The Washington times., 1917-10-07

I The bit OF advice in the note. how
ever, set Harry to thinking. He knew
! all about Jacks plan and while he
had no idea OF betraying him, at
! the same time the matter OF the
loaded dice rankled and the double
opportunity of securing the two
pearls and reinstating himself In the
esteem OF lima made a strong appeal.
Handsome Jack went about his
work OF purloining the painting with
a light heart. The image of lima
was before him ard he made various
resolves to forsake the error OF his
| ways as soon as he could gather
enough money to make a life without
work possible. He did not stop to
ask whether money thus obtained
would bar him from a girl like lima.
his code was not. deep enough for
that. He believed that wealth, how
ever obtained, gilded with excuses
the various errors of life and worked
accordingly.
When he arrived at the mansion
from which he proposed to steal the
$4,000 masterpiece that formed the
chief ornament of the collection he
found everything favorable. Having
successfully jimmied a window, he
climbed into the vacant house and
proceeded to the large gallery where
the painting hung covered with net
ting.
1t required only a few minutes to |
step from a chair to the mantel and |
with sharp knife to cut the canvas
neatly from the frame. Jack then |
replaced the netting and. rolling up
his prize, surveyed the room. There |
were a number of suits OF armor |
standing around the walls, some large. |
some small
II wonder" said the humorist burg |
lar. how I'd look in one OF those out |
fits." He marched over to q knights |
battle costume and with a little dex- |
ferrous manipulation managed to en- |
case himself in It. Then clanking |
across the floor he tried to imagine !
himself facing the foe on some his |
toric battlefield. Handsome Jack /
laughed aloud-a laugh cut short by /
a voice which >calied Hands up" a |
feminine voice which had a familiar
ring.
Jack. sword in one hand, held his /
steel-encased arms aloft as best he !
could. for through the visor he could |
see the unmistakable CLEANS OF q
pistol.
Now. sir, walk this way" said the
voice. and Jack walked-but his wits
were not idle. With a sudden swish
OA Ine SHOEo ne hnOChco Ine pistol
out OF the intruder's hand and grap-
pied with her.
Her identity was now plain. lima.
the girl he had entertained as a social
butterfly, had held him up and nearly
made him a prisoner. The humor of
the situation made him laugh aloud
II am very sorry to be compelled to
treat you this way" he said blandly,
wondering II she had accomplices. 81
shall have to bind you. but 1 will
endeavor not to annoy you more than
possible.
Handsome Jack used a clothes line
he had brought along for an emerg-
ency and tied lima TO an antique chair
in the most approved modern fashion.
Before the operation was completed
the tramp OF mailed feet caused him
to pause. Il
He felt himself shaken with terror,
and lima, overcome by the uncanni-
ness of the scent, screamed as a sec
ond figure in armor came lunging UP
to her and made for Handsome Jack,
who had now risen and turned to meet
his spookey adversary.
There was no time for words. T4--
Intruder attacked and a duel en-
sued that would have rejoiced the
heart of the king OF knights, the
gentle BayRrd.
The newcomer, however. had the
better of the argument; Handsome
Jack dropped under a vicious blow.
and lay stunned at the feet OF lima.
The victor made haste to emerge
from his sweltering armor and stood
revealed before the eyes OF the fright
ened Inns as the man responsible for
all her misfOrtunes. Il
Thank heaven" cried Harry. as
he unfastened the cord that bound |
her. "at least l am here in time to
save you"
Don't mind me-" she cried anxious
Iy. Get the pearls from that man
there; they're in his waistcoat
pocket"
No sooner said than done. Harry
passed them to lima and the two
started for the window just as a
strange noise attracted their atten-
tion.
What is It?" she asked in a whis-
per. go to the window quick"
Hsrry ran and leaned out and lima
followed. A rough hand was clapped
over her mouth. the pearls were |
wrenched from her hand. and she !
was enveIoped in a portiere all in
seconds time.
The executioner sneered as Harry
turned rnounce to lima that the
coast was clear, and slipped away un-
seen by the young man.
Next sunday another thrilling cpl
sode of ''The Seven Pearls and new