The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-11-12

All SmSHS lar. But 1t renamed un- luckily true that no one harbored the fantastic notion that his new head lquarters might actually be located within a stones throw of Manning's own house.
 During those quiet days there was a good deal of lovemaking. The men were able to dine at home most even ings, and in the spell of hot weather which occurred about that time the manifest discomfort of sitting in a crowded theater formed a powerful de- terrent from much gadding about at night. Indeed, the cool and shady lawn became leafy paradise in which the lovers disported to their hearts content.
 Margaret Bronson's health was prac- tically quite restored, and the hand of time had healed the cruel blow infiict- ed on brother and sister .by their fa- ther's death. One evening, when the girls had just gone into the garden and the men were waiting in the hall to light cigars, Manning was summoned to the telephone. He heard an un- known voice saying eagerly:
 You ought to meet Captain Kemp at South Ferry as quickly as possible. Leave at once. He will have no time to communicate with you. There is news of Ali Singh"
 After that, silence!
 l Manning astounded Bronson by his desperate attempts to extract further information, but the mysterious speak CT had evidently quilted the instru- ment. Manning, however, well aware that similar measures had proved fruitful in the past was ready to be- lieve that either Najla or Hong Kong Harry had inspired this present one. He told his servant to have a car brought around at once and explained to Bronson and the excited girls that at last there was some prospect of successful action.
 Goodbys were laughingly said, and the two young men entered the car and were soon speeding along River side drive. They did not even wait to telephone Police Captain Kemp. When all was said and done, the run to South Ferry would consume at least forty minutes, and they did not wish to lose a second. Moreover, if such urgency was not really called for they would feel happier watching the time at the point of departure rather than in an uptown garden.
 Their surprise may well be imagined, therefore, when they saw Police Cap | fos e,to near Grants tomb and evidently deep in discussion with q police sergeant. The mercurial Bronson leaped out of the car before 1t was brought to a standstilL
 Why" he shouted, i've are SUD- posed to be beating it to South Ferry, where we have to meet you on a rush call"
 Nothing doing" said the laconic Kemp. Who's been stringing you?'
 "Some one phoned me five minutes ago." said Manning. q tried my best to find out who it was, but couldn't get reply"
 Kemp's expressive eyes gleamed with suspicion.
 "If you've been sent to South Fer ry," he said tits very evident that your right place just now Is Riverdale avenue. Quick! Let's go there. New CT mind the traffic cops. I'll deal with them"
 Manning and Bronson now shared the police captains evident alarm. and the car made the return journey at top speed. Nothing in the appearance of house and grounds excited suspicion as they turned in from the avenue. Two detectives were seated on the front porch smoking at ease, while the butler was just crossing the hall with a laden tray in the direction of the lawn at the back.
 1 The three men tumbled out of the car, raced up the steps and made for the rear of the house, their chief con- cern for the moment being the safety of the two girls. In order to reach the lawn they had to pass through the H. brary, and Mannings eye caught a folded paper lying on the table, pa- per which he did not remember leav- ing there. He picked it up and was aware of terrible foreboding at the first glimpse of scrawled sentence.
 And, indeed, his worst fears were justified, because he read:
 Errol Manning-The woman you love is in my power, your sister as well. ALI SINGH. 1 And there, too, was the deadly sym bol of the crescent, sign which con- veyed to the young mans almost pal sled brain a suggestion of everything | that is vile and loathsome and terrify. i ing. He reeled and clutched the table to save himself from falling. By this time Bronson had returned and was shouting madly:
 Heavens, Manning, where are the girls? There is neither sight nor sound of them, yet the butler says"-
 Then he. saw the scrap of paper, which had fluttered to the floor from his friends nerveless hand He pick ed it up, and the next words froze on his lips.
 For the first time in his life Manning became wholly incapable of reasoned thought or decisive action Even Bron- son was compelled to ignore his own horror and dismay and strive to rouse the other from the deathly coma which seemed to have seized him.
 At this crisis the imperturbable tenn. perament of Police Captain Kemp was