Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-05-29
WHO'S WHO I'M THE STORY

WHO'S WHO IN THE STORY
EVELYN HASTE, beautiful and rich
girl, who sits down at the piano on
her wedding highland mysteriousiy
KENNEDY HASTE. her husband, who
suspects completely on the part OF
his old war comrade.
SIR RAWDON WELLS, an amateur
scientist, who has insisted on lend
ing the couple Hidden Hall Court,
his gloomy and mystery-rldden es-
tate, for their honeymoon, and VINO
is found after the disappearance Ill
u secret chamber.
PANDORA. a gipsy-like girl. adopted
sister of Kennedy and secretly In
love with Wells.
MISS GILLETT, an ex-war nurse. VINO
fell in love with Haste in hospl-
tai, and who is an intense person.
DAGON. youthful Scotland 1ard de-
tective, who has done glorihed spy
work" in the war. He is Of vivid
Latin temperament. though Canadian
in training.
Unmasking a Villain
Ewes answer was to spring at the
other with the lifted chair: Per-
haps it was in her mind to surprise
and stun the enemy, rush past her
and through, the door, which locked
only on the outside. But she was
frail of build and weak from sleep
lessness and anguish. Fanny Glllett
was an Amazon compared to her.
With strong hands she seized the
chair and wrenched it from Eve.
f1inging it on the floor. The girl fell
back with moan of despair. But
all hope was not yet dead in her
heart. AS the big woman rushed
upon her she lodged under the
greedy, outstretched arms, got to
the door and had it half open when
Fanny seized her by the throat.
With a kick the nurse slammed the
door shut again. She had to Kill
Eve now. Even il her soul sickened
at the job, it had got to be done,
for her own protection. The small,
cold hands, sparkling with rings
grasped her wrists. There was more
strength in them than Fanny would
have dreamed. But there was no
question of how the battle must end
She squeezed the slim throat-the
throat that Kennedy Haste had low
ed and kissed. Tighter!-tighter!
The clasp on her wrists relaxed.
Dagon had promised Wells that he
would wait, if nothing unforeseen
happened"
He did wait-five minutes, per-
footsteps. Into the lighted cellar
came the fine figure of Marianti, the
Italian butler.
The handsome old man was in a
dressing gown and slippers, but
even So he was dignified, his white
hair unruff1ed, his face serene and
noble.
"Signore." he exclaimed, surprised
at sight of Dagon standing beside a
square dark aperture in the stone
floor. "Signore mio!"
what brings you down here. Ma
rianti?" the detective asked, quietly
as the old mans dark eyes roved
from him to the hole in the floor
and back again.
Il ear noises in re 'ouse, sare,"
the butler explained. Il ave fear
Zare may be tieves. Dio, signore!
You ave find something strange
'ere-yes!"
YES" echoed Dagon.
lave 1 your permission, sare to
come closer. to look at zis ole you
ave discover"
Certainly" the detective said.
His face was eXpressionless; but his
eyes glittered. They were fixed on
A'Aeii ltlICly NllllC lIlS OIu Ills
hands plunged deep into the pockets
of his dressing-gown as if for
warmth in the chill of the cellar
stepped gingerly toward the hole in
the floor. Suddenly, just as the last
count OF the second, he sprang. a
knife cleaned. and-Dagon caught
his wrist.
For an instant he believed he had
won, for he had surprised the man
who thought himself unsupported,
He was strong, too; but the other
was stronger. Marianti edged him
toward the hole, and Dagon read his
wish-to throw him down there, and
close the stone. He would lie stun
ned at the bottom of the pit, his
neck broken, perhaps. Marianti
imagined that he alone knew of
this holes existence, and that none
would ever guess how or where
Dagon had vanished. The detective
mated to be mastered by this prey
which ne had hunted; but for the
sake OF others, rather than his own,
ne couldn't risk stab just now,
ry!"
The italian started as IL the raised
knife had struck into his own flesh,
Mechanically he flung a quick glance
over his shoulder to see if he had
been hluffed. and Dagon seized the
chance he had wanted and lost for
moment-to test his juiutsu, He
was rank amateur; a mere tyro of
the art, but that backward glance
lost Marianti. He crashed down in
heap, with a howl of anguish
drawn forth by a twisted shoulder
Joint, just as Rawdon Wells and
Kennedy Haste bounded down the
stairs.
I've get him!" painted Dagon. who
mad secured the knife and seated
himself on the writhing body. "But
he almost got me-"
"Marianti. the butler!" cried
wells. What the devil"
THAT'S the word for him-deyiI. {"
Dagon agreed. But his names not
Marianti. Don't you suspect yet?"
Il don't know what you mean"
said Rawdon.
We'll. I've suspected the double
identity for a day or two. 1 was
only waiting to make sure. I didn't
see this chance coming the way II
mas. But. it's bit of luck. NY, but
he's a lovely one, He wriggles like
a snake! What have we got to tie
his hands with behind his back?"
THE cord of his own dressing