Evening star., 1923-06-03

hlIC oF DAT Ell
to tell you that there would be po-
liceman here in five minutes"
Who's going to get him? Do you
think I'm going to let you go?" cried
Pelham.
Il have a car outside. The chauf-
feur will summon policeman in just
two minutes. What are you going to
do?" countered Beagle.
For thirty seconds Pelham stared
at him. I'm going with you" he
said. His air Of resignation. Of de-
spaiI. would have surprised the people
who knew him only as a jaunty op-
tinist.
Beagle held out his hand. Give me
The gum" he said.
Pelham hesitated a second; then he
surrendered his weapon. picked UP his
hat from the dingy bed on which it
.ay, and followed Beagle to the street.
He entered the car with the Gray
Ghosts emfssary. Once inside. Beagle
adjusted metal blinds that covered
tightly all the windows. so that no
view of the street through which they
passed could be obtained Nor did he
encourage talk n the hours ride that
followed. a ride that covered twenty
miles of the city's streets. and yet
finally deposited the passengers less
than half a mile from their starting
point. AZ a further precaution, Eea-
gle insisted upon blindfolding Pelham
before they left the car. The bandage
was not removed until Pelham was
standing in the library of the Gray
Ghosts home.
THE lights dazzled his eyes for a
L moment, and he shut them quickly.
When he reopened them he was able
to see more clearly. Then he saw
distinctly. And he looked upon the
features of the man whom he had
sworn to capture.
I'VE meet again. Mr.. Pelham" said
the Gray Ghost After ten years, we
meet again"
He was older, infinitely older, than
he had been on that day, years ago.
when he had, as Mr.. Peter Ballantyne,
chartered the yacht which Pelham
then possessed. This. of course, Pei
ham did not know. He was looking.
upon the Gray Ghost for the first
time. But, though he had never seen
him before. he had heard him de-
scribed and from the description
knew the man,
I'VE never met before" he replied.
The Gray Ghosts lips curled. I'm
the flesh neve, but in the spirit many
times. You have been a source of
great trouble to me, Mr.. Pelham"
Il hoped to send you to jail-to the
electric chair" growled Pelham.
And now you may go to one or
both places yourself" said the Gray
Ghost.
Pelham started. You didn't bring
me here for that
rNo? Then why?" asked the Gray
Ghost
How do L know? To crafty a
cheap desire for triumph. perhaps.
Or perhaps-but that's silly"
whats silly?" asked the Gray
Ghost.
Pelham passed hand over his hag-
gard features. ITO make terms. Only
I'm not in a position to make terms.
Not since last night. That's what's
silly-my forgetting"
Still, L must have had a reason"
said the Gray Ghost. And you do
not belittle me in your thought by
crediting me with a cheap desire for
triumph. Not really"
We'll, what do you want"
The Gray Ghost leaned forward. Il
want you, Mr.. Pelham. never hoped
to enlist a gentleman. / must do with
such cattle as Beagle, here" He look
ed scornfully at his chief lieutenant
IT want a man of imagination, of
genius such as you have shown you
possess. / need such a man, Mr.. Pei
ham. Your rash infatuation for a
girl has ruined you. Your world can
know you no longer. Will you come
to my world?'
Turn criminal?" Pelham stared at
him. you're mad" he cried.
Think of prison; think of the cleo
trio chair And then think of free
dom; think of life. What do you say,
Mr.. Pelham"
"I say no." replied Pelham.
yet you came here with Beagle.
Why? I'll tell you why: because you
were desperate. But you are still des-
prate / alone can protect you, can
hide you, can save you. win you pay
the price OF safety? OF course YOU
say no now. but tomorrow--let us
wait until tomorrow, Mr.. Pelham.
Unless you are certain you will not
change and wish me to send for the
police now"
Pelham stared at him. Let me-
think it over" he said slowly.
*
AVER the Gray Ghosts wrinkled
" features spread a smile Of tri-
umph. It vanished as his butler
knocked upon the door and entered,