The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1925-07-29
BY CYRIL MCNEILE
APPER
Copyright by GEORGE H. DoRAu co
d. u ssrvlo.

was little chink In the wooden chm,
ters or one Of the downstairs rooro,
through which the light was stresr,
ing. l took glimpse through. anl
round that everything was Just as bac
Deen reported TO me. There were eIght
or them there. and an UNPLEASANT
looking bunch they were. too. Zabo
ieH ! saw at the head Of the tahle
anu standing next to him was thai
man Waldock who runs two or three
Oh the worst Of the Red papers. There
was also Flash Jim, and | began r.
WISH Ia brought few more men,
hcIver smiled ruefully. 1T was
about the last coherent wish I roman.
Der. And" he went on seriously
'what I'm going to tell you now. sir,
may seem extraordinary anu what one
would expect in detective fiction. but
as sure as | am sitting in this chair.
IL Is what actually took place. Some
where from close to. there came the
SOUND of an owl hooting. At the same
moment / distinctly heard the noise
OF "hat seemed like a scuffie, and a
stlned curse. And then, and this is
what beats me, sir" McIver pounded
huge fist into an equally huge palm.
i was picked up from behind as if |
was baby. Yes. sir. a baby"
lnvoluntarily Sir Bryan smiled.
1ou make good substantial in
FAINT. McIver."
Exactly, sir" grunted the inspec-
tor. IF a man had suggested such a
thing to me yesterday I'd have
laughed in his face. But the fact re-
mains that was picked up just like a
child in arms. and doped. sir, doped.
Meat my time of life They chloro-
formed me, and that was the last l
saw Of Zaboleff or the rest of the
gang"
The inspector leaned forward and
stared at his chief
you've heard the rumors. sir" he
went on after a moment, the same as
I have"
Perhaps" said Sir Bryan quietly.
But 90 on, McIver. I'd like to hear
what's on your mind"
ITS the Black Gang. sir" said the
Inspector, leaning forward impress
sively.
There have been rumors going
round. rumors which our men have
heard here and there for the past two
months. I've heard 'em myself; and
once or twice I've wondered Now I'm
sure-eSpecially after what Flash Jim
said. That gang is no rumor, its solid
fact"
Have you any information as TO
what their activities have been. as
suming for moment it is the TRUTH
asked Sir Bryan.
None for certain. sir; until this
moment | wasn't certain OF its exist
ence. But nOw-looking back-there
have been quite a number of sudden
disappearance. We haven't troubled |
we haven't been asked to.
Hardly likely when one realizes who
the people are who have disappeared"
"All conjecture. McIver" said Sir |
Bryan. They may he lying doggo. or
they'll turn up elsewhere"
They may be, sir" answered Nc |
liver doggedly. But take the COM
plete disappearance of Granger fort
night ago. He's one of the worst of
he Red men, and we know he hasn't
eft the country. Where is he? His
wife. | happen TO know. Is crazy with
anxiety. so it don't look like put-up
oh. Take that extraordinary case of
he Pole who was found dashed to the
ailings in Whitehall with one-half OF
lis beard and hair shaved off and the
MOTTO Portrait of a BolSheviSt' paint
ii on his forehead. Well. | don't need
o tell you. sir. that that particular
'ole. Strambowski. was undoubtedly !
messenger between-well. we know
rho between and what the message
-as. And then take last night"
"Well. what about last night?'
For the first time this gang haa
ome into direct contact with u.s.
always assuming the fact of its ex-
tence."
Exactly. sir" answered McIver.
" ell. they've got Zaboleff and they've
Ut Waldock. and they laid eight of rs
IT to cool. guess they're not to be !.
leeZed at"
With a thoughtful look on his face
r Bryan rose and strolled over TO
e window. Though not prepared to "
quite as far as McIver. there were Il
rtainly some peculiar elements in
@ acknowledgements which he. as ;
,ad Of a big public department could |,
II officially ALLOW for an instant. /,
,wever much il might amuse him as >
private individual. u
I'VE must find zabolef and Wal a
ok" he said CURLY. without turning n
und. "Waldock. at any rate. has ID
lends who will make noise unless III
s forthcoming. And -
But his further remarks were inter q
pied by the entrance Of his secre- =
~ with note. II
For the Inspector. Sir Bryan" she II