Show for an instant they were swaying back and forth SYNOPSIS maa dan maitland on reaching his new york bachelor club met an attract alve doling boman at the door janitor 0 hagan assured him no one 1 ad been that day dan d sc a worn an s finger prints in dust on 1 Is desk along a letter t om his attorney maitland dined with bannerman his at torney dan set out or greenfields to get his finlly jewels during his walk to the country seat he met the young woman in gray horn he had seen leav ing bad elors club her auto had broken down he fixed it by a ruse sl e lost him maitland on reaching home surprised lady in gray cracking the sate onta ning h s gems she apparently took him tor a well known crook daniel anasty half hypnotized maitland opened his safe took the jewels and gave them to her first forming a part in crime CHAPTER IV continued the interior of the sate was re healed in a shape little different from that of the ordinary household strong ax there were several account b ledgers and the like together with some packages of docketed bills in the pigeon holes the cash box a safe within a sate showed a blank face broken by a small combi nation dial behind this in a se feted compartment the maitland heir looms languished half forgotten oi their heedless owner the cash bo combination offered less difficulty than 1 ad the outer dial maitland had it open in a twinkling then brazenly lifting out the inner framework bodily he thrust a turn bling hand into the aperture thus dis closed and pressed the spring re the panel at the back it dis appeared as though by witchcraft aad the splash of light from the bull s es e discovered a canvas bag squatting humbly in the secret compartment a tat little canvas bag considerably soiled from much handling such as Is used by banks for coin a sturdy matter of fact everyday sort of canvas bag with nothing about it of hauteur no air of self importance or ostentation to betray the tact that it was the re ot a small fortune at maitland s ear incredulous how did you guesse she breathed he took thought and breath both br eals and prevaricated shamelessly bribed the head clerk of the sate manufacturer who built this rising he passed over to the center table the girl following steady ath the light he whispered and looked the string around the mouth of the bag pouring its contents a glistening priceless flaming iridescent Iridis cent treasure hoide upon the table oh said a small voice at his side and again and again oh oh oh maitland himself was moved bv the wonder of it the jewels seemed to fill the room with a flashing amazing glamour rainbow like his breath came hot and fast as he gazed upon the trove a queen s ramsom a f 01 tune incalculable even to its owner As tor the girl he thought that the wonder of it must hae struck her dumb not a sound came from th spot where she tood then abruptly the sun wert out at least such was the effect he light of the hand lamp vanished vanis hec utterly leaving a partly colored blur sw a ming against the e lack ness before his eyes his lips 01 ened but a small hand tall firmly upon his own and a tremulous whisper shrilled in Us ir hush ah buh what 9 steady some one corn ng the jewels he heard the dull musical clash of them as her hands swept them back into the bag and a cold sickening teal rendered him almost faint with the sense of trust misplaced illusion re solved into brutal realities his fingers closed convulsively about her wrists but she held passive ah but I 1 might have expected that came her reproachful whisper take cheji then my my partner that was her tone cut like a knife and the touch of the canvas bag as she forced it into his hands was hate ful to him forgive me he began but listen for a space he obeyed the silence it first seeming tremendous then taint but distinct he heard the tinkle ai d slide of the brazen rings support ing the smoking room portiere his hand sought the girl s she had not moved and he cool firm pressure ot her fingers steadied him he thought quickly Q lick he told her in the least of whispers leave by the window you opened and wait for me by the motor r no there was no time to remonstrate ith her already he had slipped away arai ng a course tor the entrance to the passage but the dominant tho ight in his mind was that at all costs the girl must be spared the exposure she acs to be saved whatever the hazard afterwards the tapestry rustled but he was et too far distant to spring he crept on with the crouching vicious attitude mental and physical of a panther stalking its prey like a thunderclap from a clear sky tl e glare of the light broke out from he ceiling maitland Malt land paused trans faed on tiptoe eyes incredulous brain sir