The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-04-08

no danger-and yOun never see the
Ike OF this againI"
Still she stubborniy withheld her
hand mo. mol" she pleaded I'D
rather not touch It. Put it back Let's
hurry. I'm frightened"
He shrugged and. acquiescent. re-
placed the jewel; then yielded again to
impulse Of curiosity and lifted the lid
Of the second case.
I Contained nothing but pieces set
with cOlOred stones OF the first order
-emeralds, 'amethysts. sapphfres. ru-
pies topaz, garnets. lapis-IazuIi,
1aetnths. jades-fashioned by master
craftsmen into rings, bracelets. chains
brooches, lockets. necklaces OF ex-
qu1site design-the whole thrown
heeolessly together, without care or
arrangement
For moment the adventurer stared
down -moodily at this priceless hoard.
nus eyes narrowing. his breathing per
ceptibly Quickened- Then, with a slow
gesture. he reclosed the case, took
from his pocket that other case which
he had brought from London, opened
1t. and held It aside, beneath the light.
for the girls inspection.
He looked not once either at its con-
tents or at her. fearing lest his coun-
tenance betray the truth, that he had
not yet succeeded completely in exor-
Ching that mutinous spirit, the Lone
WOLF, from the tenement over which
1t had so long held sway; and content
with the sound Of her quick. startled
sigh Of amaze, that what she now be-
held could so marvelously outshine
what had been disclosed in the other
boxes. he withdrew his hand, shut the
case, found place for it in the safe,
and without pause closed the door.
shot the bolts and twirled the dial
until the tumblers fairly sang.
One final twist of the lever handle
convincing him that the combination
was effectively dislocated. he rose.
picked up the lamp. replaced It on the
desk with scrupulous care to leave no
sign that 1t had been moved, and
looked round to the girl
She was where he had left her. a
small. tense, vibrant figure among the
shadows. her eyes dark pools OF won
der in a face Of blazing paIIor.
With high head and his shoulders
well back he made a gesture signify
ing more eloquently than any words:
"All that is ended"
AS though thereby released from
chains of some strange enchantment,
she started and came swiftly toward
him
And now" she asked breathlessly.
srN-avr- 70
piled with assumed lightness- Before
dawn we must be clear OF Paris. Two
minutes. while straighten this place
up and leave it as 1 found IT.
He moved back to the safe. restored
the wing OF the screen to the spot FROM
which he had moved it and. after an
instant's close scrutiny OF the rug. be-
gan to explore his pockets
What are you looking for 90 the girl
inquired, coming over to him again
MY memoranda of the combina-
ton"
81 have it." She indicated its hid
ing place in a pocket of her coat you
left it on the floor. and 1 was afraid
you might forget"
NO fearI" he laughed. 'No"-as
she offered him the folded paper
keep it and destroy it once we're out
Of this Now those portieres"
Distinguishing the desk-hght, he
turned attention to the draperies at
doors and windows
Within five minutes, leaving every
thing as they had found it, the two
were once more in the silent streets
Of Passy.
CTO BE CONTINUED