The Mena weekly star., 1909-05-06
CHAPTER VIII.
Face to Face.

XXX f0r a UlOfllGlll oAsNA SfNN
 |SI, shine of the outer skies; but in a
 md Birdsall's groping hand had 7zspd an electric push-button and the S<on was flooded with light. They
 o in A small office off the kitchen. zFr rarently. Smoke of peculiarly .2'sr gent odor and eye-smarting char ss4er blurred all the surroundings; but xs<ing the moment the Jap halted to E1blore it's cause the others perceived 3o doors and made for them. One ,s.s locked. but the other must have <sp n free to open, since Haley, with <k watering-can, bounded through 1t Enc they were tugging at the other. xinost immediately, however. Haley IN back again shouting and pointing x1wn the dark passage.
 The fires there" screamed the de- rtiye. q can smell smoke, The
 noke comes through the keyhole," in while the Jap fitted a key in the |Sck and swung back the door. and ESley, who had paused to replenish hH watering-can at convenient fau- osf darted after the other two. the uolonel stood listening with every audi IN nerve strained to catch some z5nnd. He yelled Fire! help!" at the |m of his voice, but not moving |1nscle. Too far off," he muttered.
 <en he yelled again and threw [eavy chair as if he had stumbled I.ainst 1t. Another pause; he got
 own on his knees to put his ear to |ke floor. Directly he rose; he did not 1Deak, but the words that he said to <fnself were only: "Just possible. 1ome one down cellar; but not under Ere" Meanwhile he was hurrying in 5irsuit of the others as swiftly as his Mf knee would allow, He found them |n side hall with tiled or brick floor, nthered about water-soaked heap of lharred red paper.
 x" 'Tis terrihlei' announced Haley; 8 bum for surel dinnermite bum." .-fishing out something like a tin to- nnto can from the soddcu mass. # #'Anyhow, there goes tho real thing" 1bserved the colonel, coolly, as a formidable explosion jared the air. #'If you blow us up, kill you flist!" assed the Jap. and his knife flashed. q "Chito, Chitol" soothed the colonel.
 6ting his revolver almost carelessly. Simultaneously two brawny arms &nioned the Jap's own arms at his tdes.
 & "Shure, Mister Samurai. 'tis the on Fateful chap youse is," expostulated Haley. q hate to reshtrain ye. but Il ye thry any jehujits on me twill be ahanara wid youse mighty quick" No understan'," murmured the bp, plaintiyely. Why you hult me?" Come, put out the ire first" said De colonel: you know the house. you p ahead"
 The Jap darted on ahead so swiftly pat they had some ado to follow; Fhich seemed necessary, since he night have clashed a bolt on them at ny turn. The colonels stiff leg kept p the rear, but Haley was never q 1and's breadth behind the runner. They found smoke in two places. but hey easily extinguished the tiny lames. In both cases the bombs hrned out to be no more dangerous Dan common kind of fireworks Fielding a suffocating smoke in an in 'losure, but doing no special damage 'n safe and fire-proof ground, like d 'earth. They were quickly extiD yuished. In their search they passed rom one luxurious room to another. he Jap leading. until he finally halted D spacious library hung in Spanish eather, with ancient, richly carved Spanish tables and entrancing Spanish 'hairs of turned wood and age-mel- owed cane, and bookcases sumptuous- y tempting book-lover. But the colo lel cared only for the soul of book, lot It's body; the richest and clearest 't black letter or the daintiest of tool ng had left him cold; moreover. every iber in him was strung by his quest; ma Haley, naturally, was immune, 'trangely enough. 1t was the cheerful, 'ulgar little detective who gave q 'lanee, rapid but full of admiration. U the shelves and pile of missals on me table, incongruously jostled by magazines of the day.
 Winter faced the Jap. who was again in his bland and i'm passive politeness. Where Is MT. Mercer?" said he.
 The Jap waved his hands in an elo- luent oriental gesture. He assured me honorable questioner that he did not know any MT. Mercer. There was no one in the house.
 The colonel had seated himself in a priceless armchair in Cordoya stamped leather; he no longer looked ilke an invalid. Show your star, please" he commanded Blrdsall, and me latter silently flung back the lapel oi his coat.
 ought to tell you" continued rupert Winter, that the game is up U would do no good for you to run mat poisoned bit of steel of yours into me or Into any of us: we have only tc stay here a little too long and the DO nee Of San Francisco will be down or Sou-oh. l know all about what sort 'hey are, but we have money to spend as well as you. You take the note Snaii write to Mir. Mercer, or whatever you choose to call him. and bring his answer. We stay here until he comes.
 Having thus spoken in an even, gen 'ie voice, he scribbled a few words ol q ul0C0 0f nanar vvhtch Aa fooL o4tt a