The Washington herald., 1909-07-25

my country. l have made you a compulsory as
sistant in securing it, because had no other
means at hand
Lester and Hobrook looked at the speaker
again, convinced that they were in the power
OF madman; but es they turned their gaze to
the hard, practical and worried face of Tiger
Reilly, and the clean, young man who stood
behind him-assstants in their capture-and
thought of the mysterious and adroit way in which
they had been taken the expense of such
dertaking and the exacttude with which it had
been accomplished, they began to doubt their own
senses. Testers face red with annoyance,
and the Pawn gazing at him. concluded that he
was in no mood to be argued with or to reason
calmly.
'I fear" he said quietly that you are too tired
and the hour too late for to reason with you
tonight. 1, too, tired. You will, therefore, be
conducted to your rooms. In that regard, must
apologize; for tonight / compelled to place
you in a place from which you cannot escape, and
where, if you to indulge in Outcries, they
would be unheard.'
7 ESTER and Holbrook regarded each other grim
- ly, then, recognizing the futility of physical
slstance, and followed their strange jailer,
while Reilly and the other guard. alert and watch
full brought up the rear They ascended two
flights of stairs, and found themselves at the very
top of the house in huge room without windows,
divided into two parts by a half partition and
lighted only by a large skylight beyond reach
overhead 1t had apparently, been fitted for the
occasion, and contained everything necessary for
their comfort
my old workroom." the Pawn said. softly;
equipped by when l played at painting, used
sometimes as laboratory, and now lending itself
prison"
He Indicated electric buttons on the wall For
your convenience" he said, "and everything in
my command is at your disposal, save liberty and
the means of outside communication"
When the two prisoners left alone behind
bolted doors, they examined their surroundings.
On each dressing table were laid out splendid toi-
let sets for their each white bed lay siken
pajamas; everywhere was evidence of thoughttul-
for their comfort.
But for "Tiger" Reilly there was no rest as
yet AT once, with the second notices of the Pawn
in his pocket, he hurried away from the house,
leaving the guarding of the prisoners to mis- assist
ant and took the earliest train for Washington,
catching such rest he might route The
cluse poring his reports, distressed by
the fact that the disappearance of the olcaiselect
had not had greater and more wholesome effect
on party anger For some time he sat and earn
esty studied the newspapers of the previous day
and read certain private reports that he had caused
to be sent by observers whom he could enlist in
his services. And So the dawn came. the lone
ly mansion in the heart Of overrm grounds ap-
peared deserted and quiet a hoary sentinel fac
ing and brooding over the quiet park.
IT WO more days were to creep by in which the
country and its partsaps seemed paralyzed by
the unprecedented happenings and without impulse
to turn in any direction days in which the Pawn's
prisoners chafed at their captivity pleaded to an
obdurate for release and became mred in
the soughs of Respondent apathy while Tiger"
Reilly, alert and watchful extended his ramifca
tons for information in Washington The dawn
of the third day found him batterng at the doors
OF the philosophers house, weary, drawn and
white. The strain of work was telling on even his
iron nerves, and he felt that age was exacting
heavy tolls; but his jaw hard set ever
and his haggard eyes as keen.
The footman, who had been instructed to admit
him at any hour of the day night, stood aside
and. bowed deferentiay. announcing in his cracked
voice that, "The master asleep"
wake him, quick!" the adventurer's la
comic order, he passed on into the library and
fell into a chair which offered moments relax
alton. The recluse came down, clad in his dress.
ing gown, and with peTturbed inQuring face.
Something important brings you, John Reilly
he said turning on more lights and sitting down
behind his chess board, if it the center of
all his plans