Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-30


lima was crumprd up. to all appear
anccs dead. She lid been hurled down
when the force ofahc dynamite had
borkcn the tank am. already nearly
dorwncd, had collapsed Unconscious.
Perry MACON was theirst to recover
his senses. Raising him.clf cautious.
~, he felt Of his arms anu legs. TO as.
sure himself Of the fact tai he had
escaped whole; then. seeing larry ST.
pine. he stcalthily crcpt forw.rd Tho
young man did not move. Perry Mason
watched for sign OF life, then. with
malicious smile. drew forth his PISTOL
and aimed it point plank at the e
cumbcnt form.
There was Il snap--thc cap failed t,
explode: hc broke open the weapon
ana proceeded TO replace the cart
ridge just as the sound OF hurryinE
| feet caused him to turn
y number Of laborcrs working down
the line had rushed forward on hear
Ing the blow-up. Perry thrust his gun
. into his pocket, and. concluding that
} discretion VAS the better part Of vaIor
SUNK away toward tho railroad tracks
There he waited until Il slow-movins
freight appeared. and. climbing aboard
congratulated himself on the possession
Of tho seventh Pearl. THE others must
be in her nat" he muttcrcd. and made
himself as comfortable as he could as
tho train rumblcd on toward New York
Tho workers, seeing Harry and lima
both limp. hurried TO raise them Tho
young man was tho first to come to
Tho sight Of the white and bruised
girl gave him y sudden strength. lie
rushed to her side and lima opened
her eyes
Thank Cod cried Harry. in de-
lrium OF JOY. Il feared YOU were
dead" With tender care he helped
poor lima TO her feet. and. then aided
by tho sympathetic onlookers. carried
her TO the auto, which had bccn wait
inG for them beyond the little wood
they had been forced TO cross on foot.
Bat. as they rode slowly and stopped
several times. Perry Mason had time
20 reach llma's al ahead .; them.
when al last the young woman did
arrive it was patent that tho whole
place had been searched
who hae been here cried Harry
as he viewed tho overturned table. the
broken vases and ranssckcd drawers.
we can guess" answered lima,
but l am glad to say l put the six
pearls in safe deposit box few
days ago"
That's lnc," said Harry, and now
YOU are worn out and need rest. Is
there anything moro / can do for
YOU"
lima shook her head and Harry de-
parted with n plea that she telephone
him the moment she felt we'll enough
TO go on with the search for the re-
naming pearl
She undrcssed and lay down. but
She could not slecp--the knowledge
tina, she had only a few hours left in
which 10 recover the eevcn,h pearl
Kept her nerves a-tinEic and her brain
active When the prize was in her
hand ii seemed like the pcrverscness
II wicked fate that Perry Mason,
nor Nemesis, should snatch it from
her.
lima rose and dressed in time 10
receive the ENccut!oner, who brought
with him the Turkish Amba ssador.
That gentleman politely reQuest.'
that she turn over to him for his mas
ter the seven pearls before the OK
p;ration al midnight Of tho time limit
% which She had agreed
But l can't do it," cried lima IT
VIII turn tho six pearls over 20 You TO
show am in earnest about Twin. up
10 my end Of the bargain. can't you
cable The sultan and ask him TO
.Ntend the time jus, lt,!e?"
My dear young lady" said tho Ann
bassador, Il have already informed
him that You have SIX pearls and he
refuses absolutely TO give you mo-
meni's grace. However. am willing
10 cable once more and al any rate
YOU have until midnight 10 recover the
seventh pearl"
! shall be SO grateful" cr:ef lima,
III YOU will do what You can" The
ENecutioner nodded and his friend
bowed Al that moment, Harry, who
could wait no longer TO hear from
lima came into the room. To him
lima explained. and he agreed with
her that they should go at once 10 the
safe deposit vault and deliver the six
pearls TO the ambassador
lima pat on he- hat and coat and
the four started for the bank Bu,
Ferry Mason had not been idle. He
mad discovered where Ilma's pearls
were stored and laid his plans 10 steal
them, resolving to stop at nothing
lie presented himself at the bank
with Il request to rent d small box and
was shown after the payment of his
money to the vaults where such boxes
were kept. In this way he had access
TO the room where customers cut their
coupons Ilc noted that several guards
scrutinizcd each person and that there
appeared TO he small chance for him
TO succeed
Moreover. the entrance to the vaults
was protected by a heavy door Perry
saw that any attempt TO steal IIma's
pearls must he an ingenious one and his
fertile mind soon evolved scheme.
which had a novelty worthy OF a bet !
ter cause.
Finding one OF the coupon-roons
empty he took from his grip some cleo |
trio wire, couple Of small batteries, /.
a vial Of ACID. jar of white powder
and some wire. Working rapidly, he /
fitted the various articles into q thin |
cd l, in,