Show r ays fys f HEARTS AND MASKS by HAROLD macgrath Autho tha man on the box etc with by fisher IMS by bobb co CHAPTER VI I 1 continued she clipped blipped it mechanically over her finger but you my dear mr cornstalk he cried turning his shining eyes upon me while his fingers deftly replaced the gems in the bag 1 I have no jewelry I 1 replied toss ing aside the cigarette dut you have something infinitely better I 1 am rather observant in s curio shop you carelessly ex a wallet that was simply chok ing to death with long yellow boys you have it still will you do me the honor stretching out his slim white hand I 1 looked at william he nodded there gasn wasn t the slightest chance for me to argue so I 1 drew out my wal let f extracted the gold bills and made a neat little packet of them it hurt hurt like the deuce to part with them but game william isn t bea most men would have flung the wallet at my head oh he is game sir never ou doubt it sir said the amiable wll ham I 1 have some silver in change I 1 suggested with some bitterness far be it that I 1 should touch sll ver he said generously did this rogue besides you will need some thing to pay for this little supper and the fare back to bew york my bills disappeared into his pocket you will observe that I 1 trust you implicitly I 1 haven t even counted the money william sniggered ered and Is there anything further I 1 inquired the comedy was beginning to weary me it was so one sided I 1 am in no particular hurry the rogue answered his ls smile returning it Is so long since I 1 have chatted with people of my und I 1 scowled pardon me I 1 meant from a social point of view only I 1 admit we would not be equals in the eye of the pres bater and then followed a scene that reminds me to this day of some broken fantastic dream a fragment from some bewildering nightmare CHAPTER IX for suddenly I 1 saw his eyes widen and flash with anger and apprehend slon quick as a passing sun shadow his hand swept the candelabrum i om the table he made a swift back ward spring toward the door but he was a little too late the darkness he had created was not intense enough for there was still the ruddy glow from the logs and the bosom of his dress shirt made a target besides the eyes that had peered into the window were accustomed to the night biang the glass of the window shivered and jingled to the floor and a sharp report followed the rogue cried out in fierce anguish and reeled against the wall william whipped out his revolver but even from his favorable angle he was not quick enough the hand that had dl reeled the first bullet was ready to direct the second all this took place within the count of ten the girl and I 1 sat stiffly in our chairs as it petrified it was all so swiftly accomplished drop if said a cold author dative voice and I 1 saw the vague out alnea of Hag gertys face beyond the broken window pane knew better than to besl tate I 1 Us revolver struck the floor dully and a curse rolled from his lips immediately a heavy body pre itself against the door which crashed inward and an officer fear leibly entered a revolver in each hand this tableau which lasted ful ly a minute was disturbed by the entrance of himself don t be alarmed miss he said heartily its all over im sorry for the bullet but it had to be done the rascal has nothing more serious than a splintered bone I 1 am a dead shot A fine night triumphantly its been a long chase and I 1 never was sure of the finish you re the clever est it has been my good fortune to meet this many a day I 1 flon t even know who you are yet well well well round that up in time not till the candles again sputtered with light and william was securely handcuffed and disarmed did I 1 decol elect lect that I 1 possessed the sense of mo alon tho smoke of powder drifted across the flickering candles and there was a salt taste on my tongue horrible cried the girl covering her eyes the master rogue and hla valet were led out into the assembly room and we reluctantly followed I 1 saw it all now when haggert called up central at the club he where the last call had been from and learning tha it came from holly wood inn he took his chance the room was soon filled with servants and hands the pistol shot hav ing lured them from their beds the wounded man was very pale he sat with his uninjured hand tightly clasped above the ragged wound and a little pool of blood slowly formed at his side on the floor but his eyes shone brightly A basin of water and some linen cried the girl to Mor larty and send all these people away to yer rooms ivery one of ye snapped Mor larty sweeping his hands als no place for ye be oft he hurried the servants out of the room and presently returned with a basin of water some linen and balm we watched the girl as she bathed and bandaged the wounded arm and once or twice the patient smiled hag gerty looked on approvingly and in william s eyes there beamed the gen tie light of reverence it was a pic ture to see this lovely creature play ing the part of the good samaritan moving hero and there Is her exquisite gown ah the tender mercy I 1 knew that come