The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-03-12

finished. Ven night comes der rest
OF dose Ieetle fires viii take slace,"
Maniey, emerging from under cover.
saw that the old German had left the
closet door a trifie open. SO moving
cautiously forward, he peered out into
the room. Clustered about the table,
bent close over the map. he could see
Stein and Legar and two of his un-
known accomplices Manley advanced
silently into the room. crouching low
as he went. For ON the table he had
already caught sight of the blueprint
OF STEMS protector apparatus. So,
holding his breath. he crept closer and
still closer. He had the blueprint In
his hand, but before he could slip
back from the table edge his pres
ence was detected and his retreat cut
off.
A minute later the conspirators
were after him. But Manley. rolling
through a clump of shruhbery and
doubling rabbitItke on his pursuers,
lodged under cover. BY the time he
had recovered his breath and his
wits he slipped unobserved from the
grounds. rounded the block aud
climbed into his waiting tAxicab.
Police headquarters" he told the
driver.
The attack on Legar's skyline quar-
tors was q feverlshly hurried and yet
q surprisingly orderly one Two po-
lice motors. converging at the Central
Tower Building, quietly discharged
their two squads. and the lieutenant
leading those men as quietly mar
shaded them through the street en-.
trance OF the skyscraper.
1t was not until they reached the
top floor that the elevator came to a
stop. AT the same moment that they
poured out into the narrow hallway a
mechanician in his shirt sleeves
opened the door leading from Legar's
private workroom and started down
the hall. Before he could retreat or
slam shut that door the iieutenant's
revolver was covering him. Reaching
back to his hip. his hand was already
on the butt of blue-metaled auto
matte. Before he could whip out that
weapon, however. the lieutenant's
quick eye comprehended the movs-
ment and his own f1rearm spoke first.
The shirt-sleeved figure fell in .
heap where he had stood In the oper
doorway. 10.
At the sound OF that shot #
within could be heard sudden c, eich
and shouts and hurrying steps. zon
1t was Manley himself who eau INT
up chair and brought 1t crash
down on strangely complicated
mechanism standing sauareiy In the
light of the tower window.
But Legar himself had not been idle.
At the first Wild charge into his tower.
-, ,4<v~ 4 =
crouching behind work table, darted
across to his parcel chute and there
touched a hidden spring. The ne 4
moment the chute stood open II !
Legar was descending like a plumn
to the floor below. But not befe $
Manley had caught sight of his va p.
ishing head and started in pursuit
Legar. in his quarters beneath tn.
Owls Nest. was In anything but ar
amiable mood. He stared about al
mis- coterie of tnsavory confederates-
stared on them with open disgust or
his face.
well. didn't I get this skirt bach
Tor yuh?' demanded the pseudo meter
inspector, with movement Of hi.
hand toward white-faced girl COW.
ering back In her chair close to the
smoke-stained fireplace. :
A CLEAN OF triumph showed ir
Legar's narrowing eyes as he staret
down at the girl.
Courage. little one, courage!" sale
a low. yet distinct, voice out Of tn,
silence.
Legar. at the sound. wheeled sud
denly about.
who laugh that d. bird II
talk?" he demanded. There was c
stir of uneasiness about the room.
why, cap, that parrot can't talk
declared the tremulous colxe-snuffe.
at the end OF the table. 'It neve,
could talk"
''Then, who said 'Courage'?" caliet
out the irate mater criminal.
II did" said thf same distinct ys
ghostly voice. I.
ITO BID fNTNuED,