The Washington times., 1917-10-03
(NoveIIEed from Photo-play The Fatal
Ring.")
BY FRED JACKSON.

Ring.'D
BY FRED JACKSON.
Episode Is.
Copyright, 1917. by Fred jackson, all right,
reserved.D
|" HEY had re-entered the liy-
u meaning to question Cicely,
but that wise young woman had
managed to disappear. On the ia
BILE, however. where Carslake had
left it, lay the volume Of the en-
cyclopaedia, open at the pap Of
Arabia, and this, catching PEARLS
eye, told its story swiftly.
Look" she cried. "A map of
Arabia. Carslake was planning to
take the violet diamond there when
we interrupted him. II he escaped
the detectives at the door, as the
Spider" seems to think he may,
he is even now on his way there.
Are there any boats today?"
There's an oIl-tank steamer leav-
ing in three quarters OF an hour"
she announced, after an instant's
calculation. And a passenger boat
in two hours. That allows us time
to stop at both docks; but we must
hurry
Again Pearl led the way, out of
the drawing room and down the
steep front stairs. An instant later
they came out into the street to
find detectives and policemen guard
ing the entrance to the house and
the entrance to the house next door,
while surrounding them was a
gradually increasing crowd of curl
Gus spectators.
"Did you get him? Has he turned
up?" asked the Spider" anxiously,
as they advanced upon the guards.
mo. sir. No one has come out
OF either house since we've been
here" replied the detective, tex
cept a little old man with an armful
OF books. But he didn't look any
thing like Carslake. He didn't even
know what the trouble was. He
asked US"
THE Spider" glared back at the
detective with furious eyes.
NO DOUBT OF 1T.
"A little old man came out:" he
asked in a sort OF muffled roar,
DO you think the little old man
was CGrslake?" asked Pearl excit-
eddy. as they hurried along.
''Of course it was Carslake." re-
piled the Spider" you don't sup
pose he'd have ventured out with
out a disguise. do you-with half
the police force knowing him by
siEht?"
They had come to a tsxi-stand by
this time, and the Spider" APP
preached the driver OF the nearest
car.
"Did an old man with an srmful
OF the books take a cab here a few
minutes ago?' he asked.
PEARLS CAR ARRIVES.
why, yes. sir. An old guy. He
just left, a few minutes ago. sir"
answered the driver.
did you overhear the directions
he gave to his chauffeur" asked
Tom.
NO, sir, I didn't"
Never mind" said the Spider"
Pearls car came up now and
they piled in, Tom tossing the taxi
driver a coin as they started.
Drive to Dock n, and drive fast"
Pearl called to her chauffeur EN-
phatically.
Carslake, upon entering the taxi
cab. swiftly relieved himself of his
books and his disguise. and soto
the surprise OF his chauffeur-the
old gentleman that had picked up
the cab some blocks away. grew
younger until It was quite a Young
man who emerged at the entrance
to the steamship office.
Now. with their unfsiling atten-
ton to detail, the High Priestess
and her Arabs had been watching
this self same office for some time,
that Carslake's first move
upon making off with the diamond
would be to take passage for
Arabia. Accordingly. it was with
some satisfaction that they recog-
nized him.
after him." cried the Priestess
imperiously, as she waved one OF
her followers away. See IL he
takes passage. Return and inform
me"