Evening star., 1921-05-08
Continued from Yesterdays starr

| Silently they both climbed the lad
der which had been placed in readi-
American detective already in posi-
tion. A brilliant light streamed out
! through the glass dome. and the in
side of the central room was clearly
visible
Hes already talked to wha, he
ecstatically:. land he is not in the best
of tempers."
! Hugh glanced down. and grim
smile fickered round his lips. In the
three chairs sat the motionless.
bound figures so swathed in rope that
! only the tops Of their heads were
! visible. just as Lakinston had left
him and Toby and Aley earlier in thu
, evening. The only moving thing in
| the room was the criminal himself.
and at the moment he was seated at
the table with the Chinese cabinet
doing something inside with PEN
knife. and all the time he kept up a
running commentary 10 the three
| bound figures.
We'll. you young swine. have YOU
enjoyed your night::" A feeble moan
broken at last. is it?' With a quick
! turn of his wrist he pried open two
flaps Of wood and folded them back
against the side. Then he lifted out
i parcel OF Sold ana StIVef tissue from
underneath.
MY hat" muttered Hugh. what a
! fool l was not to think Of it,
Just false bottom actuated by clos
| ing the lid And a similar parcel in the
other cabinet"
| But the American. whistlinS gently
| to himself. had his eyes fixed on the
| rope of wonderful pearls which LAX
! ington was holding lovingly in his
! hands.
! so easy. you scum" continued LAX
| ington. "and you thought to pit your
| selves against me. Though IL it hadn't
| been for Irma"-he rose and stood in
left Drummond-''it might have been
| awkward. She was quick. Capt. Drum
mond. and that fool Of chauffeur
failed to carry out my orders. and
! create diversion. You will see what
! happens to people who fail to carry
; out my orders in minute And after
| that you'll never see anything again"
Say. he's dream-that guy" NUT
tered the American. What pearls
are those he's got'"
pered Hugh. Lifted right under the
| noses Of the whole bally house party"
With a grunt the detective re-
arranged his chewing gum: then once
more the four watchers on the roof
glued their eyes to the glass. And
afterward stirred even the phleg-
matte Mr.. Green.
l. A heavy door was swinging slowly
open. apparently of its own volition.
though Hugh. stealing quick glance
at Lakington. saw that he was press
ing some small studs in a niche in
one of the walls. Then he look ed
back at the door. and stared dunn
founded. 1t was the mysterious cup
board Of which Phyllis had spoken to
o hR inn "a a. ri
from her words had prepared him for
the reality. 1t seemed to be literally
crammed to overflowing with the
! most priceless loot. Gold vessels OF
| the floor. while on the shelves were
arranged the most wonderful collec-
tion of precious stones. which shone
and scintillated in the electric light
till their glitter almost blinded the
watchers.
Shades Of Chu Chin Chow. Ali Baba
and the forty .pundits" muttered
Toby. The dam mans a genius"
| The pearls were carefully placed in
a position of honor. and for a few mo
ments Lakington stood gloating over
his collection.
mond?" he asked. quietly. Each
thing s,I Is obtained by my, h5ain-my ,9 my
pany TO Wits snsns sssn' and With pit
he crossed the room. and once more
! pressed the studs The door swung
slowly to and closed without a sound
while Lakinston still shook with
silent mirth.
| And now"-he resumed rubbing his
| Capt Drummond." He walked over to
| the shelves where the bottles were
ranged. and busted himself with some
preparations. And while it is get
ting ready. We will just deal with the
| chauffeur who neglected his orders"
| For few minutes ne bent over the
chemicals. and then he poured the
mixture into the water which half
! filled the long bath at the end Of the
, room. \ family acid smell rose 10
the four men above. and the liquid
turned pale green.
| II told you ! had all sorts of baths
didn't L. continued Lakington: some
for those who are dead. and some for
! ter sort, and has the great advantage
of making the bather wish 1t was one
of the former" He stirred the liquid
gently with long glass rod. About
Ave minutes before we're quite
the chauffeur"
! He went TO a speaking tube, down
which he blew. Somewhat naturally
there was no answer. and Lakington
frowned.
"A stupid fellow" he remarked
deal with him later"
You certainly will" muttered
Hugh. on the roof And perhaps not
a, quite so much later as you think
| friend Henry"
But Lakington had returned to the
chair which contained. as he thought
| his chief enemy, and was standing
beside it with an unholy JOY shining
on his face.
And since I have to deal with him
later, Capt. Drummond. y. s. O.. NJ c.
I may as well deal with you now
! Then il will be your friends turn.
Am going to cut the ropes. and carry
| you. while you're so numbed that you
can't move. to the bath. Then 7 shall
when. afterward. you pray for death
! shall mercifully spare your life
for while
He slsshed at the ropes behind the
chair. and the four men craned for
ward expcctantly.
There" snarled Lakington I'm
ready for you. you young swine"
| And even as he spoke. the words
died away on his lips. and with a
dreadful cry he sprang back. For
the dead German Heinrich rolled off
the chair and sprawled at his feet.
My Cod screamed Lakington.
What has happened? Ill"
| He rushed to the bell and pealed it
frantically. and with a smile Of joy
| Hugh watched his frenzied terror. No
one came in answer to the ring. and
! La kington dashed to the door, only to
| recoil into the room with a choking
noise in his throat. Outside in the
! hall stood four masked men, each
! with revolver pointing at his heart
; MY cue. muttered Hugh. And you
understand. fellows. don't you-he' S
| my meat
| The next moment he had disappear-
! ed down the ladder. and the tn re