The Tomahawk., 1916-03-09

a pace for him, and Whlte, plncneu
face peered into his. A quavering
voice that he scarcely recognized de-
me- lded to be told where Felix Hazard
might be found.
"Ferndale!" exclaimed the surprised
detective whats happened?"
IT must find Hazard right off. Miss
Bertel has been kidnapped"
The detective wasted no time in
talking. He whistled in a peculiar
manner. The whistle was taken up
and repeated, hither, yonder, from a
score of invisible sources, like the
echoing plant of some night bird.
From out the dark and the swirling
snow Hazard appeared to the two.
He hardened to no more than dozen
words of Ferndale's dismaying report.
when the quiet neighborhood began to
buzz like disturbed beehive.
The lights in the prison room
came on slowly, and Helen became
aware of two ghostly, fantastic fig
ures who stood over by the door. Two
men they were, manifestly, albeit
each was entirely covered with a sort
Of domino that hid every line.
With swift, noiseless, gliding
movement, the two weird forms closed
in upon her; but she deftly eluded
them. Then darkness again. Thus
handicapped amid strange surround
ings, she was obliged to yield when
each of her '7rists was seized in a
viselike grasp.
She was propelled along the hall to
a stairway and up this to another
story. At last they halted before
double door, which swung apart as If
by it's own volition.
Filled with wonder, Helen surveyed
a spacious room draped wholly in
dead, lusterless black-foor, walls
and ceiling. In the center of the floor
stood an oval table, around which
were arranged six chairs, all the
same ebon hue. Three of the chairs
were occupied by fantastic counter
parts c. the two robed figures holding
her wrists. The sole illumination was
from six wax tapers that burned at
each Of the six places.
A pair of black velvet portieres part
ed at one end CT the room and sixth
figure entered; one CARRIED from head
to foot in long formless robe like
the others, with the exception that it
was snow-white instead Of black. This
apparition seated itself at the head of
the table.
For perhaps full minute there was
neither sound nor motion from any Of
the strange masked company. Then
the white domino arose anG addressed
the others. At the first sound of his
voice Helen started and locked close
ly at the neutral robe chat betrayed
nothing of its wearer's identity.
"You all have seen the captive; is
there any doubt as to her IDENTIFY"
There was no answer and the hol-
low voice continued to issue from be-
meath the mask.
1T is positive, is it, that she is
detective from the Sutherland con-
cern?"
The i've ghoulish figures remained
silent, motionless, but Helen felt that
every eye was upon her. Then the
voice asked:
What is your verdict?"
The white leader appeared to pom
der a minute. Then he announced:
THE cord.''
The leader clapped his hands thrice,
black as the rooms hangings. He car
ried silken cord, perhaps a yard in
length. One end terminated in loop
through which he passed the other
end, thus forming a moose. He tested
the cords strength, glancing from it
to Helen's throat. Then he walked
toward her. At the same time her
captors showed her forward.
The negro opened his arms to re-
ceive her. And in the instant of pass
ing she determined her defense. She
could not hope to overpower the giant,
or even to resist him long, but she
meant net to yield as long as breath
was in her.
She fell forward, so that her Shout
der, when she rose, came up under
the outstretched right arm. At the
same time she grasped the wrist with
10th hands and jerked it downward.
She heard the man groan; but instant
ly his free hard caught the heavy coil
Ct her hair and her head was pulled
violently back.
So deftly ana quickly that she could
net make move to resist, the moose
slipped to her throat and was drawn
tight. Firmly holding the cord, the
black placed a knee in the small of
her back and pushed her away from
him.
She heard a shot. The hand hold
ing the cord loosened its grasp and
the negro sank Imply to the floor.
The room was plunged into dark
ness. A momentary subdued stir, then
Felix Hazards voice rang out:
We've got 'em. A light-quick!"
A half-dozen electric torches flashed.
But, save for Helen, the lifeless form
at her feet and the invaders, the room
was empty. The Secret Six had van
ished