Hearts and Masks

He disappeared.

The girl laid a hand on my arm.

"You have acted very sensibly, Mr. Comstalk. If you had not, it is

quite certain he would have shot you."

"It would have been a good thing for me if he had. He has gone, and

the jewels have gone with him. I hadn't the least chance; the wretch!

He probably came disguised as a plumber, and nobody suspected him."

"But if he possessed the ten of hearts, why should he have left this

way?"

"Possibly my idea was only an imitation of his. There must have been

at least a dozen tens of hearts. My dear young lady, I would give a

good deal if you were well out of this. I believed my plan was for the

best, and instead I have simply blackened the case against us. I have

been too adventurous. The situation looks very serious just now. Of

course, in the long run, we shall clear ourselves; but it will take

some fine arguing to do it, and possibly half a dozen lawyers."

"It is a terribly embarrassing predicament; but since we started out

together, we'll hang together." She held out her hand to me. "It will

be fun to extricate ourselves with full honors."

"You're a brick!" And I pressed her hand tightly.

"Now, I wonder why the burglar didn't try those cellar-doors?" she

murmured.

"By Jove, I'll soon find out! Come on. There's hope yet."

This time we reached the stone steps without interference. I gave the

candle to the girl, cautiously put a shoulder against one of the doors,

and gave a gentle heave. It was not locked. Through the thin crack I

looked out upon the bright world of moonshine and crystal. Instantly I

permitted the door to settle into its accustomed place. I readily

understood the burglar's reasons. Seated upon a box, less than a dozen

feet away, and blissfully smoking one of the club's cigars, sat a burly

policeman. So they had arrived upon the scene!

"What is it?" asked the girl, as I motioned her to retreat.

"The worst has come: the police!" dramatically.

"Gracious heavens, this is frightful! We shall never get out now.

Oh dear! Why did I ever come? It will be in the papers, with horrid

pictures. We ought not to have left the ball-room. Our very actions

will tell heavily against us. Awful!"

"Now, don't you worry. They will not take any notice of you, once they

set eyes upon me. Homo sum! They are looking for me. There's

only one superfluous ten of hearts. I have it."