Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-07-24

pOCketDOOk, ana uOnC Lnlnk he
opened the duplicate bag yet and
stirred UP fuss. 1t isn't much COM
pared with hundred thous sand, or
even fifty, to quote the Butcher, but
every little bit added to what you've
got" IIe fell to whtstling Tho .lre
pleasantly under his breath, as he
hurried along the road.
taxicab.
Drop me block this side of the
Corona--and give her all she's got!"
he directed crisply.
Dye get him." demanded the
chauffeur eagerly.
my friend" replied the Hawk
gently, as he stepped into the taxi,
III you'll think 1t over. you'll come to
the conclusion that you really don't
want to know. Take it from me that
the less you're wise about tonight
the wiser you will be tomorrow.
Now, cut her loose!"
It had taken good thirty minutes
on the trip up; it took less than half
of that, by. a more direct route, for
the return journey. At the corner, q
block from the hotel. the Hawk
crumpleti two generous bank notes
into the chauffeur's hand, and babe
the man good night. He traversed
the block, entered the hotel lobby,
and. ignoring the elevators. leisurely
and nonchalantly assembled the STAIR
case to the first floor. From the
landing he noted the room numbers
opposite to him, and with these as
guide pa ssed on along the corridor to
where 1t turned at right angles at
the corner of the building, and halted
before room No. log. A light show
ing above the transome indicated
that the Frenchman was within. He
had passed one or two people. No
one had paid any attention to him.
Why should they! He glanced up
and down. The corridor, for the mo-
ment, was empty. He tried the door
gently-lt was locked His right
hand. in his side pocket. closed over
his automatic. He pressed close to
the door, knocked gently with hisleft
hand-aud with his left hand reach
ed quickly into his pocket for his
mask.
who's there?" the Frenchman
called ont.
Message for you. sir" the Hawk
answered..
Footsteps crossed the room, the
key turned in the lock-and, in a
flash. the Hawk, slipping on his
mask, had pushed the door open,
closed 1t behind him. and the, French
man was staring into the nluzzle Of
the automatic.
Mon Dieu!" gasped the French
man family.
That's right" said the Hawk
coolly. Don't speak any louder than
that. Or He shrugged his shout
ders significantly. as he locked the
door.
The Frenchman, white-f faced, was
evidently fighting for his nerve.
"What--what is it?" he stammer-
ed. What is it that you want?"
1t was almost reassuring smile
that fliekered on the Hawks lips,
and his voice did not belle tit was
purely conversational in its tones.
Il wa. reading in the paper this
afternoon about the famous Doctor
Meunier. I'm a bit OF a scientist
myself, In an amateur way, and I'm
interested in radium
when there's enough of it to-"
All! My radium! That is what
you want" cried out the Frenchman
wildly. The duplicate bag lay on the
bed. He ran for it. and snntched II
up. Nc! That you shall not have!
You come to steal my radiunl, YOU"
You Jump at conclusions, doctor"
said the Hawk patiently. Since it
is already stolen, T."
"Stolerl!" The Frenchman stared
and then with feverish fingers open
ed the bag. He looked inside, Tie
bag dropped to the floor, his bands
went up in the air. Z is empty
empty" he cried distractedly. 'It is
gone. Mon Dieu, my radium
is gone! What shall 1 dol" His
hands were rumpling thru his hair
like one demented. What shall
dot is gone."
Well suggested the Hawk suaye-
ly Il thought perhaps you might
like to buy 1t back again"
Buy 1t back! Are you crazy? Am
crazy:" The man appeared to be
he flung out his arms in
mad s,esticulation. "With what
would buy it back? 1t is worth a
Thousand dollars--a half
million francs."
You are excited. Doctor Mo-,
nier." said the Hawk calmly. From
where i: bulged under his coat he
drew out the black bag. 81 said
nothing about hundred thousand
The Frenchman reached out a
shaking hand, pointing at the bag.
IT is you then, after all, who stole
lt-eh? The bags-they are iden-
teal! Mon Dieu, what does this
mean?, am mad! l do not Under
stand"
fihere was "a chair on each side of
the small table near the bed.
sit down." invited the Hawk in
one with the muzzle of his
Thet Frcnchmnn sat down
with q helpless and abandoned ges-
ture of despair. The Hawk took the
other chair. He opened the bag
opened the lead box, and laid the
lead capsule On the table. do Won
Identity this ?" he inquired pleas
antly.
(To be continued.)