Hearts and Masks

"But I shall be found with you, and the stupid police will swear I am

an accomplice." She wrung her hands.

"But no jewels will be found upon us," I argued half-heartedly.

"They will say we have already disposed of them."

"But the real burglar--"

"They will say that he came into the cellar at our bidding."

This girl was terribly reasonable and direct.

"Hang it! I know Teddy Hamilton, the M. F. H. He'll go my bail, and

yours, too, for that matter. Come, let's not give up. There must be

some other way out."

"I wish I might believe it. Why did I come?"--a bit of a wail

stealing into the anger in her voice.

"This is Tom Fool's Night, and no mistake," I assented ruefully.

"But I am a bigger fool than you are; I had an alibi, and a good one."

"An alibi? Why on earth, then, did you follow me? What is your alibi?"

"Never mind now. We should still be in this miserable

cellar,"--briefly. "What a night! I am so ashamed! I shall be

horribly compromised."

"I'll take the brunt of it all. I'm sorry; but, for the love of

Heaven, don't cry, or I shall lose what little nerve I have left."

"I am not crying!" she denied emphatically. "My inclination is to

shriek with laughter. I'm hysterical. And who wouldn't be, with

police officers and cells staring one in the face? Let us be going.

That policeman outside will presently hear us whispering if we stand

here much longer."

There was wisdom in this. So, once again I took the candle, and we

marched back. There wasn't a single jest left in my whole system, and

it didn't look as if there was ever going to be another supply. We

took the other side of the furnace, and at length came to a flight of

wooden stairs, leading somewhere into the club. It was our last

chance, or we should indeed be obliged to stay all night in some bin;

for it would not be long before they searched the cellars. If this

flight led into the kitchen, we were saved, for I could bluff the

servants. We paused. Presently we ascended, side by side, with light

but firm step. We reached the landing in front of the door without

mishap. From somewhere came a puff of air which blew out the candle.

I struck a match viciously against the wall---and blundered into a

string of cooking-pans! It was all over, the agony of suspense!