Part 33 (2/2)

”Excuse me, sorr,” said Gladwin, with mock humility, turning away his head to hide his emotions.

As the girl shrank from his arms the thief switched his attention from Officer 666 and led her to a chair, resuming his gentle tones. He pressed her to sit down, saying:

”I am just packing up some pictures. I shan't keep you waiting long.

Now, that's good; you're getting calmer. You're all right now, aren't you?”

”Ye-es, Travers dear,” she responded with an effort, looking into his face. ”I shan't break down,” she went on, with a nervous laugh. ”I'm stronger than I look. I've made my mind up to it. The trouble is that my heart won't behave. It's beating terribly--just feel it.”

He was about to place his hand on her heart when Gladwin was seized with a paroxysm of coughing. The thief straightened up and turned scowlingly upon the young man.

”Say, what's the matter with you, McCarthy?”

”Murphy, sorr,” Gladwin retorted. ”Me throat tickled me.”

”Well,” returned the other sharply, ”if you would move around as I told you, your throat wouldn't tickle you. Get something to pack these paintings in. There isn't anything in this room--go upstairs and get a trunk.”

”I don't know where there is none, sorr,” Gladwin objected.

”Well, look around for one--a small empty trunk, and be quick about it.” He spoke with crackling emphasis.

Stung to the quick by the overbearing insolence of this command, it required a prodigious effort for the young man to control his voice.

He said with difficulty:

”I was thinking, sorr--suppose--the--trunk--is--full?”

The thief squared his broad shoulders and walked threateningly toward Gladwin. He stopped directly in front of the young man and said through his teeth, slowly and deliberately and without raising his voice:

”If the trunks are full--now listen carefully, because I want you to understand this--if the trunks are full, then empty one. Do you get my meaning? Take the fullness out of it, and after you have done that and there is nothing more left in it, then bring it down here. Now do you think you get my idea clearly?”

”Yes, sorr,” said Gladwin, dully, feeling that there was no way out of the situation for the moment save to obey. Strive as he might he could not wholly shake off the influence of this splendid big animal's dominating will power.

And if it affected him that way he didn't wonder at the spell the man had cast upon the impressionable and sentimental Helen.

He left the room with a sudden spurt and swiftly mounted the stairs, the chief object of his haste being to prevent an extended interview in his absence and a resumption of tender dialogue.

He had scarcely gone when the spurious Gladwin turned again to the girl with his most engaging smile and softest tones:

”You see, dear,” with a sweeping gesture that included his work of spoilation, ”I am taking your advice--packing only the most valuable ones.”

”I am afraid, Travers,” said Helen, rising from her chair and coming toward him with all her impulsive love and confidence restored, ”that I am giving you a lot of trouble.”

”Trouble!” he cried, with the gus.h.i.+ng effusiveness of a matinee idol.

”You're bringing a great joy into my life.”

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