Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-01

nTTE HAS good reasons!" replied Nay
land Smith grimlyj 'if that man
s..uv possesses information inimica1 to
,he afetv of Fu-Manchu, he can only
sscspe doom by means of miracle simi-
lar 10 that which hitherto mas protected
vou and me-"
'V%s 'gsnrke insists" said Weymouth at this
.irt "that something comes almost
svery night after dusk sinking about the
honse - 'it's an old farmhouse / under
s,opd, and on two or three occasions he
has been awakened fortunately for him
ho ia light sloeper) by sounds of cough
inc Immediately outside his window. He
is man who sleeps with pistol under
bis pillow, and more than once, on run
ning TO the window. he has had a vague
,iinopse lin of some creature leaping down
Srom the tiles Of the roof, which slopes
IN 10 his room, into the flower beds
below
"Creature,'' said Smith, his gray eyes
sbIaze now-"you said creature!
~ used the word deliberately replied
1yevmouth. because Burke seems to have
the idea that 1t goes on all fours."
There was a short and rather strained
silence. Them
I'm descending a sloping roof sug-
sested, "a human being would probably
emDOY mis- ndItS us Mtll as MS lttb.
"ouite so" agreed the Inspector, II
am merely repeating the impression of
Burke
HAS he heard no other sound?" raped
Smith zone like the cracking of dry
branches, for instance?"
HE did not mention of It," replied Wey-
mouth staring.
"And what is the pan?"
zone of his cousins vans" said Wey-
mouth, with his slight smile, has re-
mained behind at Covent Garden and will
return late this afternoon. ! propose that
you and l. Mr.. Smith, initiate Burke and
ride down to Upminister under the empty
boxes"
Nayland Smith stood up. leaving his
breakfast half finished and began to
wander up and down the room. reflect
lively Juggling at his ear. Then he began
TO tumble in the pockets of his dressing
gown and finally produced the inevitable
ppe, dapidated pouch and box of safety
matches. He began to load the much
charred agent of reflection
"Do understand that Burke is actu-
ally too afraid to go out openly even in
daylight" he asked suddenly.
"He has not hitherto left his Cousins
plantations at ALL" replied Weymouth.
HE seems to think that openly 20 COM
municate with the authorities, or with
you, would be to seal his death warrant"
Hes right" snapped Smith.
Therefore, he came and returned Sc
cretly," continued the inspector; land if
we are to do any good, obviously we must
adopt similar precautions. The market
wagon, loaded in such a way as to leave
ample space in the interior for us, will
be drawn up outside the office of Messrs
Pike and Pike, in Covcnt Garden. until
about o'clock this afternoon. At, say
half past four, | propose that we meet
there and embark upon the journey"
The speaker glanced in my direction in
terrogatively. Don't fail to include me
In the program ] said. "Will there be
room In the wagon?"
Certainly" was the reply; " it is most
commodious. but I cannot guarantee it's
comfort"
Nayland Smith promenaded the room |
increasingly, and presently he walked out
altogether, only to return ere the inspect |
or and had time to exchange more than |
glance of surprise. He carried brass |
ash tray, and this. he placed with its con-
tents on a corner of the breakfast table |
before Weymouth
Ever seen anything like that" he in |
CURED. the inspector examined the grue- |
some relic with obvious curiosity, turning /
It over with the tip of his little finger and |!
mapifesting considerable repugnance in |
touching IL at all. Smith and / watched /
him in silence. and, finally, placing the |
tray again upon the table. he looked up
in puzzled way.
It's something like the skin of a water
rat" he said. !