The Detroit times., 1913-04-24
Eldrldge and Halloweli snook their


|, white waistcoat
i. At that moment the door slowly
swung open and Percy barrow en-
tered. He was smoking cigarette
his hands were thrust deep in hls
trousers pockets; he was hstless
| and his usually smooth hair was
rumpled. A tiny wound showed just
above the middle OF his forehead
, from which thin stream or blood
had run down 20 his eyebrows. he
surveyed the room with a humorous
twinkle shining behind his long
lashes
We'll. well, well. we'll" he re-
marked In a cheerful tone OF voice
This Is nice, jolly, Quaker meet
ing Why don't you get out AND
make a noise and celebrate. like your
friends outside?"
Thought you'd ducked. remarked
Z Hallowell The others said nothing
but looked a grave disapproval.
! barrow laughed
No. had TO come back 10 see
how Eldridge is getting on" He cast
a glance al the scientist. How goes
, 1t, old socks?" ne inquired.
! The mans manner, the tone OF his
I voice seemed as much out Of place
I in this atmosphere Of solemnity as
penny whistle in a death chamber.
barrow refused TO notice the general
attitude OF disapproval. but planted
himself in front of Eldridge.
| All i'm" he challenged. "Or do
you still cherish any delusions that
| you will get your man inside of'-he
looked at his watch-"eleven min
utes?"
A visible STIR ran through the room
at these words. Eleven minutes!"
murmured Lyons. and held his watch
TO his ear. 1T has stopped" he said
aloud 1t seems, gentlemen, that
the only possible hope for US lies in
the doubt as to whether or not this
Unknown will carry out this threat.
He's a first-rate hand to carry out
threats" observed barrow.
We have done our BEST" said Ly-
ons calmly Let US compose our
selves to meet everything-or nothing
AS the fates may have decided"
That's all right" agreed barrow.
with undated cheerfulness. But Ed
ridge and | had little agreement. or
bet He Dragged he'd get this Mon
sieur X before did. Id like to know
how he feels about his end Of 1t. Give
II up"
Eldridge looked at him rebukingly.
II have failed he acknowledged
formally, from lack OF time TO carry
out my investigation"
From lack OF brains" said Darrow
brutally. as | believe you once said
in private conversation about my old
master. Doctor SchermeIhorn. Those
things are remembered. I am delight
ed TO hand this back to you" He
eyed Eldridge, the brilliant smile stiii
curving his lips.
Enough OF this cried Lyons with
authority. This 10 unseemly In the
face of eternity"
Darrow looked again at his watch.
We have still six minutes, sir; and
this is an affair Of long-standing, and
on which feel deeply. The score II
settled" he said with entire respect.
II am now at your command. had
intended" he went on in q frivolous
tone again, TO kick TO you on my gas
bill. II Ia too large. You. az re-
sponsible head. know it 10. But some
how. you know. the presence here or
you gentlemen has dtsarmed me. You
don't need TO be here; you all have
the facilities to get away. Here you
are, | guess you can charge q dollar
and quarter for gas II you want ia"
He looked from one to the othet.
while he carefully wiped back tte
blood that was flowing from the littC
wound In his forehead "Eldrfdge a0
knowledges he has failed" he ref
peated.
Il fail to see how you have i'm.
proved upon that failure" snapped
Eldr.dge, stung
MOI" queried barrow. II call Hal.
lowell 20 witness that the game has
eeea fair. We had an even start; the
data have been open to both" He
raised his voice q little. Jack" he
called.
Immediately through the open door
from the hail outside came Jack War
ford, leading by tie arm a strange
and noudescript fsure II was that
o. e. snail. bent old-!ooking NAH.
dressed IL a faded suit OF brown. His
| hair was thin. and long. and white;
h:s face sharp ard lean. His gaze
WAS tSed straight before him, so that
every oue in the room at the same
ias.aa, caught :hs glare OF his eyes.
"hey were fixed. those eyes. like an
/ Owls: o.. better. Wildcats, az
though they never winked From the
pupils, which we're very small, the
l!tue !ieht-colored lines radiated
across yer; age blue irises. There
vsS something bale!G sne compelling
IN their glaze. so that syen Hai.owelI,
cool customer as he w1s. forgot I'm
mediately all about .he mans little
ness and shabblress and bent figure,
and was conscious only OF the cruel,
clever. watchful. unrelenting. hostile
spirit. AS JACK dragged hin forward.
the others could see that one foot
shambled along the aoor.
Gentlemen" observed barrow In
his most casual tones. Get me pre-
sent Monsieur *"
4 Every one exclaimed al once. Above
tho lubbub cam: Lyons voice. clear
and commanding
The proof" he Numbered. This
Ia too serioua = matter for bufroouery
Tbs yroof,"
Percy Dsrrow raised his hand
through the roar OF the maddoned
city the bell OF the Metropolitan tow.
O. was beginning i,s chimee. Nv tho
trira sfroks the urroar had died al.
most away. The people were STAND.
ing .f'ii. awaiting VIVA. taight come.
. The swest-toned chimes ceased.
Ihore succeeded tho pause. Then