Omaha daily bee., 1921-11-20

The door opened easily and the next moment
the four men were In the hall
Az Robin moved to the wall to find the
electric light switch. . torch was silently
thrust into his hand.
"Better have this, dr," whispered Man
derton. II have my finger on the switch
now but we'd best wait to put the light up
until We know where they are. Where 90
ve 20 frst9"
"Into the sitting room," Robin returned
Switching the torch on and of only as he
required It, he crept silently over the heavy
carpet to the door Of the room In which that
morning he had come upon Mary. Mander-
ton remained at the switch in the hall whilst
the other two men followed Robin through
the door.
Tho room was in darkness. 1t struck chill;
for the fire had gone out. The beam Of the
torch. fitting from wall TO will. showed tho
room to be empty.
II don't believe there's a soul IN the
house." whispered the chief to Robin.
.ve are too latte: have said III" NUT
tered the Dutchman.
There Is another room leading out Of
this" replied Robin, turning tho torch on to
the blue curtain covering the door leading
into the office. "we'n have look in there
and then try upstairs. Manderton will give
us warning IL anybody comes down"
So saying he drew the curtain aside and
pushed open the door. Instantly gush Of
cold air blew the curtain back in his face.
Before he could disentangle himself the door
slammed to with 4 crash that shook the
house.
That's done NJ" nuttered tho chief.
Tho three men stood and listened. They
heard the dripping Of the rain, tho sough-
ing Of the wind. but no sound Of human kind
came to their ears,
Tho place is empty" whispered the chief.
They've cleared
= 1t is too latte; I have said IT, The
Dutchman spoke in q hoarse bass.
.WeT go in here anyway" answered
Robin lifting mp the curtain again. They
may have heard US and be hiding
He opened the door. steadying it with his
foot. The curtain tapped wildly round them
as they crossed the threshold. Tho broad
white beam Of the electric torch swung rom
window to desk, from desk to safe.
The door over there is opcn," exclaimed
tho chief. That's tho way they've gone"
Suddenly he clutched Robins arm.
Steady" he whispered "look there il.
in the doorway. There's somebody moving.
Quick, the torch!"
The light flashed across the room. blazed
for an instant on a windowpane, then
picked out a mans form swaying in the
doorway He had his back to the room
and was rocking gently to and fro with the
wind. which they felt cold on their faces.
It's only coat and trousers hanging In
the door" began Robin.
Then. with a suddenness which palnod
the eyes. the room was flooded with light.
The Dutch detective stepped from the eec-
tric light switch and moved to the open door.
TOO laite." he cried, shaking hts head.
Have not tell yoa?"
Suspended by strip Of colored stuff. the
body of Mr.. Jeekes dangled from the cross.
beam OF the door.
The corpse oscillnteJ in the breeze, sil.
houetted against an ob!ong of black sky,
turning this way and that, loose, unnatural,
horrible. and as the body. twisting gently.
faced the room. It gave glimpse Of start
Ing eyes, swollen. e,npurplcd features. pro-
t-ri,ns tongue.
without the least trace o, emotion the