The Washington herald., 1921-05-01

great throbs, with ominous inter-
walls between.
Lift your arm" said Doctor
James.
You know-I can't move. Doc
tor"
The physician stepped swiftly to
the hall door, opened IL, and listen
ed. All was still. without further
lcircumvention he went to the safe,
and examined 1t. OF q primitive
make and simple design, it afforded
little more security than protection
against light-flngered servants. To
his skill it was a mere toy, q thing
of straw and pasteboard. The
money was as good as in his hands.
With his clamps he could draw the
knob, punch the tumblers and open
the door in two minutes. Perhaps,
in another way. he might open 1t
in one.
Kneeling upon the noor. he laid
his ear to the combination plate,
and slowly turned the knob. As he
had surmised, IL was locked at only
day com."-upon one number. His
keen ear caught the faint warning
click as the tumbler was disturbed;
he used the clue-the handle turned.
He swung the door wide open.
The interior CT the safe was bare
not even a scrap Of paper rested
within the hollow iron cube.
Doctor James rose 20 his feet ana
walked back to the .G.
A thick dew had formed upon the
dying mans brow, but there was
mocking. grim srile en- his lips
and in his eyes.
Il never-saw IL before he said,
painfully, medicine and-burgla-y
welded. Do you-make the-com-
| hination pay-dear Doctor"
Than that situation afforded. there
was never a more rigorous test OF
Doctor James greatness. Trapped
by the diabolic humor OF his victim
unsafe. he maintained his dignity
Taking out his watch, he waited
for the man to die
You were-just q shade-too--
anxious-about that money. But It
never was-in any danger-from
you, dear doctor. It's safe. Perfect
ly safe. It's all-in the hands--of
the bookmakers. Twenty-thou-
sand-Amy's money. played II at
the races-lost every-cent of it.
I've been a pretty bad boy. Burglar
excuse me-Doctor, but I've been
square sport. 1 don't think-I
ever met-such an-sighteen-carat
rascal as you are, Doctor-excuse
me-Burglar, in all my rounds. Is
Il contrary-to the ethics-of your
gang. Burglar. to give a victim
excuse me-patient. drink Of
water?"
Doctor James brought him a
drink. He could scarcely swallow
II. The reaction from the powerful
drug was coming in regular intcIsi-
Tying waves But his moribund
fancy must have one more grazing
fling.
.iGambler-drunkard
I've. been those, but-a doctor
burglar!".
The physician INDUCED himself
to but one reply to the others
caustic taunts. Bending low to
catch Chambers fast crystallizing
gaze, he pointed to the sleeping
lady's door with a gesture so stern
and significant that the PROSTATE
man half lifted his head, with his
remaining strength. to see. He
saw nothing; but he caught the
cold words Of the doctor-the last
sounds he was to hear:
81 never yet-struck q woman.
1t were vain to attempt to con
such men. There Is no curriculum
that can reckon with them In its
ma
types whereof r1en say, He Will
do this" or "He will do that. :"
We only know that they exist: and
that we can observe them. and tell
one another of their bare per-
formances as children watch and
speak of the marionettes.
Yet Il were a droll study In ego
tism to consider these two-one an
assassin and a robber, standing
above his victim: the other paser
in his offences, II a lesser law
| breaker, lying, abhorred, In the
house of the wife he had perse-
cuted, spoiled. and smitten' one a
tiger, the other q dog-wolt-to
consider each of them sickening AZ
the fouiness of the other; ana each
flourishing out of the mire OF MS
manifest guilt his own Immaculate
standard-of conduct, IL not OF
honor.
The one retort of Doctor James
must have struck home to the 9TH
er's remaining shreds OF shame
and manhood, for It proved the
coup de grace. A deep blush SUI
fused his face-an ignominious
rosa mortis; the respiration ceased.
and. with scarcely q tremor. Chand-
Ter expired.
Close following upon his last
breath came the negress. bringing
the medicine. With Q hand gently