The Washington herald., 1919-02-08
CHAPTER xvI-continued.

back over what i found IN the teen
nical books about electricity ana
telephony and see several other ways
for Cuthbert to accomplish the same
result. The electrical pistol did not
/ necessarily have TO be actuated by
the human voice"
How terrfblei" Ioris whispered
with her brow puckering. Perhaps
others will use the same idea TO slay
! their enemies"
\ "we'u keep IL a close secret" the
detective said. ''It rests with us four.
now. Outside OF us. there is only
Morphy who knows"
How else could the pistol be dis
charged"
1.-TWO other ways that I see. Miss
| Stockbridge 1T would be rather
easy to arrange a little magnetic trts-
ger in the receiver. This trigger could
be actuated by an excess Of current
say the connecting OF hundred and
ten volt lighting circuit on the line.
II might burn out the magnet wiring.
hut IL would also release the trigger
and fire the cartridge"
That's like a door-catch7''
YES" said Drew. Like a door
catch operated by a magnet or like
the firing pin OF large cannon.
They're not all operated by lanyards.
Some work with push buttons"
Nichols passed his hand over his
brow. 1 know another way" he
said, glancing down at Doris. There
Is a way which is far cleyerer than
Cuthbert thought OF. II could be
done by a tuning fork or reed"
| Certainty" exclaimed Drew. Il
never thought OF that A reed st-
Ia
sdapted to trip a trigger. Then the
loaded receiver could be set so that
one of your friends who had a Pc
culiar voice. either high or low, would
sIay you Rather terrifying revenge,
i that
beyond the paleT' said Nichols.
ITS too bad this man CUthbert didn't
exercise one-tenth OF his genius in
perfecting war inventions. He'd have
helped US a lot"
; Drew nodded and strobe to the cur
I tains at a side window. He peered
out, rubbed the frosted panes. and
pressed his nose against the glass.
stopped showing" he exclaimed.
coming back and clasping Delaney $
arm. You hurry downstairs and
telephone Fosdick that we are wait
ling for him. Tell him TO notify the
coaner that there's a subject here
which will interest him. Well not
, explain everything 10 either the cor
oner or Fosdick No one save us shall
/ know the secret OF the receiver"
Delaney" said Nichols. as the big
1. Operative started through the Por-
, there's. Mr.. Delaney"
. Yes" doomed back through the
room.
Ask the commissioner II he will re-
: lease Miss Stockbridge's servants. II
was an outrage"
! That's right" exclaimed Drew.
striding to the peEtieres. Tell him I
) said so. Delaney. Tell him just what
YOU think. Give it to him strong, He
; bungled and he don't deserve a bi'
of sympathy"
Mr.. Drew
The detective wheeled on one heel
and glanced back at Loris. who had
risen and was standing with her arm
linked within Nichols Mr.. Drew.
she repeated with slow insistence,
won't you have another cup OF tea
before you go?'
That ! will. Miss Stockbridge. We
three shall drink TO the end Of the
case. Have you asked all tho ques-
tions YOU want to? l want 10 forget
this night as soon as possible. You
, were too close to death 10 suit me.
II don't think OF any more qUes-
tions," said Loris. disengaEing her
arm and gliding across the room.
"We'N get the tea. There is one
matter. want to pay for your your
splendid services"
(; "Ah"' exclaimed Drew "Ah. Miss
Stockbridge. they were far from be.
ing splendid. I lost my reputation
in the first instance. I should never
have allowed your father TO remain
4; alone in the library. That was very
, short-sighted on my part
You couldn't think OF everything. -
81 underestimate the gravity OF
the situation"
: Perhaps father didn't explain how
dangerous his enemies really were"
NO. I don't think it was that ex,
: actly' I had been reading so many
= accounts of German spies that con-
nected this case with one of them
took precautions against anythins
that a German might think OF.
didn't figure on superbrains Of the
criminal order. Cuthbert 'Morphy hac
them"
: The maid appeared with the tray
. and hot water. Drew took the cur
from Loris with a bow. He allowed
the tea to cool as he glanced at tht
! two lovers. They had grown closel
together over the time Of the inves.
; tisation. Nichols had that poisS
; which is given 10 welI-trained army
men. He never said too much. Thi.
was a trait which pleased the dc,
tective immensely. II spoke volume,
for Loris and her Judgment in placing
= her trust In him.
II actually hate to leave you peo-
r pie" Drew said. finishing the cup
r But / must be on my way"
= Loris arched her dark brow Her
mouth parted into a soft smile. Her
eyes glistened with moisture Harry
!; is going. too" she said. ElancinC from
E Drew to Nichols. "IIc has 10 go, I'll
sleep upstairs in mothers old room
: tonight. The maid can watch. Per
haps the butler will be back"
I: He'll be back" calculated the de-
tective, adjusting his coat collar and
stroking his mustache. 'I'll see 10
that If / have to go over Fosdick's s
thick head. You can expect all of
, your servants within an hour"
Heavy footballs on the rugs outside
the suite announced Delaney. He