The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-07-30
THE SIGNAL OF DEATH

LEAIlI |
Tom quickly donned his mask and hood,
end returning raped lightly at the
others door
There was { moments hesitation,
devoted, no doubt, 20 cautious IN
spcCtiOn. then the door was hung open,
and the lieutenant hgure appeared up
on the threshold.
CHER he exclaimed in tones which
indicated surprise rather than over
whelming pleasure
Exactly" assented Tom, sarcastically.
Who, pray did you expect II 10 be-
] can'- say that yuur tone is precisely
flatterinG, either. You seem more dis
appointed than anything else.
"But-but,' stammeI Ell the other, me
thought chief him sick. Man tellee me
him gone 10 hospital
All" commented Tom, with ironical
emphasis, news travels last dOesn [
il. Your anonymous informant how
ever, failed TO furnish you with full
details. / was later discharged as cur
Me no have-ee any luck" merely
observed Moy sing, dejectedly. Me
thought maybe chief MIN die; then me
gettee be tong leader without so much
trouble
Tom burst into a great roar of ire
pressible laughter.
Why you unregenerate heathen,' he
chuckled. For cool, impudeHt Candor,
you come pretty near crOwding the linz
II. SO much trouble with you means,
suppose, all the scheming that you are
constantly up TO in the effort to get
rid of me, Wen, 1 am sorry to seem
DISC bhging, old man, but / am afraid
you II have TO endure my presence for
many a long day yet"
He ratified on in. this fashion, how
20 Il ~F.aEv-
tation swelling within him than from
any especial amusement at the other
disappointment.
Funny no doubt Moy Sings detection
was, but to Moore il was the cause of
relief rather than hilarity; for its IN
questionable sincerely proved TO him
that his Tuse at the hospital and his
interview with Millicent were still un-
suspected, aud thereby a great weight
was lifted from his mind.
Almost jubilantly he proposed to his
associate that they should return to the
gloomy world below, and since MOy
Sing was entirely too preoccupied with
his own troubles to pay much heed, he
was able to note and store away in his
memory a good many details regarding
the "liftee machine" and the approaches
to II, which he felt would be of future
benefit.
Waxing a little holder that night, toe,
he Ventured for the first time TO cross
the death chamber and explore the pre-
cincts of the other hangout
During the days immediately follow.
In gthe tragedy in the restaurant the
tong members had kept themselves pref
ty closely below ground, but now, with
ordinary conditions restored and the
harassing police surveillance lifted, they
bad troOped forth with the zest OF
school children out for a holiday.
Consequently tonight the lower corri-
doris were practically deserted. and Tom
met no one as he rOamed warily about.
listening at doors, spying around cor.
neTs, searching everywhere for some
clue which would lead him to the dun
geon OF the imprisoned girl.
While thus engaged he stumbled,
more by accident than design, upon
door which opened at his touch, and "a
his surprise found himself in a room
which for luxurious comfort even sur
passed his own handsomely furnished
quarters.
Moreover, it was evidently occupied.
although its tenant happened TO be out
at the moment, for an easy chair was
drawn up close to the fire, an open book
lay upon the table, and from an ash
tray beside il assembled the incense Of a
still smOldering cigar.
Moore took a step or two into the
apartment, and looked wonderingly
around
Who could be the persona white
man, too. apparently by all the evil
dence at hand-whO in this strange
the leader?
VINO was he and what was his con
nection with the tong?
And then, as he advanced a step or
two farther, he gave a gasp, for at
one side of the mantlepiece he beheld
an open safe fairly crammed with gold
and banknOtes.
All, An idea came to him. This was
evidently the treasure house of the
tong, and the treasurer, stepping out for
Z
failed to close the receptacle.
He threw himself on his knees before
the store OF wealth. Not for worlds
would he have soiled his fingers with a
penny of it-spoH Of murder. and loot.
and blackmail that ii was-but he had
seen some papers thrust into a lower
compartment Of the safe, ald the sug-
gestiOn came that possibly he might
find here evidence against the tong.
The paperS-Or at least the first two
or three which ne examined seemed to
be high class securt ties, bon Is and de-
bentures, issued i.,nally to Ferdinand
Bates and by him assigned 10 one Fred
ericE Bailey. who Tom decided was IL
all probability the absent treasurer.
In other words, he reasoned IL out
that Bates must have been blackmailed
BY the tong until he had been driven
TO the verge Of bankruptcy, and then
either because he could no longer meet
their demands, or because he was
threatening an exposure he had been
foully murdered.
But while ne pondered over this rev.
elatiOn. he was suddenly startled by the
click Of a latch key, and glancing over
his shoulder. saw the door swing open.
Some one was entering the room!
The Continuation % This story VIII
BE Found I'm TOmOrrOw's
Issue of T'le Times.