Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-04-10
Destroying
Angel
By Louis Joseph Vance
Aushe, Of
"7hs Pool efF7ame.''
1.-THE Bronze Boil" "The Block
Bog" Tbs Brass Beul."
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Copyrights BY Louis Joseph Vance

Fat grew altogether tense, his gaz,
fixed and exclusively focused upor
that apparition.
Cautiously, noiselessly, edging incl
by inch across the veranda, the maj
approached the door. 1t was open. 4
full, long minute elapsed. Even Sun
Fat held his breath throughout tina
interminable reconnaissance.
At length, treasured, the man slipped
into the room. Another minute: NJ
SOUND detachable more untoward thar
that of steady respiration in the bed
room; with movement as swift ant
sinister as the swoop OF a vulture, tn,
man sprang toward the bedroom door
Leaping from sitting position, witt
bound that was little less than ,
fight through the air, the Chinamal
caught him halfway. There followed
q shrek, a heavy fall that shook tn
Then, with no other presage, 9
shadow fitted past one of the side win
dows. and in another reappeared more
bungalow, the report Of revolver
sounds Of schff1fng =.
Whitaker, half dazed, found himself
standing in the doorway, regardless Of
his injury.
He saw, as one who dreams and vel
is conscious that he does but dream
Ember lighting candles-calmly apply
ing the fame Of taper to one aftel
another as he made round of the
sconces. Sum Fat was kneeling on all
fours, above something that breathed
heavily and struggled without avail.
Whitaker's sleep-numbed faculties
cleared.
"Ember!" he cried. "What in the
name OF all things strange"
Ember threw him a Pickering smile
"Oh, there you are| he said cheer.
fully. "I've got something interesting
to show you. Sum Fat"-he stopped
and picked up revolver-"you may
let him up now, if you think he's safe.
"Safe enough" Sum Fat rose, grin
ming. "Had plenty"
He mounted guard beside the door;
For an instant his captive seemed
reluctant to rise. Ember moved to his
side and stood over him, balancing the
revolver in his palm.
Come" he said impatiently. up
with you'll"
The man ut up as If galvanized by
fear, got more slowly to his knees
then, grasping the edge of the table,
dragged himself laboriously to stand
ing position.
. Whitaker's jaw dropped and his eyes
widened with wonder and pity. he
couldn't deny the man, yet he found II
hard to- believe that this quivering
shaken creature, with his lean and
paety facesen4 desperate 1larinG eyes
this man In rough, stained, soiied and
'shapeless garments. could be identical
with the well-set-up, prosperous and
confident man of affairs he remem-
bered as Drummond. And yet they
were one. Appalling to contemplate
the swift, devastating course Of moral
degeneration, that had spread like gan
creme through all the mans physical
and mental fiber
Take a good look" Ember advised
grimly. "How about that pet myth
thing now? What price the astute
sleuth-eh? Perhaps you'd like to
take few more funny cracks at my
simple faith in Authorizations.
Z II had a notion he'd be hanging
around Ember went on; II thought ]
saw somebody hiding In the woods this
afternoon; and then l was sure I saw
him skulking round the edges OF the
clearing after dinner. So set Sum
Fat to watch, drove back to the village
to mislead him, left my car there and
walked back. And sure enough"
without comment, Whitaker, unable
to stand any longer without discom-
fort. hobbled to a chair and sat down.
"Well!" Drummond demanded harsh
" in 4 Quavering snarl "Now that
you've got me, what're you going to
do with mef'
There was a high, hysterical accent
in his voice that struck unpleasantly
on Ember's ear. He cooked his head
to one side, studying the man intently.
Drummond flung himself step
away from the table, paused, and again
faced HIS, captors with bravado.
.Well?" he cried again. SWell7"
Ember nodded toward Whitaker.
s.Ask him." he said briefly.
Whitaker shook his head. 1t was
difficult to think how to deal with this
trapped animal, % wildly different
from the cultivated gentleman he al
ways had In mind when he thought of
Drummond. The futility Of attempting
to deal with him according to any code
recognized BY men Of honor was
wretchedly apparent.
u .sDrummond,n he said slowly, II wish
to God you hadn't done this thing"
K Drummond laughed discordantly.
sKeep your mealy-mouthed compassion
Tor yourself" he retorted, sneering.
Whitaker gave q gesture of despair.
III you'd only been content to keep GU:
OF the way II only you'd let
me alone
Then you let Sara Law alone, d'you
hear?'
n The interruption was little short Of
h;shriek. Ember motioned to Sum Fat,
who quietly drew nearer.
II swear don't know what to do or
say
Then shut up"
"That'll be about ALL" Ember inter-
posed quietly At q glance from him.
Sum Fat closed in swiftly and caught
and pinioned Drummond's arms from