Evening star., 1925-04-17

into the small OF my back, I failed to
reach him properly, and my fist only
grazed the side OF his head.
Not this time!" he shouted, remem.
bering the knockout blow he had re.
ceived at No. 14O Rue Etienne Du-
mont. Quick, Maj. Adler"
My other arm was seized, a rope
passed round my wrists, and an In
stant later I was as helpless as a lob
ster on fishmonger's slab.
All this time Beatrice had remained
motionless on the couch, while the
professor stood waiting with an air
of patient boredom until I was Sc
cured.
So" he said, quietly, when Fritz
and Karl had finished their Job. "It is
Mr.. Thomas Preston again, and it is
TO Ahasuerus that We owe the pleas
ure of renewing your acquaintance.
His bad manners on perceiving for the
hrst time persons whom he does not
know are occasionally OF advantage. 4"
And, stretching up his hand to the
curtain pole, he stroked the parrot and
ruined It's feathers, while it chuckled
and gurgled with a malicious satisfac-
ton.
L am sorry" he continued, that
we should have been compelled to re-
celVe you with SO little ceremony. but
you must lay that to the account of
your reputation. You are of a violent
temperament, Mr.. Preston, and any
indulgence of 1t at the moment would
be particularly unfortunate, especially
Tor the charming young lady who at
present enjoys our hospitality"
IF you lay f1nger-." / began.
but was interrupted by Karl, who said
viciously:
Hold your mouth, you dirty spy.
or III cut your pigs throat for you"
Inc professor turned his eyes to-
ward Karl
Il admire your simple disposition,
~derr Won Emmerich, but I think we
shall dispose of Capt. Preston when
the time comes in a manner more in
Keeping with the dignity of science.
In these modern days" he continued.
turning to me with a pleasant smile.
1T should be a point of honor to re.
Hne upon the cruder practices of our
ancestors. L hope to convince you
shortly and without much difTicultv
that the new ways are better than the
old. At the moment, however, we are
ABOUT TO begin a small experiment
upon a lady who is not unknown to
you, with the object Of ascertaininp
the whereabouts of certain docu.
ment."
You devil"' I said, and struggled
desperately, but in vain, to free nv.
self.
The professor drew back, and his
face assumed a panied expression.
These mon OF action" he sighed:
their vocabulary is at times deplora.
Die. In this case, moreover, the epi-
tnet Is quite unwarranted. I assure
you that the young lady will suffer no
pain or injury of any kind, It is es.
sential, however, that the experiment
should be conducted in complete si
Ience."
He pressed bell push standing on
nttle table at the foot Of the couch
and L heard bell ring sharply twice
somewhere in the house. As he did
SO. he favored us all in turn with that
mild penetrating stare which was at
once so disarming- and so disconcert.
Ing. We submitted to it in different
ways, Karl like naughty schoolboy.
VINO had been caught writing "Mr.
Bioggs is a fool on the blackboard. .
Fritz, flushing beneath his scars and
looking for all the world like q Lon
oon policeman submitting to spiteful
cross-examinatiop, while Schrecker-
mann, who had remained silent sfnca
my arrival, shuffled his feet uneasilv
and dropped his eyes. AS for myself
though l was raging with an impotent
oeslre to spring at the professors
throat, l could not, even in that mo.
ment, for the life of me meet his
gaze.
at once OWNED what was coming
l was to be forcibly gagged in order to
Keep the silence that was necessary
Tor Whatever DEVILS work was toward
from the moment had seen Beatrice
Iylng there motfonless on the couch
3! mad been conscious of her still, helm.
less figure within the alcove.
BEATRICE I called, desperately
anxious that she should at least know
that / was there.
The professor held up his hand.
Silence" he said sternly. -..,In1ass
you wish to do her an irreparable in.
jury" Die LII
Somehow 1 knew that he was speak-
ing the truth. L was convinced at that
moment that it would be fatal to cali
again TO that motionless figure. which
lay as under some accursed spell. be-
yond any help that / could see or
summon.
The bell was answered by one os
the manservants who had conducted
me to my prison in the Rue Etienne
Dumont.
A white silk handkerchief, please.
josef" said the professor.
The man bowed and left the room.
/ Continued In TomorroV's Star0