The Washington times., 1912-12-09
CHAPTER III.
TIE Verdict Of the Specialist.

- URING the night Eenwick was
kept awake by the sound "f
r1cn's feet In the passage. ac-
companied by dragging noises
suggestive Of heavy furniture being ie-
moved to van In the street. Toward
daybreek he fell into sleep that was
d d'sturbed BY the occasional Summing OF
door or the dropping OF some metal
Ute nsil on the stone flour outside.
He awoke with bitter taste In his
mouth aHd splitting pain over the
eyes, as though rp,SianeI ,s nar,nI instru.
glass OF water from the carafe stcadl.d
lin slightly. Cropping to chair. he
listened for some indication of life
about the houge. his mind obsesse! by
tine curious experience Of the last few
houis.
Something Of tho city's stir piercel
tho heavy walls of his apartment He
caught the rnm stable roar OF motor
traffic. the far-oir whistle of II passing
locomotive. Sound did no, easily tra-
verse the long corridors LEADING to DR..
Tsarka's siceping-Guarters. The rear
part Of the house descended twenty feet
below the level OF the street. The gar
nclosure. All thoughts OF eaking
from the hOCse had been abandoned by
Renwick the moment Ills sight had
failed.
Given 9 possible chance. he would
have fought his way into the road at
the outset. No chance had offered. The
trained dependents OF tho little Jap
anesc doctor had not thought 1T to IT,
'ievc him Of his revolver. IN the house
OF an enemy IL blind man becomes less
| menacins than beetle or garden to-
tO!sc.
Rcnwlck could only fret. and grope hi,
times to l'sten fer footstep in the
passage outside.
Il" had hoped that Pepio san nigh,
| return Even her voice was better than
| tn" terrible silence.
II" was lust beginning to realize the
effects Of the redum-spOnge. Complete
| darkness assuiled him, The faint nin-
hus OF Hight which had penetrated the
black void had vanished utterly. He
had only the Japanese Doctors assur-
nnce that n genuine specific for rad'um
| blindness existed But deep In Rem
| wick's consciousNess was the fixed idea
that the sponcs-w!elder had dealt with
him finally, There would be no resur-
.ecticn from the awful pit Of. gloon
INTO which he hal been cisT. 'rh" .'n~.
aresc gang Of thieves had made sure
| that he would never appear against
ett to follow where his investigations
End ceased.
| The sound OF a hrc ON In the passage
sent him to the door. listening eagerly.
Nearer came the sound. until It stoppe
hanged heavily on the floor. Then kev
was thrust into the lock of his door
and opened bripkly. Renwick sep red
back. his guard arm raised slightly.
"who arc you?" he asked. hoarsely
"Are you Pepio SAM
The Intruder breathcd warily. ss
tho"eh the shock OF meeting was quite
| unexpected 1t was womnn's voice
that sroIe. a aforementioned voice
that eased the strain OH his mind.
| "Shure, came TO clnnc IN tHe empty
rouse. sorr ia no idea there was q
gentleman insOide."
There wss no doubt In his mind 20"
| ccrniny the pcrsonalitv OF the visitor
He had met the London house-cleane'
and charwoman before. He took a stcI
10 the open door. scarce believing hi!
senses.
Il want to go from here" he said
quickly. 1.-THE late occupants hav
taken everything from the house. l sup
pose7'
"Thore's not stick left but wha
stands in this room, sorr. 'Tis yOursel
that looks SICK and troubled, II ! ma
tatc the liberty OF sayin' It."
Rcnwick felt called upon to eXplai