what might I 1 had strangely found the right woman the one woman you re a good little woman said the rogue his face softening and a good woman Is the finest thing god ever placed upon earth had I 1 only found one he turned whimsically toward me are you engaged to mar ry this little no surely ou love her perhaps that was it they are always behind good actions and bad heigh ho once we were seated in the lonely car the girl broke down and cried as it her heart would break it was only the general reaction but the sight of her tears unnerved me don t cry girl dont I 1 whispered taking her hand in mine she made no effort to repulse me I 1 am sorry the rascal was a gallant beggar and I 1 for one t have been sorry to see him get away there there you re tho bravest kenderest ten derest girl in all this world and when I 1 told him I 1 loved you god knows I 1 meant it it Is one of those inexplicable things you say I 1 have known you only eight hours I 1 have known you always only I 1 had not met you what are eight hours what Is convention formality we two have lived a life time in these eight hours can t yon see that we have to shoot a human being sher sobbed her head fell against my shoulder I 1 do not believe she was conscious of the fact and I 1 did not care a hang or the conductor I 1 patted her hand encouragingly it had to be done he was in a des predicament and he would have shot bad the detective been careless in his turn and he have acied to malm either what a horrible night it hlll haunt me as long as I 1 live I 1 said nothing and we did not speak again till the first of the blank shire lights flashed by us by this time her sobs had ceased I 1 know I 1 haven t done anything wp watched the girt surely I 1 do I 1 looked bravely at the girl as I 1 spoke but she never gave any sign that she heard she pinned the ends of the bandages carefully and what brought you to thise asked haggerty looking down at his prisoner the prisoner shrugged youve the making of a fine man in you went on haggerty generously what caused you to slip upa that subject Is taboo replied the thief but I 1 want to beg sour par don for underestimating our cun nang it was all due to a chance shot at the telephone I 1 kept you guessing merrily too my admiration Is wholly yours sir returned haggety Hag geny picking up the telephone exchange book he rang and placed his lips to the transmitter calling a number hello it this the chief of the blank shire police yes well this Is hag gerty that idea I 1 hinted to you was a mighty good one prepare two strong cells and have a doctor on hand oh you will find your horse and carriage at Morl artys good bye my money was handed over to me I 1 returned it to my wallet but with out any particular enthusiasm its bad business said I 1 its all in the game sir with a look at haggerty that expressed in finite hatred in our business we can t afford to be careless or to talk too much supplemented his master smiling talk my friend rounds me up with a bill let in the arm and a long sojourn be hind stone walls never talk thank you too mr cornstalk for the saving grace of humor if it were possible I 1 should like to give miss hawthorne the pick of the jewels this is a sordid world ye er car r Is coming shouted Mor lart running to the window so the girl and I 1 passed out of hoi lywood inn leaving haggerty with his mysterious prisoners I 1 cant reason it out even to this day but I 1 was gen sorry that haggerty had ar upon the scene for one thing he had spoiled the glamour of tho ad venture by it with blood and on the way to the car I 1 wondered what had been the rogues past what had turned him into this hardy perilous path he had spoken of a woman especially gallant tonight no ing no rescuing and all that the just moved me around like a piece of stage scenery A smile flashed and was gone it was a hopeful sign but the results are the same you have admitted to me that you are neither engaged nor married won 6 you take me on on approval mr cornstalk it all scenes so alko a horrid dream you are a brae man and what Is bertei a sensible one for you submitted to the inevitable with the best possible grace but QU talk of love a readily as a hero in a popular novel 1 I never go babit said I 1 it seems incredible dopsy t it that I 1 should declare myself in this fashion listen for my part i believe that all this was written tom foolery in mou quins my imposture and yours the two identical cards the adventure from to end I 1 should say the girl began looking out ol 01 the window that in ane restaurant you aroused my cu losley that in the cellars m ad was stirred that the frank manner in which ou expressed your regard tor roe to to the burglar awakened what I 1 cried eagerly nothing it was merely a supposal sup alon hang it I 1 love you are you still the capuchin or alm ply mr cornstalk I 1 have laid aside ill masks even that which hides the heart she turned and looked me steadily in the eyes welp said I 1 it I 1 took you on on approval what in the world should I 1 do with you in caso you should not suit my needs you could return me said I 1 laugh ing but she THE END |