The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-07-30

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point 70 nave the place surrounded by men from
the district attorneys ofhce-ready for instant
action! There will be no pretence this time!"
he took police whistle and skeleton key
from drawer in his desk.
II there is any suggestion of danger, don't
wait, out blow this whistlel Wen get into the
place IL we have to break the building down n
And he looked as though he meant 1t
Mona reached Madame Sutros place ahead
OF Mary so as to be on hand when her friend ar.
rived. sun keeping up the deception, which shs
had maintained 30 successfully she evinced keen
interest," In the preparations to take care of Marv
when the other put In appearance. So clever.
y did she play her part that she managed To
keep position in the adjoining booth when
Mary was finally ushered into a compartment for
her second treatment" Madame Sutro kept In
the background, leaving the details of the mas.
sage to an attendant
Mona watched the attendant through q crack
In the partition, and saw the other step back To
take the prepared drug from a stand in the rear
Of the booth. Unconscious Of the substitution Of
the harmless sugar, which Mona had mana ged
while waiting Mary's appearance the attendant
carefully busted the supposed drug ON a boe
towel. and held it over Mary's face Instantly
the girl in the chair broke into a fit OF yiolenA
sneezng, sinking back finally in a sort of stupor,
as she judged would be the had she inhaled
the fumes Of the drug. Madame Sutro stepped
softly into the room. followed by Mona MARY
lay back against the head rest of the chair, ap-
parently overcome.
Instantly Madame Sutro called a male All
tendant from the gambling house across the aIlev
and the two carried Mary's limp form into the
secret passage-away, Mona concealing herself
oenind curtain in the corner of the room Al
the two reappeared. the girl pressed the concealed
spring and stole into the shadowy aperture hold
ing her breath as she made her way cautiously
forward She reached the exit. and passed throu Oh
into the other house without discovery She
found herself in the room, where Slatern had con.
Quoted her before. Making her way through the
doorway, she entered wide hall way, running
the full length Of the building. She saw stairs
way at her left leading below. and remembering
the shrek she had heard on her previous visit
had emanated from the direction Of the basement
she picked her way down the stairs until she
reached lower hall
AT this moment she heard low cry from q
locked door midway before her. Darling forward
she fumhed at the lock- as she heard Marv's
voice from within
81 have found herr called Mary excited,v.
But, oh, dear, she is in stupor. and can't
rouse her The scoundrels! What have they done
to the poor thingT
Mona glanced around her desperately seek.
ing for some method to open the door. AS her
eyes fell on the stairway she fell back with
gasp OF dismay. Madame Sutro and the attend.
ant were halfway down the stairs-and escape
was impossible The instant the pro-
prietress Of the Beauty Pariors caught sight Of
the girl, and raised her voice in shrill com.
mand. There Is the girl, Sam Grab her while
call DAM" She darted back up the stairs, while
the man, springing toward Mona, caught her arm
In vise-hke grip As Mona staggered back, the
door behind which she had heard Mary'a voice,
swung open, with the aid of the skeleton kew
from Carson, and Mary sprang into the hall.
pulling after her the fainting form OF a young
woman OF about twenty, who stared about her
helplesslv.
The attendant, Sam, svore at the sight, and
rnising his voice in call for reinforcements,
thrust Mary back, with her companion, and
caught Mona before she could reach the stairs.
Two more attendants from the upper rooms APP
pearing at that moment, Mona was hurried down
the hall to n room at the extreme end, and heard
the door bolted behind her she showed
within.
1t was a moment when every second counted.
With wild thought of her police whistle, she
darted across to the window. Before she could
reach IL, the door behind her opened again and
Dan Slatern sprang into the room.
you tratress!" he snarled. so you thought
you could put me I'll teach YOU NOT
to try q trick like that again."
Mona struggled in vain to free herself from
his embrace The two staggered back and forth
across the room, the girl fighting like wild
cat as she saw the desperate odds against her. A
table fell over with crash and Slatern tripped
against it with oath. At the opport,,nity
Mona sprang toward the window seized heavy
water pitcher from shelf, and sent 1t crashing
through the panes. There was a SCATTERING OF
glass, and then size thrust the police whistle
to her lips, Slaterns arms caught her again and
the struggle commenced anew. But it was of ONLY
short duration.
From above there the sound Of q bait
.tering ram against the outside door, and q hoarss
command to open in the name of the law.
Slatern threw Mona from him. and made for
the door. But he too late.
Hands up" called sharp voice, and Casper
Carson, with two deputies at his shoulders, faced
the Boss with a drawn revolver.
Where is Mary?' called Mona. weakly.
Here am" And Mary Davenport, with her
hair ioosened. and her eyes glistening, slipped
through the doorway, and into the Others arms.
Before Mona could ask for her story, how.
ever, Mary dragged her back into the hall, and
into the room, where she had found the unknown
girl-prisoner Of the esta blshment. The young wo-
man was lying a rude bed. with the sams
vague stare in her eyes.
Il have heard enough from her to send Stat.
ern to the penitentiary for life said Mary ex-
citedly. Her is Helen Mintern-a steno-
grapher in Slatern's Office. Slatern discovered
that she had found out too much about his
methods, and that she was apt to be dangerous
SO he kidnapped her bodily"
Mona whirled "Where is Slaternr she de-
nanded. Casper Carson answered the question
grimly, he stepped into the room.
HE is on his way to the district attorneys
Office, with Madame Sutro, and the other occu.
pants Of this den congratulate you young wo-
men You have done what I tried to do for
months, and couldn't And now. If you are able,
will take the poor girl you have found to your