University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1915-06-30
Continued from yesterdays issue)

MY little girl, crled the CLERK III
agony. He turned to Martin Wall, hes
itating. His sallow face was white
now, his lips trembled. Doubtfully
he gazed into the frank open counte-
nance of Martin Wall. And then
81 leave you in charge" he shouted,
and fed past Mr.. Wall to the street
For a moment Martin Wall stood,
frozen to the spot. His eyes were un-
believing; his little Cupid's bow
mouth was wide open.
"Here-come back" he shouted,
when he could find his voice.
No one needed. No one heard. Out
side in the street a crowd had gath
cred. Martin Wall wet his dry lips
with his tongue. An unaccOuntable
shudder swept his huge frame.
my God" he cried in voice of
terror, I'm alone!"
For the first time he dared to move.
His elbow bumped a hundred thous-
and dollars worth of unset diamonds
Frightened, he drew back. He collided
with a showcase rich in emeralds,
rubies and aquamarines. He put out
plump hand to steady himself. 1t
rested on a display case of French,
Russian and Dutch silver
Mr.. Walls knees grew weak. He
felt a strange prickly sensation all
over him. He took a step-and was
staring at the finest display of black
pearls south of Maiden Lane, New
York.
Quickly he turned away. His eyes
fell upon the door of a huge safety
vault. 1t was swinging oper!
Little beads of perspiration began
to pop out on the forehead of Martin
Wall. His heart was hammering like
that of a youth who sees after long
separation his lady love. His eyes
grew CLASSY.
He took out a silk handkerchief and
passed it slowly across his damp fore
head.
Staggering slightly. he stepped
again to the trays of unset stones. The
CLASSY eyes had grown greedy now.
He put out one huge hand as the lover
aforesaid might reach toward his
lady's hair.
Then Mr. Wall shut his lips firmly,
and thrust both of his hands deep into
his trousers pockets. He stood there
in the middle of that gorgeous room
a fat figure of man suffering a cruel
inhuman agony.
He was still standing thus when the
tall man came running back. Appre-
hension clouded that sallow face.
"It was very kind of you" The
small eyes of the clerk darted every
where; then came back to Martin
Wall. I'm obliged-why, what's the
matter, sir?"
Martin Wall passed his hand across
his eyes, as a man banishing'a terri
BILE dream.
1.-The little girl?" he asked.
Hardly a scratch" said the clerk,
pointing to the smiling child at his
side. "It was lucky, wasn't it?' He
was behind the counter now, studying
the trays unprotected on the show
case.
Every lucky" Martin Wall still had
to steady himself. Perhaps you'd
like to look about bit before l go"
"Oh, no. sir. Everything's all right,
I'm sure. You were looking at these
stones"
Some other time,' said Wall weak
ly. 81 only wanted an idea of what
you had"
What is it?" Mr.. Wall sought to
look over his shoulder. "Automo-
bile"
"Good day. sir And thank you
very much"
mot at ALL" And the limp ex-guar-
dian passed unsteadily from the store
into the glare of the street.
Mr.. Tom Stacy. of the Manhattan
Club, half doing on the veranda OF
his establishment, was rejoiced to see
his old friend Martin Wall crossing
the pavement toward him.
well. Martin" he began. And
then a look of concern came into his
face. Good lord, man-what ails
you?"
Mr.. Wall sank like wet rag to the
steps.
"Tom," he said, "a terrible thing
has just happened. 1 was left alone