Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-23


Harry pccring into back room drew
back with alarm. lima looked over
MS shoulder and screamed On the
bed lay joe a knife in his heart
larry led the girl away, and tho
E&ccutioner. giving over his search,
motioncd outside.
Bnt lima was not to be terrified
NO. she said. firmly. II shall look
Tor the pearl: il must be here" With
out word, kismet STROBE through
the door
The room was in confusion-scat-
tered over the desk were the various
INK bottles that had stood before Joe
when he wrote the letters to lima ard
fcrry Mason One Of these was broker
and the ink had leaked out: lima lift
ed and shook it--something ratified ir
the bottom She called to Harry. who
| quickly smashed the neck and revealed
waterproof package. With nervous
| fingers. lima opened it. and there re-
vealee in all its pristine wilderness.
lay the seventh pearl
oh. Harry, our troubles are over"
cried the delighted girl. Selling the
gem and preparing to leave the shanty.
Neither she nor Harry saw the four
malignant eyes that had watched her
as she undid the package Perry Ma
son and Stayne. pcering through n
small window. noted Ilma's good luck
with envy and when she and Harry
left they followed AS the two neared
tho tank they crept up behind. With
a sudden blow Perry felied Harry.
while Stayne. snatching the pearl which
lima stiii held. put il in his mouth,
and knocked lima down. Harry fought
like a mailman and il WAS only the
interference OF Stayne that overpow.
cred him.
we'd better run for it," said S,ayne
remembering the ugly deed in the
I shanty. Here. give me a hand: well
drag this fellow into the bushes
BY the time they had left the young
man hidden and as they hopcd past
all power to do them further harm
they found that lima offered new
obstacle to their speed escape
You murdercrs." she called. rush
ing at them; so you killed Joe Gud-
Eeon-I thought so-give me my
pearl"
IN fix you" shouted Stayne, dash
ing after her. She lodged behind the
water tank and then. in despair. see
| ing the ladder that led to it's top hur-
ricdly climbed it.
Go after her" yelled Perry, end
staync was not slow to pursue Once
near the top, lima swung the ladder
out. Staync fell off with d thud and
the impetus prccipitatcd lima into the
tank. The water was slowly fiji
tering in. in vain she called Staync
and Perry removing the ladder made
off into the WOODS as a track-wa!kcr
came into view.
The tank WAS cmptieG awhile ago
BY freight" said Stayne. It's filling
now-lct her drown"
The track walker passed and the two
men descended 10 the roadbed
lou got her pearl" said Perry.
suppose you pass it over"
You suppose something else" said
Stayne cheerfully. The pearls in NV
pocket and there it's going to stay."
Inc rumble of an approaching train
caused both men to step from the
track. The cars Numbered by. and
scarcely had the last one passed when
on the opposite track an express an
peared With malevolent CLEAN in
MS wicked eyes Perry Mason rave
StaShe push. Throwing his arms
Wildly to regain his balance he fell in
front or the swiftly moving engine
ana was hurled into the bushes MOI
'ar from the spot where Harry Law.
ferrY Mason FASTENED 10 search his
clothes. and. having secured the pearl
paused uncertain what 10 do ne,t
caution urged him to fee, but a new
complication riveted his attention
marry badly pummeled as he was
resalned consciousness and stumbled
TO MS 1ect Almost the first thing h.
hearo were faint cries. AT once he
hhe" that lima was in trouble He
staggered toward the tank from whence
inc sounds seemed to come. and. hav-
me MADE sure that the girl Of his heart
was imprisoned within. managed IN
ords the ladder to the tank.
having raised it he started to climb
gaining to lima meanwhile that bo,n
was near "'ip
Ferry Mason saw his chance. ,o
couid Kill Harry with sho, in tho
pach ana insure thereby the dcatb of
''"'' also. He raised his pistol to fro
"hen me sound of Shot from Tho
WOODS rang through the air. Perry
paused and Harry, amazed turned
was Stayne who had fired Ieft
as oead by his heartless comrade hc
haa come to long enough to behold III.
man VINO had tried to kill him DIan
hihs another murder, no doubt with tho
nope OF thus making the mystery of
the death OF Joe Gudgcon safe for al,
time an
Out IL was AN insensate fury at bav.
me oeen tricked by this man who had
useo him that drove him to see rod
me shots fred by his trembling hand
went wild, but If they did not cSac, tho
vengeance nc intended. they camo close
u II. FOR one of them entered the
dynamite SHED and set off l,rr.
charge stored within il.
Before Harry could think what had
happened. terrific explosion rent the
air Knocking him fiat and laying the
Hillainous Perry low. The force of tho
conclusion shattered the tank. which
came tumbling down amid cascades of
water.
The inert hand OF Stayne lay across
his breast. He had joined the man he