Evening star., 1924-07-17

CHAPTER XVIII.
Hands Out.

Hands Out.
I could have yelled-danced. too
for sheer JOY as the scoudrels in front
Of us, completely taken unawares,
threw their arms skyward. with
readiness which made me certain that
they We're we'll acquainted with the
strict rules of their own game. The
three pairs Of hands went up with
military precision-and remained up.
No wonder,-with five stalwart men
AT front and sides and five ugly look
ing revolVcrS in close proximity to
eyes ana ears. And of the three only
the leader put his outraged feeling
into words. The We're short and
SenomouS
"namnation. Trapped"
1herc was crystallization of
everything that Il bafiled devil could
spit out of his black throat in those
two Words-hatred. despair. hopeless
ness. lmpotent raging. And the next
sound that broke the stiffness of the
Hultt night came AS 4 Neritable re
freshmcnt That was the voice of the
biggest of the five big men. III whom
i suddenly recognized a certain stall
Wart police sergeant. an eN-army
man, stationed at a place near
Icnardsmerc.
'.io through them, Burton: Move
!, hhSer or toe any one of you
NoiNer and went through the three
CaptiNeS in ii fashion that was AS
thorough as it was speedy. Within
a ntnute-literally "A minute-he had
whipped the weapons which had
robbed Walker of half his wits out
of tn" mems side pockets and had
thrust them into my hands within
another came the rattle of a second
order from the police sergeant.
Hands out. Quick. now
We stood, fascinated. staring as
the prisoners mechanically dropped
their arms and showed out their
thing bright in the moonlight; there
were quick. sharp metallic clickings
of steel the police relaxed
their tense attitudes and drew back
a little. But they still handled their
of with those masks, Burton"
ordered the police-sergeant. Lets
see their faces
/ drew still nearer in spite of
protesting whimper from the still
trembling Walker. l, too, wanted TO
see those faces. As l have already
said. there was one man whom /
thought might be a Chinaman. But
as Burton deftly tore away the
strips of cloth: | saw there was no
Chinaman there: all three were white
men. And the leader was hand
some fellow. with good. well-br
features and look of braininess
and power. but with the most sinis-
ter "yes l had ever seen The ser
gcant went close and looked at him,
and the man looked back and sud
dcnly opened his lips
''Hamn YOU. he said in low.
nocking voice. You never saw me
IN your life before"
"l'il see a good deal of you in my
life 10 come. my lad:-for while:
retorted The sergeant. He turned to-
wards me. Miss Manson and YOU
all safe, Mr.. Cranage?"
Were quite safe, sergeant. thank
you" said I. But it's a wonder!
Those fellows
age" he interrupted We've got
'cnl-thanks to Mr.. Peyton here.
Now then. that's your car that's
down there. isn't i've + founq nnqber '
bottom of the lane. These chaps
have one somewhere about, put we -
not trouble to ask them Where II .
hidden. Just now: the thing at pres
ent is to get 'em under lock and key:
Well take 'em off right away, ana
90 you follow in your car TO MAJ
lant-youll hear how we came TO pc
here when you get down there TO tne
police- TIA ton. Now then, you three
march.-and remember here are hve
armed men round you, and that II
you make the slightest attempt 10
move on.-straight to the bottom OF
this lane. Smart, now"
In another second this grim pro
cession was moving; IN anotnea e hith tha
shadows. and we three. left there,
stood staring after 1T. beneHe
Walker began to say his prayers. or
to utter his thanksglvings; ne was
certainly muttering something tnai
sounded like deVout words. but /
reused him out of that
"Walker., l said. Can you start
that car" Or is it
He jumped like cat as | lad my
hand on his shoulder: l veritably be-
leve he had forgotten the car.
sir oh. yes. sir, can start the
ear" he ouavered They only made
Inr-or. YES. sir. can start her. BUT,
oh, Lord. Mr.. Cranage, do you thlhh
they've really gone?-ls there no
fear, Mr.. Cranage--.- ts
"Conc on now.-pull yourself to-
rethcr-we don't want to keep Miss
Manson standing here all the rest OF
the night. Get at it,.
He suddenly recovered his senses
and shot off to the car. and I turned
to Peggie We stood silently look
ing at each other for good minute:
"Is this real. Jim?" she said at
last.
drew very long, big breath.
Real enough" answered.
YES" she said. That's it! That's
Just how | feel. Phew. But
Then we stood silent again.
Il wonder" ] muttered. Il Won
II know what you're thinking"
she broke in. How did that Ameri-
can man, Peyton. track them?'
1--WE shall hear, / answered. He'd
no time to tell me, then. But did mt
YOU see him give me nod and
wink as they went off? And did you
bou no watched those fellows