moment the
lights went out. 1t left the room in i'm
penetrable darkness.
As stood peering unavailingiy through
the gloom ! could hear the quick thud
of the safe door being shut. Then came
the distinct sound Of a heavy key being
thrust and turned in a metal lock-the
safe. obviously was Of the old-fashioned
key-tumbler make-and then the noise OF
this key being withdrawn Then came q
click or two OF shoe heels, rustic Oh
clothing, and a moment later the start
lingly sharp shattering Of a window pane
The woman had deliberately locked the
safe and flung the key through the win
dow! She had stolen a march on me.
BE SO good as to turn on that Ight!
commanded.
Not a sound came from the darkness.
Turn I'D that light" I cried, 'or III
fire! I'll rake every foot of this room!'
and with that I gave very significant
double click to my cigarette-case spring.
The light came on again, as suddenly
as IL went out discreetly pocketed my
cigarette case
The woman was standing beside the
safe, as before, studying me with her
wide and challenging eyes. But all this
time not a word had come from her lips.
sit down." commanded, as authori-
tatiyely and yet as offhandedly as 1
could. II was then that she spoke for
the first time.
Thank you. prefer to stand" was
her answer. She spoke calmly and dis
tinctly and almost without accent Yet
1 felt the voice was, in some way, for
eign one.
You will be hero for some time" I
limited.
"And your" she asked. / noticed an
almost imperceptible shrug Of her softly
rounded shoulder.
I'm be here until that safe Is opened"
was my retort.
"Ah. then / shall sit down." she muir
INJURED, as she caught up the lace cape
and adjusted II about her shoulders.
For, believe me, that will be a very,
very long time, monsieur
I watched her carefully as she crossed
the room and sank into a chair. She
drew her cream-colored train across her
knees with frugal and studious DELHI
erateness-
watched her. that her ruse might have
been a double-barreled one. 1t was not
the key to the safe she had flung through
the window She would never have been
so foolish. She still had that key some
where about her.
"And now what must dor she asked.
as she drew the cloak closer about her
shoulders.
'You can hand me over the key to that
safe was my answer.
She could actually afford to laugh lit
tie.
That is quite impossible"'
81 want that key" ! insisted.
Pardon, but is this not-dangerous?"
she mildly inquired rs 1t not so 10 break
into houses at midnight, and rob women?'
1t was my turn to laugh.
Not a bit of it." calmly assured her.
"And you can judge IL I'm frightened or
not There's something much more dan
gerous than that
She was again studying me with her
puzzled and ever-narrowing eyes.
Which means?" she prompted.
well. for example. the theft OF gov
ernmental naval codes, among other
things"
You are very, very drunk she re-
torted, with her quietly scoffing smile.
Or you are insane, quite insane. May
not lock my Jewels in my own safe? All,
begin to see-this is a trick, that you
may steal from me!''
Then why not send for the police"'
challenged. pointing toward the tele-
phone.
A look Of guile crept into her studious
eyes
You will permit that?" she asked.
Il invite it" was my answer.
Then shall call for help"
''Only from the police"
yes, shall call for help she re-
peated, crossing to the telephone.
I leaned forward as she stood in front
Of it I caught her bare arm in my left
hand, just below the elbow. AS drew it
backward it brought her body against
mine, pinning her other arm down close
against my side.
The thing was repugnant to me, but It
was necessary. As pinioned her there.
writhing and painting. I deliberately
thrust my right hand into the open bosom
of her gown. 1t was the key itself that
redeemed the assault and brought a gasp
Of relief to my lips. the huge brass key.
as big as an egg heater.
'Lache" l heard gasped into my ear.
You know you can still call the po-
Ice" I told her as l. faced the heavy
black door of the safe. One turn of the
wrist. knew, would bring me face to
face with my prize
A sudden movement from the woman.
as stopped over the safe door, brought
and halfway across the room before I
could Intercept her.
That earlier assault at my hands
seemed to have inundated her. could
see actual terror in her eyes as forced
her back against the wall She must
have realized her. helplessness. She stared
up into my face, bewildered. desperate.
'Wait!' she cried, catching at my arm.
IF there is anything you want I win
give it to you"
''There are several things want" was
my incorporating answer.
But why should you want them? she
asked, still clinging to my arm.
its my duty to take them" I re-
piled, unconscious Of any mendacity.
That's what I'm sent here forl That's
why I've watched the man who gave you
the packetP'
what packetr
'sThe packet you took in Madison