Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-03

'rnnchcd under a foot and some one
was coming.
TO Flats utter amaZcmcnt, he saw
the Hidden Hand himself part the
bushes only few feet from him. Like
BULLDOG. FOR such he WAS. Fla:t was
! upon him
Taken By surprise. the Hidden Hand
was for moment we'll nigh powcrlcss.
I The suddenncss Of Flats attack WAS
/ such that he had no chance TO use the
dreaded gauntlet OF death. Flat
! brought his fist sauarely into the mid
/ riff OF the Hidden Hand and he sank
unconscious.
Fiat Gets the Iockct.
Quickly Flat began II search him.
From an inside pocket lie pulled out
+ the precious locl:ct. his eyes bullying
ut the sight OF il.
Just then some OF tho cmissaries
! saw their master stretched on the
ground and ran forward. Flat heard
III II first and as they closed on him
ne swung on one. catching him on tho
point OF the jaw. The other ducllcd
and Fiat almost sprawlcd. but he
caught himself and ian. nor did he
stop until he reached the house
There he sought the library. dropped
on his knees before the safe and in
spite of the protests Of the butler
opened It and took out the packet.
With both packet and iockct he hur-
r;cd into the hall. on the way to his
rocm
Tin not to 30 disturbed until /
ring" ho cautioned the butler
Mcanwhilc. outside. the Hidden Hand
and his men plotted in rage TO get
back the precious ;rinket the key 10
the secret.
At Scari"y's laboratory Ramsay and
Doris. having found ScarIcy ont and
& soorered nothing discriminating. al
'eaGy had decided To return home.
III
Nearly m hour later. pr. scarlev
entered tn" library. saw The cafe door
open and hurried over ;c it, looking
a, it with sunrise lie was just
turning away from ii when he en-
countcred -Ahncr.
Did you open that accused Abner,
cycling Scarlcy suspiciously.
Anrriiy Scarlsy resented the impu-
ta'ion and words were raging high be-
tween them when Doris and Ramsay,
returning from the truitless search OF
Scarley's heard thu two.
What's this?' demanded Ramsay.
much alarmed az the sight of the
opened SAT-. door.
lie dropped quickly on his knees
before the safe door and looked
through II. The package was gone:
James" he cried 10 the butler n
ihe hall and Is james responded hur.
riedly added. who opened that safe?"
Mr. Fiat. sir. Tic went to his room F
sir-said lie was not to be disturbed
until he rang"
Just then Their. cane u buzz from
the annunciator and James added: lie
Is ringing from his room now, sir"
Without waiting to hear more. Ham
say followed ~ Doris and the others. I
hurried Upstairs to Flatt's room. RAN +
say ui"d the door. Ii was iocHcd
There vas no sound In tho room. cit.cr. (
10 dropped on his knees. and pc-rea
through tho koyholc
Flatt Found Dead.
IN exclamation from Ramsay caused
Doris l. kneel down beside aim /
through tho iIeyhole they could 50,
Fla't On the floor. dead. his body cru.u-
Piled. - though hc haG been crawling I.
toward the door. Ramsay "as about (
'o break in the door when Doris cN I
.la!mei Al seeing something lying on
'he hall carpet. II was the &ey Ia
th' door. she picked j, up and handed
+, 10 Ramsay.
'ii"w aid TIA, como 10 be outside"
sh' asked
Hamssy did not answer. but ;urn,s
'Ee key hur'ie,ilv IN tn. loci: ana ,nrv
entered Ramsay hurried over Ia 49,. +
body Of Flat. while Doris shra,l back
in hctrcr. The iutler. IN pan,c. rcA
70 tn, lowe, hall