Evening star., 1921-07-10

purpose. Through him Nora had found
| escape.
He heard a sharp splntering Of wood.
and a wan light. not much stronger
| than the glow Of the city through the
mist, diffused itself in the cellar. The
inspectors breathless voice reached
them.
Mora! Garth"
Garth saw Eora's shadowy figure ad-
vance into the well Of the door. He
heard her stife her fathers relief and
ten him to order his men beyond ear ear
danger and the terms on which she
had agreed to buy his release.
He strained his ears. understanding
convinced that reasonably 1t could only
| be a refusal. As the price for his con-
nivance the inspector must throw his
position and his reputation to the winds.
perhaps face trial. more than likely to
jail sentence. 1t was conceivable that
that sacrifice. but she would have to
force on him an illusion Of q passion as
unaccounting as that which had con-
vinced Slim. Could she act to that ex-
been acting in the cellar? Had his peril
finally shown her heart the truth? The
two most compelling issues Of his own
life. as we'll as the inspectors career.
depended on the reply, and he could
hear nothing. Slim had handed the bot
tie to George. and he moved now into
| tho door WELL where no could listen.
Slim came sinking back. His whis-
per warmed the cold air.
II couldn't catch 1t all, but she's get
ting away with something
The murmuring ceased. and through
the wan light Nora glided. wrath like.
into the doorway. and called to them
| softly:
"slim! He hates me for making him.
but he'll do what he can. He'll tell the
Hudson that he's got you. He'll try to
cover himself with planted getaway.
You have an automobile. Take 1t and
leave by the Broadway bridge. You'll
catch the Montreal express at Tarry--
xouys % plenty s,n..d Of time s+ and
| can't keep the wool over the district
attorneys eyes forever. II you're not
| over the border tomorrow morning it's
| no good. 80 catch the train.
"And, Jim, there's a condition for
you. Father won't bulge unless you
give him your word to go quietly. You
have to promise on your sacred oath
not to make any effort to escape or to
| throw Slim down."
What. that for?'' George asked.
Use your head. George. It would
| do father a lot Of good to risk SO much
! for Jim II he took matters into his own
| hands and got the acid Just the same" "
"Right" Slim agreed: You've plenty
| to give US a chance"
"You promise. Jim?"
'Tn do what you wish, Nora" he
| answered. II promise"
r y -
0THEN goodbye" she called, and
her voice no longer held any COM
| mand, nor was IT steady. ''Good-bye. II
only dared como over to youi God
bring you back safe to me-"
At a gesture from Slim. George cut
the cords that bound Garth's ankles.
which opened on Marlowe's cellar
Get to the phone" he whispered.
Pass the fair word. and bring the
wheels here on the minute"
IT you see anybody upstairs. just
keep your back turned so they won't
notice your pretty bracelets"
Slim indicated the revolver, held ready
In his coat pocket.
Always like that from now on.'
He touched the bottle Of acid which
he had taken from George.
Remember, this will be behind you
like my gun. but don't want to shoot
face is better II you try to cut up"
you heard my promise Garth said.
He followed George through the door
way. They crossed tho damp spaces
,, Of the cellar and climbed the stairs.
pausing at the head until they could
be certain that Marlowe's evil figure
still faced q berroom significantly empty.
'Well! Well! Who's rented the ware
house? Who are yopr pals. Mr.. Garth? :?
Slim responded to the strain of this
waiting. He turned angrily on the man.
"How often have told you. Papa
Marlowe, to keep your fat mouth shut7'
fined. the new element. siim's anger
had let slip real evidence Of tha pro-
prietors lawless connection with the
gang; and Slim, Garth knew. was un-
likely to make blunders he couldn't
| retrieve. This one dovetailed into the
fact that the detective could still iden-
tify the four confederates he had seen
down statrs-that Ia, II he kept his
eyes. Slim, then. had no intention Of
holding to his bargain with Nora. He
| would use Garth as far as the border.
| then he would protect his own through
the unspeakable punishment his twisted
George emerged from the booth. The
four men started at each other without
! words. Family the whirring Of o motor
reached them. George sprAng for the
door. Slim mot1oned Garth ahead and
followed him to the sidewalk. where an
automobile had drawn up.
voiuminous cape. Of q common chauf-
feur pattern. Its collar was turned up
30 that II completely hid the lower part
Of the wearers face. Garth didn't un-
derstand at first when Slim took q
| smaller coat from the car. stopped. and
L xuhi iuvo fnA in th0 riv