The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-29
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lifting her head tenderly, he kissed her
on the lips. Then, afraid lest Katisha
or some other of Ali Singh's cohort of
spies might have seen this love making,
he turned and ran.
That evenir when the hour fixed for
the attempt L Manning's life was
close to hand Hong Kong Harry took
thought. The intoxication of Najla's
presence had weakened, and he re
viewed the history of the past month
with a certain clarity Of mind Of which
those who knew him best would hardly
deem capable. He realized then that
poor Malta was making him her dupe.
He even appreciated the depth Of her
sacrifice, but the low cunning of de-
generate led him to an unforeseen and
fateful decision. With Manning dead
the one great obstacle would be re-
moved from the path of any one en-
armored Of Malta, while 1t was essen
tial to the half castles own career that
his achievements should earn the par
don already twice granted by Ali
Singh.
So, II anything, Manning's fate was
only sealed by Najla's intervention,
since Hong Kong Harry was now &C.
tually more than ever resolved to get
rid Of the good looking young Ameri-
can who had proved such a thorn in
the sides of the conspirators.
Singularly enough, Hong Kong Har.
~ and his assistant found no difficulty
in approaching Manning's house un.
seen. AS usual, all windows on the
ground floor were open, and the very
fact that the residence was occupied
by a sufficient number of armed men
to defeat a score of assailants tended
to make easy the execution of the dia.
bolical project Matched In All Singh's
laboratory
Ahmed, too, was burning to wipe out
the disgrace Of his own failure to es-
cape from the United States, so that
no crime was ever planned more thor
oughly.
They timed the operation with reaI
skill. Climbing into the library while
Hong Kong Harry guarded the door
revolver in hand, Ahmed fixed a high
explosive bomb, with clockwork at
tachment, beneath the litter of g
waste paper basket lodged in it's ac-
customed nook under Mannings desk
The internal machine was set to ex
plode fifteen minutes later, at an hour
when Manning and Bronson were
usually seated in the room chatting
over a cigar and winding up the days
work.
Those sinister shadows vanished as
silently as they had come. From hid
ing place at a considerable distance
they watched the room and were over
joyed when the two young men enter,
ed, drew up their chairs and began
discussing the ever present problem
of Ali Singh's whereabouts.
Suddenly the watchers were given
cause for alarm. Manning was called
to the telephone, and Hong Kong Harry
shivered with dread lest some accident
might deprive him of his vengeance
literally at the twelfth hour. He
could not tell, of course, that Police
Captain Kemp was merely sending in
the usual report forwarded at the close
of each day. Manning continued talk
ing into the instrument for some time
but finally replaced the receiver on
the hook, turning to Bronson with
some casual remark.
Hong Kong Harry glanced at the
Jyyv o,1c I1tol nF a vrtc
"Only three minutes more now and
those two guys will be blown to eter
nity!' he muttered savagely to Ahmed
The young Turk grumbled some
phrase as to these things being the
will of Allah.
Never has the name of Allah been
profaned in worse cause, yet never
has providence interviewed SO merci
fully. Hours before Margaret, seated
on the veranda of her hotel, was left
momentarily by May Manning, while
the latter gave directions as to theil
evening meal
The girl rose hstlessly and picked
up newspaper which another guest
had discarded. She began perusing its
columns with lack luster eyes when
suddenly her attention was caught by
detailed account of Judson's death
She read how her lover, questioned by
the coroner, stated his emphatic be-
lief that the chlorine gas was intended
for him and not for Mr.. Judson, but
avowed himself unable for reasons OF
state to divulge the reasons underlying
this view.
So when May Manning returned she
found her friend in a state of uncon-
trollable excitement. Nothing would
suffice but that they must both leave
at once In fast car for the nearest
station whence a train would reach
New York.
So the two girls set out on tedious
journey. AS the train drew near the
Staten Island ferry they saw a ferry
boat just starting for New York, and
Margaret suffered the almost unbeara-
BILE agony of waiting. At last, how
ever, another ferryboat brought them
across the upper harbor. and then be-
gan another long journey uptown.
These delays and frequent changes
were very trying; but, happily for her
sell, and the two men whose lives were
even then trembling in the balance,
Margaret Bronson did not really know
the vital importance Of he self I'M
posed journey.
Arrived at the nearest uptown sia-
tion, from which Manning's house las
distant a mile or more. they met with