The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-06-24

]
! a pOCketbOOk-and studied it,
IL was a small calendar for 1908, OF
I the sort often printed in pocket diaries.
\ That il had been torn from some such
! book he could see at a glance Dy the
/ ragged edge. Beginning with Wednes-
] day, November Il, the very day OF the
! kidnapping, each succeeding week was
marked or by a circle Dlue-peneiled
Somebody's been reckoning ahe5d,"
! thought he Counting the weeks. No
! doubt OF that. And here, this cross in
red INK. shows when the first month is
up"
/ He turned the paper over. On the
I back, IN red ink he read: Feb. g. 90.
/ May 81 W. * June 3. Timer
For moment he stood there, abso-
lutely at loss. He did not at first con-
/ meet this singular reckoning with the
case IN hand; but all al once he pei
Z ceived that the dates indicated were
three months and six respectively
/ from the date OF his captivity. He re-
called Lawlor's statement that the first
[ part or the work, whatever Il might be-
must come 10 an end in three months.
( by gad! he calculated, 'Here-here
1 Is something worth keepingi Something
/ vital 20 the case; something that Law
ior must have dropped, or that must
nave blown away, possibly out Of MS
room A clue, eh? at any rate, even
lhough LOT the lie OF me can't tell
! Yet what IL means III keep IL, yes, and
say nothing. Who knows out it may
| put me on the road 90 solving the whole
internal mystery? Why
The breaking Of a twig behind him
| drew his attention Hastily slulIEg The
paper into his walsUcOat pocket, he
. looked round. The Greek was coming
] toward him through the wood.
Cash, when he saw he was observed.
advanced quickly and with an air OF ia
Inocent frankness, which, however, cid
not deceive the surgeon.
Hang the man. but he's been spying
/ on me-" growled Hargreave, d saddea
angry flush rising on his forehead.
Wei" he added aloud, well. what do
you want of me2'
Nothing. sir. Only 20 show you the
estate, sir, II you wish the C-eek re-
( Piled defereutially touching his cap.
Shall 4 accompany you. sir?'
Hargreaye, IN spite Of ais vexaJiOn,
| had 10 smile at the fellows finIsy eX-
I cGse ard at the painfully correct Eng
Ssh which sounded odd BIZ contrast with
, Lle strong foreign accent
Thank you, no. he declined That's
Tar too thin, my man. And, what's
more, 1 warn YOU for your own good
rot 10 watch me, not to SPY On me. or
one Of us IS apt TO get hurt, you under
stard2 I'm not contemplating am cs-
/ O. PEI tell you that to begin with, lux
III We're your petty Efforts wouldn't
stop me I'm here TO deal wiz yoar
TusleI, not you. Go back, lUw, where
you came from. and don't s.5uI there
spolnnB the landscape with dat jail
bird lace Of yours
The Greek eyes darkened. hut he stood
his ground.
Pardon me. sir My orders. And. II
YOU please, did you not just now pick
( up something from the ground-a pa
. per?'
why, yes. A letter I was reading.
One Leaf blew away. What about it,
Nothing. sir" Cash answered sui
/ lenly. Hargreave knew the man was
not deceived, but further inquiry was
eTeCtUaNy blocked save by the passage
Of the lie direct, which Cash, he felt,
would not dare venture The surgeon
had more than once dealt with types
like this. The only way, be understood,
was TO take the upper hand at once and
I hold IL firmly.
Come. tell me-" commanded he per
emptorily, what seems 20 be the trOu-
/ bic with Lawlor today
why. sir, nothing that 1 know Of"
THAT letter.
How should I know. STRIP
You shouldn't that's true. Only
fellow as clever as youth oriental
methods-may know much. Is LawlOr
suffering from some maltOrmatlou,
some disease2' Possibly. thought Har-
greave, the whole affair might be SIM
pier than he had anticipated. Possibly
II might be q matter OF mere surgical
transportation Of some organ from the
gorilla to the man 10 save the latters
ady. some serious trouble that is worry
ing him2'
The Greek shook a non-committal
head 4 cannot talk" he made reply.
cant talk2 Nonsense. / ought to
know what's troubling your master
l can help him far better II ] do Come
out with il, What's the meaning Of all
this2'
Cash never even hesitated.
7 cannot talk he merely said. Il
never question / never try 70 Know L
only obey orders. Obey every order he
gives" a yelled menace lurked In the
tone Of his voice Everybody ooeys-
hint"
exclaimed He must be a strong man,
young master.
Gash's only answer was a shrug Of the
shoulders and a deprecating spread OF
the palms
..Piaeue take your obedienceI All,
well I'll ind out soon enough, no doubt.
But l say, my man, you and I stiu have
a bone TO pict-that drugged cigar, you
recOllect No more tricks Of that sort,
mind, or l promise you nsttul or
trouble. Drugs and the like are a game
where 1 hold ace. king. and queen every
time. Don't forget that!
Pardon me, SIR / only obeyed-'
no matter be careful, very careful,
Cash I've some OF the gypsy drey with
me, and 1 know how
Not that sir" cried the Greek, with
sudden alarm, Tor the uESL time shaken
from his apIomb. Not thatI'
Yes, lust that An old Romany beg
gar gave IL 10 me, sir, years ago, N
Montenegro 1 had saved mis- LIE, he
gave me the means Of taking the lives
of others without leaving amy sign OF
trace behind You understand howl"
The Greek turned sIgnuy pale under
his olive skin. HargredVe knew he had
struck a vital spot NO East European
Of The lower class but knows and holds
IN unspedkdble dread this most horrible
OF all pOIsOns. the use Of which IS a
close secret with the gypsy peoples
Prepared from the spores or the toad
stool known as asper GIuus niger, in the
form OF a fine brown powder, which can
be dissolved ana gwen IN FOOD or DRINK,
TINS InevIJaDIy fatal stun grows and
nOurIsnes IN Jue stomach OF the helpless
ylcLlm. IL develops INTO greenISh-ye
snOOts, urmly nXed in the mucous mem
Dtane. ana brings on Ueath INSIDE OF a
mUutn, even a fortnight; then wiJhers,
RACES, and disappears utterly, leaving no
trace.
hargreave mad no drey spores,
re!taer would ne have used them IN
any event. but his threat carried
nome Cash, quite evidently overcome
Dv superstItiOus fear, had grown ali
difference. Where argument had
failed, where n direct appeal had
IaIisu TO the ground, this unknown
terror had greatly shaken him.
sir" he exclaimed, almost plead
inSly, sir, wn9L could 1 do2 1 was