The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-08-27

to explain the whole game to Miss Gordon, and
let her for herself just what kind of
scoundrel you really are. !"
She STROBE up to the desk and seizei the tele.
phone Herman caught her arm pleadingly.
you are hasty!" he protested. Think what
you are doing! Think Of the share you are going
to have for yourself from that ten thousand
which is just as good as in our hands now!"
II don't want the money! / am not going to
let you put it me, and take up with that
little hussy!" stormed Mary. I'VE are wasting
time talking! Besides, what assurance have l
got that you wouldn't trick me out of the money
Just as you have been playing with me before2'
Il give you my word " said Herman eagerly
Mary shook her head. There IS only
thing will do! 1 am going to get out of the
whole matter tonight! If you want to pay
five thousand dollars for my share. will let the
girl go, and keep still Otherwise / shall have the
satisfaction of telling her the facts"
Herman drew back shaking his head, and
Mary calmly gave the number of their fat to the
exchange operator. 1t was enough HERMAN
drew out a check-book, and sullenly wrote out
order for five thousand dollars Mary hung
back the receiver, and Herman breathed easily
once more.
81 will wait here" she said while you have
this cashed. l prefer the money! Herman sui.
lenly departed.
Back in the girls fat, Mona, at about THE
same time. was relating gleefully to little audi
ence, consisting ,of Carson, Grant and Winnie
Andrews, the details of Herrmar's visit and
Marys spectacular intrusion. Carson listened to
her story with unusual gravity.
you don't seem as enthusiastic as l expected
you to be !" the girl cried suddenly, looking up at
him.
Carson shook his head 81 find that man
Herman, is dangerous characterize kind that
would stop at nothing To himself II he
fancied himself in tight corner. Besides" He
broke Off suddenly and stealing to the hall door
of the fat suddenly threw it open. crouchins
man outside almost preciptated into the room
and the next moment Carson had fastened his
hands In the others collar md cd sim To
feet Mona depressed cry she that the
intruder was none other than the so-calied
theatrical manager" whom Herman had pre-
sented to them earlier in the day There
other cry of recoglition-ths time from Winnie
Andrews.
You villain I" burst out the girl impulsisely
springing toward him. HE is the seoundrei who
posed a money-ender, md killed my poor
father" she cried. Carson compressed his lips
grimly, and dragged the across the 10
inner bedroom, into which he thrust him, and
locked the door. without a word he sprang the
telephone and called the Office of the Twentieth
Century Vocal Academy. moment later Marys
voice greeted him over the wire, and he
planning what had happened. In return the girl
told briefly of her interview with Herman and
its result.
IF you can hold the man for half an hour"
she finished, lit will give me time to finish. Do
you think you do it?"
I'VE can hold him all night !" said Carson,
but he mistaken. When he opened the bed
room door he sprarr into the room with cry
of dismay. The window open, and as he
reached it he was just ir time to the prisoner
leap from the fire ESCAPE 10 the ground. and dis
appear into the darkness
Carson darted back tic the telephone and
again called the number OF the Vocal Academy,
but there was answer. Franticay he inn
portuned the central exchange TO find what
wrong.
In the meantime. Mary, awaiting the Profess
sor's return, in Herrman's private Office was en-
gagged in one of the most exciting experiences of
her life. 1t not due to a defective connection
that Carson's second call failed of an answer, for
the girl heard the bell, and had even taken the
receiver from the hook TO reply when she
held rigid with terror. The door had burst open,
and the figure of Herrman's accomplice, the
pseudo theatrical manager" darted toward her
She dropped the receiver and was backing
away from the desk, when her glance fell on an
open drawer, in which a revolver. Despcr-
ately she snatched it, and leveled 1t toward the
advancing man, just as his arms closed fiendshly
about her, She felt herself svaying, and then her
fingers pressed the trigger of the weapon, and
she sank to the floor.
1t this shot, echoing duly over the open
wire which greeted Casper Carson, back in the
fiat, he tried in vain to establish a response
from Herrmans Office. With a groan he dashed
toward the door, calling to the others to follow
him.
In the Office of Herman, Mary Burnett Law
motionless on the floor. her white face upturned
to the light. The man, bending over her, sprang
back with gasp of mortal terror. In his eyes
was the look of hunted animal at the thought
ing his hat down on his head. he darted out OF
the door, leaving the motionless girl behind him
AS the door banged shut Mary raised herself
dizzily on an elbow. and surveyed her surround.
ings. She had not been shot-but had collapsed
under the nervous shock of the situation. Now
she caught hold of the desk, and managed to
scramble uncertainty to her feet the door
opened again, and Professor Herman walked in.
For second the girl thought that he. too had
learned of the trap, but she mistaken. With
snarl, Herman tossed a bundle of bank-notes
onto the desk.
Mary tucked them into her handbag and on
a sudden thought, drew a pad of paper toward
her and scrubbed receipt. The man took it with
a sheer. Before he could decpher it's contents
she walked to the door, and pressed the elevator
button. Two minutes later she was on the street
and in The arms of Mona, who was the first Of
Casper Carson's rescue party to spring from the
taxi-cab that had paused outside the building.
Mona dsengaged herself from the others en-
brace. and. reaching into her handbag, extended
the bundle of bank-notes to Winnie Andrews.
II think this money is righteously yours,
dearw
Upstairs in his Office, Professor Herman had
just finished reading the following receipt: