The San Francisco call., 1913-10-02
Continued From Yesterday
CHAPTER xvII-Continued


ping lightly on the rim of the trans
naitter- 1t was a code message in
= Morse In the room around the corner
the tapping sounded clearly. ticking
out the message that the way was
free for the thieves coming.
When Carson had made an end of
the telegraphing, there came brief
answer in like Morse, 10 which he re-
: turned short direction.
=. For a final safeguard. Carson
searched for and found the telephone
bell box on the surbase below the
octagonal window. 1t was the work
OF only a few seconds to unscrew the
bells, which he placed on the desk.
So simply he made provision against
any alarm from this source. He then
took ais pistol from his hip pocket,
examined it to make sure that the
silencer was properly adjusted, and
then thrust Ii into the right side
pocket OF his coat, ready for instant
use IN desperate emergency. Once
again, now, he produced the electric
torch and lighted ii as he extin-
guished the lamp on the table.
Forthwith, Carson went to the door
into the hall. opened it, and. leaving
it ajar. made his way in silence to
the outer doorway. Presently the
doors there were freed of their bolts
under his skilled fingers. and one of
them swung wide. He had put out
the torch now, lest its CLEAN might
catch the gaze OF some casual passer-
by. So nicely had the affair been
timed that hardly was tie door open
before the three men slipped in and
stood mute and motionless In the
hall while Carson refastened the
doors. Then a pencil OF light traced
the length of the hallway and Gar
son walked quickly back to the
library. Behind him, with steps as
noiseIess as his own. came the three
men o TO whom he had just given the
message
When all were gathered IN the
library Carson shut the hall door,
touched the button in the wall beside
ii, and the chandelier threw its
radiant light on the group.
Griggs was In evening clothes.
= seeming a very elegant young gen
tlenan indeed, but his two COM
panions were of grosser type, as far
as appearances went; one. Dacey, thin
and wiry, with ferret face; the
other, Chicago Red. a brawny ruff1an.
whose stolid features nevertheless
e exhibited something OF half sullen
good nature.
Everything all right SO far Gar
son. said rapidly. He turned to Griggs
and pointed toward the heavy hang
ings that shrouded the octagonal win
dow. Are those the things we
waut2'' he demanded.
Yes" was the answer of English
Eddie
well. then. we've got to get busy
TT Co.
was set In lines Of eagerness that had
in it something of fierceness now.
- But before he could add q. direction
he was halted by a soft buzzing from
the telephone, which, though bell-less,
stiu gave this faint warning of call.
For an instant he hesitated. while the
Others regarded him doubtfu1ly. The
situation offered perplexfties. To give
no attention to the summons might be
perilous and falling to respond might
provoke investigation In some urgent
matter TO answer it might easily
provide a larger danger.
We've got to take a chance" Gar
son spoke his decision curtly. He went
10 the desk and put the receiver to
his ear.
There came again the faint tapping
OF some one at the other end of the
line, signaling a message in the Morse
code, An expression of blank amaze
ment, which grew in a fash to deep
concern, showed on Garson's face as
he listened tensely.
why. this is Mary calling. he
Tnuttered.
Maryw Griggs cried. His usual
vacuity Of expression was cast off like
mask and alarm twisted his fea-
: lures. Then, in the next instant "a
crafty triumph CLEANED from his eyes.
:. Yes, she's on.' Carson interpreted
a moment later, as the tapping ceased
for a little He translated in a loud
whisper as the irregular ticking noise
sounded again
II shall be there at the house al
most at once. am sending this mes
sage from the drug store around the
,. corner. Have some one open the door
for ms Immediately.
!: "she's coming over" Griggs cried,
incre reduIously.
: ..Nos I'll stop her." Carson declared,
firmly.
: vouchsafed.
But when. after tapping a few
words, the forger paused for the reply
no sound came.
. She don't answer" he exclaimed.
greatly disconcerted. He tried again,
sti1f without result At that. he hung
!; up the receiver with a groan. "Sbe's
:. gone
ION her way already" .Griggs sug-
-gested.r and there was none to doubt
that 1t was so. "
p. What's she coming here for2" Gar
son exclaimed harshly: This amt no
pIace-..for herl Why. If anything
should 40 wrong now"
- But Griggs interrupted him with his
.usuaT breezy cheerfulness of manner.
.......'Oh,. nothing can go wrong now
old top I'll let her in. He drew a
small torch from the shirt pocket of
lis coat and crossed to the hall door,
as Carson nodded assent
God Why did she have to come?"
Carson muttered, filed with forebod-
=. ings "If anything should go wrong
nowr'
He turned back toward the door just
as il opened, and Mary darted into the
room, with Griggs following.
What do you want here?' he de-
manded. with peremptory saeageness
in his voice. which was a tone he had
never hitherto used in addressing
her.
Mary went swiftly TO face Carson
where he stood by the desk, while
Griggs Joined the other two men who
stood shutting about uneasily by the
fireplace, at loss over this intrusion
on their scheme. Mary moved with a
lfssome grace like that of some wild
creature, but as she halted opposite
the man who had given her back the
life she would have thrown away
there was only tender pleading In her
voice. though her words were an ar
raignment-
Joe. you lied TO me-
"That car be settled later the man