he bag to the floor with a crash.

The man looked up angrily and the girl gave a frightened cry.

"What's the matter with you, officer?" the thief shot at him.

"Excuse me, sorr," said Gladwin, with mock humility, turning away his
head to hide his emotions.

As the girl shrank from his arms the thief switched his attention from
Officer 666 and led her to a chair, resuming his gentle tones. He
pressed her to sit down, saying:

"I am just packing up some pictures. I shan't keep you waiting long.
Now, that's good; you're getting calmer. You're all right now, aren't
you?"

"Ye-es, Travers dear," she responded with an effort, looking into his
face. "I shan't break down," she went on, with a nervous laugh. "I'm
stronger than I look. I've made my mind up to it. The trouble is that
my heart won't behave. It's beating terribly--just feel it."

He was about to place his hand on her heart when Gladwin was seized
with a paroxysm of coughing. The thief straightened up and turned
scowlingly upon the young man.

"Say, what's the matter with you, McCarthy?"

"Murphy, sorr," Gladwin retorted. "Me throat tickled me."

"Well," returned the other sharply, "if you would move around as I
told you, your throat wouldn't tickle you. Get something to pack these
paintings in. There isn't anything in this room--go upstairs and get a
trunk."

"I don't know where there is none, sorr," Gladwin objected.

"Well, look around for one--a small empty trunk, and be quick about
it." He spoke with crackling emphasis.

Stung to the quick by the overbearing insolence of this command, it
required a prodigious effort for the young man to control his voice.
He said with difficulty:

"I was thinking, sorr--suppose--the--trunk--is--full?"

The thief squared his broad shoulders and walked threateningly toward
Gladwin. He stopped directly in front of the young man and said
through his teeth, slowly and deliberately and without raising his
voice:

"If the trunks are full--now listen carefully, because I want you to
understand this--if the trunks are full, then empty one. Do you get my
meaning? Take the fullness out of it, and after you have done that and
there is nothing more left in it, then bring it down here. Now do you
think you get my idea clearly?"

"Yes, sorr," said Gladwin, dully, feeling that there was no way out of
the situation for the moment save to obey. Strive as he might he could
not wholly shake off the influence of this splendid