The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-04-13
CHAPTER L.
Face TO Face.

mat PARK lane draWlnE-roOm Suouiu
be transformed into the interior Of a log
built house Of the Russian steppe was
surely unsupported by any Of those who
passed up and down that renowned thor
oughfare every day.
The popular idea associated that long
row Of millionaires houses facing Hyde
Park with luxurlant saloons. priceless
paintings. old Persian carpets, and ex-
quisite furniture Who would believe
that behind those windows with their
well-kept eurtdins. and brise-brise OF silk
and lace, was a room arranged with such
care, with the snowy road and moonlight
shown beyond the false window?
with what object. I wonder. is all
this?" asked Charlie. speaking in an un-
dertone. as though to himself There was
something weird and uncanny about the
scene with that white streak of brilliance
falling like bar across the place. an in
describable something which made It
plain that all had been arranged with
some evil design by the old man.
No second glance vas needed 70 show
that every bit Of furniture and every
article in the place was genuine. They
were no stage properties, but real things.
brought from some far-distant spot in
Eastern Russia. But with what motive?
Aye, that was the question:
They had turned. and were about to
withdraw from the place, Max leading
the way, when suddenly he halted. for
his quick ears caught some sound. It
was curious. low. whirriug noise, fol
lowed almost instantly by a swift swish
close to him. so near. indeed, that 1t
caused current Of afr in his face as
some object passed him nom above.
At the same moment the noise OF
mechanism ceased.
For a few seconds both intruders hes
itated.
Charlie asked breathlessly what it could
be. whereupon his friend turned on the
light, and the truth stood revealed.
BY an ace he had escaped with his life!
At the door, IN order to prevent the
egress Of any intruder. cunning but
dastardly mechanical device had been
placed. a long iron lever, TO which was
attached a keen-edged japanese eutlass.
had come forth from its hiding place in
the Intel OF the door, and, descending
with terrific force, had only just escaped
cutting Max down
Both men saw the means by which
old Statham guarded the secret of that
room. and shuddered. To enter was easy.
but It was intended that he who entered
might not emerge alive.
Apparently one OF the floor boards Just
within the door was loose, and, being
trodden upon. the weight released the
spring or mechanism, and the razor dyed
cutlass shot forth with murderous force
BY Jove." gasped Charlie. Il had no
idea the old man set traps for the IN
wary. We'd better be careful
Yes. That was indeed a narrow es-
cape. whispered Max. 1T would have
been certain death. Let's get out OF it"
The steel lever was down. the point
of the cutlass touching the floor. There
fore they were both compelled TO step
Over the death trap in order TO leave the
remarkable apartment
Then with careful hands Charlie tried
the next door. It was locked
Brief examination showed it to be the
door OF the hack drawing-room, which
had been thrown into the larger room
with the mysterious purpose OF construct
ing that striking rural interior.
So they crossed to the third door, on
u
with greatest caution lest another pitfall
should Turk there. opened it.
That night Of investigation was full Of
surprises.
The instant Max flashed on his light
the pair drew back with low exclama-
tons Of horror.
The small apartment was unfinished.
It contained only one object-grewsome
and unexpected. In the center Of the
place, upon the black trestles, stood a
coffin OF polished oak with shining electro
handles and fittings.
The I'D. they noticed. was screwed
down. Was It possible that It contained
an unburied corpse? Did that white
enameled door upon the stairs conceal
from the world the evidence Of q crime?
For a moment both men stood in that
bare. uncarpeted room. rooted to the spot
The. secret Of sam Statham stood re-
vealed.
Then with a sudden effort Charlie crept
forward, nearer the coffin, and read upon
It's plate the words, plainly engraved:
JEAN ADAM. AGED 49,
Then Adam had been entrapped there
and had lost his life.
Both men started as the tragic truth
dawned upon them. Adam was old Sam s
coffin-yet the millionaire had, I'D TO the
present, been unable TO dispose Of the re-
mains. There was no medical certificate,
therefore burial was impossible.
The weird stories which both men had
heard of nocturnal visitors TO that house
who had never been seen to emerge and
Of long boxes Ike collins which more
than one person said they had seen being
brought out and loaded upon four-wheeled
cabs, all now flashed across their minds
OF a verify that house was a house Of
grim shadows. for murder was commit
ted there. Men entered alive. and left
it dead.
Max stood by the coffin Of the man who
had so cleverly sought 10 entice him
away to COnstantinOple with stories of
easily obtained wealth, and remained
there breathless in wonder. He recollect-
ed Sans words. and saw in them e bit
ter hatred Of the Franco-English adVen-
turer Had he carried this hatred TO the
extreme limit-that OF secret assassina-
ton?
Charlie, on his part. stood silent also.
He knew well that upon the death of
Adam depended the future prosperity of
his master He was we'll aware alasl
that Adam. having suddenly reappeared,
had vowed a terrible and crushing VEN
geance upon the head OF the great firm
Of Statham Brothers.
But old Sam. with his usual crafty
fOrethought and innate cunning. had
forestalled him. The adventurer had
been done 70 death, and was already in
his coffin
In his cool audacity old sam had &C
tually prepared the Ieaden-lined coffin
with IFS plate ready inscribed
It's secret arrival at night had evidently
been witnessed. and had given rise to
strange and embellished stories.
The last occasion Max had seen Adam
was one night three weeks before when.
dining with two other men in the gallery