The City of Fire - Page 176/221

"William! My pearls!" shrieked the lady.

The gentleman came down incredulous, and looked over her shoulder.

"I believe they are, Sarah," he said.

Billy leered feverishly up at him, and produced a sheaf of papers,

seemingly burrowing somewhere in his internal regions to bring them

forth.

"And here, d'these b'long?"

The master of the house gripped them.

"Sarah! The bonds! And the South American Shares!" They were too busy

to notice Billy who stood swaying by the newel post, his duty done now,

the dogs grouped about him.

"Say, c'n I get me a drink?" he asked of the butler, who hovered near

uncertain what to be doing now that the tide was turned.

The lady looked up.

"Morris!"

He scarcely heard the lady's words but almost immediately a tall slim

glass of frosty drink, that smelled of wild grapes, tasted of oranges,

and cooled him down to the soul again, was put into his hand and he

gulped it greedily.

"Where did you say you found these, young man?" The gentleman eyed him

sternly, and Billy's old spirit flamed up: "I didn't say," said Billy.

"But you know we've got to have all the evidence before we can give the

reward--!"

"Aw, cut it out! I don't want no reward. Wouldn't take it if you give

it to me! I just wantta get home. Say, you gotta telephone?"

"Why certainly." This was the most astonishing burglar!

"Well, where is't? Lemme call long distance on it? I ain't got the tin

now, but I'll pay ya when I git back home!"

"Why, the idea! Take him to the telephone Morris. Right there! This

one--!"

But Billy had sighted one on a mahogany desk near at hand and he

toppled to the edge of the chair that stood before it. He took down the

receiver in a shaky hand, calling Long Distance.

"This Long Distance? Well, gimme Economy 13."

The Shaftons for the instant were busy looking over the papers,

identifying each jewel, wondering if any were missing. They did not

notice Billy till a gruff young voice rang out with a pathetic tremble

in it: "That you Chief? This is Billy. Say, c'n I bother you to phone

to Miss Severn an' ast her to tell m'yant I'm aw'wright? Yes, tell her

I'll be home soon now, an' I'll explain. And Chief, I'm mighty sorry

those two guys got away, but I couldn't help it. We'll get 'em yet.

Hope you didn't wait long. Tell you more when I see ya, S'long--!"