The Washington times., 1910-09-26
By LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE

month ago Been hunted for arson with
blOOdhOUnds on the mainland I fed him
and trained him" A CLEAN Of satisfac-
| ton cOlOred the mans bruised cOunte-
nance and wave Of rage succeeded II
| IN fash The devil-'' he growled, an
gTlly- After all I'd done for him.
you wont tell me-
Bout the light2 Not a word
Cacogan became simultaneously aware
or three things-that he was wasting
] tlme TO no purpose, that a step had
sounded on the verands, and that Will
/ ing was staring past him with 6 look
OF sinister anticipation
He swung on his heel in a breath. feel
/ ING foT his pistol Before he could draw
| II he heard Willing. behind him. curse
with ppOintment. and saw the great
John Topelius
Thank heaven he murnured- fer
fSHtlys the amazement he felt at the
o-d I man appearance mitigated consid-
eTaDly by The fact that it had Surprised
rom Wiling betrayal OF his homes
Undoubtedly the man was looking for
TeleL rom the sea There could be no
gueSuon that ne had set the green light
Tor a signal TO his associates-Cocn-
Tane, presumably. with others.
Mr. TOpeliusl"
Where's my daughter. Mr.. Caco-
TODelius paused. with a hand on the
ooor-Jam unsteadily supporting him
His eyes were a little dull but Other
wise he did not seem much the worse
lot the drug Willing had administered.
she left but few moments ago, 10
return 10 you
Then she will understand that came
mere 10 look for her I have had most
curious experience, Mr.. Cadogan"
TOpelius passed hand dazedly across
| bis eyes. rallied, and seemed for the
| first time to appreciate the meaning Of
that which lay before him. He started
back with an exclamation
Please come in for a moment and III
Cadogan crossed the room to the old
/ mans side and took his arm with
/, gentle persuasion AT the same time
! ne was as good as his word, and be-
gan 20 outline as briefly as he could
/ the events Of the night While he
/ was speaking CTesgh descended the
stairs. bringing with him the green
| lantern
Did you see anything his en-
ployer broke of 70 ask him
! But this treasure" TopeIIus insist
/ ed, ENORMOUSLY. 'TThis-er-tne most
| remarkable thing I ever-I had heard
/ i never believed
Perhaps we'd better have a look at
/ it CadOgan took the lighted lantern
! from Creagh's hand I've a strong
suspicion" he continued, that we had
| better get IL away as soon as we can
II We want to keep 1t Vikings gang
1 is likely 10 be here at any moment
I Creagh, stay here and keep an eye on
| the gentleman"
CrsaEh would have experienced. diff
tculty in keepin ghis gaze away from
Willing Regarding him as the author
OF their troubles, Of most Of the evil
in the world. and II not the devil him
self, at least his highly efficient den
uty, he watched the man with the
suspicious intentnesS of a prize
sghter waiting for his antagonist tc
lead
And. Creagh. If anything happens. if
any one should attempt To enter the
house, make sure that It Is not Miss
/ Todd. then fire.
To hit, sir2''
IF you think best Now. if you're
ready, Mr.. TOpelius"
CadOgan led the way He had given
the cellars a cursOrv survey late in the
afternoon and had dismissed them as of
10 consequence The girls deScriptio-
Of her adventure, however. filed in the
blanks in his knowledge of the place
and he found the right turning without
DELAY
sTopelius logged his steps. trembling
with esgerness- Latent in his nature
perhaps. for all his uDrightnesS. tbera
was a strain of cupidity and avarice
which had been quickened by the assur-
7nce that the treasure existed in sc-
tuality-that II. had been seen BY trust
worthy eyes.
Quickly as they found their wav
through the unfamiliar labyrinth OF the
gloomy vaults, il was none too Quick
for him. and when at length thew we're
at the door Of the treasure chamber,