Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-06-12
TIMES REPUBLICAN. MARsHAILTowN IOWA, JUNE r. 1920

l1NNES.fNETO bl
ed. There are three entrances to thi.
room, and they are all equally diff
cult to negotiate"
May inquire the meaning OF this
outrage?" asked Poltavo.
"Your virtuous indignation does
you credit, Count" said the doctor
He sat down by the table. took q
cigar-case from his pocket, and Of
feIed it to his unwilling guest.
you do not smoke; l am sorry
| "Would you like a cigaret?"
"Thank you, I have all the cigar
cts I require" said Poltavo briefly
| ~.
The doctor did not speak until he
| had liesurely bitten off the end of a
cigar and lit it.
LAS l say" he went on. Il admire
your sang froid. The word outrage
| comes curiously from you. Count
but l am merely carrying out Mr.
Farringtons wishes. when l say that
l am perfectly. willing to explain
your present unhappy position. In
| some way you have made our friend
very angry" he went on. easily; land
at present he is disposed to treat you
with considerable harshness, to mete
out the same harsh justice, in fact.
that he accorded to two people who
were predisposed to blackmail him
with threat of betrayal
II knew nothing Of these" said
Poltavo.
Then you are one of the few
people in London who do not" said
DR.. Fall, with q smile. "One was an
architect, the other a fairly efficient
man OF type you will find on the
continent of Europe, and who will be
an electricians assistant or q wait
er with equal felicity. These men
were engaged to assist in the con-
struction Of the house, they were
brought from Italy with number of
other workmen, and entrusted with
a section Of it's completion. Not sat
isfied with the handsome pay they
received for their workmanship, they
instituted system OF blackmail
which eliminated one night at
Brakely Square In their untimely
death"
"Did Harrington kill them?" gasped
Poltayo.
Il will not go so far as to say
that" said the suave secretary: II
only say that they died. Unfortu-
nately for them, they were acting
independently Of one another and
quarrelled violently when they found
that they had both come upon q SIM
liar errand, having at last identified
the mysterious gentleman. who had
commissioned the house. with Greg
DRY Harrington. worthy and black
mailable millionaire"
$50 that was it," said Poltavo
thoughtfully.
What fool was not to under
stand, not to see the connection.
They were shot dead outside Far
rington's house. Who else could have
committed the crime but he?"
again, will not go SO far as to
say that" repeated the secretary; II
merely remark that the men died a
most untimely death, as a result Of
their eagerness to extract advan-
tages from Mr.. Harrington, which he
was not prepared to offer. You,
Count Poltavo, are In some danger
Of sharing the Same fate"
II have been in tighter holes than
this" smiled Poltavo. but he was UNI
easy.
do not boast" said the doctor
quietly. Il doubt very much xvvheth-
er in your life you have been In so
tight a hole as you are in now. We
are quite prepared to kill you; tell
you that much. because Mr.. Earring
ton does not ordinarily take risks.
In your case, however, he is pre-
pared, just SO long as you are Inn
pressed with his power to punish, to
give you one chance Of life. Wheth-
er you take that chance or not en-
tirely depends upon yourself. He
will not extract any oaths or pro-
misses or pledges of any kind; he will
release yuu with the assurance that
II you wa serve him you will be
Handsomely rewarded, and II you
fail him you will be most hand
somely killed; do make myself
clear2"
Very" said Poltavo, and the hand
that raised the cigaret to his lips
trembled little
II would like to add" began the
doctor, when the shrill sound of a
ringing ben rang thru the vaulted
apartment. Fall sprang up, walked
quietly to the wall and placed his
ear against q portion which ap-
peared to. be no different to any
other, but which, as Poltavo gath
cred, concealed a hidden telephone.
"Yes?" he asked. He listened.
Very GOOD" he said.
He turned to Poltavo, and sur
veyed him gravely.
you will be interested to learn"
he said, that the house 10 entirely
surrounded by police. You have evil
IDENTIFY been followed here"
A light sprang into Poltavo's eyes.
THAT is very awkward for you,"
he said with laugh.
More awkward for you, I think"
said Doctor Fall, walking slowly to
the farthermost wall Of the room.
"Stop!" said Poltavo.
The doctor turned. He was COW
cred by the black barrel of Poltavo's
pistol.
Il beg to assure you," said the
Count mockingly, that this pistol
is loaded with two small cartridges
which found In my waistcoat pock-
et and which usually carry In case
~ a.