South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-01-16

tective spoke as heartily as he could
and his host laughed outright.
That is the point" he exclaimed.
i saw that you were surprised when
YOU came, but my wants are simple
and here, you see, 1 an just a queer,
old foreigner named Semyonov. who
minds his business and goes his way
In peace; / am not Professor Semy-
onov, the chemist, TO whose labora-
tories all the world comes. No one
knows OF my abode except the few
like yourself to whom l have given
my address and I am undisturbed.
But now you must tell me about your
case. Is IL an affair of poisoning?"
Before Sergeant Barry could re-
ply another flash of tightening as
keen as a knife thrust swept be-
meath the edges of the window
shades and for an instant duued the
electric lights into an angry orange
glow.
Professor Semyonov started. then
shrugged
That was nearer, Ell? I am as
bad pSraaps as a hysterical house
maid but does it not seem as though
the very atmosphere waited for the
breaking of the storm 2"
1T is like the report of guns,"
The professor pulled his worn, gor-
geOusly-hued dressing gown more
closely about him as he sank once
more into his chair. "I have heard
them in my own country many YEARS
before the late war and the memory
Of them is with me always. But let
US forget the storm if we can. The
case you mentioned: is it murder?"
Frankly ] don't know" Barry
responded. 1T is similar to that
Tudor affair at Sandy Cove last sum.
mer-"
a sudden, sharp detonation burst
cracking upon their ears and both
men leaped to their feet and stood
f. the fraction Of a second staring
az each other. The professors ner-
vousness had fallen from him and
he spoke with the calmness of fatal
ism:
There was no lightning. That
was not thunder, but a shot,
Comes"
The realization of the truth had
pierced the detectives consciousness
even before his host voiced it and
he sprang for the door As he flung
IL open, with the rotund figure in
the tattered dressing gown close at
his heels, he heard Enthusiastically the
sound Of hurrying footsteps below
and plunged for the head of the
stairs
The narrow hall was but dimly
I lighted and in the unnatural silence
which followed the echo Of the shot.
their own feet as they clattered
down the matting-covered stairs
drowned out the lesser sound which
| had come up 10 them.
The hallway directly below was
deserted and the door leading into
the apartment was closed and blank.
Professor Semyonov paused 20 ham
mer upon il but Barry fastened on
downward, his eyes striving to pierce
| the gloom. Was that a fleeing figure
| below him or just his own distorted
shadow advancing before his reck-
less DESCENT
On the third floor he halted The
door OF this apartment also. which
his host had told him was occupied
/ by a woman portrait painter. was
closed, but from the line Of the sill
streamed a peculiar. bright light
| like a beam OF sunshine. The pro-
lessor ceased his fruitless efforts
and rejOined his companion Just as
there came a soft thud and then
from the street level a violent ring
| ing and pouudfng
Perhaps we were mistaken. 4"
/ Barry remarked. 1T might have
been fracas out in the street"
The professor shook his head de-
cidedly and then pointed 20 the line
, OF light from beneath the door be-
7 fore them.
Someone is In here. at any rate.
We will knock"
Suiting his action 70 the word, he
raped smartly, waited. and raped