The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-08-06

~ raised in argument, in the en-
 trance hall of the fashionable txSkj apartment building, where Mary V and her chum, Mona Hartley, had
 taken small suite. Mary opened the door softly, and peered out the hall were standing man and woman he former especially noticeable because of the pstume of East Indian which he wore, and te tan his face, suggesting recent return tom the tropics. His companion quite ob- iously woman of wealth and refinement. Her own bore all the signs of the expensive sim licity of fashionable designer Just now her tee was unnaturally white, and she staring her escort with wide eyes,
 The East Indian stepped closer to her, and tssed his hand swiftly before her eyes with the esture of professional conjuror The woman iffened, her breast heaving, her hands clenched. he man peered closer into her face, shrugged, hd, stopping inserted key in the door of the pposite apartment, motioned for her to enter. was not until the couple had disappeared that ary turned and then she that her compan- ms were gathered about her shoulders. They, 10, had witnessed the strange tableau.
 Gan you beat it?" gasped Rodney Grant, the Mng newspaper reporter, who, in company with lsper Carson, the millionaire philanthropist and scial worker, had been calling on the girls. Was le really hypnotized?"
 Carson frowned, as he stepped back into the ting-room q don't like the looks of it," he said berly. "There something about that little ene which" He stopped, hesitating for ord, and Mary, motioning the others back,
  posite the door. Kneeling down, she pecred rough the key-hole. She the Hindoo make ore passes in front of the woman, and then, ider the domination of his stronger will, the oman handed him paper. Then the curious uple left the apartment. moment later Mary, th skeleton key, entered the room and seized e pa per- which proved to be safe combination le copied the figures and returned to her room Looks like combination" said Grant.
 "It is a combination, stupid ]" returned Mary. Ind that is why the Hindoo wanted it. The tor woman is evidently completely in his power, Id was probably obeying orders when she came Ire with him tonight
 Carson nodded thoughtfully. "I am going to some Investigating" he decided. First, am ling to what the janitor can tell me about r curious friend
 n showed him fve-dollar bill but he could pply little information except the fact that the cupant of the apartment Hindoo, who we the name of Hadj Rulu, and that he had quite large number of visitors, most of whom were .ll dressed ladies, who came in private auto- pbiles As for the rest of it, the man kept only te servant, Hindoo like himself, paid his rent omptly, and had little to say to any one.
 As it developed, it was quite much coin lence as skill that Mary and Mona chanced on e next clue to the case. They passing shionable hair-dressng establishment on shop hg tour the next afternoon when a woman merged from the doorway, and crossed the walk st ahead of them. It was none other than Mrs. allace.
 Mary and Mona watched her step into a ivate limousine and drive away.
 "Whatever in the world is the matter?" cried ona as Mary suddenly seized her arm.
 q have thought of way to reach the heart my mysteryw was the quick response Il am ling to call on Mrs. Wallace this afternoon, and if she doesn't want to hire my professional rvices I am going to be hair-dresser and anicurist" explained Mary, lone who specializes giving home treatments to wealthy clients"
 Two hours later Mary rang the bell at the Af hop rand to Mrs. Wallace, who agreed to have her t0in treatment the next day.
 Mary rising when a maid entered, and lnounced, "Mr Hadj Rulu." Evidently the maid ss unfamiliar with the Hindoo's native prefix i'd it was apparent also that she in awe not fear of the visitor. At once Mrs. Wal ce's gay manner vanished. She fell back i'll IT chair, gripping her fingers convulsively her ce whitening. With effort she reused herself, d followed the maid, apparently forgetting hry's presence entirely. The girl glided behind chair until Mrs. Wallace had reached the stairs Id then followed.
 an was awaiting her Mary hesitated, and then serving that no in the lower hall, fol- wed bodily after her until she reached point tside the library door, where she could observe lat transpired in the room beyond. The Hindoo Id risen from his chair and lowing over ts Wallace's hand. He strengthened gracefully, Id fixed his dark eyes in piercing glance on T. face. Mary saw the woman beginning to stiff
 
 q Hindoo repeated the mysterious passes which had made before her eyes. It required ly a moment for the effects of the mesmeric ell to show. Mrs. Walaces stiffness increased, d her eyes dilated
 The Hindoo stepped back, and from his pocket oduced the curious slip of paper which the Iman had brought to him the previous evening. read aloud the combination it contained, and tinted to the farther end of the room, where lry could see a small private safe.
 ''You will open that" he commanded in low, netrating tone.
 Unhestatingly Mrs Wallace obeyed, crossing room like a person in trance, and twirling knob at the Hndoo's suggestion. When tho or swung open, the Hindoo peered over her builder.
 You will bring what you see before h." he directed Again Mrs. Wallace followed orders without hesitation and handed him ckage of bills.
 Ten thousand dollars" said the Hindoo. You ve done we'll, my high priestess"
 Mary's eyes widened This was too easy!
 She would have fingered at her post but she red not risk discovery With final glance at two figures in the library, she made her way the front door, and to the street. The situa- was progressing with vengeance! With ile of elstion at the thought of the startling ny she would have for Carson and Grant that Int she hurried back to the Royalton, where na was eagerly awaiting her return.