Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1916-04-15
CHAPTER Xxx.
of With. the Old.

dark mystery. she nerved herself
against a protracted vigil. The obscur-
ity on every hand seemed alive with
stealthy footsteps. whisperings, muir
murings, the passage of shrouded
shapes of silence and of menace. Her
eyes ached, her throat and temples
throbbed, her skin crept, her scalp
different noises of alarm.
The only sounds she did not seem to
hear were those-if any-that accom-
panied Lanyard's departure and re-
turn. Had he not been thoughtful
enough, when a few feet distant, to
give warning with the light she might
well have greeted with cry of fright
the consciousness of presence near
her, SO silently he moved about. As
it was, she was startled, apprehensive
of some misadventure, to find him
back so soon, for he hadn't gone three
minutes. long though her nervousness
had made that period SEEM
Its quite all right" he announced
in hushed accents-no longer whisper
ing. There are just five people in
the house aside from ourselves-all
We've clear fieid-if no excuse for
we'll be finished and off again within
ten minutes. This way."T
AS he spoke the light of the flash
lamp was blotted 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, switch
clicked, and, streaming from the hood
of a portable electric desk lamp, 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 pallid, sculp-
tured masks peered down inquisitively,
leering and scowling at the intruders.
A huge mantelpiece of carved mar
Bile, supporting a great, dark mirror,
occupied the best of one wall; beneath
it a wide, deep fireplace yawned, insult
fciently shielded by a screen of
wrought brass and crystal. In the mid
die of the room stood library table
of mahogany; huge leather chairs and
couches encountered the remainder of
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, I'M
covering the face Of a huge, old-style
safe, of which the body was buried in
the wall.
For several secondsHbut not for
studied this problem
intently, 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 smil-
ing countenance oddly lighted by the
lamp at his feet-"and my easiest, 1
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 toolsi''
"Oh, but 1 havei" And fumbling in |
! pocket, Lanyard produced a pencil. |
Behold" he laughed, brandishing it. |
She knitted thoughtful brows. 81 |
1on't understand"
All l need-except this"
Crossing to the desk, he found a |
sheet of note paper and. folding it, re-
turned
ssNow." he said. give me five min
1tes.''
Kneeling, he gave the combination
mob smart preliminary twfrI, then
rested a shoulder against the sheet of
painted iron, his cheek to it's smooth,
,old cheek, his ear close beside the
iiai, and with the practiced fingers of
| master locksmith and an authority
IN strong-box construction, began to
the knob
Gently, tirelessly, to and fro he twist
ID, turned, raced and checked the COM
'ination, caressing it, humoring it,
FheedHng it, lnexorably Questioning
t IN the dumb language his fingers
poke SO deftly- And in his ear the
lick and whir and thump of shifting
Yards and tumblers murmured articu-
ate response in the terms OF their
:ryptic code
Now and again, releasing the knob
md sitting back on his heels, he would
END grave scrutiny to the dial, note
he position OF the combination, and
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