Evening star., 1923-11-28
tContinued from Yesterdays starr

was what CfdnS nau Sdiu 'A
down. And Crang was right II
meant the end--one way Or the
other But with luck, if Crang was
as yellow as he believed the man to
be, the idea of the bluff that had
1eaped into his mind would work
successfully; and if it didn't work
we'll. then. there was the end-and at
least it would not be scathless one
for Crang!
The mind works swiftly. Had
Crang had time only to walk down
half the length of that room out
there toward Larmon? Yes. ne saw
Crang halt now, and heard Irahs
call out sharply to the three men at
the table:
See if he's got a gum"
John Bruce, through the crack, saw
I.armon whirl around suddenly, as
though aware for the first time that
he was in danger; saw two of the
men grasp Larmn roughly, while
the third searched through his
clothes.
And tken Crang laughed out rau-
cousl-i
"fhis way. Mr.. Peters-piease!
You three can stay where you are
IN call you if l need YOU"
For still another instant John
Bruce watched through the crack;
Larmon. though his face was set ana
stern. advanced calmly to where
Crang stood Crang, with a prod OF
his revolver, pushed him onward.
They were coming now-l-armon hrSt'
and Crang Immediately behind the
other. Without a sound, John Bruce
slipped around to the other side or
the door; and. back just far enough
so that he would not be seen the IN
stant the threshold reached,
crouched down close against the wall.
A second passed.
GO on in there he heard Crang
order
Lannon'S form crossed the thresh
Bruce hurled himself forward, strik-
ing, even while his hands flew up,
ward to lock like a wise around
Crangs throat. a lightning blow at
Crangs wrist that sent his revolver
to the soft earthen floor without
sound-and low. stranglinE, gurs.
ling noise was alone the result or
Crangs effort at 4 shout of alarm.
Shut the doOr-quietly! And lock
1t. Larnon." John Bruce flung out.
1t was an impotent thing. 1t struck
at the air blindly. it's fists going like
disjointed falls. Strong! He had not
just risen from a sick bed this time.
John Bruce and the soul within him
seemed to chuckle in unison together
at this wriggling thing that ne held
up by the neck with it's feet OF the
ground. But he saw Larmon, though
Ior the fraction of a second held
spellbound in amazement, spring and
lock the door.
IF you make a sound that reaches
out there"-John Bruce was whisper
ing now with painting, labored breath,
as he swung Crang over to the cor
ner and forced him down upon the
mattress-'ft will take too long to
break that door in TO be of any use
TO you! Understand"
Bruce"
1t was Larmon standing over them.
John Bruce scarcely turned his head.
His bands were still on Crang's
throat, though the man lay coWed
His inside coat pocket" John
Bruce jerked out. 1T will save a lot
of explanation"
Larmon leaned over and thrust his
hand into Crang's pocket. He pro-
duced several envelopes and the slip
of paper cut from John Bruce's let
ter.
Read the slipw said John Bruce,
grimly. "IIe showed it to me a min
ute ago when. he came in to tell me
you were here. 1t was written in our
invisible ink at the bottom of the let
ter he brought you. He laughed
shortly.
Nv nen you've read it, I'll introduce
you"
Larmon read the slip hurriedly.
Good God" he cried out.
This is Crang," said John Bruce,
evenly.
"But"-Larmon's face was tense
and strained-'thow-"
How did he discover there was
anything there to begin with, and
then hit on the salt solution?" John
Well find out" He relaxed his hold
a little on Crang's throat. and taking
the slip of paper from Larmon, thrust
It into his own pocket 60 on.
Crang! Tell us"
Crang's eyes roved from John
Bruce to Larmon and back to John
Bruce again. His face was shaken.
He shook his head.
you'll talk" said John Bruce with
omnibus quiet. And the less urg-
hgain-"the better for you.
Walt" Crang choked. "Yes-I-
TIL tell you. | showed the letter to
Claire. She-she cried on it. A tear
Rplash-blaCk letter began to appear.
] took the letter home, and-trace of
salt in tears-and-"
Crang's voice died away in a stran-
Cling cry. Claire! John Bruce had
that. Claire! The face beneath him
began to grow livid. Claire! So the
devil had brought Claire into this.
too. Too! Yes, there was something
else. Something else! He remem-
bered now. There was a reckoning to
come that was beyond all other reck-
onings, wasn't there? He would
know now what hold this thing, that
was beast, not man, had upon her.
1ie would know now-or it would
end nowi
Claire! Dye hear?" John Bruce
whispered hoarsely. You know what
mean! What trick of hell did you
play to make her promise to marry
you? Answer me!'
The thing on the mattress moaned
'tBruce! For Gods sake, Bruce,
what are you doing?" Larmon cried
out sharply.
John Bruce raised his head and
snarled at Larmon. Neither Larmon,
nor any other man, would rob him of
this now!
You stand aside, Larmonm he
rasped out. This is between me and
Crang. Keep out of the wayr
He shook at Crang again. He
laughed. The mans head bobbed limp
ANSWER mel" He loosened his grin
Elat-Crang couldn't speak, Of course,
Is he wouldn't let him!
The man gasped. and gasped again,
for his breath.
II give you one, second" John
Brs.re lips did not move as he spoke
quick" John Bruce planted his
knees on the others chest
"Yes-yes, yes, yes" Crang CUR
gled out It's you-the night you
you were stabbed. You were-were
nearly gone. IL gave her the
let you-go out"
John Bruce felt his shoulders surge
forward, felt his muscles grow taut
as steel, and he shook at something
habby that made no resistance, and
his knees rocked upon something
him-CIaire had faced that inhuman
choice, born in this monsters brain