South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-09-29
6D Louis
IOSebh Vance
opu International Masszins Company

, had swept across the saloon skylight,
coming from below, the beam OF a
portable electric torch.
II might have been the signal for
the first piercing scream OF Lane
| Delorme. A pistol shot with a vi
ciOus accent cut short the scream,
After a brief pause several more
shots rippled in the saloon.
Then the torch-light found and
steadied upon the mouth of the com
! panionway. Against that glare. a
/ burly figure was instantaneously re
/ lieved. running up 10 the deck. AS
IL gained the tOpmost step a final
report sounded in the saloon, and
the figure checked, revOlved slow
~ on a heel. tottered. and plunged
headforemost down the steps again.
A moment later the lights came
on, and Lanyard went below.
His bewildered gaze discovered
first Lame Delorme. Her fingers
were clawing her cheeks, her eyes
widely dilated with horror and frigh-
her mouth was agape, and from IL is
sued. as by some mechanical i'm
pulse, shrek upon hollow shrek.
on the opposite side of the saloon
Monk lay with purple face and pro-
truding eyeballs. far gone toward
death through strangulation. phi
mutt. on his knees. was removing a
silk handkerchief that had been
twisted about that scrawny throat.
At the foot OF the companionway
{ steps, Popinot, no phantom but the
veritable Apache himself, was
writhing and heaving convulsively;
and even as Lanyard looked, the
| huge body OF the creature lifted
spasm, then collapsed and moved
I no more.
Viewing this hideouS tableau, ap-
preciating what It meant-that Popi
not. forearmed with advice from a
( trusted quarter, had stationed him
! self outside the door TO Monks
| stateroOm. to waylay and garotte
I the man whom he expected a
/ emerge therefrom laden with the
plumber OF Monks safe-Lanyard
/ appreciated further that he had done
For he had all the time believed
| that the chief engineer was laying a
, trap for him on behalf Of his ancient
shipmate. Captain Whitaker Monk.
Lanyard stepped across the dead
/ bulk OF the Apache and planted him
self sQuarely I'm front Of the woman.
/ SEEKING her forearms with his two
| hands. he used force 10 drag them
I down TO he level Of her waist, and
purposely made his grasp so strons
that his fingers sank deep into the
soft flesh.
There he said - that's over.
/ Lane The beast IS done for. Now
I forget him-and realize the debt YOU
owe good Monsieur Phinuit"
With a grin. that gentleman look
/ ed up from his efforts 10 revive cap
tain Monk
I'm a shy. retiring violet" he
stated somewhat superauously, "but
I 4 the world VIII kindly lend its ears.
TT inform IL coyly that was some
shootln' Have a look, Will YOU, Ian
I yard. like a good fellow. anS make
sure our little friend over there isn't
/ playing possum on us"
Lanyard adopted tho sensible sug-
7 gestion OF Phinuit To his complete
satisfaction no fiutter OF life was 10
I De detected in that barrei-llke chest.
+ So this was the source Of Mr.. Mus
sey's exact understanding OF the
I business!
As 20 the question OF how the
| Apache had been smuggled aboard,
AID when. Lanyard never learned
\ the truth.
Lanyard entertained for a moment
a vivid imaginary picture OF the
/ scent in the saloon when Phinuit
I had surprised the Apache IN the act
/ OF strangling Monk
/ One saw the garroter creeping
I from his hiding place in the cabin OF
/ the chief engineer. starioning him
/ self at the door 20 Monks quarters.
with that deadly handkerchief Of his
/ trade. ready for the throat OF the
Lone Wolf when he should emerge
Z with the spells OF the captains safe
7 in his hands.
Then one saw Monk. alarmed by
/ the sudden failure OF the lights. hur-
/ rying out 90 return 20 the bridge.
/ the pantherlsh spring upon the vic
7 TINS hack. the swift deXtrous nooS-
/ ing o: the handkerchief about his
wlndpipe. the merciless tightening of
] tall abruptly illuminated by the