The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-01-05

| Nicol Brinn emerged upon a landing
| from which stairs both assembled and
| descended. Faint sounds of footsteps
| below guided him, and although from
| all outward seeming he appeared to
saunter casually down, his left hand
was clutching the butt of Colt au-
| tomato.
| He presently found himself in 4
maze of Recommendations of the
establishment, no doubt. The sound
of footsteps no longer guided him.
He walked along, and in a smaller
deserted pantry discovered the base
Of lift shaft in which some sort Of
small elevator worked. He WAS
staring at this rehectively, when, for
the second time in his adventurous
career. a silken cord was slipped
| tightly about his throat!
| He. was tripped and thrown. He
| fought furiously, but the fatal knee
pressure came upon his spine 40
shrewdly as to deprive him Of the
| strength to raise his hands.
My f1nishr' were the words that
| flashed through his mind, as sounds
| like the waves Of a great ocean beat
/ upon his ears and darkness began
/ to descend.
Them miraculously, the pressure
| ceased; the sound of great waters
subsidized; and choking, coughing, he
fought his way back to life, cropping
| like a blind man and striving to re-
gain his feet. Mr.. Brinn!" said a
vaguely familiar voice Mr.. Brinn!"
The realities reasserted themselves.
Before him, pale, wide-eyed, and
breathing heavily. stood Paul Harley;
and prone upon the floor OF the
pantry lay Rama Dass, still clutch
ing one of the silken rope in his
hand!
Mr.. Harley" gasped Brinn. my
God. SIR He clutched at his bruised
throat. Il have to thank you for
my life"
He paused, looking down at the
prone figure as Harley, dropping
upon his knees, turned the man over. |
Il struck him behind the ear" he
muttered, land gave him every
ounce. Good heavens
He had slipped his hand inside |
Rama Dass' vest, and now ne looked
up, his face very grim.
Good enough said Brinn, cool |
ly. He asked for it; he's got 1t. |
Take this" He thrust the Colt auto |
matte into Harley's hand as the
latter stood up again.
What do we do now" asked Har. /
ley,
Search The house, was the reply. |
Everything colored YOU see. shoot. |
unless say no
Into two rooms on the first floor 1
they burst, to find them stripped and
bare. On the threshold Of the third |
Brinn stopped dead, and his gaunt face
grew ashen. Then he tottered across
the room, arms outstretched.
Nadia, he whispeher. My love.
my lovep'
Paul Harley withdrew quietly. He
had begun to walk along the corridor
when the sound Of a motor brought
him up sharply. A limousine was be.
ing driven away from the side en-.
trance! Not alone had he heard that
sound His face deathly. and the lack
lustre eyes duly on fire, NicoI .Brinn
burst out Of the room and. not needing
the presence Of Harley. hurled himself
down the stairs. He was as a man
demented, an avenging angel.
There he is" cried Harley-'head.
ing for the Dover Roadr'
Nicol Brinn. at the wheel of the
racer-the same in which Harley had
made his fateful journey and which
had afterward been concealed in the
garage at Hillside-scarcely nodded.
Nearer they drew to the quarry
and nearer. Once-twice-and again
the face of Ormuz Khan peered ont
OF the window at the rear Of the linn
CUISINE.
They drew abreast: the road was
deserted And they passed slightly
ahead
Inch by inch. Nicol Brinn edged
the torpedo body nearer the wheels
| Of the racing limousine. The Oriental
chauffeur drew in ever closer to the
ditch bordering the roadside. He
shouted hoarsely and was about to an.
ply the brakes when the two cars
touched
A rending crash came-a hoarse
scream-and the big limousine ton
! pied over into the ditch.
Harley felt himself hurled through
space.
Shall I follow on to Lower Clay
curry, sir?'' asked Inspector Wessex.
excite1ly.
Phil Abingdon's message had come
through nearly an hour before, and
party had been dispatched in &C
cordance with 8rinn's instructions.
Wessex had returned to New Scotland
Yard too late to take charge and now,
before the Assistant Commissioner
had time to reply. a phone buzzed.
Yes! said the Assistant Commits
sioner, taking up one of the several
instruments. WHAT
Even this great man. so Justly cele. |
brated for his placid demeanor. was
unable to conceal his amazement.
Yes" he added. Let him come
up?' He replaced the receiver and |
turning to Wessex: Mr.. Nicol Brinn
is here!' he informed him.
Footsteps sounded in the corridor.
Came rap at the door. i
Come in" said the Assistant Com
missioner.
The door was thrown open and Nicol
Brinn entered.