Mountain advocate. (Barbourville, Ky.) 1904-1935, 1916-06-23

BEHOLD" he laughed, brandishing IL.
She knitted thoughtful brows. Il
don't understand"
An | ncod-cXccpt this"
Crossing to the desk, he found a
sheet Of note paper and, folding it. re-
turned.
"Now." he said. give me five min
u.es."
Knecling. he gave the combinations
knob a smart preliminary twirl, then
rested shoulder against tn" sheet of
painted iron, his cheek TO its smooth.
cold cheek. his ear close beside the
dial. and with the practicod fingers of
a master loCksmith and an authority
on strong.box construction, began to
manipulate the knob.
Gently. tirelessly, to and fro he twist
ed. turned. r@Ccd and checked the com.
bination, Caros5inE it, humOring II,
wheedling it, incXorably questioning
it in the dumb language his fingers
spoke so deity. And in his ear the
click and whlr and thump of shifting
wards and tumblers murmWcd articu
late response in the terms of their
cryptic code
Now and again, releasing the knob
and sitting back on his heels, he would
bend grave scrutiny to the dial, note
the position Of the combination, and
with his pencil jot memoranda on the
folded sheet OF paper. This happened
perhaps n dozen times, spaced by in.
tervals of irregular duration.
lie worked diligently, in phase of
concentration that apparently eXclud-
cd from his consciousness the near
proximity of the girl, who stood-or
rather stopped, half kneeling-less
than a pace from his shoulder. watch
ing the process with interest hardly
less keen than.his own.
Yet when one faint, odd sound broke
the slumbrous silence Of the salon, in
stantly he swung around and stood
erect in a siRale movement, gaze to
the curtains
But it had only been a premonitory
rumble in the iuwarGs OF a tall old
clock, about 10 strike in the reception
hall. And as its sunorous chimes her
aided two dooptoued strokes lanyard
laughed quietly. Intimately. into the
girls startled eyes and sanl, bacl, be-
fore the safe.
And now his task was nearly fin.
ishcd Within another minute he sat
back with face ag,ow, uttered hushed
exclamation u satisfaction. studied his
memoranda for --a,a thrn ewiitly
and with acquired u.vewnr's threw
the knob ~. ... .l.u 3d.. ..raral
varying positions VI o.. combination.
araspad the lower handle. t.rned il
sulvt'y and SWUNG the door wide
open.
Simple. eh2' D." gurehsH. with a
glance aside at the girls eager face
bewitchmgiy flushed and Swallowed by
the lamps upthruvu when one
knows the trick. Of course, And now
if one were not an honest mana
fortunes ours Tor the taking"
\ wave Of his hand indicated the
rack Of pig~dnholas with which the
cavity of the safe was fttCd-wide
spaces and deep, stored tight with an
extraordinary array of leather jewel
cases. packets of stout paper bound
with tape and sealed, and boxes Of
wood and pastcboard Of every shape
and size.
"They were only her finest pieces
her personal Jew els. that Madam ON
Der took with her 10 England" he ex
planned; she's mad eh.It them
never separated from H. 3d. Perhaps
the finest collection Of priceless stones
in the world for size and purity Of wa
ter She had the heart TO leave these
all this"
Lifting a hand. he chose at random.
dislodged two leather cases, placed
them on the floor, and with blade OF
his penknite forced their fastenings.
From the first the light smote radt
ance IN binding, coruscant welter;
here was nothing but diamond Jewe.ry
mostly in antique settings.
He took up piece and offered it 10
a. Ill Il. l. Ia,