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

i
lamp was hIotted out An instant later
the girl heard little clashing noise of
curtain rings sliding along q pole. and
this was thrice repeated Then, follow
ing another brief pause. q switch
clicked, and, streaming from the hood
Of portable electric desk lamp, a pool
OF light flooded the heart OF a vast
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 paIlid, sculp-
tured masks peered down inquisitively,
leertng and scOwHng at the intruders.
A huge mantelpiece OF carved mar
Bile, supporting a great, dark mirror.
occupied the best of one wall; beneath
it 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 encountered the remainder CT
its space And one corner, that to the
right OF the fireplace, was shut OF by
a high Japanese screen Of cinnabar
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
intentIy. standing quite motionless,
head lowered and thrust forward,
hands resting on his hips Then, turn
ing. he nodded an invitation to come
nearer.
My last job" he said, with a smfl-
ing countenance oddly lighted by the
lamp at his feet--and my easiest, /
fancy. Sorry, too. for I'd rather have
liked to show OF a bit! But this old
fashioned tin bank gives no excuse for
spectacular methodist"
But" the girl objected, you've
brought no tools!"
"Oh, but have!" And fumbIing in
a pocket, Lanyard produced a pencil.
Behold" he laughed, brandishing it.
She knitted thoughtful broEs. 81
don't understand"
'All 1 need-except this"
Crossing to the desk, he found
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 practiced fingers of
a master locksmith and an authority
on stronghold construction, began to
manipulate the knob.
Gently, tirelessly, to and fro he twist
ed, turned, raced and checked the com
binatiOn, caressing it, humoring it,
wheedling it, inexorably questioning
1t in the dumb language his fingers
spoke so deity. 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
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 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 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 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?''N he chuckIed, with
glance aside at the girls eager face,
beWitchingly flushed and Swallowed by
the lamps upthrown glow-"when one
knows the trick, of Counsel And now
If one were not an honest mana
fortunes ours for the takingl"
A wave Of his hand indicated the
rack Of pigeonholes with which the
cavity of the safe was ftted-wfde
spaces and deep, stored tight with an
extraordinary 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,
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 the world for size and purity of wa
ter She had the heart to leave these
all thisl"