Show W LIZ C man for an instant the were swaying back and forth PICTURES BY i GMT THE MEAR LL CO SYNOPSIS mad dan ma aland on read ng his nev ne v york bachelor club net n et an attract ti e youn young woman moman at the door janitor 0 ilagan assured him no offe one had been wit I 1 i tl at dl cli dan d sc a worn wom an 4 finger p ints in d st on I 1 is desk along th a letter f foe 0 a I 1 Is attorney maitland I 1 ned th bannerman his at tornes dan set 0 t for greenfields to get h s family je els during I 1 s valk to tl ti e country seat he met the young woman in gra I 1 oan I 1 e I 1 ad seen leav ing his bad elors club her auto had broken do he lie fled fixed it by a ruse sl si e lost hi n ma fiand on rea I 1 ing home s rp ased lady in gray cracking the sate safe c containing 0 r h s gems gerns S e apparently to too 0 c I 1 in for a well knon n crook daniel an st sti halt half hypnotized maitland opened his safe took tl ti the je els and ga gale e tl ti em to I 1 1 er first form ng a part ne sh p in cr me CHAPTER CHAPT ER IV cont continued aued the interior intel bior of the safe was re healed in a sl ape little diffee ent from that of 0 the ordinary ho strong box there were several account acco int books ledgers and the Ikel 1 ke together with some pad ages of docketed bills IL the pigeon holes the cash box it elf a safe within a safe showed a b ante ank face brol en by a small combi nation notion dial behind this in a se ci chewed eted compartment the maitland heir looms languished naif forgotten of their heedless ower the cash box cm combination offered iss I ss difficulty than had the outer dial maitland had it open in a taini ling then brazenly lifting 0 it the inner f t or bodily he thrust a f im bl ng ha its id into the ai al arture th is dis closed and pressed the si sl ring re I las as ng tl e i anel at tl e bad it dis al an leared eared as alo gh by w a d the splash of I 1 fro n the b ill s ea ee e d scover sc dd a cann canas as bag squatting humbly in the secief compartment con apartment part ment a fat little canvas bag considerably soiled frum from n i i ch hai bar adling s ch as is used by ban 1 s for coin a sturdy matter of fact e ever era day da sor wr of canvas bag v th nothing abo it it of ha ite r no air of self importance or ostentation to betia betray the fact that it was the re of a sn all fort ne at matt and s ear inbred ilo I 1 la ho flo v d d 0 o I 1 i guess guesse 9 she breathe I 1 he took tock tho thought ight and breath both br and I 1 revar bated shamelessly bribed the 1 pad ead cleri of the sate safe it n who b th s ping he passed to the ce beiter iter table the gi I 1 following stead steady with tie tle light he whispered and loosed the string around the mo th of the bag po iring its contents a glistening priceless flaming indi scent treasure trea suie horde upon the table oh said aid a sn all voice at his side and again and again oh oh oh maitland himself was moved by the wonder of it the jewels seemed to fall till the room with a flashing amazing glamour aindow din like his breath came hot and fast as he gazed upon the trove a queen queens s ramsom a fortune incalculable even to its owner As for the girl he thought that the wonder of it must have struck her dumb not a sound came from the spot where she stood then abruptly the sun went wem out at af least such was mas the effect the light of the hand lamp vanished utterly leaving a partly colored blur swim ming against the impenetrable black ness beffie his eyes his lips opened but a small hand tell firn ly upon his own and a tiny tremolo is whisper shrilled in his ear hush ah hush what steady some one coming the lew jem els eis he heard the dull musical clash of them as her hands swept them bad bael it to the bag and a cold sickening fear rendered him almost taint faint with the sense of trust misi laced illusion re solved soled sol ed into brutal realities his fingers closed convulsively about her wrists but she held passive ah ali b it I 1 might have hane expected that came her reproachful whisper taie tal e them then my r my partner that was her tone c t III e a knife and the to ich of the canvas cannas bag as she forced it into his hands was hate ful ul to him forgive me he began but listen for a si ace I 1 e obeyed the silence at first seeming tremendous then aint b it distinct he heard the tinkle ai at d slide glide of the brazen rings support ing the smoking room room portiere his hand sought the girls girl s she had lot moved and the cool firm press ire of 0 her fingers steadied him he thought q cl iv Q lick he told I 1 er in the least of wh apers leave by the window you QI ol ened and wait for me by the motor c r no 0 there was no time to remonstrate N ith her already he had slipped away shaping a course for the entrance to tl e i alsage B it ape the dominant thought in his in nd was that at all costs the girl must be spared the exposure she sie to be saved wha whatever teNer the hazard at ds the tapestry rustled but he was yet et too far distant to spring