, 1915-07-15

ly, but the words were unintelligible
Convinced that longer effort at caves
dropping would avail naught, the de
tective, with his weapon ready, put
forth a cautious hand and parted the
draperies.
Notwithstanding all his painstaking,
something betrayed this new presence
to the keen senses of the burglar. As
the portieres moved slowly apart under
Marshalrs careful fingers there came a
sudden fash of light full in his face.
Blindly he sprang forward and found
himself in grapple with the thief. A
scream came from the The
torch fell to the floor, to be crushed a
moment later under the feet of the
men. The woman shrank in a corner,
ali swooning. The men writhed and
tottered to and fro. scuffiing over the
thick pile of velvet. The weapon of the
detective gave him an advantage. One
fierce blow struck the back of Cree
gan's head. and the man lurched heay.
lily to the floor.
Marshall, after an instant's painting
pause, got out his WI torch and turn
ed its light on the scene. He saw
b woman crouching miserably against
the wall. On the foor the thief was
moaning family. Then the detectives
eyes caught sight of another object on
the floor. He BENT and picked it up
a sheaf of bills of large denomination.
Here was more mystery. But there
was no time now to bother with It'll
He thrust the bills into his coat pocket.
Marshall stepped to the main electric
switch and flooded the whole room
with radiance. Once again Lucene std
e a cry as the brilliant illumination
blinded her. The stricken burglar stir
red n groaned, and then Enclosed his
eye and lay blinking dazedly for a
few seconds. But soon he sat up, very
clumsily, and put a wavering hand to
his head. He brought away the hng-
ers all bloody, and regarded the stains
with disgust.
Hell do well enough now" Mar
shall stated, as he looked up and met
the alarmed gaze of the woman.
Creegan, following the direction of
the detectives glance, turned his head
weakly and perceived the girl, where
h stood against the wall. His coarse
face twisted into a grin.
Hello, Maggier' he mumbled SAY,
the bull near croaked me-"
"But you will be able to go I'm a min
ute" Lucene urged, wrtnging her
hands in desperation. "Oh, pleased
You must! Mr., Marshall will give you
the money. He picked 1t up"
aI1l foEa Won olnnn vrbo. d
Creegan snarled.
What do you meanT" she gasped.
But Marshall interrupted roughly.
Here, you!" he snapped at Creegan.
"You get a hustle on yourself" He
seized tile burglar by the collar and
jerked him to his feet. go on and
get out of here! Didn't you hear what
the lady said?'
Gimme back that roll she give meI'
he commanded surlily.
you stand a fat chance Of getting
that" Marshall exclaimed with a
sneer Then. as the thief moved a
little: None of that side stepping.
eitherl'
"oh, | amt trying to beat It." Cree
gar declared. 81 don't have to-"
Marshall rested wordless, stupefed
by the colossal impudence of this Grim
inal. caught in the very act of bur-
glary. Then the woman darted to
him:
"oh, Mr.. Marshall. please let him
goT' she besought him frantically.
Give him the money and let him go!
oh, you must!'
The detective, however, could no
longer accept this way out of the tan
gle of event. His first instinct of de.
sire to shield the woman for her hus-
bands sake, II not for her own, was
overcome by the responsibility involv-
ed by such a coarse.