The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-10

l nave DlICer reason TOT knowing that Ali Singh controls a horde of assist ants throughout the length and breadth of the country. I'll tell you more about this scoundrel when we have time for a long talk. Meantime I want to ask you where you keep the formula of quadrinolite.
 Tt never leaves my personal bag gage," said the soldier.
 But don't you realize how very unsafe it is? At any moment of your journey from the far East it might have been stolen a dozen times. And need hardly tell you, a professional soldier, what a serious thing it would be if the secret of this explosive fell into the hands of our country's en- emies."
 ''Why, that is so," agreed Captain Cook, anxiously. What do you rec ommend?"
 Have you a drawer in safe de- pcsit?"
 "No."
 Well, then, give it to nle, and I'll have it stored at police head quarters, but returnable to you on demand. You will thus throw all responsibility onto us. while the doc- unents will be accessible tn you at any tine.'
 The soldier agreed readily. and Kemp took his departure soon aft erward. A little later llanning and Bronson called. and he mora he heard the more certain was Cook that he had acted wirely in permit ting the formula to leave his possess sion. He was seated that evening in his sitting-room in +he hotel when his attention was caught by a noise at the window. It puzzled him. be- cause his room was on the tenth floor. but the new bora s..splcion en- gendered by the revelations made by Kemp and the others led him t. pay particular heed to anything out of the ordinary. When, a second time, something passed the window, strik- ing the glass gently but unmistak- ably. the soldier hesisated 10 longer but ran across the room, threw open the lower half of the window. and leaned out
 Ali Singh's crafty helpers lad fore seen that he would do just lhat thing. A lasso fell from the floor above. coiled with lightning like rapidity around his neck, and, at i'm minent risk of being ;,rangle6 on the way, he was hauled bodily to the next story. There, while struggling back to consciousness. he was stupe- fled with a narcotic and hurriedly arrayed in eastern clothing. In con- sequence the conspiratcrs had no diff ficulty in removing him from the hotel on the plea that one of their number had fallen i'll and must be taken to a hospital.
 Manning wishing for some reason ta have further chat with the young officer, called on him unexpectedly, and inquiry led to the discovery that although Captain Cook was sup posed to be in his room. no answer was forthcoming on the telephone. Producing his authority. the young diplomat persuaded the manager to have the door opened.
 Of course, the suite of apartments was empty There were no indica- tions of any struggle. Captain Cook $ military cap was lying on the table anorg his papers, but the young off, ficer himself was not to be found any where. Police Captain Kemp. sum- moned hastily, helped in the inquiry and it was quickly ascertained that a number of Asiatics, who had van ishcd when one of their party be- cane i'll. had occupied the room above Cooks This fact led to the correct interpretation of the open window and the two men were regarding each other with something akin to despair for they seemed never to be able to foresee their enemy's strategic moves-when Bronson raced in with extraordinary news.