The Washington times., 1917-07-29

A fury OF impatience and fear over
whelmed him as he thought OF tho
plight he was in and he moved rest
I lessly In his seat and watched the
street lights fly past.
They came at last to the block upon
which Carslake lived and the car
! turned in At the same instant, how
ever. a taxi drew up before Carslake's
door. ahead of them. and a strange
little man descended.
A Real Adventure.
Seeing this, Pearl ordered her
, chauffeur to go around the corner.
And from there, quite unseen, they
wached proceedings.
The strange little man paid on
his taxi and mounting Carslake's
steps rang the bell in a peculiar way.
A servant came almost at once and
, admitted him. Having noted just
how the bell had been rung. Pearl
, turned to Knox enthusiastically.
This is going to be a real adven~
ture!" she cried. That little man
used a signal OF some sort to get In :"
so saw" murmured Knox. Per
haps you had better let me go in
alone. There's no telling what sort
of a dive II may be-"
IF we could only get in without
their knowledge" whispered Pearl,
excitedly, ignoring his warning. I'll
tell you what. I'll ring the bell and
decoy the servant out on the stoop.
You dispose Of him, and wen go in
unannounced."
"All right" agreed Knox, reluc-
family. II daresay the scheme Is
worth q trial, at any rate"
ThAU
ed the steps. Knox concealed him
self, making sure, first, that they had
been unseen.
Then Pearl rang the bell exactly
as she had seen the man before her
do.
The servant came TO the door, some
what mystihed to find a strange
young woman-a young woman quite
unknown to him-making use Of the
signal ring.
This is Mr. cArslake's house?"
asked Pearl, in a confidential wills
per.
YES. Miss" said the servant.
Pearl nodded with satisfaction and
beckoned to him.
Come mere" she whispered.
The Servant Stunned.
He advanced uncertainly-much
puzzled-and suspected hothing I'M
from behind and began to force him
down the stairs. Then, in wild
alarm, the servant struggled. strils-
ing out vigorously in self-defense and
| seeking TO get between the in
| truders and the door. But he was
| helpless in Rnox's clutches, for
Knox was desperate.
For an instant, they struggled at
the head OF the stone steps: then los
| ing their balance. they toppled OF
and rolled down over and over. to
land with a thud on the pavement
| below.
Fortunately for Pearl and Knox.
Knox landed on top with only a few
| bruises to show for mis- fall: but the
servant lay motionlesS. stunned FRI m
the impact OF his head against the
stone.
knocked OUT" gasped Pearl.
breathlessly, as Knox got up.
Yes" he murmured.
| wonderful" she cried. Hide
him in the areaway. And hurry"
Knox obeyed her. Dragging the
unresisting servant to the darkened
basement entrance, he deposited him
there. mounted the steps and entered
Carslake's house with Pearl. No one
had come up to investigate their
strange behavior for no one had
CHANGED TO pass that quiet street
while the night was in progress: and
neither Knox nor the servant had
wasted energy in crying for help.
They stepped into the dim hall
and closed the door behind them.
No challenge rang out Ito stay
tbem None sought 10 bar their
Uay. Absolute silence reigned in the
house. For all the evidence they
had to the contrary. the house
might have been vacant.
But they had seen the strange littl'
man pass in only a moment BEFORE
them, and they knew that he mus
still be somewhere about
A broad staircase led upward jus'
ahead Of them. to the left OF the han
and Pearl began to mount II. leading
the way valiantly. Less confidently
Knox followed behind her.
Into n Closet.
They reached the top without mis-
hap. but had hardly glanced about
the upper hall before they heard
footsteps coming toward them from
the flight OF stairs leading to the
floor above. To be discovered there
before they had had any opportun
ity OF discovering in what sort OF