The Washington times., 1918-04-16
The Wolves of New York
A STORY OF LOVE AND MYSTERY
Pietro Falls Victim to the Mysterious
Creature of the Vault and MOncrief
Narrowly Escapes the Monster
Part One-(Continued)

70 another door at the end OF the
vault. That may or may not be
locked. II II is locked you have
the key Beyond It you Will find
a sort Of room with shelves around
IL The box will be there, probably
an one Of the shelves. II there are
aehsr boxes you will tell the right
one by fits weight. Don't hurry.
examine everything, and take all
there is OF value. II you have TO
make more than one Journey 1t
Doesn't matter. 1 shall be here
waiting for you
"Bspe-bene," repeated Pietro.
who was evidently anxious TO be
rons. He said no more, and the
nszt moment began TO Chamber
aoru the difficult stairway, holding
to the wall by his disengaged hand,
throwing q bright light before him -
Al he went down. Moncrief accom-
pGaied him for a few steps and
ehen halted
'T shall be here" he called fear
fully after the disappearing man.
but there came no answer from be-
lew. Pistro could be heard CROP
ing his way along, swearing and
u1IttsrinE to himself as he went.
A stone, dislodged from some crew
ice, fell Gathering down the steps,
and the noise OF its fall echoed
through the vault.
Msacrief Shook with Fright.
Mcncrisf returned 10 the door
and sat down on one OF the outer
steps. He lit a cigar, and his hand
trembled as he did so. Damned
ie like this Job" he muttered:
but he doesn't know-he doesn't
know. He may pull II. off-more,
likely than not" He puffed at his
cigar with a feeling OF content that
he himself was safe. He had no
remorse for his action in sending
the man on an errand fraught with
q danger which he had carefully
S0ncealsd- Moncrlef had little es-
TEEN for human. life, as his own
was not inperiled.
"It's q toEs-Up one way or the
ether" he told himself. THE Curse
may not be sbout-there's no rca-
sSu why he should be on the wan
dss-thouEh I fancy he avails him
self OF any opportunity he can get
hold Of to spend his time with his
mouey. Lord. Lord, how he will
Erovl ana yell and roar II he finds
IL gone! What a Job they will have
with him" Moncriet gave a low
chuckie At the thought. 1t re-
echoed strangel! about him and he
glanced timorously over his shoul-
der, but all Was still, and there
Vas nothing 10 cause him alarm.
"Supposing Pietro meets the Curse
-" Monorief found relief from tho
tension in talking 70 himself:
which would ! back? Pietro's got
his revolver; and would not hesitate
10 use It: or I wonder II ne took his
bears claws with HIM" Lillian
Rad told him OF her ind IN the cup
board OF the house IN the slums.
Guess they wouldn't he OF much
use 10 him Sgainst the Curse. And.
Lord. IL he got kiIIed-what -e:rib-'
Gtive Justice
Would PIetro Never Return.
The minutes passed by. and there
came no sound from below. Time
after time Moncrief drew out his
watch, and looked at IL by the light
OF his cigar. He finished the first
cigar and lit a second.
Twenty-Five minutes he NUT
tered: He's had time to get there
and come back. Surely 4 ANYTHING
had happened l should have heard"
As ne spoke there was a fumbl!rg
presently Pietro appea red. Mon
Grief spranE 20 his feet Well" ne
cried.
''i've found - came the answer
But the box was 100 heavy 10 lift.
I'vs filled my pockets. I shall have
10 90 back again, and perhaps
sSRir. Faugh, what n place" He
spat on the ground with disgust.
Let's get over Il as quick as pos
sibIe"
He turned out his pockets on the
grass. piles Of gold, silver and paper
snoney. 81 just took Il as Il came"
he said. There's lots more" His
face was flushed and his voice thick.
Store Il away IN your own pockets
You have an overcOat-tnat is
rood
Other objects besides money had
fallen from his pocket. lie disre-
Esrded them, and vas about to set
on again when MoAcriec cried out
10 him:
The revolver. P.e;ro-are you
not going % take that-'
The Italian turned and hesltatcd.
Then he Sc: his face 10 The stairs
again.
Pietre Meets the Curse.
NJ NhdL the RoOu.S lie nut
tered back. ''It's a grave. and qu:et
as the grave. And / need the room IA
my pocket for the gold" His teeth
ground together In aIs excitement.
nil my pockets with gold, moth
ing bet gold"
The next moment lie was gone.
Aoncriet began carefully 10 OK
anime the treasure. He noticed 20
his regret that there were more
silver coins than gold, but little
paper and no gems.
It's not such a catch after al"
he Tnuttered surlily.
He was about TO transfer the
coins to his pockets when tLcre
came the sound Of a sharp cry
from the vault, a cry that VAS fol
lowed bv succession or wells
Moncrief sprsng TO his feet.
''Pietro" He tried 10 call lie
name, but his lips refused 10 utter
q sound.
For he knew that Pietro had met
the Curse.
"PietrOr The sound came at last
from Moncriefs parched lips. He
stood at the top OF the stairs strain
ing his eyes into the darkness,
though he knew well enough that
lie could see nothing. "PietrO:"
ie repeated.
The Fight in the Tomb.
Suddenly, with smothcred
CUIFc lie struck his Tl0g-b What