The Washington herald., 1914-03-24

/
man said Z goodnight and stepped
briskly to the door. behind which
Kelly was eavesdropping. The detec-
tive skunk into the shadows of the
hall as he stepped out.
"French Harry" he mumbled. so
he is her pal, is he? And they are
planning a neat little safe blowing job
for tomorrow night. Guess III play
the role of the innocent bystander.
That night his sleepy eyes closed
over a vision of an amazing girl with
a penchant for the training of wild
animals, aeroplane spins, and other
interesting adventures. And now she
had added safe blowing to her other
accomplishments. Well, she had a
worthy associate. French Harry was
a genius; he had made crime an intel
lectual pastime.
The following night he crept into the
house selected for plunder. and waited.
| He toyed nervously with the revolver re-
posing in his overcoat pocket. Then his
ear, trained to the catching OF slightest
! sounds. caught the echoes of stealthy
| footsteps He prowled about the house.
which seemed deserted, and suddenly
| heard a click of steel at his back.
He never knew how II happened. He
caught a glimpse of My Lady Raffles'
| haunting smile, and then he snatched the
revolver from her fingers and pushed her
| roughly into the vault and slammed the
| door. feeling he had done a cowardly. un-
| manly act. In the dim light of an ad-
joining room he saw a sneaking, skulking
figure. He tossed himself upon the cow
ering form. 1t was hard and tense as
steel; there was a duel of nerve and fists
and muscles. and then French Harry lay
| gagged and bound at his feet.
10 OF IN talanhnna told he
lice sergeant Of his capture and requested
assistance. But a pair OF mischievous
eyes haunted him, and he walked back TO
the safe where My Lady Raffies was i'm
prisoned. He looked into the vault
Hate TO do it," he began TO explain.
"but-"
He strained his eyes. but the vault was
empty. He took a step forward, felt a
vigorous push at his back. heard a mock
ing laugh, and then the safe door
slammed. He was a prisoner-My Lady
Rarfles had outwitted him.
He was caught like a rat in a trap, and
he fumed at his stupidity. In a few
moments the police would be there, and
they would have a good laugh. He shout
ed and raped on the steel door until his
muscles were bruised.
At length the door swung open. and
he stared into the taunting' faces OF a
group OF policemen.
Guess they were too much for you that
were searched. hut Ny Lady Raffles and
French Harry were gone. Again Kelly
cursed his stupidity and vowed he would
avenge the insult.
The next day he called at the apart
ment occupied by My Lady Raffles and
entered unannounced. He found the girl
seated before a mirror toying with n
revolver A leopard-spotted coat covered
the slender figure.
1T was a neat little trick you played
me last night" began the detective.
The leopard lady started and looked at
him anxiously. You mustn't-mustn't be
seen here" she said. You don't know
the danger"
Kelly smiled.
This place is a nest of crooks" she
went on. French Harry is here and his
whole gang of crooks and animal train
ers. II they find you" Her voice
caught and choked.
There's just one question want to
ask" said Kelly calmly The other day
a man was picked out of the wreckage of
a motor car. His hand clutched a bit
Of leopard skin. / WONDER
Whether Lady Raffles was concerned
in it," She smiled up at him. and there
was something in the smile that thrilled
him. NO not that she cried. You
must think l am bad. but / wouldn't do
that. ] love the excitement of it, but
You must believe me. That man was one
of French Harry's animal trainers. He
was killed accidentally by one Of the
leopards. Harry didn't want any no.
toriety, so he tried to take the body away
and hide IL. You know l wouldn't stoop
toto murder. don't you?''
Kelly believed her. The laughter and
the mischief had faded from her eyes
Why don't you quit this life?' he
asked. You deserve something better
You are worthy of better associates than
French Harry"
She smiled up at him. a cold. lifeless
smile. Maybe some day. Now. I can't"
she told him. and there was a queer
tremble in her voice.
Kelly wondered at It as he left her
While walking aimlessly about the
streets the next evening he suddenly
found himself in the neighborhood OF the
building occupied by French Harry and
his gang of crooks and animal trainers
1t was a dark. dismal neighborhood.
sparcely illumined by cracked and dirty
gas lamps. Kelly's thoughts were occu-
pied with a girl whose love OF adven-
ture had led her into strange surround
ings.
Suddenly wiry arms seized him from
behind and he found himself struggling
furiously in the choking clutch of fingers
Tightening about his throat. A feeling of
numbness and defeat seized him. and with
a vague realization that he was being
carried vast distances he lapsed into un-
consciousness. q
When he awoke French Harry was
standing over him and regarding him
with a taunting leer. Beside him stood
Iii NJ ,ha,. al h..
detective with murderous eyes.
well. Mr.. Kelly, you're a pretty smart
detective. but we've got you this time"
said French Harry. "If you hadn't
queered that safe cracking job for me
maybe I wouldn't do anything worse to
you than put bullet through your heart.
Now-what shall We do to him fellows?"
he added turning to the gang.
Baths been hollerin' for somethin' to
eat all evenin', suggested one of them.
''She would make a nice meal OF him
French Harry grinned evilly. The de-
tective knew vaguely what the sugges-
tion meant-if the threat were carried out
he would be thrown among the wild
beasts. But his senses were still too
numb for fear. He thought in a be-
wildered way of girl with laughing
mischevious eyes and a love for ad-
venture.
"AIl right. Do whatever you like" he
heard French Harry say. and with a con,
temptuous shrug the leader of the gang
walked away. Kelly knew he was in the
clutch of the most villainous band in the
city. Many a time he had experienced
hairbreadth escapes from what had
seemed like certain death, but now it ap-
peared that there was no escape.
The gangsters jested coarsely as they
picked him up and carried him down a