Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1914-05-23

pared.
He dropped a FELLOWSHIP, shirred
at the open end with cord, over her
head, pulling the cord tight around
her throat, and he pressed the end
of his first finger against her back,
between the shoulders, as if it were
a gun-barrel.
Don't speak, and you won't be
hurt" he said. Don't struggle, and
! won't tie you. Sit still and be ST.
lent, and III be gone in a short time
and ! won't take your sinners, if
that's any comfort to you. There's
a hole in the top of this thing to give
you air. How about it, Jess ?"
"Oh, you know me, do you?" she
retorted, perfectly cool, knowing
that she was helpless. The mans
methods were new to her, and they
were thorough.
Rather. Better than you sup
pose"
he tied several hard knots in the
cord.
What do you want here ?"
Never mind. I'll find it," He
moved an automatic Colt that was
on the table, ready at her hand, out
of her reach. Two large diamonds
cleaned in her ears, and he touched
them with the tips of his fingers.
She WINGED.
"You said" she began, but ne
interrupted her.
81 don't want them, and won't take
them if you'll be good, Jess. How
about it ?"
"You win. But you're taking
chances, whoeve you are with your
cracked voice. Brian is due about
now"
"Then get busy and pray for him,
Jess; for if Shaugh comes before
get through, he'll never get inside.
| didn't come alone. Don't forget
that know you better than you
think, Jess. | know Shaugn, too,
better than he thinks | do"
Crewe was occupied while he
talked He glided swiftly from place
to place, shooting chances toward
tn. woman ceaselessly as he worked
He avoided ordinary hiding places.
His rapid motions, his deftness and
thoroughness were surprising Moth
ing escaped him; but, also, he did
not find what he sought.
Within ten minutes he had fin
ished, and he stopped in front of the
woman, looking down upon her.
Twill you show me what's in your
private bank, Jess, or shall get it 2"
he asked.
You said" she exclaimed, half
starting to her feet, but he pushed
her back again.
"I'll stick to what / said. | don't
want your money or your sinners
Show me-"
She bent forward and presently
produced a chamois pouch, which
she held out to him. There's eight
hundred in the roll, besides my
jewelry," she said.
He accepted it without a word,
and removed the contents. A smaller
pouch of chamois he opened, peered
into, and closed again. 1t held only
Jewels. The money was rolled from
end to end, and contained by a rub
Der band. He opened the roll and
discovered a slip of paper, which he
studied for a moment. Then he re-
stored the whole in its original con-
dition to the chamois pouch and re-
turned it to her.
Nothing doing, Jess" he said.
Put it back"
While she restored the chamois
pouch to its hiding-place Crewe
turned his back to her, his mind IN.
tently upon the contents of that
scrap of paper inside the woman 5
bank-roll. He lifted his eyes to a
mission clock in one corner OF the
room. He had already searched it.
On the mantel he had found an extra
pair of brass weights.
He moved swiftly toward them;
carried them to the clock, and
changed them for the pair in use.
He dropped those that he took from
the clock into his coat-pockets,
heavy though they were. Then,
without another word to the woman
he left her.
Crewe stepped from the private
hall into the corridor and ran plump
into Shaughnessy in the utter dark
ness. Shaughnessy swore, and that
betrayed his identity. Then he
struck out with his fist.