Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1915-10-09
CHAPTER vi.
The Man and His Mask.

the two detectives; and they, too, re-
NAMED where they were.
Got you right that time, didn't we,
Crewe? You didn't expect to find us
here, waiting for you, did your"
Muchmore asked with something of
derision in his tone, although there
was no Indication of anger in his
manner.
well, what of it?" Crewe asked
calmly.
Nothing particular; only we were
curious to know if you intended to
use that key to this building again
tonight"
"And If do happen to possess such
a key and should use it-what them"
Bunting and I would be under the
painful necessity of arresting YOU
that's all. A man of your reputation
who enters building like this one at
this hour of the night is, at least,
suspicious character. Get me?"
"Quite so, Muchmore. But you
don't get me-"
Crewe turned on his heel, but a
sharp command from Muchmore
stopped him when he would have
gone away again.
'Wait!" the lieutenant ordered;
and Crewe saw that he held an auto
matte in his hand to enforce obedi-
ence.
"Well, Mr. Muchmore, what now"
Crewe asked.
'T'll trouble you for that key. Hand
1t over"
as this hold-up, with the char
acters reversed, officer?" Crewe in
CURED ironically.
Call it what you like, but hand
over that key"
Suppose 1 refuse?"
"Then we'll take you fn,' no matter
what happens"
"Muchmore, for man of un-
doubted genius in your chosen call
ing, you certainly can do the biggest
fool things of anybody l know"
Hand over that key, Crewe. I'm
not going to lose my temper again."
THANK Heaven for that"
Crewc took the key from one of
thumb and finger for a moment, and
then deliberately tossed it to Bunting,
who, being surprised by the act,
missed catching it, and it fell rafting
to the pavement.
"Pick it up, Sam, and find out If it
fits the lock-" Muchmore directed,
still keeping Crewe covered with his
gun.
1t did, Of course, and presently the
door swung open; and Bunting, hold
ing it partly ajar, waited.
"Crewe," said Muchmore, II ought
to arrest you for having the key in
your possession, but / guess you
would have no difficulty in proving in
the morning how it came into your
possession, so I'm going to let you
go-with a warning. / don't know
what the game is that you are playing
but / suspect it is a deep one-and
I'm going to find out what it is, too.
There is man upstairs waiting
for you who can tell me, and I am
going up there now to ask him. You
have got something on him. Black
mail of some sort, suppose. Now, get
back to your dive where you belong,
and thank your stars that we permit
ted you to go there. Your race is
about run, Crewe, take it from me-"
He turned and the two officers dis
appeared into the building, locking
the door after them; and strangely
enough Crewe laughed aloud, and
with genuine Amusement when they
had gone.
Then he wheeled and hurried
around the corner toward a drug.
store that was located two blocks dis
tant.
He knew that those two officers,
both large and heavy men, would
climb those twelve flights of stairs TO
the top of the studio building none
too rapidly, and did not doubt that
he would have ample time for what
he wished to accomplish.
Crewe shut himself in a telephone
booth in the drug store and called
the number that the artist Birge Nor.
eaux claimed as his own.
"Hello!" he said when he received
reply, which was almost at once.
You recognize my voice? Very well.
1 was obliged to give up my key to
two officers who were waiting for
me at the door. They are now climb
ing the stairs to the studio.
Hurry down to the studio door,
and when they ring wait a suitable
time and then demand to know who
is there. Make them believe Il is
Moreaux who is talking, but refuse
to admit them. Tell them to go to
the devil. IL you want to. When they