Evening star., 1923-06-03


gather from the printed page more
than was printed.
| He sat in the solidly furnished IL
brary on the second floor of a house
on Waverley Place. Aside from the
malevolent fires in his eyes, he
seemed like some feeble old gentle
, man. rspectably placed, comfortably
well off, who kept up an interest in
the doings of a world from which
age had retired him.
The manservant who poked the logs
in the fireplace evoked thoughts of
ancient manor houses in England.
His very sideburns were guarantees
of respectability.
He was a criminal, differing only in
degree from his master, yet he ad-
hered to the fiction of master and SER
want even when there was no. other
person present.
The master, having read the last of
the newspapers, ordered the SER
want to- admit man who waited out
side The Gray Ghost forced an un-
willing smile to his thin lips. We'll,
Beagle?" he said.
Beagle nodded in the direction of
the newspaper which the Gray Ghost
had put aside upon the entrance of
his follower. TITS all straight" he
announced Tell me. what YOU
know" ordered the Gray Ghost.
Beagle looked at his master, We've
kept watch on both Tryon and Pei
ham every minute of the day and
night"
The Gray Ghost gestured i'm
patiently. Il know that; / ordered
you to-"
Something of the natural man in
Beagle, usually subordinated to his
awe of his master, crept through his
mask of reserve. And we've had
dozen chances to bump them both off,"
he said aggrievedly.
The Gray Ghost smiled coIdly.
You don't respect our friends as
much as do" he said. IT don't
doubt that as many opportunities
have presented themselves but you
would not have accepted them"
I'm not killer" muttered Beagle.
Exactly" said the Gray Ghost.
we have no difficulty in finding men
who, in the course of business. will
kill. But the only sort who will
start out deliberately to murder are
men of so violent natures that they
are untrustworthy."
We've had men commit suicide
rather than be captured and give us
away" declared Beagle
You have no understanding" said
the Gray Ghost. That is true; those
men preferred death to Imprisonment.
Had 1 asked one Of those men to
commit a deliberate killing he would
have refused. Killing to avoid cap
ture, self-destruction for the same
reason, killing to insure success of
one of our plans-they are. all diff
ferent from deliberate murder. Not
only can not hire such men and have
any assurance of their discretion. but
/ do not wish to. ] am no gangster,
Beagle. l am a gentleman"
Just the same, If we'd taken
chance and nicked Pelham and Tryon
few months ago, we'd be a million
to the good" argued Beagle.
THE Gray Ghost smiled once more.
i You have my permission to at
tend to Tryon whenever you choose.
AS for Pelham-go on" he ordered
peremptorily.
We'll, he was followed to the
apartment Of Stacy Legendre last
night. Also Tryon was followed
there. He arrived before Pelham and
the girl. About ten minutes after
Pelham arrived he beat II from the
house in hurry. He went home. but
he came out again in five minutes,
carrying a suit case He took taxi
to the Grand Central; he paid his
driver. went into the station, and
came out little later in another car.
He drove to the Burchard Hotel, reg
istered under the name OF Thomas
Wentworth of Boston, went to a room.
changed his clothes, and slipped out
half an hour later. He went to a
public telephone booth in an all might
drug store. We don't know what
number he called, but from his ex-
cited manner. Hendry, who was fol-
lowing him at that moment. now sur
misses that he telephoned Miss Legen-
dre's apartment.
mo surmises, please" said the
Gray Ghost.
beagle flushed. He went from
there to a lunchroom. ate break
fast, and then took q ride In the SUBJ
way. He spent over two hours riding
around underground, apparently just
killing time. At about o'clock he
went to cheap clothing store on
Sd avenue, and bought few things.
He'd left his bag at the Burchard.
At a drug store he bought q tooth
brush and other incidentals. Carry
ing his purchases with him, he went
Evidently he went to bed and stayed
there until late this afternoon. Then
he went out, had dinner in restau-