The Safe Breakers' Gang — page 10: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Li wd = Ae er Me, «Pate? 7 . 2 10 THE LOG CABIN LIBRARY. vO aanee eee —_-—- _———— = profession in the fact that he usually defied combination! And his calm, penetrating gaze looked into the clear Jocks by his skill, rather than by the use of drills. From the valise he took a tiny instrument,.the secret of whose mechanism he guarded from view with jealous care, even though he were certain that no curious eyes were peeping in upon him. He stood in front of the ponderous door of the vault, worked silently and rapidly for a short time, and then uttered an exclamation of triumph. “Done!” he murmured, and twirled the knob dexter- ously to and fro with his fingers. Click ! | The ponderous door swung open. Jules Jepworth stepped into the vault. Clang! The heavy door closed upon him! CHAPTER VI. PROBING THE MYST®RY. blue of her eyes. “What do you mean ?” “That there is one question which I wish to ask, and if you reply affirmatively to that I will trouble you in that way no further. If you answer in the negative I may have to put a few more queries. That is all.” ‘What is the important question, then ?” “Are you the wife of Jules Jepworth ?” A moment of breathless silence followed. The young }woman gazed at the other, and her eyes did not flinch under the magnetic power of the detective’s. “If I say ‘yes’ you will not ask me to tell you more ?” “Tf you so answer, and I see that it is truthfully.” ‘*And if I say ‘no?’” “You are trying to have me commit myself to some course. Iam not the one under examination. You will tell me what I wish to know first and most. There may be those who will not give you the latitude in answering questions that I have offered. [am not the only detec- tive in the world, and you may be sure that there are Lena saw the boy who brought the telegram before she | Others who will come to you for information.” noticed the detective standing behind him. She took the telegram, signed the book, and was about to open and read the message when the shrewd youngster said : ‘About Jules Jepworth ?” bi Yes.” “What has he done? Tell me that? I believe there are “Better goin and read yer dockyment, less yer wants|enemies working secretly against him, and that you are this yere bloke to know more about yer business than yer |One of them. Tell me, true—are you?” knows yerself !” “T work in the cause of justice, and I am the enemy of With this warning, and an exultant grin at the detec-;no man. Perhaps Jules Jepworth is my enemy instead tive, the boy darted away. ‘*“You have seen me before, and know, Miss Lena, that you have nothing to fear,” said Quimby Hall in his quiet, reassuring tones, as the girl cast a swift, apprehensive glance into his handsome face. , “Ah !—so itis Mr. Hall again!” she exclaimed. “The sandwich of the three H’s, at your service, miss,” smiled Quimby. “You came to see me?” of my being his.” “No, no!. He is the kindest man living.” “Ts he your husband ?” “T do not wish to tell you.” “Tf he is, by telling me you will save yourself and per- haps him from a great deal of trouble.” “ And if I refuse to tell you?” “You will be arrested !” Lena, the strangely beautiful young woman, in whom “Yes, Miss Lena. But don’t let me detain you from |“ the sandwich” of the “three H’s” momentarily felt a reading your message.” growing sense of interest and confidence, compressed her “Tt isn’t for me,” she returned, glancing at the super-/|lips and bent her brows in intense thought. scription on the envelope. “T feel that you are an innocent young woman, and She proceeded, however, to tear it open, as though she|that you really wish to do what you believe to be best felt herself to be privileged to do so. and right,” Quimby added, so kindly that she flashed a “It is for your husband, then?” Quimby carelessly | quick look of gratitude up into his face. pursued. She looked at him suddenly, while a bright flush man- ' tled her pretty cheeks. ‘“You just called me ‘Miss Lena!’” she laughed. “You will excuse me—you are so young,” the other She stepped back and flung the door open wide. “Will you come in?” she asked. “I wish to talk with you, and I think I can explain what seems to be dark to you.” “Perhaps she can explain that Jules Jepworth is at answered, while his pulse beat high with eagerness for| heart a very exemplary man, but that he is under bad the truth which he thought was coming in her next words. influences !” thought Quimby, with a smile. “T am twenty,” she replied, the blush fading slowly as He followed her in, and up a narrow, steep flight of she read the telegram, and folding it, replaced it in the | stairs. envelope. Never in his life had he entered a place with less When her eyes again met those of the detective he| thought of danger than now. beheld a marvelous change in their expression. Even had he been convinced that Lena was really the A moment before they had been mild and almost| wife of the famous safe-breaker, he would have appre- friendly ; but now there was a flash of hatred in them, hended no treachery from her. as though she had been suddenly inspired by that feeling. He was ushered into a small, poorly lighted room which “Did you come to see that watch again?” she de-| was evidently used’ as a kitchen. The room was tidily manded, her voice assuming a hard, steel-like ring. “No, I came to see you.” “To ask me questions, I suppose ?” kept, but the furniture was cheap and meager. It looked like the ordinary abode of poverty. Lena placed a chair tor her visitor and excusing herself “You need answer only one, if that one be in the affirm-| went hastily from the room. 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