The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-09-08

one turned TO the corner where
one Of her Arabs was quietly heat
Ing = seimetAr over q brGsisr.
Come hither. brothsrl" she called.
The Arab approached with the
White-hot weapon In his hand.
By this time. Tom had discovered
the apartment that they had en-
tered. by dint Of listening At all the
Doors He heard the Prisstssrs next
words plainly. .'..'--
Seize him. brothers. Make him
lead US to the diamond or burn out
his eyes,"
carslAke struggled with the
Arabs. but was overwhelmed. He
tried to maintain an Indifferent air
as the white hot scimitar was
brought closer and closer to his
face, but the heat presently be-
gan to SINCE him and he wrIthed
II agony. Suddenly. he broke IN
der the terrific strain and yielded.
Stop! Stop" he screamed. TIL
give up the diamond. It IL in my
Forty-hfth street place. Come
back with me I'll give It to your
The High Priestess waved the
man with the scimitar back and
commanded the others to follow
her Tom had Just time to draw
back out of sight. before they ap-
peared in the hall. accompanying
carslake. But they did not see
him. and when they entered the
big car that was waiting ana
started toward the Forty-nfth
street house. Tom was behind them.
They had not gone many blocks.
however. before carslaks Vas peer
ing about him and through the lit
tie window in the back OF the car,
he recognized Tom. He quickly
told the High Priestess Of his dis
eoTery and she gave q Ewift order
to one OF her men
An instant later, he dropped
from the car and waited for Toms
taxi to come up. In each hand, he
held a knife. And as the taxi passed
him. he threw them SO dsftly that
they struck exactly as he had in
tended them to strike-and one
after the other-both rear tires of
the eaxicab were punctured.
Tom. thus deprived OF his vehicle,
was left momentarily helpless while
the others proceeded.
Now. all this time Pearl was not
idle Her very hrst move, when
shs was left alone in the room, was
to search It thoroughly. She found
no means Of egress. save the door
through which she had come; but
in the course OF her serch she did
md = secret cabinet. which was the
hiding place Of the diamond.
This discovery put new strength
into her and filled her with q de-
termination TO escape. But the men
IN the next room were sitting be-
tween her and the door.
She paced the floor and waited.
She hoped against hope-she tried
TO plAn-she watched the clock.
At ave minutes to three they
weAried OF throwing dice and
crossed TO the far end of the room
to play cards This left n clear
road from the room Pearl was in
to the door.
Could she get across and out be-
fore they could stop herr
She decided to try It. It was
worth the risk.
She opened the door quietly, with
out attracting their attention. Then
she made a dash for the door. The
others leaped up. startled for an
instant, dared.
Pearl leaped to the stairs.
Her foot caught in the ragged
carpet, and before she could stop
herself she lost her balance and
plunged headlong down the whole
night to lie unconscious at the bot
tom.
The three men descended swiftly,
saw that she had lost consciousness
and carried her back to her room.
There they laid her on the couch
and one man, noting that she was
Ehivering. threw u blanket over her.
Then they withdrew.
Three O'Clock was striking. They
had their orders from CarsIake-
orders that they dared not disobey,
One OF them must kill her. but
which one?
They decided TO throw dice for Il.
First Mooney threw three!
Then Black Toney threw-fveI
Bill Rack was ths last to throw.
Six was his number-and his the
deed!
The others moved OF to the win
down. Bill Rack advanced slowly
into the other room. He saw her
still lying on the couch. uncon-
sciouB.
Slowly he raised his knife in the
air. At that instant Carslake and
the others dashed up the stairs,
Just in time TO see-but not in time
to interfere. For even as they
shouted Bill Racks arm came down
with Economical fury. and he stabbed
again and again. buryinE the blade
to the hilt.