Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-06-01
THE
SECRET
HOUSE
BY
EDGAR WALLACE
Author Of '"rhe Clue of the
Twisted Candle" Kate Plus
TO-" "The Man Who
Knew" etc.
CHAPTER III.

|
embankment, the river, even the
bulk of the houses OF parliament
were blotted out by the dense fog.
For two days London had lain under
the pail, and If the weather experts
J might be relied upon, yet another
two days of fog was to be expected.
The CHEEKY room, with it's polished
oak panelling and the chaste ele-
gance of it's electroliers, offered every
inducement to q lover of comfort to
linger The fire glowed bright and
red in the tiled fireplace, silver
clock on the mantelpiece licked
unsteady. and at his hand was a
white covered tray with q tiny silver
teapot and the paraphernalia neces-
sary for preparing his meal-that
strange tea supper which was one of
Z. B. eccentricities.
He glanced at the clock; the hands
pointed to twenty-five minutes past
one.
He pressed little button let into
the side of the desk, and few Sec
onds later there was a gentle tap at
the door, and helmetless constable
appeared.
go to the record room and get
me"-he consulted slip of paper on
the desk-"Number G 7941."
The man withdrew noiselessly, and
Z. B. Smith poured out q cup Of tea
for himself
| There was thoughtful line on his
broad forehead, look OF unaccus-
toned worry on the handsome face,
tanned with the suns of southern
France. He had come back from his
holiday to task which required the
genius of a superman. He had to
establish the identity of the great
est swindler of modern times, Mon
tague Fallock. And now another
reason existed for his search. To
Montague Fallock. or his agent, must
be ascribed the death Of two men
found in Brakely Square the night
before.
No man had seen Montague; there
was no, photograph to assist the
army of detectives who were seek
ing him. His agents had been ar
rested and interrogated. but they
were but the agents OF agents. The
man himself was invisible. He stood
behind steel network of banks and
lawyers and anonymities, unreach-
able.
The constable returned. bearing
under his arm a little black leather
envelope, and, depositing 1t on the
desk Of the assistant commissioner
withdrew.
r. B. opened the envelope and re-
I moved three neat packages tied with
red tape. He unfastened one OF these
and laid three cards before him.
They were three Photographic en-
largements of finger print. It did
not need the eye of an expert to see
they were of the same finger, tho II
was obvious that they had been made
under different circumstances.
T. B. compared them with a small
er photograph he had taken from his
pocket. Yes. there was no doubt
about it. The four pictures, secured
by a delicate process from the al
most invisible print on the latest let
ter of the blackmai1er, proved be-
yond any doubt the identity of Lady
Dex's correspondent
He rang the bell again and the
constable appeared IN the doorway.
us Mr.. Ella in his Officer"
Eyes, sir. He's been taking in.
formation about that Dock case"
dock case? Oh, yes. remember
two men were caught rifling the Gus.
toms store; they shot a dock con.
stable and got away"
"They both got away, SIR sait
the man, but one was shot by the
constable's mate; they found hi.
blood on the pavement outside wher,
their motor car was waiting"
r. B. nodded.
"Ask Mr.. Ella to come in when h,
is thru" he said.
Mr.. Ella was evidently "thru," 70,
almost Immediately after the mes
sage had gone, the long, melancholy
face of the superintendent appeared
in the doorway.
"Come in, Ela," smiled T. B.; 'tel
me all your troubles"
my main trotble," replied Ella, a.
he sank YEARLY into the padded
chair, "is to induce eye witnesses t.
agree as to details: there is abso.
lutely no clue as to the identity o,
the robbers, and nearly murderers
The number of the car was spur.
ious one, and was not traced beyond
Limehouse. I am up against a blank
wall. The only fact have to go upor
is the very certain fact that one Of
the robbers was either wounded OF
killed and carried to the car by his
friend, and that his body will have
to turn up somewhere or other-ther
we may have something to 90 on"
'If it should prove to be that OF
my friend, Montague Fallock," said
T. B. humorously, Il shall be greatly
relieved. What were your thieves
after-bullion? 2"