Omaha daily bee., 1922-05-28
By Sax Rohmer

her into oRs-sRd, further l don't doubt iha,
the EgyptisR's statement is absolutely accurate"
"po you think this man Ali VAS not At psks
Grange last nights'
II doubt IL he knew ot the existence 81 tho
place"
"Hm.- WssssN scratched his chin psTpieA-
seIy, at any rate, hs is IN custody"
We walked downstairs together and out into
the porch, The Cardinals tlata seemed TO bs
deserted this morning, no one WAS about In any
of the rooms, We fingered there for while.
In thoughtful silence, staring at the spectacle Of
grsat brown sails apparently Juttins up from the
middle OF the meadows, when something
dropped lightly upon my hat brim and then fell
At my feet looked down. and;
"IIarleyi" l whispered. slaneng up az an open
window over the porch. charley. looki'
l stopped, and, raising the object which had
dropped from above, held Il between finger and
thumb for his inspection,
II was the gold Zip of tiny Egyptian egaret'
"Ah." lie snstehsd II from my hand and
pssred AT IL closely Them Lip saRst" lie NUT.
tered, Lip saHe'"
There were faint red stains upon the gold
Harley srasped Wsssex aud myself each by
an arm and drew us back into the inn Step
pins into the little bar narlor. lie rams the bell
Ills eyes were very bright and his face Was very
gtim. Presently Henry. the ancient and mslan-
eholy waiter. appeared, and;
Gould speak TO Miss Pegsy for momsnt7'
asked Harley.
I'm afraid not. SIR" was the reply. "shs's
been lying down all morning. suffering from a
very bad headache"
lis that so? The news Of the tragedy In tho
rsighborhood has upset her. donbtessF
"it has upset MS all, sir" t.
"There is something | want 10 ask Miss Cat
tan" said Harley. after a moments hesitation.
Il should like you TO take little note TO her. !
will write Il now. II you will bring me paper and
envelope"
Five minutes later Peggy Gstten came into
tho sitting room where Harley. wessex and
awaited her.
"Ah. Peggy" said Harley. genialiy. sit down,
won't you? am sorry 10 worry you when you
arc obviously far from WELL but l must ask you
TO tell me where you get those little gold-tipped
Egyptian cigarets which you smoke"
Peggy had seated herself at his invitation,
but. hearing those words. she leaped TO her
feet, wide-eyed. clutching at the back OF a
chair.
"Ali right" said Harley gravely. 'You need
not answer. know now Tell me what hap
pened at your interview with Sir Joseph Peek
last night"
The girl moistened her lips and seemed to be
seeking for words with which to reply. when
there came a dramtic interruption. unheard by
uE so intent were we upon this strange scene.
Dave Gatten. the landlord, had approached the
door. Now 1t burst open and a rugged. fierce
figure. swarthy and menacing, he strobe into
the room.
'I'll tell you" he shouted. "rll tell you,"
"You!" came in a whisper from Peggy.
"You!"
Yes! Who else? ?" shouted the man. his eyes
lighting up madly "I'll do no good by trying
to conceal what's bound to come out at the
trial. I might as we'll tell the truth now and
take my chance"
Harley was standing by the window. his face
quite expressioness, but the light OF a
sudden understanding dawn upon the counte-
80 81
chair in which he was seated, the inspector
came forward, and:
Dave Gatten," he said. II arrest you for the
murder of Sir Joseph Peek at Dyke Grange.
Anything you say will be used as evidsareA
against you"
Let 1t be-" cried the man, truculently LET
It be-"
He folded his arms. glaring around from face
to face.
i've watched and I've wondered" he con-
tinued. addressing himself to the pale-faced
girl who now crouched back against the wall of
the room staring at him classify. Fine dresses
and silk stockings aye, and jewels, too! They
never came out Of your savings. Peggy. was
easy, but 1t was going too far. And last night
l followed you You talked loud up in that
room above that heard almost every word,
and I answer the question you have Just
asked her. sir!
HE told her he was through with 1t all;
that it must finish before things were discov-
ered Then-"Gatten turned to Harley-"I saw
the back-faced dog light cigaret in the room
below. I saw him come out, smoking it, and
walk down to the gate with my girl lay flat
behind bush waiting for him to come back.
When he did, and walked in through the open
window, followed him! He heard my foot on
the steps and turned
Il don't know what he read in my face!
don't know what l had in my heart. But
there's something in my blood as there was in
NV fafh 1nodb bofo <Iofj
me mad at times His ugly face seemed to be
grinning at me through red mist. l struck at
HIM and he lodged the blow. I leaped upon
him and picked him up in my arms.
He knew he was outmat atched, but he wrench
ed one arm free and got it into his pocket.
saw the glitter of long blade. and I threw
him off and fell back step. He came for me,
as mad now as l was. and then" Gatten
paused. WELL then I remembered the big
clasp knife which always carry.
He struck at me- l caught his wrist twisted
it, and his dagger fell. The light was very dinf?
there in that empty room, but 1 could see
enough Of him to know that he had read his
death sentence in my face. He turned and ran,
and l followed him. Half way arcoss the in
side room caught him and threw one arm
around his neck. He twisted about squealing
like hare. and reached on to my throat.
Then I struck at him with all my strength"
He stopped abruptly and brushed his sleeve
across his brow, which was streaming with
perspiration.
Il dropped the clasp knife, still open into
my pocket he resumed, land stood listening
for moment, looking down at him where he
lay at my feet. The red madness was gone by
the moment. and could think coolly. I had
heard you"-he turned his glaring eyes upon
Peggy-"I had heard you ask him for certain
things Of yours which he had and had heard
him refuse to give them to you. I found my
way upstairs You had said over and over again.
Open that drawer; / want my letters
II found the drawer and l opened it, and
found your letters and some photographs. l
didn't know II had everything, and l might
have looked further. but lust then l heard 4