The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-12-29


 cataconbs proceeding apparently as usual, he kept his information to him self, uncertain if he shared it with his employers or otherwise, but hesitatine to put the matter to the test, always fearful to approach Ho Pin t1e bee tlesque. < But this could not continue indef nitely. At least he must speak to He Pin ill order to obtain leave of ab sence Meeting the impressive China man in the corridor one morning oil his way to valet one of the living dead, Soames ventured to stop him.
 Excuse me, sir,' he said confused ly, sbut would there be any objection to my going out on Friday evening for an hour :"
 Mot at all, Soames,'' replied He Pin, with his mirthless smile. You may go at 6, return at TO-"
 Ho Pin passed on.
 Soames heaved q gentle sigh of re. lief. The painful incident was forgot ten then. He hurried into the room, the door of which Said was holding open, quite eager for his unsavory work.
 In, crossing it's threshold he crossed out of his new peace into mental t.1r moil greater in it's complexities than any he yet had known; he met M. Gas ton Max, and his vague doubts re specting the omniscience of Nr. King were suddenly re-enforced.
 Soames' perturbation was so great or that occasion that he feared it must unfailingly be noticed. He realized that now he was definitely in commu nication with the enemies of MT. King An, but MT. King did not know how formidable was the armament of those enemies! He lSoames) had overrated MT. King, and because that invisible being could inspire fear in ian incon ceivable degree he had thought him all powerful Now he realized that MT King was unaware of the existence o1 at least one cl&w held by the police was unaware that his name was associ- ated with the Palace mansions murder
 The catacombs of Ho Pin were 6 sinking ship, and Soames was first o1 the rats to leave.
 He kept his appointment at the Three Nuns as has appeared; he accepted the blood money that was offered him and he returned to the garage adjoin ing Kan Suh concessions that night hugging in his bosom leather case containing implements by means whereof his new accomplice designed to admit the police to the cave of the golden dragon.
 Also in the pocket of his overcoat he had neat Browning pistol, and when the door at the back of the garage was opened for him by Said he found that the touch of this little weapon sent 3 thrill of assurance through him and he began to conceive sentiment for the unknown investigator, to whom he was bound akin to that which formerly he had cherished for MT. King.
 Now the time was come.
 The people of the catacombs acquir ed a supersensitive power of hearing and Soames was able at this time te detect, as he sat or lay in his owr room, the movements of persons il the corridor outside and even in the cave of the golden dragon. That mys terious trap in the wall gave him many qualms, and tonight he had glanced at. it a thousand times. He held the pistol in his hand, and buttoned IT within his coat was the leather case Only remained the opening of his dool in order to learn if the lights were ex tinguished in the corridor.
 He did not anticipate any seriou. difficulty, provided he could overcomt his constitutional nervousness. In hi: 1 waistcoat pocket was brand new key which, his very latest employer had assured him, fitted the lock of tn, end door of Block A. The door. be tween the cave of the dragon ant Block A was never locked so far a Soames was aware. nor was that open ing from the corridor in which hi own room was situated. Therefore only few mOments-fearful moments certainly-need intervene ere he shoult have companion, and within fev minutes of that time the po.ice-hi friends-would be there to protect him He recognized that the law, after all was omnlpotent and of all master was the master to be served.
 There was no light in the corridor Leaving his door ajar. he tiptoed eau hously along toward the cave. As l suring himself once again that the pis tol lay in his pocket. he Mmbled fol the lever which opened the door, founo 1t, depressed it and stepped quietly forward in his slippered feet.
 The unmistakable odor of the place assailed his nostrils. All was in dark ness, and absolute silence prevailed He had rough idea of the position: i o1 the various little tables, and ht stepped cautiously ill order to skir them, but evidently he had made { miscalculation Something caught hi foot, and with muffled thud h, sprawled upon the floor, barely miss ing one of the tables which he hat been at such pains to avoid.
 Trembling like man with an ague he lay there, breathing in short, stac cato breaths and clptching the Disto