ving to grapple with the astounding d that had come to him the third factor stood in the door ady and tall in evening dress as was maitland Malt land a light full over coat banging open from his shoulders one hand holding back the curtain the oti er arrested on the light switch his lips dropped open and his eyes too were protruding with amazement fea ture for feature he was the counter art of the man before him in a word here was the real anasty the wonder of it all saved the day for maitland anasty s astonishment was sincere and the more complete in that 1 e ma fiand he had been unprepared to find any one in the literary for a mere second his gaze left maitland Malt land and traveled on to the g rl then to the rifled sate taking in the whole significance of the scene vt hen he spoke it was as it dazed by god he cried or rather the syllables seemed to jump from h lips like bullets from a gun the words shattered the tableau on their echo maitland sprang and faa bened his fingers around the oti e throat barred off his feet by th sheer ferocity of the assault ani t gave ground a little for an they were swaying back and forth advantage to neither then the burglars collar slipped and somehow tuie from its stud giving maitlan d s h inda freer play his grasp tightened about the man s gullet he shook him mercilessly anasty staggered caspel ace ed struck maitland Malt land once or twice uron the chest feeble weightless el bow jabs that went for nothing then his energies in a vain attempt to wrench 1 e 1 ands from his throat teai ng at maitland Malt land s w fists face I 1 ng eyes staring in agony he stumbled mercilessly maitland foicey him to his 1 nees and sullied him across the floor toward the nearest lounge with premeditated de sign succeeding in throwing him flat and knelt upon his chest retaining his grip but refraining from throttling him As it was all strength and tho ight of resistance had been choked out of anasty he lay at length gasping paint illy maitland glanced over his shoulders and saw the girl moving forward ap parent ly making for the s he cried peremptorily dont ti rn off the light please but she doubted let me have those curtain cords it u please he le quested shortly ohp followed bis gaze to the win dows interpreted his wishes anc was very q nek to carry them out in a trice she was offering him halt a dozen of the heavy twisted s 11 cords anat had been used to loop back the curtains soft yet strong they were excellent 1 well adapted to maitland s needs t isly he swung his captive over on his side bringing his neck and ani les in juxtaposition to the legs of that substantial piece of furniture the lounge his hands the first to be secured and tightly behind his back anasty lay helpless glaring vindictively the while gradually he recovered consciousness and strength maitland cared little tor his evil glances he was busy the b inglar s ankles were next bound to gether and to the lounge leg and an instant later a brace of halt hitches about the man g neck and the nearest support entirely eliminated him as a possible factor in subsequent events those loops around bour throat maitland warned him curtly are loose enough now but if you struggle they 11 tighten and strangle you un anasty nodded making an inco 1 erent sound with his swollen tongue A which maitland frowned smitten thoughtful with a new consideration you austn t talk you know he mused halt aloud and whipping forth a handkerchief gagged mr anasty after which breathing hard and in a maze ot perplexity he got to his feet already his hearing q sickened by the emergency had apprised him of the situation s imminent hazards it needed not the girl s hurried whisper he servants to warn him of their d nger from the rear wing of the mansion the sounds of hurrying feet were distinctly audible as presently were the heavy excited voices of men and the more shrill and frightened nies of women heedless of her displeasure malt land seized the girl by the arm and arged her over to the 01 en window dont hang back he told her ner bously you get out of this be fore they see you do as I 1 tell yo i please and we 11 save ourselves yet if we both make a run for it we re lost don t you understands 9 no she demanded deluc tant spirited obstinate and lovely in his eyes it he were anybody else maitland indicated with a jeri of his head to ward the burglar but dian didn t you seea he must be maitland and he s my double stay brazen it it then as soon as possible make my es a and join you by ane gate your motor s there wait be ready foi me but she had grasped his intention and was suddenly become pliant to his will you re wonderful she told him with a little low laugh and was gone