Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1916-04-15

But it had only been premonitory
rumble in the inwards OF a tall old
clock, about to strike. in the reception
hall And as it's sonorous chimes her.
aided two -deep-toned strokes Lanyard
laughed quietly, Intimately. into the
girls startled eyes and sank back be-
fore the safe.
And now his task was nearly fin
ished. Within another minute he sat
back with face aglow. uttered a hushed
exclamation OF satisfaction, studied his
memoranda for a space, then swiftly
and with assured movements threw
the knob and dial into the several
varying positions of the combination.
grasped the lever handle, turned it
smartly and swung the door wide
open
Simple, eh?" he chuckled, with a
glance aside at the girls eager face,
bewitchingiy flushed and Swallowed by
the lamps upthrown glow--when one
knows the trick, of coursei And now
If one were not an honest man-a
fortunes ours for the taking!''
A wave of his hand indicated the
rack OF pigeonholes with which the
cavity of the safe was ftted-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 pasteboard OF every shape
and size.
They were only her finest pieces,
her personal Jewels, that Madam Om-
Der took with her to England" he ex-
planned; she's mad about them
| never separated from them Perhaps
the finest collection of priceless stones
in fy1n Co. e.sr
ter. She had the heart to leave these
ALI this.''
Lifting a hand, he chose at random.
dislodged two leather cases, placed
them on the floor, and with a blade of
his penknife forced their fastenings
| From the first the light smote radi-
ance in binding. coruscant welter;
here was nothing but diamond jeweIry,
mostly in antique settings
He took up piece and offered it to
the girl She drew back her hand in
voluntarily.
| mol" she protested in a whisper
| that sounded like one of fright.
But just 1ooki' he urged There's
| no danger-and you'll never see the
like of this again."
| Still she stubbornly 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
1t contained nothing but pieces set
| with colored stones of the first order
l-emeralds, amethysts, sapphires, ru-
| bies, topaz, garnets, lapis-lazuli,
| jacinths, jades-fashioned by master
craftsmen into rings, bracelets, chains,
brooches, 1ockets. necklaces of ex-
quisite design-the whole thrown
heedlessly together, without care or
arrangement.
For a moment the adventurer stared
down moodily at this priceless hoard,
his 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
it, 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
it 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 twiried the dial
until the tumblers fairly sang
One final twist of the lever handle
convincing him that the combination
was effectively disiocated, he rose,
picked up the lamp, replaced it on the
desk with scrupulous care to leave no
sign that it had been moved, and
looked round to the girl
She was where he had left her,
small, tense, vibrant figure among the
shadows. her eyes dark pools of won
der in face of blazing pallor
With high head and his shoulders
well back he made 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 breathlessIy.
Now to make our getaway" he re-
piled with assumed lightness. Before
H.