The Washington times., 1918-06-02


tossed it up.
Heads l go in, tails / don't" he NUT
tered, and threw the coin into the air.
1t came down heads He descended from
his car, opened the gate, and drove slowly
I'D the avenue. About twenty yards from
the little sweep in front of the'front door,
he pulled upy and crossing a circular plot
of lawn, approached the house on foot.
There were no lights, nor any sign OF life
He stood for a moment at the front, listen
ing. Then he made his way round to the
back. He had still omitted to ring the bell
or announce his presence. Directly he
reached the back door, however, he noticed
that it stood open, and he distinctly heard
a long groan.
my lucky shilling!" he murmured to
himself, still listening.
There was another groan, then voice.
A man spoke quickly and harshly, but un-
der his breath. Knox gathered the sense
of his words.
"The master will not hear-they have
taken care Of that. 1t is not worth WHILE
Lucy. Half an hour more and we will re-
lease ourselves. Groan if any one comes.
Until then be silent"
Knox stepped from the grass and came
nofsily I'D the path. There was instant
silence. He knocked at the back door.
Come in" some one cried, with loud
groan. Come I'M"
"Come in, for Gods sake!" a shrill
woman's voice echoed. "oh. am in pain!
The villains!"
Knox stepped into little servants hall
and pushed his way through into the
kitchen. A man was lying there with his
back to the table, bound with cords and
gagged. By his side was a woman in the
same condition. They we're obviously OF
the domestic class. The man wore plain
black livery and the woman an apron over
her print dress. Knox looked from one to
the other
"Hullo!" he exclaimed.
The woman held out her hands. Knox
produced a pocketknife and hacked at
their cords, noticing all the time their
complete ineffectiveness.
'WeI," he asked, what has happened?"
''The poor master!" the man moaned.
LET me run and see"
"They drove up in motor car, the mis-
creants!" the woman exclaimed. There
were three Of them-big men. It was I
who opened the door They carried me
here The others rang again and
waited until William rushed out to see
what It might mean. Then they tied us
both up here and went upstairs. Oh. let
us see what has happened! This way"
They hurried of, wringing their hands.
Knox followed them along a narrow pas
sage leading into a hall, and into a room
furnished as study. a room which pre-
sented now an appearance Of wild disorder.
Upon his face on the ground a man was
lying. He. too, had been tied up and there
was a gag in his mouth Knox, who was the
first to reach him, cut him free quickly.
There was a difference here. indeed. The
man was almost choked with his gag and
the cords had cut into his flesh. He stag.
gered to his feet CHASTITY pale, a slim.
aristocratic looking gentleman. with thin
gray imperial and the face of an artist
"Get some brandy quickly" Knox or
dered the servant. "PuIl yourself together,
SIR, if you can" he added. 'Tt's all right
now"
The gentleman. however, was incapable
Of speech. Knox carried him to an easy
oIos H. hoA F,f-
lips. In a moment or two the color came
back and he commenced to revive. He
cIutched at Knox's arm and staggered TO
his feet. He stretched out his arms TO-
wards the wall, but his face seemed drawn
with pain
"Gone," he moaIed "Gone! The jewel
of my life!"
Knox followed the direction of his com
panion's anguished gaze. Upon the wall
was an empty frame, gilt and of antique
workmanship. Two candIesticks of chased
silver stood on brackets on either side. A
tiny fragment of canvas hung down from
the frame.
"T gather" Knox remarked. "that there
has been a burglary here?"
"a burglary" the owner of the room
assented horsely "Yes, yes, but what mat
ters? They have all of my best bronzes
and my Queen Anne silver. Heavens, If
they should melt it! But those things are
nothing. They have taken the jewel Of my
life had rather they had taken my life
ITSELF"
Are you on the telephone?" Knox asked.