The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-07-31
By CYRIL McNEILE
S AP p E r
copwigh, by GEORGE H. DORM CO.
" u. N. u. Service

you sooner. You have gone to the
police"
"But-but," stammered Latter "the
police were no good to Zaboleff last
night"
"And 1t is quite possible" returned
the other calmly, that they will be
equally futile in your case. Candidly,
Mr.. Latter, am completely Indifferent
on the subject of your future You
have served our purpose, and all that
matters is that you happen to be the
bone over which the dogs are going
to fight. Until last night the dogs
hadn't met-officially and in the
rencontre last night, the police dog,
unless I'm greatly mistaken, was
caught by surprise. McIver doesn't
let that happen twice. In your case
he'll be ready. With luck this cursed
black gang, who are infinitely more
a nuisance to me than the police have
been or ever will be, will get bitten
badly"
Mr.. Latter was breathing heavily.
But what do you want me to do.
count?"
Nothing at all, except what you
were going to do normally" answered
the other.
"Hullo! What's up?'
From little electric bell at his
elbow came four shriIl rings, repeated
again and again.
The count rose, and with system
attic thoroughness swept every piece
of paper off the desk into his pocket.
Then he shut down the top and locked
1t, while the bell, little muffled, still
rang inside.
Whats the fool doing?" he cried
angrily, stepping over to the big safe
let into the wall, while Latter, his
face white and terrified, followed at
his side. And then abruptly the bell
stopped.
Very deliberately the count pressed
two concealed knobs, so sunk into the
wall as to be invisible to stranger,
and the door Of the safe swung, open.
And only then was it obvious that
the safe was not safe, but a second
exit leading to flight of stairs. For
moment or two he stood motionless,
listening intently, while Latter fidget-
ed at his side. One hand was on
master switch which controlled all the
lights, the other on a knob inside the
second passage which, when turned,
would close the great steel door noise
lessly behind them.
He was frowning angrily, but grad
ually the frown was replaced by a
look of puzzled surprise. Four rings
from the shop below was the recog-
nized signal for urgent danger, and
everybody's plan of action was cut
and dried for such an emergency.
In the other rooms every book and
paper in the slightest degree incrim-
mating were hurled pell-mell into Sc
cret recesses in the floor which had
been specially constructed under
every table. In their place appeared
books carefully and very skilfully
faxed, purporting to record the bust
ness transactions of Mr.. William At
kinsOn.
In the big room at the end the pro-
cedure was even simpler. The count
merely passed through the safe door
and vanished through his private bolt
hole, leaving everything in darkness.
And should inconvenient visitors ask
inconvenient questions-well it was
Mr.. Atkinson's private office, and
very nice office too, though at the mo-
ment he was away.
Thus the procedure-simple and
sound; but on this occasion something
seemed to have gone, wrong. Instead
of the Industrious silence of clerks
working overtime on affairs of finan-
cial import, perfect babel of voices
became audible in the passage. And
then there came an agitated knocking
on the door.
"Who is it," cried the count sharp
ly. 1t may be mentioned that even
the most influential members of his
staff knew better than to come into
the room without previously obtaining
permission.
''It's me, sir-Cohen," came an agi-
tated voice from outside.
For a moment the count paused:
then with a turn of the knob he closed
the safe door silently. With an i'm
perious hand he waved Latter to a
chair, and resumed his former posi-
ton at the desk.
"Come in," he snapped.
1t was a, strange and unwholesome
object that obeyed the order, and the
count sat back in his chair.
what the devil have you been do
ing?"
A pair of rich, blue-black eyes, and
nose from which traces of blood
still trickled had not improved the
general appearance of the assistant
downstairs. In one hand he carried
pair of hobnail boots, in the. other q
piece Of paper, and he brandished