silently as a spirit the curtains tell behind her in long straight folds maitland stilled their swaying with a touch and stepped bad into ohp room for a moment he caught the eye of the fellow on the floor it was upturned to his sardonic ally intelligent but the lord of the manor had 1 atle time to debate con sequences abruptly the door was fl ing wide and a short stout man clutching up his trousers with a frantic hand burst into the library brandishing over head a lampane revolver ands hup he cried leveling at maitland Malt land and then with a fallen countenance eavens sir you alister maitland sir ah higgans his employer greeted the butler blandly higggs pulled up thunderstruck panting and perspiring with agitation his fat cheeks quivered like the wat ties of a gobbler and his eyes bulged by degrees he became alive to the s maitland began to explain forestall u g the embarrassments of cross exam li aaion by the merest accident I 1 was passing in my car with a party of friends just tor a joke I 1 thought I 1 d steal up to the house and see how ou were behaving yourselves by chance again I 1 happened to see this light through the library windows and maitland putting an incautious hand aion the bull s eye on the desk with diew it instantly with an exclamation ot annoyance and four scorched fin gers hes been at the sate he added quickly diverting attention from him self I 1 was just in time my said higgans aith emot on qu akly did e get do you think sira shook his head scowling over the butler s burly shoulders at th rapidly a ig concourse of ants in the hallway lackeys grooms maids cooks and what not a back ground of pale scared faces to the mablea tablea i in the 1 arary this won I 1 do considered maitland get bick all ot you he ordered sternly andl ting the group with a dominant and inflexible forefinger those who ar wanted will be sent tor now go higgans sou may stay yes sir yes sir but wot ar arnd appelin sir if yol 11 perell me I 1 won t be quiet and listen man Is anasty handsome dan anasty the is jewel thief wanted baals by the pol ce ol 01 a dozen cities yol understands 7 im going wv to motor to the village and get th constables I 1 may he invented des pera tely be delayed may have to gel a detective from brooklyn if thi scoundrel stirs dont touch him lei him alone he cant escape it you do above all things don t you dare to re move that gag most cert sir I 1 shall bear it mind wot you says yo i d best grimly now I 1 m off no I 1 dont want any attendance know my way and dont touch that man till I 1 return very good sir maitland stepped over to the safe glanced within cursorily replaced t bundle of papers which he did not re call disturbing closed the door and tv tried the combination nothing gone he announced inarticulate gurgle from the prostrate man drew a black scowl from malt land recovering good morning h said politely to the butler and out of the house by the front door was careful to slam that behind him ere darting into the shadows the moon was down the sky cold opaque gray overcast with a drift of cloud the park seemed verj dark very dietary a searching breeze was sweeping inland from the sound soughing sadly in the tree tops a chill humidity permeated the air pre cursor of rain ahe young man shiv e ed both with chill and reaction from the tension of the emergency just past he was aware of an instantaneous los ot heart a subsidence of the elation which had upheld him through the adventure and to escape this to forget or overcome it took imme to his heels scampering madly tor the road oppressed with fear lest he should find the girl gone with the jewels that she should prove untrue faith less lacking even that honor which proverb ally obtains in the society of a consideration of such a possibility was intolerable as much so as the suspense of ignorance he could not would not believe her capable of ingratitude so rank and to ight fiercely unreasoningly against the conviction that she would have fol lowed her thievish instincts and made off with the booty A j meet and right upon him tor his madness heart in mouth he reached the gates passing agh without dis covering her and was struck d n b i ai d witless with relief when she stepped quietly from the shadows of a low branching tree offering him a guiding hand come she said quietly this way without being exactly conscious of what he was about he caught the hand in both his own then he ex bulted almost passionately then you d ant au olce choked in his throat her face momentarily upturned to his gleamed pale and weary in the dreary light the face of a tired child trouble 1 saddened yet with eyes in eap feasibly sweet she turned away tugging at her hand TO BE CONTINUED |