he crept c ofa n with the crouching vicious attitude mental and physical of a i 1 anth anther r stil stalking king its prey like a thunderclap flout a clear sky it e glare of the light brol e out from the ceil ng n maitland Malt land paused trans fixed on tiptoe eves eyes incredulous brain ing to grapple with the astounding d era that had come to him the third factor stood in the door way slender and tall in evening dress as was Malt maitland land a light full over coat oat hanging open from his shoulders one hand holding back the curtain the other arrested on the light switch his lips dropped open and his eyes too bere ft ere protrude ng with amazement fea ture tt re for feature he was the counter part p rt of the man before him in a word here was the real anasty the wonder of it all saved the day for maitland anisey s astonishment was sincere and the more complete in that unlike maitland he had been unprepared to find any one la in the literary for a mere second his gaze left maitland and traveled on to the girl then to the rifled safe tal ing in the whole significance of the see it 11 when he spoke it was as it if dazed by god he cried or rather the syllables seemed to jump from his I 1 ps like bullets from a gun the words shattered the tableau on their echo maitland sprang and fas fag bened his fingers around the other a throat carried off his feet by the sheer ferocity of the assault anist gave ground a little for an instant they were swaying back and forth with advantage to neither then the burglar burglars s collar slipped and somehow tore from its stud giving maitland s hands freer play his grasp tightened abo it the man a gullet he shook him mercilessly anasty staggered gasped reeled struck maitland once or twice upon the chest feeble weightless el bow jabs that went for nothing then concentrated his energies in a vain attempt to wrench the hands from his throat reeling tearing at maitland a wrists face empurpling eyes staring in agony he stumbled mercilessly maitland forced him to his knees and bullied him across the floor toward the nearest lounge with premeditated de sign finally succeeding in throwing him flat and knelt upon his chest retaining his grip but refraining from throttling him As it was all strength and thought of 0 resistance had been choked out of anasty he lay at length gasping painfully maitland glanced over his shoulders and saw the girl moving forward ap parent ly making for the switch no he cried peremptorily don dont t airn ti rn oft off the light please but she doubted let me have those curtain cords it if yu please he lie requested shortly she followed his gaze to the win dows interpreted his wishes and was very quick to carry them out in a trice she was offering him halt half a dozen of the heavy twisted silk cords that had been used to loop back the curtains soft yet strong they were excellent ly well adapted to maitland a needs unceremoniously he swung his captive over on his side bringing his neck and ankles in juxtaposition to the legs of that substantial piece of furni furniture turg the lounge his hands the first to be N secured and tightly behind his back anasty lay helpless glaring vindictively the while gradually he recovered consciousness and strength maitland cared little for his evil glances he was busy the burglars ankles were next bound to gether and to the lounge leg and an instant later a brace of halt half hitches about the man s neck and the nearest support entirely eliminated him as a possible factor in subsequent events those loops around your throat maitland warn warned ed him curtly are loose enough now but if you struggle they 11 t ahten and strangle you un anasty nodded making an inco herent sound with his swollen tongue A which maitland frowned smitten thoughtful with a new consideration you austn t talk you know he mused half aloud and whipping forth a handkerchief gagged mr air anasty after which breathing hard and in a maze of perplexity he got to his feet already his hearing quickened by the emergency had apprised him of the situations situation a imminent hazards it needed not the girls girl s hurried whisper he servants to warn him of their danger from the rear wing ring 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 dies ciles of women heedless of her displeasure malt land seized the girl by the arm and urged her over to the oben oien window don t hang back he told her ner you must get out of this be fore they see you do as I 1 tell you please and well save ourselves yet if we both make a run for it we re lost don dont t you understand 9 no why she demanded relue tint tant spirited obstinate and lovely in his eyes it if he were anybody else maitland indicated with a jerk of his head toward the burglar but didn dian t you ou see seea he must mastbe be maitland and he s my boubie I 1 11 1 stay brazen it 0 it then as soon as possible mal e my es cape and join ou by the gate your ma motoi oi a there wait be ready for me but she had grasped his intention and ard N was as sud suddenly