The Washington times., 1921-05-21

ped IL over my shoulders as we en-
tered the house. Thus equipped I
felt that could fit about as Noise
lessly and a. colorlessly as Q
shadow. Next ! crept to the door
and listened. Everything was quiet
so / went out, closing the door si-
lently after me and locking IT from
the outside. Then I tiptoed over to
the back stairs and crept down to
the main floor.
The house lay in pitch darkness.
But had in my hand a tiny pocket
torch I've kept with me ever since
the evening ventured down the en-
bankment, between Dreamwold and
Mason Tower to examine the wreck
Of Sheldon Blake's car. I felt no
hesitancy in starting that trip. so
naturally 1t never occurred to me to
be afraid now when was making
this quest for jim
Releasing that heavy chain from
the side door. ] slipped down the
steps and hurried to the garage
where Tony's car was kept. The
big double doors were closed, but
knew the trick that unlocked them.
I'd learned 1t in the days when the
car the garage housed was my own
big blue Limousine.
The combination didn't fall me
and the doors swung back under
my hands. pushed them just wide
enough to permit me to crawl
through the opening. Then I en-
tered the garage and pulled the
doors to again before i pressed my
electric fash. 1 wasn't willing to
risk betrayal by a tell-tale beam
of light.
There was something eerie about
the wide darkness of the garage,
but it became positively terrifying
as the single finger OF light traced
it's way across the floor. / stood
alert with narrowed eyes, ready to
spring from any menace my little
beacon revealed.
Across the floor Travelled the re-
vealing beam, and on to the fur
thest corner. Then / brought it
back to the center of the room.
Nothing DETECTED the single beam.
nothing refracted it.
The garage was empty. rs / had
suspected. Tony's car was gone.
Neal had informed me that the big
car l glimpsed at the gate was
limousine. He'd said that the man
at the wheel was a big chap. Could
the driver who'd whisked into the
night with the man who'd shot at
Neal and me be Lyons? And had
he actually dared to use Anthony
Norreys' car to turn his evil trick?
WAS HE DICK wEsTs
Was the skuller at our living
room windows really Dick West
as / thought? And had he intend
ed 10 hit us when he shot and
plowed up the ground at our feet.
hio AaIihnrofn and
meant only to delay us until he
could take refuge IN the waiting
car?
II the man who'd been so deter
mined to spy on US and to avoid
our sDying in turn were indeed
Dick West, 1t boded no good for
Jim. / began to feel helpless and
afraid.
/ realized that this situation was
two difficult for me to cope with
alone and determined that in the
morning I'd take Father Andrew
fully into my confidence. This I
felt more loyal to Jim than to sit
by helpless while intrigue went on
about me.
lis this Lyons gratitude?~ I
asked myself bitterly. ''Is thiS
what get for trying to help him
lead an honest life?"
Then / steadied myself back
against the closed doors there in
the darkness to listen for the purr
Of the car which Would herald Ly-
ons' return.
Minutes dragged by. grew
colder and colder, shivering in the
black silence. Then suddenly
heard a queer sound as II some
one was drilling and boring
through the wood. I drew myself
taught and steady.
Then l laughed. But IL was q
shuddering laugh. for I realizes
that the boring sound was .
mouse gnawing at the wood.
Ito he continued Tuesday,