The Washington times., 1917-12-22

IN thought anead OF eVefytnihs
n else, and was prepared with
an exact ordering Of our work
"It Is perhaps WELL" he said. that
at our meeting after our visit to Car
fax we decided not to do anything
with the earth boxes that lay there.
Had we done 50, the count must have
guessed our purpose. and would
doubtless have taken measures In ad-
vance to frustrate such an effort
with regard to the others. but now
he does not know that such q power
exists to us as can sterillze his lairs,
so that he cannot use them - Of old
~we are now 80 much further ad-
vanced in our knowledge as to their
disposition that. when we have ex-
amined the house In Piecadily. we
may track the very last Of them. To-
day. then. Is ours; and In II rests our
hope. The sun that rose on our sor-
row this morning guards Us in Its
course. Until It sets tonight that
monster must retain whatever form
he now has.
'He Is confined within the limita-
tIons of his earthly envelope He
cannot melt into thin air nor disap-
pear through cracks or chlnks or
crannies. II he go through q door
way. he must open the door like q
mortal. And so we have this day to
hunt out all his lairs and sterilize
them. So we shall. II we have not yet
catch him and destroy him, drive him
to bay in some place where the catch
ing and the destroying shall be, In
time. sure"
Here I started up. for could not
contain myself at the thought that
the minutes and seconds SO precious
ly laden with Mina's life and happi-
ness were flying from US. since whilst
we talked action was impossible.
But Van Helsing held up his hand
warningly.
VAN HELsING WARNS
AGAINST PRECIPITATE ACTION.
NAY. friend Jonathan" he said.
"in this. the quickest way home is
the longest way. so your provsrb say.
We shall all act and act with desper-
ate quick. when the time has come
But think. in all probable the key
OF the situation Is in that house in
Piccadilly. The count may have
many houses which he has bought
or them he will have deeds OF pur-
chase. keys and other things. He
will have paper that he write on; he
will have his book of cheques.
There are many belongings that
he must have somewhere; why not in
this place so central. 80 quiet. where
he come and go by the front or the
back at all hour. when in the very
vast of the traffic there Is none to
notice? We shall go there and
searchsthat house. and when, we learn
what 1t holds. then we do what our
friend Arthur call. In his phrases of
hunt stop the earths.' and so We run
down our old fox-so. II II not?"
Then let US come at once" cried.
I'VE are wasting the precious. prec-
ious tlmeI" The professor did not
move. but simply said:
"And how are We to get into that
house in Piccadflly7"
"Any wayl" I, cried. I'VE shall
break in II need be-"
And your police; where will they
be. and what will they say?''
was staggered: but I knew that
il he wished to delay he had q good
reason for It. So said, as quietly as
could:
Don't wait more than need be; you
know. I am sure. what torture I am
in"
"Ah. my child. that do. and in
deed there Is no wish Of me to add to
your anguish. But just think. what
can we do. until all the world be at
Then will come our
time. 1 have thought and thought,
and # seems to me that the
simplest way Is the best of all. Now,