Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-06

mOQ0rN times.
His refusal to take a weapon with him
caused me some uneasiness, / admit,
even though he added, gTimly:
IF it comes to scrimmage shall
use my iron bar. which, will be just as
effective as a bullet.
The escapade was a dangerous one
That we both agreed He, Of course, was
unaware that any alarm raised would
cause Garshore to believe that the police
were upon him. and thus impel him to
fight for his life.
My friend the journalist had somehow
become seized with the idea that inside
that house would be found something to
give us a clue to Garshore's connection
with the fair Lydia-something which
would prove a motive for her death.
Possibly this vague theory owed its birth
to his innate love Of adventure. But.
however it may have been, was only
too ready and anxious to fall in with
any suggestion which might result In
the discovery OF some clue.
And yet my ardor was considerably
damped by a remark which fell from
Cunliffe's lips as he lay back smoking,
with his eyes fixed upon the ceiling.
other of the best men at Scotland Yard
have failed over this case, Ralston, and
have practically given it up as mystery
without solution. This being so, how
can we. after all. hope for success?"
Granville Gough?" asked.
He Is wanted on suspicion. Informa-
ton was given against him In secret.
BY whom they refuse to tell me"
"Then shall tell you," said. 'The
allegations were made by the man whose
house we are going to visit tonight
you're certain Of that?' he exclaimed
in surprise.
Quite. It was an act OF vengeance.
It is in return for that dastardly action
that l will dare to accompany you to-
night to search for some evidence Of the
truth
We threw our cigars away and drove
with him to Danes Inn, where he got
short serviceable bar of iron-a bolt out
Of an old barge, he saba wide short
knife and two pairs OF wooden socks to
draw over our boots. Then after half an
hours gossip and a final nip Of brandy to
steady our nerves and keep out the raw
cold we re-entered the cab and drove
back to- Piccadilly Circus, arriving there
at about q quarter to in the morning.
Considerable ingenuity was neces-
sary to avoid the unwelcome espion-
that hour. but at last we found ourselves
safely at the end of the news and before
the door in the wall which we had exam
ined earlier in the night.
Holding my breath, tried it, but, az
expected, it was securely fastened
With little difficulty we succeeded in
clambering over. finding ourselves in q
narrow. little paved yard, with the kitch-
en- door before us.
The whole place was in darkness, and
we crept about without making q sound.
Only those who have endeavored to break
into a house at dead of night know how
the heart thumps on such occasions, how
breathless the moments are, and how ter
rible is the tension on both senses of
sight and hearing.
To use the Jenny upon the door would
be to alarm the sleeping inmates. At that
moment, too, disconcerting thought oc-
CURED to me. A man like Rufford, know
ing that he was wanted. would certainly
never run the risk Of being surprised by
the police In his bed. He would surely
have burglar alarms set always.
For a long time neither Of us dare tam
per with the Kitchen window, but at last
Cunliffe summoned courage, and while I
prepared for escape back over the wall IL
necessary, he inserted his knife between
the sashes.
The latch would not bulge. With
strained ears we listened for the noise
Of gong within. Fortunately the silence
remaine6 unbroken, and few moments
later heard a sharp click. The catch
had sprung back.
Then slowly-very slowly-the Journal
list lifted the sash, and a few seconds
later we had both slipped through into
the house.
pressed the button of my hand-lamp,
and q narrow stream Of white light shot
across the spacious kitchen.
We were actually within the stronghold
Of a great and resourceful criminal, who
was the enemy of my we'll beloved, as
we'll as that Of my dearest friend.
(To be continued tomorrow.)