Warren sheaf., 1903-05-28
ting tired Of it, SO / was ready to

ting tired Of it, so was ready to
seize any straw
understand" Inspector Thorne,
who since Barnes had engineered the
thing would not have been sorry If
the whole affair turned out gor-=
geous h.imbug. But he did not ven
lure to. express any of these
thoughts aloud; what he did remark
was:
TITS too soon to give up all hope
yet. Strange things happen in mat
ters like this-and we must be pa
tient.''
But somehow 1 have a premoni-
ton that all is not right" straining
his eyes as if he would pierce the
secrets of the forbidding black build
ing that lowered beyond them.
Il wish I hadn't made a deal with
the fellow shaking his head.
I'VE have to bargain when it comes
to getting on the track of slippery
individual such as we are looking
for" replied Inspector Thorne, in a
voice that meant to be consoling.
He had hardly delivered this short
speech, when suddenly the crack of
pistol shot rang through the 81
lence. The two men started then,
| without word, they set off on run
toward the alley that ran along the
side of the strange hotel.
Barnes had received minute direc-
10
men, running forward from all di-
| rections (and there were enough of
them to have captured squad of
| rogues), came up with their chief
at the entrance of the alley. He
gave them hurried directions about
guarding approaches to the place,
and they departed grumblingly into
the shadows, indignant that they
were not allowed to take promi-
nent part in the capture.
'Now, then, Thorne,' exclaimed
the chief, ''see to your gun, and fol-
low me-" and with these words he
dashed on up the alley at wonder
full speed for a man of his weight.
When the inspector came up with
| his superior he was standing before
an open window, which led into the
basement of the place. A Pickering
| light was seen for a moment in the
gloom, but as they looked it sud-
denly disappeared.
| The two police officers for mo-
ment regarded each other in silence.
mot going to plunge into that
black hole, are you?" asked Thorne,
with shiver.
ut don't look exactly right. There
should be light there" replied the
other. But since there is none, why,
we must supply it, So saying, he
took folding dark lantern out Of
his pocket, shook it into shape, lit
the candle within, and said, grimly,
1--WE have gone too far to retreat
now, so come on, and the devil take
the hindmost.'' With this, holding
the lantern in one hand, he scrambled
over the sill of the window and let
himself drop to the floor. He was
followed a little later by Inspector
Thorne. '-
cts suspiciously SILENT" muttered
Barnes, as he waved the lantern back
| and forth, and peered into the cor
ners of the room.
"And was it here that you expect
ed to find him?'' asked the other in
a whisper.
.''No, in the last room beyond" nod
ding toward the partition that ran
through the middle of the basement.
II don't like the looks of things
bit, but keep your gun handy and
come on" at the same time leading
the way through the open door, flash
ing his lantern to right and left as
he went along. " ..:- --. z
The next room was empty, too,
but for some old barrels and chairs
up in one corner. Barnes paused for
moment to listen. - ~
'Hear anything, Thorne?" he
/ asked. 80 .-,s5<
mo, do you?''
eyes; sounds like heavy breath
ing"
s'More like steam escaping some
where" replied the other, who
|
his companion.
The chief advanced to the door
that communicated with the last
room.
cit is here that we shall find some
thing, I think. Why, the deuce! It
seems to be locked on the inside," as
he tried the knob. Then, with a
push Of his huge shoulders, he broke
the door in, and kicking aside the
shattered wood, they stood within
the room. It seemed to be vacant,
too. The chairs about a table in
the center, the butt of cigarette
and a glass showed that it must have
been recently occupied.
IF I only had a decent light" !"
i grumbled Barnes, for his lantern was
so faint that it only Illuminated q
small space of the room at time.
There is that queer rushing sound
again, like escaping steam,'' muttered
l