The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-06-23


ward the remaining pace or two and
stood before the gate
10 did not open. He let a matter OF
three or four minutes go by Then he
reached forward and knocked softly,
and a thin voice came:
"Well?"
Let me I'M
'Weu?"
Open the gate 1 say, whoever you
are!'
Weir repeated the voice
Damn wellr" cried Penrose. "Opsn
that gate. or I'll have It forced down.
There are police Mere al last toend-'
He stopned, with a presentiment that
he was talking TO air. Indeed. as min
ute after minute passed and no sign
OF an answer 20 his tirade came a
sense OF heIplcssnes came over him.
He tried again. He threatened. He
talked calmly. He promised vengeance
again. and half-meditated a soiorouy
command 10 the mythical force OF Of
heers. IL was all quite In vain. No
an5wer-no sign Of an answer came
from behind the mysterious gatel
At length he turned silently and r.,
Joined the edited O'Hara.
They wouldn't let We IN. sor7"
They wouldn't" Peuruse replied
shorIy. Come this way. Wen 20
around into H~sty street and take The
wall"
And where's the music comm from.
vanity
"Music?" PenrOse stopped and
stared about In some irritation. The
houses all around were shrouded IN
oiackness, yet from somewhere IN the
vicinity a string orchestra was giving
the strains OF a Strauss waltz,
don't know he snapped. Come
Around the corner they went. The
paper came from O'Hara's bundle. and
nc silently vncoiled hesvy rupe. WITH
thick iron hook on the end.
Is it over for eurs. sor2.' he IN
.quired
Yes
trial or two. more noise thar
seemed desirable. a tentative tug from
. Hara 5 mishty arSs, ana the Irish
man smiled
"That'd hold the two OF Us. Sort
''All right. think 1 can make it"
Penrose stepped forward briskIy. "Tu
30 first, OHara. You stand below. In
cas- Of q fall o.
You're not goln' to be the arst over.
sor2''
Yes. am. Ready?"
Ready. sor. but"
PenIose's overcoat dropped 70 the
ground With more agility than he
had really suspected himself TO DOS
sess, the small figure went hand over
hand up the thick rope 1t was. after
all, no very great task. Within a few
seconds Penr0se was astride the vail
Of The House Of Suspicion, painting yio-
lently.
The sight VAS one well calculated to
decrease his breathing! Top to bot
tom. side 10 side, the House of Sus-
pieion was one single blaze Of electric
Hight,
There were palms. vaguely out
lined TO Penrosc's fascinated stare.
there were swift-moving figures here
there. and everywhere. In one room.
indeed. there seemed to be-he could
not quite determine what. Perhaps II
was the orchestra, whose strains he
heard much more clearly now. Per-
haps-buJ what did II natter
The amazing fact remained that the
evil powers Of this grim house OF death
were celebrating their nideous vic
tories Should he turn back. in the
face Of superior numbers? Dare ne ad-
vance? Penrose's course was decided
for him. over the grass he felt and
heard. rather than saw, a figure. shout
ing not very loudly, was hurrying to-
ward him-hurrying to prevent his en-
trance,
Let go that rope O'Hara,"
but, sor-"
I'm going down on this side. IN
throw IL back. Quick"
The strand came up auickly-in his
hands. He tossed it to the inner side
of tho wall and speedily secured the
hook Then, with the mysterious fig
Vre still fifty feet away. with O'Hara
almost forgotten in the excitement of
the moment Penrose dropped sudden
~. slid 10 the ground, and quickly re-
gained his balance.
The figure was coming rapidly now.
An encounter, and the mystery might
be lost TO him forever
He would unquestionably have pre-
ferred O'HarTs reassuring company.
but he must work alone. Penrose bent
forward and leaped out Of the shadows
and, head down. tore at top speed for
the House Of Suspicioni