Hearts and Masks

ade a swift backward 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 rud

out in fierce anguish, and reeled against the wall. William whipped out his revolver, but, even from his favora

he girl and I sat stiffly in our chairs, as if

ce, and I saw the vague outlines of Hagge

ly a heavy body precipitated itself against the door, which crashed inward, and an officer fearlessly entered, a revol

than a splintered bone, I am a dead shot. A fine night!"-triumphantly. "It's been a long chase, and I never was sure of the finish. You're the

and disarmed, did I recollect that I possessed the sense of motion. The smoke of po

ed the girl, co

had been from, and, learning that it came from Hollywood Inn, he took his chance. The room was soon filled with servants and stable-hands, the pistol-shot having lured them from their beds. The

!" cried the girl to Moriarty. "

"'Tis no place for ye, be off!" He hurried the servants out of the ro

iam's eyes there beamed the gentle light of reverence. It was a picture to see this lovely creature playing the part of the good Samaritan, movin

the girl as she bathed and

woman is the finest thing God ever placed upon earth. Had I only found one!"

N

you lo

ooked bravely at t

at she heard. She pinned the e

this?" asked Haggerty, lo

soner s

in you," went on Haggerty generou

thief. "But I want to beg your pard

o a chance shot a

you gu

he transmitter, calling a number. "Hello! Is this the chief of the Blankshire police? Yes? Well, this is Haggerty. That idea I hinted to you wa

I returned it to my wallet, but

usiness, Will

Haggerty that expressed infinite hatred. "In

long sojourn behind stone walls. Never talk. Thank you, Miss Hawthorne, and you, too, Mr. Comstalk, for the saving gra

g!" shouted Moriarty,

gerty had arrived upon the scene. For one thing, he had spoiled the glamour of the adventure by tingeing it with blood. And on the way to the car I wondered what had been

n and cried as if her heart would break. It was only the

t away. There, there! You're the bravest, tenderest girl in all this world; and when I told him I loved you, God knows I meant it! It is one of those inexplicable things. You say I have known you o

inst my shoulder. I do not believe she was conscious of

erate predicament, and he would have shot Haggerty had the detective

ht! It will haunt me

till the first of the Blankshire lights fla

o-night; no fighting, no rescuing, and all that. The

nd was gone. It w

itted to me that you are neither engaged no

at is better, a sensible one, for you submitted to the inevitable with the best

this fashion? Listen. For my part, I believe that all this was written,-my Tom-foolery in Mou

le

urant you aroused my curiosity, that in the cellars my admiration was stirred, that t

I cried

was merely a

; I do l

e Capuchin, or si

l masks, even that wh

looked me stead

?" sa

in the world should I do with you in

turn me," sai

he di