The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1924-09-23
CHATTER XIII

80 F"HHaH HraAHHH EAaatAH#H shAA AtH#At
the door plato OF a room az the end
OF tho hall room which had 70,
NAMED locked since his arrival aud
which ho had once heard Carter re-
Ter 10 casually as Mr. Rogers store.
room. llo had polished that door
plate only saturday morning. but
now there seemed soms,hlnE odd
about It's appearance and the detect.
Two bent eioser.
The brass about the ksyhols was
duiled cave where a tiny. JaEsed
scratch or two Eilntsd and there
were traces upon u OF CONCEALED.
greasy substance AZ siEh, OF which
Miles drew n quick. involuntary
breath.
waIl Someone within the las; two
days had taken an impression OF that
keyholc. someone who was too care.
less or In too great haste 20 remove
the evidence % tho act What could
Roger have stored there which
would DO OF such interest 10 any.
body but himself
Luncheon Was over when tho Dc.
tscilye heard tho telephone ring
again and with a mutierud excuse
ho FASTENED toward tho library. but
the sound o. Rogers yoios to reply
hrreatsd him before he reached tho
threshold.
"Ycsf. This Is Roger Drake
EpsakinK. What Il that7" The
receiver fell with clatter 20 the
desk but u was evident that Roger
had retrieved Il for in moment his
yolcs came again. shrlli with some.
thing very like terror.
who arc your You must be
mad, My bruihsrY" There
was a long pause and then tho one
word. Never
| IL ended In a s,ranEiing gasp.
chair crcaked heavily and then
dry. mufflcd sob reached the listen.
er's cars. lie poered In cautiously b.
tween tho curtains 10 behold the
scientist nprawlsd Imply In a chair
his arms outflunE across tho desk
and his white head plilowed upon
them while the thin shoulders shook
spasmodieally.
Carriers querulous summons from
the dining room recalled Miles hur.
ricdly. when next no entered the
library he found II empty.
Dusk was settling down and moth.
ing untoward had occurred 20 break
tho broodlnE stiffness Of tho house
when ali a. once womAn'a shriek
rang out. The detective rushed from
his room and down the stairs but
another door was flung wide In his
face and man dashed out. aime~,
eollIding with him.
Miles halted for an Instant. taken
aback By Aheer surprise for the
opened door was that bf Rogers
store room and the man who had
emerged was Andrew He was with.
out coat or waistcoat. his sleeves
rolled back and his shirt and collar
grimy with dust, amndgo OF which
lay across his cheek giving a gro.
tesque twisted expression to his fca.
lures
whats happenedT' he roarcd.
stop thRt yowllng. Hity. and stand
Ssider'
Miles became aware that a thin.
reedy vail had succeeded the shrek
and shaking off tho spell which had
held him transfixed no FASTENED
down tho hall.
At the head OF tho main staircase
tho maid was knceling before a re.
cumbest form wringlng her hands
and sobbing hyEtorioally. but An.
drew seized her arm and thrust her
violently aside.
Roger. old man!--Hore. pull your.
self together. Hitty. and call Carter
or william
so Andrew had not consciously
noted that momentary encounter!
The detective stepped forward.
what is It. sir Oh. ia Mr.. Roger
Ill7 Can / be OF any assistance7"
Yes Help me carry him 10 his
room and then get my sister. No
need 10 call doctor: he's had these
attacks before and. know how 10
bring him around"
He placed his strong arms about
the shoulders OF the unconscious
man and Miles supported the knees
while Hitty ran ahead 90 open tho
door. Between them they got Roger
Drake into his room and upon the
bed where he lay breathing stertor.
ously.
Miles slipped out into the garden
where he found Scottlo at work
among the roAo bushes.
what is It. lad?" Tho latter
Strengthened. HAS something come
Off at last2'
Something that has all but taken
mo off my feet. Scotticl II may bo
a waiting game for few days more
but there's daylight nheadl-Got a
pencil?' IIo pulled a notebook from
his pocket and. tearing out n page.
he scrubbed hastily upon It while
his colleague waited In silence.
There! I don't care what excuse
you make aftcrward but get down
TO the telegraph office ut the sta.
ton as fast as you can and send this
wire off 10 the chief. tell him TO send
ono OF tho boys down here with the
reply tho instant Il comes. no matter
at what hour Of the day or night!
Wen DO ready then to stand out In
the open and declare ourselvcsw
Scottie read the message slowly
and then lifted amazed eyes TO the
others face
uAfan k,,t ,,,.s... 49,. t.tt..sot -