The Washington herald., 1919-01-27


Silver and pearl and old rose blend
ed into q bower such as u found IN
palaces. Tiny medsli,ons and plspucs
and miniatures = narrow framed
studies in oils-fans- vases. statuettE
of ivory and rare china hundred
choice and dainty objects of haute-
art were in that splendid room
Drew advanced owe. rug 20 soft
and deep he felt like a peri entering
paradise. He brushed aside the
tapestries and strode swiftly forward.
His hat came on as I>oris advanced
TO meet him from a large chamber.
wherein the color scheme had been
worked out in black and white with
a suggestion OF green-in-gold.
He forgot the material things Of
that apartment as he bowed galisntly.
He thrust his hand forward and
clasped strong fingers over her own.
The grief OF her fathers death had
widened her eyes and set them in
circles Of dark brows and tesr-stained
features. Her voice clutched in her
throat as she tried TO speak Her
hand was drawn from his slowly. Il
raised 10 her broad forehead beneath
her blue-blsck hair with a passing
motion that dispeiled some OF the
doubt within her. She smiled wanly.
Her round, young breast rose and
fell with the rustic OF perfumed laces.
She swished her lavender gown be-
! hind her with a turn OF a white.
supple wrist upon which was a tiny.
oiamond-stUdded watch Of superior
make.
Courage said Drew. Have
courage! They won't get YOU"
hey-they," she bresthed. They
nave threatened me like they threat
ened poor father They sent a let
ter oh, I wish were a man
| DEW flushed beneath his olive
cAeeks. He reached upward and
] turned down his oyercoat collar He
| iald ms hat on a chair, braced his
shoulders. and stared around the
room. His eyes wandered from tho
walls 10 the inner opening. WHO'S
in there he asked
! 'Harry-Harry Nichsls teIe-
phoned for him I was afraid. I ad-
NIT I'm afraid, Mr.. Drew. You know
what they did 10 father
Yes. I know. 1t was an error o,
my part We did not take the proper
precautions But this time-we wiz
| i hope YOU do don't feel like
myself, after last night It came So
suddenly. I heard you people talking
in the lower hallway. I went TO the
, banisters and saw an the servants
at the library door And then-spd
then, I went down without a particle
! ot warning. It was q shock, Mr..
| Drew"
/ "One I could have spared you
admitted the detective 1t was pre-
ventable," he added, turning toward
! Delaney.
The operative stsf ped forward BE
! struck a chat sith his foot and
| tumoled n Picsing IL up and
setting 1t On trE legs. he flushed
| Euiltily
Be caref "a Drew. Get
me that lot, a1rr Isdv ~
ceived from -t A.. wc-r
look it over r.
/ Delaney glsnC L.-is She
got IT, ne sale Sc bac
LOris shuddcred --srssds he
hands to her breaS rrr- u N
she whispered ct sgr's
and angry l tore It n a.
waste basket"
Fetch the basket" n-rw
I Delaney. Go got D.. 4-.
this room our headGuarte. -e
( ed. swinging about on one ... r-.
I stay right here and wat, -..
| Miss I,oris"
The girl nodded prettiIy. II cour-
: age came hack with flushed checks
'She glanced up at Drew's strong ia
and face. The detective squared
shoulder with a final shrIg We
stay here" he said masterl
4 Though all the demons in hell -r
closing in on You. wen stick. We
get them this time! I've almost e
my man II he moves his pawnS
night. we'll round up the whole bun,u
and send them to the chair"
/ Are there more than one"
Yes, One is directing-au or
others are doing his will Your faith
was slain in some mysterious man
ner which we have not. as vet. de-
ternined The man, or men. who
caused hi0 TO meet with death Io'r
their marks behind thom-fnrC-
prints-foOt prints, voices over wire.
and. other evidences Of material
dev1try. They bIUndered a scorr Or
times. They should have killed taar
magpie. They did not wear gloves
when they should have worn gloves.
They forgot, or overlooked. that teI,-
phone calls can be traced We've
traced them. We've almost succeed
ed. The trouble is that time is
short. What was in that letter.
Loris turned toward the inner room
Delaney. followed by Harry Nichols
III lAll UNIFORM a0TfhTfL The on
eratiye held out handful OF sc-apped
paper.
"Ain't much 10 Learn here. chies.
ITS pretty we'll torn un. I remember
what IL said though 90
Repeat it,
at vv~ from tho Hardwood Ca~kcf
Company of Jersey CTu- II yvae
dated this morning u said that tho
coffin Miss StoCkbridCc ordered To-
the aGy who vas about to die in hc-
Ssmily. would he delivered tomorrow
afternoon by express at her town
house. as ordered"
"-Th" ours" exclaimed Drew
sure they are. chief. Tho Iot+r-
was signed by the manager. I thirl
II was the manager. I couldn't pesG
mis- writing"
/ Let me see the scranS"
/ Delaney sorted them into a sp1sI-
stack ana passed them 10 Drew. Tb.r
detective lifted each fragment held
/ it to the light and placed II into
his right oveNcost pocket u get IL
he said. 1T looks genuine. DID you
telephone them
Nope, I was awaiting for Won 10
J come up here. There's a phone bo-o
It's over there"
Drew nodded. IT saw IL" he said
thoushtfully We better be careful
bow we use the phones OF this
house. They tapped the wires hefo-r.
and they can do il again We're fEht-
ing very high-class devils"