Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1916-05-15
CONTINUED from previous issue.)


TO Golden, I'D advise TO watch the win,
dows there"
And /, monsieur, what may | do to
be of assistance?" inquired the imper.
turbable Da Espares.
you go up those front stairs and
stop anybody who attempts 10 come
down. And mind you stop them I'm
going up by the servants stairs. And
somebody watch the elevator"
He was of the next moment. run
ming with all his speed through the
house. with his automatic in his hand
as he went
II was not until he had mounted a
second and then a third flight of stairs
that he came to a stop That was
close beside the door OF -Wrenoh's own
room. And listening there he heard
the sound OF movement within.
He did not even try the door Back
ing quickly away. he shouldered
against the wooden panels with all his
weight The lock gave way and he
went staggering into the room.
There. bent over suitcase, he
caught sight of Wrench himself. One
glance at that startled and pallid face,
one glimpse at the sleeve OF the serv-
ice-coat from which a button MAD
selearly been torn away, convinced MIN
that all his vague suspicious of the
past week had been only too well
founded. And he wasted no words on
argument
He leaped ito that startled figure,
thrust his automatic against the waist
line OF the service coat and command
ed Wrench to back up against the wall
AS he did so a sudden shout sounded
from the doorway behind him ana in
stinctively he glanced about to ascer-
tain the meaning of this shout.
Wrench, seeing his chance knocked
rne menacing automatic-barrel to Oh,
side and sprang bodily on Manley. As
he did so an unexpected and strangely
mantled figure glided into the narrow
room. II was a figure wrapped and
hooded in heavy velour and only sec
ond glance at its strange coveries
would have revealed the fact that it
was a portiere quickly torn from it4
fastenings and improvised into a
mask to conceal it's wearer's identity.
But Manley, as he fought with Wrench,
had small time to register this fact, or
the further fact that a rent had been
made in the portiere to serve as an
eye-hole for the head which it so com.
pletely covered.
had joined in the contest that Manley
became aware of the second portiere
which his newer opponent carried. For
this portiere was deftly thrown over
the young secretary's head and sudden
ly drawn tight about his arms. The
white-faced and struggling footman.
realizing that his final chance mad
come, promptly took advantage oil Man
ley's momentary helplessness to fail
back, leap for the open door and make
good his escape.
Manley himself, maddened by the
thought of that culprit's escape, swung
about on his hooded assailant with a
fury that sent the latter also retreat
ing towards the hall. That unknown
enemy even sought to escape as his
colleague had done. but at the stair
head Manley overlook him. Together
they went down the stairs, a tangle of
limbs and striking fists and portiere
ends. They fought and rolled along the
lower doorway, fought until Manley
had freed himself from the others
clutch and was struggling to tear the
drapery from about his mysterious en-
emy's head But that enemy, fran
tically bent on remaining unknown,
fought back with an added fury which
brought the two swaying and clinging
bodies full force against the stair
railing. That railing, under the strain.
suddenly gave way. Manley, clinging
desperately to the portiere folds, felt
that voluminous drapery follow after
him as he fell gasping over the well OF
the stairs.
He fell sprawling, tangled up in
many yards of velour, and landed on
the covering head and shoulders of the
astounded Wilson, who, at that sudden
assault, promptly and vociferously
shouted for help.
When Marley, stunned for a minute
or two by the fall, once more opened
his eyes and blinked inquiringly about
him, he saw both Golden and his wife
and Margery herself clustered at his
side.
Did you get him." he demanded.
Get whom?" asked Enoch Golden.
That murderous blackleg. Da Es-
pares," was Manley's reply
But Count da Espares has nothing
TO do with this" protested the girl,
with a frown of bewilderment He's
only been helping US, as he always
helped u.s."
AS he always helped your" scoffed
the incredulous Manley.
Yes, as he will tell you himself"
For at that moment. suave and smil-
ing. the count joined the wondering
circle.
All, monsieur, / keep watch above,
as you ask" he explained with shrug.
But nozzing happen. l see nobody.
Then. mon dieu, | hear the tumult,
and come down to you. But cannot
comprehend. So tell me, monsieur.
beg, what has happen?"
Manley rose stiffly and slowly to his
feet
You don't understand" he asked
as his fixed stare met the mildly ques-
3 ~.