Evening star., 1921-06-12
Lock that window" he said. "rv

Lock that window" he said. I've
left it open.
Suddenly he paused and turned. A
sound scarcely human. had come
from the chair-a hollow. meaning
less vocal attempt. as though there
were no palate behind it, no tongue
to shape its intention.
From where he stood Garth could
see Alden distinctly enough. His head
was sunk forward on his chest. His
chair arms. His eyes flashed with a
passionate purpose which drew Garth
magnetically until he was close and
had stopped and was staring into
them with a curiosity almost as pro-
nounced as their eagerness.
What is it. Mr.. Alden?" he asked.
Aldens lips moved. His throat
worked. His face set in grotesque
AThere is danger for all of u.s.
Garth cried. "The time for silence
has passed"
. Garth drew back Now when it was
too late Alden wanted to talk.
Mrs. Alden" Garth whispered. You
know your husband can't speak
Look at him."
She turned on him.
Why did you come? 1t Is your
fault"
Garth pointed to the cabinet where
mare whimpering did not cease
Get something" Garth directed
The doctor must have left you
narcotic"
She walked with a pronounced lurch
to the cabinet. where Garth heard her
fumbling among the bottles. but he
did not turn away from Alden The
imbecile sounds stopped. but the lips
worked ineffectively again. One OF
the hands moved slowly with an ap-
| of
allied that it was motioning him
back. Alden started to rise. Garth
saw his veins swell and the emaciated
muscles strain as he literally dragged
himself out of the chair and braced
his elbows against tho writing table
ly on q piece Of paper. Garth under
stood. and he reached out for the
sheet on which Alden had written the
lwords-perhaps a warning. perhaps
the truth-which his tongue had been
unable to form
Don't touch that paper.
There was a new quality about the
voice Garth could not deny. There
was no more tinkling Of glass at the
cabinet. He found it difficult to credit
Mrs. Alden with that clear. authori-
tative command. He turned warily
and looked into the muzzle of his own
revolver. Mrs Alden's outstretched
hand. he noticed, did not waver.
What does this mean?" he cried
1T means" she answered in q tired
! voice. that if you read what is on
that paper you'll leave me no choice.
I shall have to shoot"
Alden whimpered again. The paper
huttered to the floor and rested.
white and uncommunicadve, beneath
the table His face set He pointed
acouang1y toward the rear window.
TIRE gesture was clear to Garth He
knew what it meant before his
eyes followed it's direction. Before
he had seen, he appreciated almost
palpably the new presence in the
room At the moment it seemed in
! evitable to him that the tense group
should be Joined by stronger force,
the inspiration. probably. Of the
mysteries that had posed it, and that
worked ahead, he could not doubt,
to a graver issue for Alden and him.
SELF
The newcomer glided from the shad-
ows by the window and moved to Mrs
Alden's side-huge. powerful. The
cap, drawn low over his eyes. and the
thick growth about the mouth. robbed
his face of expression, and gave to
his actions a mechanical precision
not lightly to be disturbed. He took
Cnc revolver from the woman.
Il couldn't" she said. HE han't
read. It won't be necessary"
Necessary" the man answered ir
a voice with a German accent. but
you were right Not in that way. II
leaves too much evidence. AS the
others went"
mo more DEATH" she cried. There
has been too much DEATH"
These days the world is full OF
DEATH" he answered. What are ons
or two here?'
The voice carried a. little express.
sion aS tho face or the figure, but n
accent, which Garth knew, hinderei
its fow and defined the situation
with 4 brutal clearnesa
He turned at q slipping behind him
his hand stretched toward the futile
spot Of white beneath the table. Hi: