The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-07-16

the district attorneys of1ce-ready TOT instenx actionl There will be pretence this time r
 He took a police whistle and skeleton key from drawer in his desk.
 If there is any suggestion of danger. dont wait, but bo== this whistle We'll get into the place if we have to break the building downT And he looked though he meant it
 Mona reached Madame Sutros place ahead of Mary so to be hand when her friend ar- rived. Still keeping up the deception, which she had maintained successfully she evinced keen interest in the preparations to take of Mary when the other put in an appearance. So clever ly did she play her part that she managed to keep position in the adjoining booth when Mary was finally ushered into compartment for her second treatment" Madame Sutro kept in the background leaving the details of the sage to attendant.
 Mona watched the attendant through crack in the partition, and saw the other step back to take the prepared drug from stand in the rear of the booth. Unconscious of the substitution of the harmless sugar, which Mona had managed while waiting Mary's appearance, the attendant carefully dusted the supposed drug on hot towel, and held it over Mary's face. Instantly the girl in the chair broke into fit of violent sncezng, sinking back finally in sort of stupor, as she judged would be the case had she inhaled the fumes of the drug. Madame Sutro stepped softly into the room, followed by Mona. Mary lay back against the head rest of the chair, ap- parently overcome.
 Instantly Madame sutro called male at tendant from the gambling house across the alley and the two carried Mary's limp form into the secret passage-away, Mona concealing herself behind curtain in the corner of the room Al the two reappeared the girl pressed the concealed spring, and stole into the shadowy aperture, hold ing her breath she made her way cautiously forward. She reached the exit, and passed through into the other house without discovery She found herself in the room, where slatern had con- ducted her before. Making her way through the doorway, she entered wide hall way, running the full length of the building. She saw a stair way at her left, leading below, and remembering the shriek she had heard her previous visit had emanated from the direction of the basement, she picked her way down the stairs. until aA
 At this moment she heard a low cry from q locked door midway before her. Darting forward she fumbled at the lock, as she heard Marys voice from within.
 q have found her! called Mary excitedly But, oh, dear, she is in stupor, and can's rouse her The scoundrels What have they done to the poor thing?"
 Mona glanced around her desperately seek, ing for some method to open the door. As her eyes fell the stairway, she fell back with . gasp of dismay. Madame Sutro and the attend ant were halfway down the stairs-and escape was impossible! The instant the pro prietress of the Beauty Par1ors caught sight of the girl. and raised her voice in shril1 com mand. There is the girl, Sam Grab her, while call Dan" She darted back up the stairs, while the man, springing toward Mona, caught her arm in vise-like grip As Mona staggered back, the door, behind which she had heard Mary's voice, swung open, with the aid of the skeleton key from Carson, and Mary sprang into the hall, pulling after her the fainting form of young
 
 Lelplessly.
 The attendant, Sam, swore at the sight, and raising his voice in call for endorsements, thrust Mary back, with her companion and caught Mona before she could reach the stairs. Two more attendants from the upper rooms, ap- bearing at that moment, Mona hurried down the hall to a room at the extreme end and heard the door bolted behind her she showed within
 It was moment when every second counted. With wild thought of her police whistle she darted across to the window. Before she could reach it, the door behind her opened again, and Dan Slatern sprang into the room
 You traitress !" he snarled. "So you thought you could put one me I'll teach you not to try trick like that again P
 Mona struggled in vain to free herself from his embrace. The two staggered back and forth across the room, the girl fighting like wild cat as she saw the desperate odds against her. A table fell over with a crash, and Slatern trpped against it with oath At the opportunity, Mona sprang toward the window, seized heavy water pitcher from shelf, and sent it crashinR through the panes. There was a shattering of glass, and then sre thrust the police whistle to her lips, Slaterns caught her again, and the struggle commenced anew. But it was of only short duration.
 From above there came the sound of bat tering ram against the outside door, and a hoarse command to open in the name of the law.
 Slatern threw Mona from him, and made for the door. But he too late.
 Hands up" called sharp voice, and Casper Carson, with two deputies at his shoulders. faced
 
 Where is Mary?" called Mona, weakly.
 Here am!" And Mary Davenport, with her hair loosened, and her eyes glistenng, slipped through the doorway, and into the others arms
 Before Mona could ask for her story, how ever, Mary dragged her back into the hal and into the room, where she had found the unknown girl-prisoner of the establishment. The young wo- man was lying on rude bed, with the sarra vague stare in her eyes.
 II have heard enough from her to send Slat- ern to the penitentiary for life P said Mary ex- citedly Her name is Helen Mntern--a steno- grapher in Slaterns office Slatern discovered that she had fonnd out too much about his methods. and that she was apt to be dangerous he kidnapped her bodily"
 Mona whrled. Where is Slatern? she de- manded. Casper Carson answered the question grimy, as he stepped into the room.
 He is on his way to the district attorneys office, with Madame Sutro, and the other occu- pants of this den congratulate you young wo- men! You have done what tried to do for months, and couldn't And now if you able, we will take the poor girl you have found to your apartment until we can discuss the situation moro thoroughly. don't imagine you will be sorry to see the last of this place.
 In answer, Mona stopped, and raised Helen Mintern tenderly, while Casper Carson sprang te her side to aid her. s
 You wonder :" hc said in a low toueL
 Do you think sop she returned demurely,