The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1912-1984, 1916-03-03

the newcomer, without speaking,
handed the letter of mystery to his
! chief.
That's what 1 want to find out"
was Sims retort. "A gink in a Fit
avenue go-cart hands me this and
speeds off,"
Legar tore open the envelope. His
ferrety eyes narrowed as he unfolded
the sheet.
1.-The Hammer of God again." he
said with sneer. But troubled look
crept into his face as he stood study
ing the message and the envelope in
which that message had come. Then
he laughed. But it was laugh with
out mirth. "Palidori?" he muttered.
why should l know anything about
a man named Palidori?"
Then we'll strike before the Ham
mer does!' he announced, with sud-
den determination. And with ges-
ture of impatience he commanded the
! Owl to take him to the girl, the hid
! den girl on whom still hinged his
dreams of vengeance. "McTigue," he
called back as he went, "get Tatano
and the taxi and be ready"
Yet he showed no exultation as ne
followed the hobbling Owl along
darkened passageway and up a flight
of wooden stairs leading to the floor
above
Bent over a table beside the barred
window he saw a girl, girl still in
her teens, a girl with a look of in
alienable innocence still in her mourn
full eyes. And Legar, as he crossed
to the table, saw that she was good
to gaze upon. Yet at the sight of him
she shrank back, letting the locket
which she had just tied about her
neck fall from her trembling fingers.
Don't cover that way" command
ed Legar. Il haven't come to beat
you. guess the Owl gave you enough
of that"
Then why are you here?" the qucs-
tioning eyes seemed to ask him.
I've come to tell you think you've
had about enough of this sort of thing.
It's going to be stopped, and you're
going to see the world"
You're going to set me free?"
gasped the incredulous girl.
Free as a Bird" announced the
ironic Legar. And with as fine feath-
ers as any bird that ever few"
/ I'm to be free?" she repeated, still
dazed.
Sure. So get your things together,
and do it quick There's a taxi wait
ing downstairs. That taxi will carry
you straight to my friend Casavanti
Casavanti is always kind to women
amazingly kind"
He stood, ferret-eyed and impassive
watching the girl as she feverishly
gathered together her meager belong
ings. He hurried her out of the room
then along the passage and down the
narrow stairway and out to the stree,
where the taxi waited.
There McTigue sat ready for her.
That worthy remained silent, how
ever, as a sob or two shook the girls
body and light of exultation shonc
from her timorous eyes. She too re
manned silent as they threaded Their
way through the darkened streets and
drew up before a brown-stone house
Up to the door of this house McTigue
led the still wondering young woman
There his finger played graphically or
the electric push bell, sounding Casa
vanti's pass signal, and moment
later the door mysteriously opened an(
1 hn cri,-l OH
before the door could close behind hel
silent-running limousine swung ur
to the curb and a hurrying figure
stepped from it's runningboard. Bul
before that figure could mount the
steps and reach the house entrance
the heavy door had swung shut again
And the wide-eyed girl. following g
footman in service uniform, mounted
the stairs to Casayantfs private
room
Casavanti. as he looked up and saw
her, let the cigarette fall from his thin
Tipped mouth.
'The Doc was dead right" he said
under his breath. She's a flower, al
right
Then, still watching the girl, he
said aloud: Are you afraid of me?"
NO" was her answer
Then come here" he commanded
But she still stood gazing wonder
ingly about the room. A suspicion
that all was not as it should be had
crept over her.
why was I sent here?" she de
manded, as Casavanti, white faced
stepped closer to her.
For this" he replied, as with a
sudden movement his arms went out
and encompassed her shrinking body
She fought and struggled in that con
Eliminating embrace, but her strength
was not equal to her captor's. Casa
vanti, bending her body close to his
cupped his impassioned lips over her
parted lips. 1t was several seconds be
fore he lifted his head.
Before he did so, however, the closet
door on his right opened and a figure
stepped noiselessly out into the room
If wac tho fip1ro Cf q mon r,bo x,Crn