Evening star., 1917-09-30

Blacker grew the fierce eyes-and
blacker. I gave myself up for lost: 1
waited death-death by some awful,
could muster.
From the court below came the sound
of voices, the voices OF passersby who
SO little suspected what was happening
near to them that had some one told
them they certainly had refused to
credit it.
Then, above all. another sound became
audible. To this day I find myself un-
able to define it: but it resembled the
note of silver bell.
Clearly. it was signal: for. hearing It,
Hassan dropped the tube and glanced
toward the open window.
In that instant I sprang upon him!
That 1 had to deal with fanatic.
dangerous madman, I knew; that it was
his life or mine, 1 was fully convinced.
I struck out. then. and caught him fairly
over the heart. He reeled back. and
made wild clutch for the damnable
tube horrid, unreasoning fear OF which
thus far had held me inert.
I heard the girl scream anrightedly,
and 1 knew. and felt my heart chill to
know, that the tube had been wrenched
from my hand Hassan of Aleppo. old
of a tiger. He recovered himself and
hurled me from him SO that I came to
j.. the floor crashingly half under my writ
ing table!
Something he cried back at me. furi-
ously-and like an enraged animal. his
teeth cleaning out from his beard. he
darted from the room. The front door
banged loudly.
Shaken and quivering. I got upon my
feet. On the threshold. In q state OF
tiful accomplice OF Earl Dexter. One
quick glance she flashed at me; then
turned and ran!
Again the door slammed to. ran TO
the window, looking out into the court
The girl came hurrying down the steps
and with never a backward glance ran
on and was lost to view In one OF the
passages opening riverward.
Out under the arch passed tall ng-
ure-and Inspector Bristol was en-
tering. I saw the detective glance aside
as the two all but met. He stood still,
and looked back!
bristol" 1 cried. and waved my arms
frantically-"stop him! Stop him! It's
Hassan of Aleppo
Bristol was not the only one to hear
my wild cry-not the only one to dash
back under the arch and out into Fleet
street.
But Hassan of Aleppo was gone.
Bristol and 1 walked slowly in the d.
rection Of the entrance OF the British
Antiquarian Museum. 1t was the day
following the sensational scene in my
chambers.
There's very little doubt" said Bris-
tol. that Earle Dexter has the slipper
and that Hassan of Aleppo knows where
Dexter is in hiding. I don't know which
Of the two is more elusive. HaSsan ap-
parently melted into thin air yester-
day; and although the Sombrero Man
has never within my experience en-
ployed disguises, no one has set eyes
upon him since the night that he van
ished from his lodgings off the Water
loo road. It's always possible for a
man to battle the police by remaining
1.,&
the time that has elapsed Dexter must
have taken a little exercise OCCASION
ally, and the missing hand should have
betrayed him."
that he has escaped death at the
hands of the hashishin. He Is a su-
premely daring man. for I should think
that he must be carrying the slipper
of the prophet about with him.
.'I would rather he did it than IT,
commented Bristol. For sheer au-
dacity commend me to the Sombrero
Man. His idea, no doubt, was to use
YOU as intermediary in his negotiations.
with the museum authorities, but
that plan falling, he has written
them direct, thoughtfully omitting his
address, of course
We were, in fact, at that moment
bound for the museum to inspect this
latest piece of evidence:
.The crowning example OF the mans
audacity and cleverness." added my
comma MON. 'is his having actually ap-
nroached Hassan of Aleppo with a
similar proposition. How did he get in
touch with him? All Scotland Yard has
failed to find any trace of that weird
charac
"But they are not birds of a featherw
cried Bristol. ION your own showing.
Hassan of Aleppo is Simply awaiting his
opportunity to balance De1ters ac-
count foreverl I always knew Dexter
was clever man: begin to think he's
the most daring genius alive!''
We mounted the steps of the museum.
In the hallway, Mostyn. the curator.
awaited US. Having greeted Bristol and
myself. he led the way to his private