Hearts and Masks

"Well, sir, we of the profession never interferes with gentlemanly

jobs, sir. All I want of you is to help me out of here."

"I am not a burglar."

"Oh, I understand, sir; I understand completely. A gentleman is always

a gentleman, sir. Now, you can return to that coal-bin. I was just

about to make for it when you lit that candle."

"Why not leave by the cellar-doors?"

"I have my reasons, sir; most satisfactory reasons, sir. I prefer

the window. Get along!"--his tones suddenly hardening.

I got along.

"The lady may sit down, sir," he said courteously.

"Thank you, I will," replied the girl, plumping down on an empty

winecase. (She afterward confessed that if she had not sat down on the

box, she would have sat down on the cellar-floor, as a sort of

paralysis had seized her knees.)

I stepped into the coal-bin, and rested the candle on the little shelf

for that purpose. I was downright anxious to see the fellow safely

away. There wasn't room in that cellar for the three of us. His

presence doubly endangered us and multiplied the complications. I was

in no position to force the gems from him. A man who has ten thousand

dollars' worth of jewels on his person doesn't stop at shooting; and I

possessed a healthy regard for my skin. I opened the window and caught

it to the ceiling by a hook I found there.

"There is a stout screen, my man."

"Take this, sir, and cut it out,"--handing me a pair of wire-clippers,

holding his lantern under his arm meanwhile. The muzzle of the

revolver, during all this time, never wavered in its aim at my head.

I went to work at the screen, and presently it fell inward.

"Is that satisfactory?"--with impressive irony.

"You are the most perfect gentleman that I ever see, sir!"

The girl laughed hysterically.

"Now what?" The fun was beginning to pall on me.

"Step out of the bin and stand aside. Sit down by the lady. Maybe

she's a bit frightened."

I obeyed him to the letter.

"Thanks!" With the agility of a cat he leaped up and wriggled through

the window. He turned. "Good night, sir. Sometime maybe I'll do the

same for you, sir."

"Go to the devil!" I snarled.

"My, my! What a temper, sir! I wouldn't have thought it of you, and a

nice lady in speaking distance!"