Evening star., 1918-04-14

The II ght was still burning. At the
far end Of the room a window was
wide open. and the curtains of it
huttered In the wind. A collection of
empty cases and caskets lay on the
middle table. but man and Jewels were
alike gone! Once again the Vanishing
cracksman had lived up to his prom
very letter Of his name. and for all
Mr.. Maverick Narkom's care and
shrewdness. Forty Faces" had turned
the trick" and Scotland Yard was
"donew
Through all the night Its best men
sought him, its dragnets flshed for him.
Its tentacIes groped into Severy hole
and corner Of London in quest of him.
but sought and dshed and groped in
vain. They might as well have hoped
winters snow as any trace of him. He
had vanished as mysteriously as he
had appeared, and no royal jewels
graced the display of Miss Wyvern's
wedding gifts on the morrow.
But 1t was fruitful of other gifts" /"
fruitful of an even greater surprise,
that morrow" For the first time since
the day he had given his promise, no
Himself Hamilton Cleek." no part of
last nights loot came to Scotland Yard;
and 1t was while the evening papers
were making screaming copy" and
giaring headlines out of this that the
surprise in question came to pass.
Miss Wyvern's wedding was over, the
day and the bride had gone. and 1t was
1880 at night when Sir Horace. answer
ing hurry call from headquarters, drove
post haste to Supt. Narkoms private
room, and passing in under a red and
green lamp which burned over the door,
ray, met that surprise
Maverick Narkom was there alone,
standing beside his desk. The curtains Of
his window were drawn and pinned to-
gether, and at his elbow was an unlighted
lamp Of violet colored glass; Narkom
turned as his visitor entered and made an
open-handed gesture toward something
which lay before him.
Look here" he said laconically. what
do you think of this?'
Sir Horace moved forward and looked;
then stopped and gave sort of wondering
cry. The electric bulbs overhead struck
a glare OF light on the surface of the desk
and there, spread out on the shining oak,
lay part Of the royal Jewels that had
been stolen from Wyvern House last
night.
"Narkon! You got him .then-sot
him after all?"
mo. I did not get him. 1 doubt II any
man could. II he chose not to be found -
said Narkom bitterly. n did not recover
these Jewels by any act Of my own He
sent them to me-gave them up volun-
tarily''
Gave them up? After he had risked
so much to get them? God bless my soul.
half here Of what he took"
There is half-an even half. He sent
them tonight, and with them this letter.
Look at 1t and you will understand why
l sent for you and asked you to come
alone.''
Sir Horace read:
There's some good in even the devil,
| suppose; II one but knows how to reach
it and stir 1t up.
have lived life of crime from my
very boyhood because couldn't help 1t,
because it appealed to me, because I
glory in risks and revel In dangers. 1
never knew. I never thought, never
cared. where it would lead me, but I
night. and can't go down the path to
hell any longer. Here is an even half
Of Miss Wyvern's jewels. II you and
her father would have me hand over
the other half to you, and would have
the Vanishing Cracksman disappear
forever. and useless life converted
into a useful one. you have only to say
so to make 1t an accomplished thing.
All I ask in return is your word of
honor Ito be given to ME by signaD
that you will send for Sir Horace Wy
vern to be at your office at IL o'clock
tonight. and that you and he will grant
me a private interview unknown to any
other living being. A red and green
to your off1ce will be the signal that
you agree. and a violet light in your
window will be the pledge of Sir Hor-
ace Wyvern. When these two signals.
these two pledges, are given. I shall
come in and hand over the remainder
Of the jewels. and you will have looked
for the first time in your life upon the
real face of the man who calls himself
Hamilton Cleek."
God bless my soul! What an amaz-
ing creature, what an astounding re-
questw exclaimed Sir Horace, as he laid
the letter down. Willing to give up
100000 worth Of jewels for the mere
sake OF a private Interview! What on
earth can be his object? And why
should he include me?"
81 don't know" said Narkom in re-
ply. ITS worth something. at all
events, to be rid of The Vanishing
Cracksmani for good and all; and he
says that II rests with US to do that.
It's close to eleven now Shall we give
him the pledge he asks. Sir Horace?
Ny signal is already hung out; shall