The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1916-04-07

''''"vv~~"%~'SVS~ S~VV~VNS"SV~SN
I as he spoke the light OF the nash-
lamp was hlotted out An instant later
the girl heard a little clashing noise Of
curtain rings sliding along a pole, and
this was thrice repeated. Then, follow
ing another brief pause, a switch
clicked and, streaming from the hood
Of portable electric desk lamp, pool
Of light flooded the heart of a vest
place OF shadows
Reviewing It swiftly, the girl found
herself in an apartment whose doors
and windows alike were cloaked with
heavy draperies hanging from floor to
ceiling In long, shining folds. Immense
| black bookcases lined the walls their
shelves crowded with volumes in rich
bindings; from their tops pallid, sculp
tured masks peered down inqui8itiyely,
leering and scowling at the intruders.
A huge mantepiece or carved mar
bic, supporting a great, dark mirror,
occupied the best of one wall; beneath
II a wide, deep fireplace yawned insult
hciently shielded by a screen Of
wrought brass and crystal. In the mid
die of the room stood a library table
Of mahogany; huge leather chairs and
couches encumbered the remainder O.
its space And one corner, that to the
right of the fireplace, was shut OF by
high Japanese screen of cinuabar
and gold.
To this Lanyard moved confidently
carrying the lamp. Placing it on the
floor, he grasped one wing of the
screen With both hands, and at cost OF
considerable effort swung it aside, un
covering the face OF huge, old-style
safe, Of which the body was buried in
the wall
For several seconds-but not for
many-Lanyard studied this problem
intently, standing quite motionless,
head lowered and thrust forward
hands resting on his hips. |hen. turn
ing, he nodded an invitation to come
nearer.
My last job" he said, with a smil-
ing countenance oddly lighted by the
lamp at his feet-"and my easiest,
fancy. Sorry too, for I'd rather have
liked to show off a Bit But this old.
fashioned tin bank gives no excuse for
spectacular methods"
But the girl objected, you've
brought no tools!"
"Oh, but | have!" And fumblng in
a pocket, Lanyard produced a pencil
Behold" he laughed, brandishing it.
She knitted thoughtful brows. u
don't understand"
"All | need-except this"
Crossing to the desk he found a
sheet of note paper and. folding it, re-
turned
Now" he said, give me five min
utes."
Kneeling, he gave the combination.
knob smart preliminary twirl, then
rested a shoulder against the sheet OF
painted iron, his cheek to its smooth,
cold cheek, his ear close beside the
dial, and with the practtced fingers Of
a master locksmith and an authority
on strong-box construction. began to
manipulate the knob.
Gently, tirelessly, to ana fro he twist
ed, turned, raced and checked the com
bination, caressing it, humoring IT, |
wheedling it, ineXorably questioning |
it in the dumb language his fingers !
spoke so deftly. And in his ear the |
click and whir and thump of shifting |
wards and tumblers murmured articu |
late response in the terms of Their |
cryptic code.
Now and again, releasing the knob |
and sitting back on his heels, he would J
bend grave scrutiny to the dial, note
the position of the combination, ard |
with his pencil jot memoranda on the
folded sheet of paper. This happened
perhaps a dozen times spaced by in,
tervals of irregular duration
But it had only been a premonitory
rumble in the inwards of a tall old
clock, about to strike in the reception
hall And as its 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 hushed
exclamation of satisfaction. studied his
for a space then swiftly
and with assured movements threw
the knob and dial into the several
varying positions Of the combination
the lever handle, turned it
and swung the door wide
open
Simple, eh?" he chuckled, with
glance aside at the girls eager face,
flushed and shadowed by
the lamps upthrown glow-"when one
knows the trick. of course! And now !
if one were not an honest mana
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
array of leather jewel
cases, packet 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,
ler personal jewels, that Madam Om-
Der took with her to England" he ey-
)lained shes mad about them
never separated from them Perhaps
he finest collection of priceless stones
n the world for size and purity of wa
er She had the heart to leave these Z
all this!" N
Lifting hand, he chose at random, !: 9