deril become pliant to his will you re w wonderful ond erful she told him with a little low laugh and was gone silently as a spirit the curtains fell behind her in long straight folds maitland stilled their swaying with a touch and stepped back into the room for a moment he caught the ee eye of the fellow on the floor it was upturned to his sardonic ally intelligent but the lord pt the manor had little time to debate con sequences 0 abruptly the door was flung wide ride and a short stout man clutching up his trousers with a frantic hand burst into the library brandishing over head a rampant revolver ands hup he cried leveling at maitland and nd then with a fallen countenance eavens siri boux youx you mister maitland sir air ah ali higgins his employer greeted the butler blandly higgins pulled up thunderstruck I 1 panting and perspiring with agitation his fat cheeks quivered like the wat ties of a gobbler and his eyes bulged a by degrees be he became alive to the situation maitland began to explain forestall ing the embarrassments of cross exam by the merest accident higgins I 1 was passing in my car with a party of friends just for a joke I 1 thought I 1 d steal up to the house and sw 0 o bow you were behaving yourselves by clif ea again I 1 hall hanenel ened to see th light through the library windows and maitland Malt land putting an incautious hand upon the bullseye bull s eye on the desk deal with drew it instantly with an exclamation of annoyance and tour four scorched fin fia gers he a been at the sate safe he added quickly diverting attention from him self I 1 was just in time my afy said higgins with emotion then 1 hen quickly did e get anything do you think sira f maitland Malt land his head scowling over the butler butlers s burly shoulders at the rapidly augmenting concourse of s rv ants in the hallway lackeys grooms maids cooks and what not a bick ground of pale scared faces to the tableau in the library this won wont t do considered maitland Malt land get back all of you he ordered sternly indi eating the group with a dominant and inflexible forefinger those who ate wanted will be sent for now gol go higgins you may stay yes sir yes sir but wot an orrid appelin sir air it if you 11 permit me I 1 won t be quiet and listen this man Is anasty handsome dan anasty the notorious jewel thief wanted badly by the police of a dozen cities you understand I 1 im M going now to motor to the village and get the constables I 1 may he invented des pera tely be delayed may have to get a detective from brooklyn it if this scoundrel stirs don dont t touch him let him alone he cant can t escape it if you do above all things doc dor t you dare to re move that gag most cert sir air I 1 shall bear in mind wot you says you d best grimly now I 1 ra off V no I 1 don dont t want any attendance I 1 know my way and don t touch that man till I 1 return very good sir maitland stepped over to the sate safe glanced within cursorily replaced a bundle of papers which he did not re c cill dl disturbing closed the door and twirled the combination k nothing gone be he announced am n inarticulate gurgle from the prostrate man drew a black scowl from malt land recovering good morning he f said aid politely to the butler and striding 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 a cold opaque gray overcast with a light drift of cloud the park seemed very dark very dreary a searching breeze was sweeping inland from the sound soughing sadly in the tree tops a J ch chill I 1 humidity permeated the air pre cursor of rain the young oung man shiv f ered both with chill and reaction from the tension of the emergency just he was aware of an instantaneous loss of heart a subsidence of the elation which had upheld him through ot t the adventure and to escape this to forget or overcome it took imme to his heels scampering madly for 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 proverbially obtains in the society of 0 criminals cilmi nals a consideration of such a possibility was intolerable as much so as the suspense of ignorance ha ile could not would not believe her capable of ingratitude so rank and fought fiercely unreasoningly against the convection conviction that she would have tol fol lowed her thievish instincts and made oft off with the booty A j judgment meet and right upon him tor for his madness heart in mouth he reached the gates passing through without dis cov covering fring her and was struck dumb t and ald witless with relief wl alien len sha sho s elded quietly from the shadows ot of a low branching tree offering him a guiding hand come she said quietly quietly this N way ay being exactly conscious of 0 what he was about he caught the hand in both his own then he ex bulted almost passionately then you d ant his voice choked in 1 is throat her tier face momentarily upturned to his gleamed pale and weary in the dreary ii light lit the face of 0 a tired chi d troubled saddened yet with eyes in sweet she turned away tugging at her hand TO BG CONTINUED |