The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-01-02
Copyrights, 1915, by LipPineott's MasazisssA
Copyright, 1915, BY Mcbride, Mast q Go.

? -
ppincott's Maeaz isss.
10 Bride, Mast q Go.
Max hurled himself through the door,
way indicated, falling up against the
| mating wall by reason Of the impetus
of his leap. He turned leaped on, and
1t was masked door. Within was
| darkness, out of which came the sounds
OF great turmoil, as Of wild beasts
In conflict.
Max kicked the door fully open and
flashed the ray Of the torch into the
room. It poured its cold light upon a
group which, like some masterpiece Of
classic statuary, was to remain etched
indelibly upon his mind
Helen Cumberly lay. her head and
shoulders pressed back upon the silken
pillows Of the bed, with both hands
clutching the wrist of the Eurasian and
striving to wrench the latter's fingers
from her throat, in the white skin Of
which they were bloodily embedded.
With his left arm about the face and
head Of the devilish half caste and
grasping with his right hand heAslen-
der right wrist, putting forth all his
strength to hold it back, was Gianapo-
lis.
His face was Of grayish pallor and
clammy with sweat; his crooked eyes
had the glare Of Madness The 1.-THE
body OF the Eurasian writing in his
grasp seemed to possess the strength
OF two strong men, for palpably the
Greek was weakening. His left sleeve
was torn to shreds-to bloody shreds
beneath the teeth OF, the wild thing
with which he fought, and lower, low
er, always nearer to the throat Of the
victim, the slender, yellow arm forced
itself, forced the tiny hand clutching
q poniard no larger than hairpin, but
sharp as an adder,s tooth.
''Hold herr whispered Gianapolis In
voice barely audible as Max burst
into the room. "She came back for
this, and followed her. She has the
strength OF tigressw
Max hurled himself into the melee,
grasping the wrist OF the Eurasian be-
low where 1t. was clutched by Gianapo-
lis. Nodding to the Greek, to release
his hold, he twisted it smartly upward.
The dagger fell upon the floor, and
with an animal shrek Of rage the
Eurasian tottered back. Max caught
| her about the waist and tossed her
room.
Helen Cumberly slipped from the
bed and lay very white and still upon
the garish carpet, with four tiny red
streams trucking from the nail pune
lures in her throat. Max stopped and
raised her shoulders. He glanced at
the Greek, who, quivering in all his
limbs and on the verge OF collapse,
kept himself upright only by dintt of
clutchtnx at the side Of the doorway.
Max realized that Gianapolis was past
aiding him. His own resources were
nearly exhausted; but, STOPPING, he
managed to lift the girl and to carry
her out into the corridor
4Follow mey' he gasped, glancing
back at Gianapolis. 'Morbleu, make
an effort! The keys-the keys
Laying Helen Cumberly upon one of
the raised divans, with her head rest
Ing upon q. silken cushion, Max, teeth
tightly clinched and dreadfully con-
scious that his strength was failing
him. waited for Gianapolis. Out from
the corridor the Greek came stagger-
ing, and Max now perceived that he
was bleeding profusely from wound
in the breast.
"She came back" whispered Gianap-
oils, clutching at the Frenchman for
support, 1.-The fend! I did not know
that Miss Cumberly was here. AS God
is my witness did not know! But l
followed her-Mahara Thank God l
did! She has finished me, think,
"but"-he lowered the crooked eyes to
the form of Helen Cumberly-"never
mind saints
He reeled and sank upon his knees.
He clutched at the edge of his coat
and raised it, to his lips. wherefrom
blood was gushing forth. Max stoop-
ed eagerly, for as the Greek had col
lapsed upon the floor he had heard the
rattle Of keys.
"She had-the keys" whispered Gia-
napolls. They have-tabs-upon them.
LCEOuA-ANO. d D-tuC uOOT W LuC
stair"-very, very slowly he inclined his
head toward the ebony door near
which Max was standing-"is marked
x: the door--at the top--into ga
rage.-B."
'sTell me-" said Max. his arm about
the dying mans shoulders, "try to tell
me who killed Mrs. Vernon and why"
''Mr. Kingr' came in a rafting voice.
Because of the carelessness of some
one Mrs. Vernon wandered into the
room of Mrs. Leroux. She seems to
have had a fit OF remorse or something
Hike 1t. She begged Mrs. Leroux to pull
up before too late. Ho Pin arrived
just as she w1s crying to Mrs Leroux
and asking If she could ever forgive
her tor bringing her here. 1t was Mrs.
Vernon who introduced Mrs. Leroux.
Ho Pin heard her say that she would
tell Leroux the truth as the only
means
Eyes, yes. morbleu! understand.
And them
tn hn Continued