her breast, from
around her neck; then suddenly she stopped and stood still, as though
she'd heard something and was listening. And then the door opens and in
walks a man, all smiling and smooth, and takes off his hat."

"I see--a man she knows?"

"Her husband," said Big Slim. "Her husband that she don't live with, and
believe me, she wasn't any way tickled to see him. I couldn't hear much,
but every now and then I got a word or so, and was able to string the
thing together. He was broke, and wanted money. She wouldn't give up. He
threatened her; but she called him, strong. Then he hits her and grabs
the diamonds, and was off."

"And you were left!" said Bat, displaying a grin which cost him some
effort.

"Left flat!" The lank burglar pulled at his fingers until the joints
cracked. "He took the whole lay-out right from under my nose."

"What did you do then?" asked Bat.

"For a couple of seconds I hung fire," said Big Slim. "I had it in my
mind to jump into the room, follow, and lay him out. But a better plan
came to me. Why not skim down the scaffold, and get the lad as he left
the house with the stuff?"

"Good!" said Bat. "That's it!"

"That's what I done," said the burglar, "and as I was slipping down, I
framed it for the guy. I wouldn't hold him up in front of the house;
there were too many lights and too many chances to take. I'd wait till
I got him in a street that was darker, and had more get-aways."

"What about the woman?" asked Bat. "Was she hurt much?"

"No," replied Big Slim. "While I was thinking what I'd do--after the
fellow blew with the diamonds, I was still looking into the room. She
held her hand to her face for a moment as if it'd hurt her pretty bad;
then she took it away, and"--here the speaker grinned widely--"well,
maybe it was a good thing for friend husband that he wasn't there just
then. She'd a look on her face that was equal to anything."

"Humph!" said Bat. "I don't wonder."

"And she didn't take it all out in looks," said Big Slim, with the grin
still upon his cadaverous face. "I seen her burst right out wild; she
pulled open a drawer and took out something--I couldn't see just what it
was, but I caught a shine from it and I'd bet my head it was a gun. She
put it in her breast; then she grabs up her wraps and things and tears
out of the room."

"After him!" Bat stared at the other, a feeling of weakness creeping
over him.

"Like a shot. When I got to the bottom of the scaf