Rock Island Argus., 1913-06-14


and Manning again thrust his head
out of the window.
"If you get this" said the chief In a
low voice. wave out your window"
A moment later Manning drew back.
"It's all right. governor" he said. |
They're waving"
At this moment a cat in the dark
regions somewhere outside the house
walled plaintively.
Here they come, governor" said
Manning. aud he started to close the
window. but Kayton stopped him.
You hustle right back to the other
house by the roof" he ordered. "and
get on the dictograph. Don't leave 1t
for second until you get my orders"
"All right governor" nodded the
young man. and the next instant the
darkness of the fire escape had swal-
lowed him up.
Aren't you going with him?" asked
the girl quickly. speaking for the first
time since their entrance into the
room.
I'm going to stay here with you"
was the quiet reply. Miss Mazuret
gasped and Kayton felt his pulses
quicken.
"Oh. don't-don'tw she protested in
| real terror.
He smiled. 'T've heard that befo"-
Steady as were the great detectives
nerves the word was wiped off his lips.
and he started like a race horse as an
angry buzz burst just over his head.
"Oh! What's that:" gasped the girl,
both hands at her throat. Kayton
threw his light above the door and dis
covered the "buzzer."
That's their warning" he explained
softly, fastening her toward the stairs.
They've got the front steps wired.
There's some one at the street door
now"
The girl hurried down distractedly.
what shall we do?" she whispered.
fright into your roomr' he ordered.
They were barely concealed from view
before the other four members of the
household came in the front door.
AS they passed the door Kayton
could hear them talking uneasily in
undertones and now and then catch
word such rs don't Ike it" and "all
the locks" and he smiled to himself
he knew they were discussing Man
ning's theft of the bag.
On the sacond floor the party broke
mp and their voices died away. The
woman and the older of the three men
went on to the attic. followed min
ute later by the youngest member or
the confederaey.
They were n strangely assorted trio.
The leader ana brains of the conspira-
cy against the currency of the land
was the strangest of the three. He
was man of about fifty years, but
one terrible experience had taken the
stlffening out of his spine and the col
or out of his face. though IL had not
dinlmed the hot fire of his dark eyes.
The other man was much younger,
fashiiy dressed in the extreme of
masculine fashion. His face was 1at
and pasty. He was small boned and
undersized-anaemic. crafty. ratlike.
He chose to be known as Simeon
Gage. The older man was known to
the secret service and a number Oi
! LluIlGIpui tpD!1Ce DuEcduS az fiiSGiIS ia
Kreisler, and with certain heroisn
of crime he scOrned an alias. He
calmly lit the gas while Mrs. Martin
drew the curtain. The younger maj
stood in the middle Of the room and
fdgeted.
Doctor, we'll have TO have all thost
locks changed, don't you think b,
inquired neryousIy in a high pitched
voice that was almost whine. "wt
might as well go TO bed with the from
door open"
There was nothing in my bag d
. show what house the keys were for,
Mrs. Martin reminded him quietly.
II know. Mrs. Martin, but I've beeI
: uneasy lately-eveT since that cir
. came" be confessed. Il thought wa
being followed yesterday"
You're always being followed.
commented Kreisier. You must hay
a bad conscience"
i II think perhaps I am gettin' to-
{ many cigarettes" admitted Mr. Gage
q Il don't know. though, now. We mus
q be settin' pretty easy il people ca
q j coma and nrrr