The Chase of the Golden Plate, Page 2

  CHAPTER II

  Half an hour later the Burglar stood alone, thoughtfully watching thedancers as they whirled by. A light hand fell on his arm--he started alittle--and in his ear sounded a voice soft with the tone of a caress.

  "Excellent, Dick, excellent!"

  The Burglar turned quickly to face a girl--a Girl of the Golden West,with deliciously rounded chin, slightly parted rose-red lips, andsparkling, eager eyes as blue as--as blue as--well, they were blue eyes.An envious mask hid cheeks and brow, but above a sombrero was perchedarrogantly on crisp, ruddy-gold hair, flaunting a tricoloured ribbon. Arevolver swung at her hip--the wrong hip--and a Bowie knife, singularlyinoffensive in appearance, was thrust through her girdle. The Burglarlooked curiously a moment, then smiled.

  "An envious mask hid cheeks and brow"]

  "How did you know me?" he asked.

  "By your chin," she replied. "You can never hide yourself behind a maskthat doesn't cover that."

  The Burglar touched his chin with one gloved hand.

  "I forgot that," he remarked ruefully.

  "Hadn't you seen me?"

  "No."

  The Girl drew nearer and laid one hand lightly on his arm; her voicedropped mysteriously.

  "Is everything ready?" she asked.

  "Oh, yes," he assured her quickly. His voice, too, was loweredcautiously.

  "Did you come in the auto?"

  "Yes."

  "And the casket?"

  For an instant the Burglar hesitated.

  "The casket?" he repeated.

  "Certainly, the casket. Did you get it all right?"

  The Burglar looked at her with a new, businesslike expression on hislips. The Girl returned his steady gaze for an instant, then her eyesdropped. A faint colour glowed in her white chin. The Burglar suddenlylaughed admiringly.

  "Yes, I got it," he said.

  She took a deep breath quickly, and her white hands fluttered a little.

  "We will have to go in a few minutes, won't we?" she asked uneasily.

  "I suppose so," he replied.

  "Certainly before unmasking-time," she said, "because--because I thinkthere is someone here who knows, or suspects, that----"

  "Suspects what?" demanded the Burglar.

  "Sh-h-h-h!" warned the Girl, and she laid a finger on her lips. "Not soloud. Someone might hear. Here are some people coming now that I'mafraid of. They know me. Meet me in the conservatory in five minutes. Idon't want them to see me talking to you."

  She moved away quickly and the Burglar looked after her with admirationand some impalpable quality other than that in his eyes. He was turningaway toward the conservatory when he ran into the arms of an oversizedman lumpily clad in the dress of a courtier. The lumpy individual stoodback and sized him up.

  "Say, young fellow, that's a swell rig you got there," he remarked.

  The Burglar glanced at him in polite astonishment--perhaps it was thetone of the remark.

  "Glad you like it," he said coldly, and passed on.

  As he waited in the conservatory the amusement died out of his eyes andhis lips were drawn into a straight, sharp line. He had seen the lumpyindividual speak to another man, indicating generally the direction ofthe conservatory as he did so. After a moment the Girl returned in deepagitation.

  "We must go now--at once," she whispered hurriedly. "They suspect us. Iknow it, I know it!"

  "I'm afraid so," said the Burglar grimly. "That's why that detectivespoke to me."

  "Detective?" gasped the Girl.

  "Yes, a detective disguised as a gentleman."

  "Oh, if they are watching us what shall we do?"

  The Burglar glanced out, and seeing the man to whom the lumpy individualhad spoken coming toward the conservatory, turned suddenly to the Girl.

  "Do you really want to go with me?" he asked.

  "Certainly," she replied eagerly.

  "You are making no mistake?"

  "No, Dick, no!" she said again. "But if we are caught----"

  "Do as I say and we won't be caught," declared the Burglar. His tone nowwas sharp, commanding. "You go on alone toward the front door. Pass outas if to get a breath of fresh air. I'll follow in a minute. Watch forme. This detective is getting too curious for comfort. Outside we'lltake the first auto and run for it."

  He thoughtfully whirled the barrel of his revolver in his fingers as hestared out into the ballroom. The Girl clung to him helplessly a moment;her hand trembled on his arm.

  "I'm frightened," she confessed. "Oh, Dick, if----"

  "Don't lose your nerve," he commanded. "If you do we'll both be caught.Go on now, and do as I say. I'll come--but I may come in a hurry. Watchfor me."

  For just a moment more the Girl clung to his arm.

  "Oh, Dick, you darling!" she whispered. Then, turning, she left himthere.

  From the door of the conservatory the Burglar watched her splendid,lithe figure as she threaded her way through the crowd. Finally shepassed beyond his view and he sauntered carelessly toward the door. Oncehe glanced back. The lumpy individual was following slowly. Then he sawa liveried servant approach the host and whisper to him excitedly.

  "This is my cue to move," the Burglar told himself grimly.

  Still watching, he saw the servant point directly at him. The host, witha sudden gesture, tore off his mask and the Burglar accelerated hispace.

  "Stop that man!" called the host.

  For one brief instant there was the dead silence which follows generalastonishment--and the Burglar ran for the door. Several pairs of handsreached out from the crowd toward him.

  "There he goes, there!" exclaimed the Burglar excitedly. "That manahead! I'll catch him!"

  The ruse opened the way and he went through. The Girl was waiting at thefoot of the steps.

  "They're coming!" he panted as he dragged her along. "Climb in that lastcar on the end there!"

  Without a word the Girl ran to the auto and clambered into the frontseat. Several men dashed out of the house. Wonderingly her eyes followedthe vague figure of the Burglar as he sped along in the shadow of awall. He paused beneath a window, picked up something and raced for thecar.

  "Stop him!" came a cry.

  The Burglar flung his burden, which fell at the Girl's feet with aclatter, and leaped. The auto swayed as he landed beside her. With aquick twist of the wheel he headed out.

  "Hurry, Dick, they're coming!" gasped the Girl.

  The motor beneath them whirred and panted and the car began to move.

  "Halt, or I'll fire," came another cry.

  "Down!" commanded the Burglar.

  His hand fell on the Girl's shoulder heavily and he dragged her belowthe level of the seat. Then, bending low over the wheel, he gave the carhalf power. It leaped out into the road in the path of its own light,just as there came a pistol-shot from behind, followed instantly byanother.

  The car sped on.