The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-01-13
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~ PLACE NTH THE .
LOUD OANC OF STEEL

LOUD ClAHG OF STEEL
Three weeks afterwards l was
in Paris on my way to Cairo. My
intention was to find, first of all,
my false love, Marion LIE Mar, now
Lady Dagmar. And through her,
If possible, my enemy-Sir Chas.
Venner.
l sought there to compose my
self for my purpose by play, heavy
play. Suffice it to say that i
found myself one night in gam
bling house.
Luck favored me, and 1 won
steadily. At the end of an hour,
so large a heap of gold and notes
had accumulated on the table be-
fore me, that it interfered with
my elbow room, and l was obliged
to stand up to make my game. i
was in the act of stretching out
my hand to place large sum,
when some inexplicable instructive
feeling compelled me to look up
into the face of a newcomer. The
iudh w Cd O. hC5lo. ioohSN az hthA
more closely, and then for sec
ond I was almost stunned with
surprise. He was Jussieu, the in
fernal negro surgeon, who, at the
instance of his master, Sir. Chas.
Venner, had inflicted upon my
bound and defenseless body tor
lures which made me shudder to
remember. Before l could collect
my scattered wits our eyes met,
and the recognition became mutu-
al. The villain started back a
pace and glared at me, his eyes
rolling in his head. He was at
tired in a fashionably cut evening
suit, in which he tried to ape the
gentleman. For moment
shook with rage, and a murderous
impulse almost overwhelmed me.
Then came a wiser thought, and
grew calm. said to myself:
"Since the jackal is here, the lion
cannot be far away. I shall make
this scoundrel lead me to his mas
ter's lair!"
Holding him with my eyes, I
fumbled with my hands upon the
table, and began to stuff my win
nings into my pockets. Jussieu
tore his eyes from mine and hur-
ried towards the door. sent my
chair crashing behind me with a
backward kick and broke through
the crowd and darted after JUS
sieu. He had already passed the
door, but l caught up with him
half way down the stairs.
"What, Monsieur Jussieu!" I
snarled, would you run away
from an old friend? That is not
kind in you"
"You mistake, m'sieur!" he
cried. That Is not my name"
Perhaps not" muttered. "It
will, however, serve my turn.
Come, monsieur!" / slipped my
arm through his and urged MIN
down the stairs.
He was still protesting when We
-eached the street. But as soon
as the door of the gambling house
had closed behind US cut him
short.
Look here, Jussieu!" I growl-
ed, ST have In my pocket revolt
yer that Is loaded In every cham
Der. Take me at once to your
master, Sir Chas. Venner, or BY
the Lord I shall put bullet
through your head"
A hasty glance had shown mel
that the street was deserted. II
produced my pistol, therefore, as|
spoke and presented it to his
breast.
The negro started back, rolling
his eyes like maniac. but hel
spoke no word. He was shivering
with fear. smiled and returned
the weapon to my pocket. There
upon / gripped his arm and NUT
tered in his ear: Proceed"
Uttering a sort Of groan he set
off slowly. "Quicker!" COM
manded. He increased his pace.
A smart walk brought US quickly
to the Rue D'Engheim. Turning
into that street, the negro stopped
presently before the door of a.
large three-storfed house, whose
every window was closely shut
tered.
I'VE have arrived. monsieur" 81
he muttered In q hollow voice.
You have latch key, per-
hRps?" asked.
/ looked steadily &C the house
fDr I moment or tSvo. then curt-
y forced him 70 eive me his lateh !
mepr -. 1eter Is was rnnnink
oxf \ terror down ths street.
/ could not. however. afk0r1 to
waste thought on him, for had
much 50 do.
without pausing an instant. II
climbed the steps and noiselessly
inserted Juasieu's latch key into
the lock of the front door. III
yielded, the door opened with q !
blight creak, and crossed the
Threshold I found myself In .
Wsido but dimly lighted hail. 4:
WAS carpeted with cocoaiiut mat
ting. Doors crowded ia hides. ain
closed. Before me Was 4 Stair
case, and I found myself mount
ing Il remember passing one'
door and turning the handle OF q
second. Then I was In q room,
dark es Erebus, creeping toward q
bed. upon which lay an unseen
sleeper. whose long. deep respira-I
tiona guided my stea1thy move
ments. What ensued appeared
wen then like nothing 20 much as
the HaoDenln<s of 1omo Wild and