Charlevoix county herald., 1918-07-19


him. Still his eyes stared straight be-
fore him.
And the rest of US stared at the two
men who pitted their wits In we'll
nigh mortal combat. We were all on
our feet, save Dual. We all stood and
waited, while the tension grew and
grew.
Dual alone seemed calm. inscruta-
BILE. unmoved. as he fenced with his
mental opponent. Laredo, on the
other hand. could see was breathing
quickly, leaning slightly forward. He
seemed seeking some point In Dual's
subtle attack through which he could
break
Perhaps, senor," he said slowly. at
last. you imagine you know where
they are"
"Yes."
Laredos hands clenched at the an
swer. / saw his eyes blink in involun-
tary contraction. Yet, the next In
slant he shrugged, and the faint smile
came back to his thin lips, pressed
close together.
Where, senor?' 1t was Ques-
ton, challenge.
"In the least likely to be suspected.
and therefore the most probable
place." said Dual. 1.-The place OF
which you are thinking"
He rose from his chair. 1.-The place
at which you are looking. Laredo"
In a stride he had reached the bed.
1t was of brass; one of those nodded
affairs, with head and foot posts fully
five inches in diameter, massive in ap-
pearance, yet hollow. Without
glance in our direction Dual laid hold
of the top cap on the foot post beside
which he stood and began to un-
screw it.
Laredo's control vanished. He
gasped. The look of cornered fox
leaped into his face.
"You cursed DEVIL" he cried
hoarsely. His hand darted swiftly in
side the left breast of his coat and
came back with something short and
sinister and as venomous in its way as
the fang of a snake. He swept 1t out
and around and
Dayton acted.
Standing nearest the Mexican, he
saw and hurled himself upon him.
His powerful hand closed in a numb
ing grip on the slender brown wrist
of the other. He forced 1t downward
and inward till the fingers of its haCd
loosened their hold on the weapon
and 1t clattered to the floor.
leaped to his aid. but Heffy was
before me.
With an agility surprising In one OF
his build, he saw the moment he had
waited for and rushed to meet it. AS
he came his hand dragged something
which elittered from his coat.
He reached Laredo's side; there was
a struggle, flash, a sharp click, and
the detective Strengthened, gloating.
Circlets of steel bound Laredos wrists
together.
? AN that will be about all from
you, l reckon" said Heffy. Maybe
l amt such a much at detectin', but
you bet I've had practise with the
iroas.2 ~-.~-- ---.
Our eyes came back from Laredo %
Dual.
peril he hao gone calmly on with his
work. AS we turned he had quite re-
moved the cap, and stood holding
in his hasds. He lifted ii
I'D and held il for all to sea slen-
der bit of wire to which were attach
ed a peculiar image of bronze and a
green stone.
He seized the image in his hand.
With his other hand he laid hold Of
It's handle. In W. ench and pull he
tore il out of the idol, and drew with
1t slender bit of tempered copper
some sixteenth of an inch wide at its
broadcast point and perhaps four
inches long.
Tossing the rest on the tumbled
bed, he turned directly to Heffy. the
dagger in his hand. "You have done
well, Mr. Heffy," he observed. Here"
he lifted the fatal weapon--'is
your single fang. And there"-he
waved 1t toward Laredo-"is your
snake"
"Scotched!" chuckled the hotel
official. Hold him a minute, will
you, Dayton? l wanter go lamp that
stone" He crossed to the bed, lifted
the Eye of Quetzal, and turned 1t In
his hands.
Abruptly he cast It from him on to
the bed and came back to lay hold on
Laredo. Come on" he growled. Il
reckon you amt to be trusted In
sight of them things. Ill put you
where you're safe"
He led the Mexican toward the
door.
Heffy was a far better policeman
han detective, when all was said.
Laredo had been turned over to the
ocal authorities to be held. His
iream of an Indian empire with him
self at its head completely shattered.
ne had lapsed silent and refused to
affirm or deny any or all details of his |
actions of the night before
The great green stone Of Ill omen