Evening star., 1925-05-06

I know that my own hands were
trembling, but Rehmy was outWardly
unmoved. His French pride would
not permit him to sWeeten in the least
degree the triumph of our enepies-
| Strove to initiate him. but / fear ]
made but Il poor job of il. The agony
was too great, and ] soon began to
long for the end. + wanted to be
done with it all quickly.
a quarter of an hour or 90 minutes
must have elapsed before the profes-
sor returned. He was accompa MED
by two men in aprons and shirt
sleeves, staggering beneath the
weight of a large cylinder, and d quan-
tity of piping and other apparatus.
The professor approached one Of the
walls and inserted q small key. u
portion of the wall swung back, re-
vealing 4 small aperture into an ad-
joining room.
Under his instructions the men
placed tn" cylinder on II stand. which
they erected Immediately in front Of
the aperture, and connected the pip
ing TO the cylinder. ! should mention
that the aperture was covered by
thick curtains stretching to the toDr
and emitting Il strong chemical smell.
| WAS reminded Of the gas chambers
through which / had passed in taking
my gas course in England and AT the
base during the war. We had been
made to walk with our helmets on
through d room filed with phosgene
gas. The room, like this one, had
been curtained in the same way.
The professor directed the opera
tions of his Workmen, only pausing -
inform me, with his invariably Cuui
teous smile, that he would not keen
me waiting much longer.
On the completion Of their task, the
Workmen, obeying an order from the
professor. put UP the shutters in the
room and drew down the blinds. after
which they switched on the electric
light (which WAS situated in a big red
;tlabaster bowl. hung from the ceiling
by three gilded chains. for, although
it was only about ! O'Clock. the De
cember dusk had already fallen.
The professor, going 70 the door.
called up the stairs 10 Elsa who pres.
emily came into the room.
we are quite ready" he informed
her. If you wish to be present"
lie motiomed To Josef, who pro.
duced a rope. with which the profes
sor's assistants tied Kehmy TO his
chair. To prevent him from intervel-
ing IN any way on my behalf.
| fancied for 4 moment that Rehmy
would lose control OF himself ana
make wild struggle with his manaC-
led hands; but. with an effort, he pre-
served his impaSSiVe dignity and sub
mitted 10 be bound.
Josef and the two men did the like
for me, binding me. in fact, TO my
chair 50 that ] was quite unable :"
move, after which the professor dis
missed the two assistants. leaving US
alone with himself and josef.
And now. Capt. Preston said the
professor. ii you are quite ready
| looked at him in silence, then 81
| Eehmy. whose face was grim ana
hard set.
Forgive me. dear friend" said
Rehmy. Il am bitterly to hlamc T..
this. The task was too difficult.
should never have allowed yep %
undertake it,"
1t was my own vii! and cfr-ce."
assured him. You have nothing with
which to reIToach yourself"
Rchmy looked at me with eyes ur-
utterably sad, but lit with a flaming
anger.
Farewell, Capt Preston" he said.
! You have shown yourself Il gallant
! gentleman, and l pray that this foul
| crime may be avenged.
| / could not control myself To reply.
| The bitterness Of death was upon NE
| ana al that suprem. moment | could
/ =
! sweet face and my impotence 10 save
| her.
At sign from the Professor. Josef
! bent to assist him III carrying me and
! The chair TO which was hound t.
! ward the aperture in The Wall. a.
/ this moment however, sudden
/ scream rang out somewhere above
our heads. 1t came from AN upper
/ story Of tn" house and il was in a
! woman ) voice.
+! Josef and the Professor stopped in
! The act of lifting me in the chair. and
! Elsa looked up from the cylinder,
| which she had been examining with
| curiosity.
That must be the EngIishwoman."
she exclaimed. Il left her with Maj.
| Adler"
Again the CRY rang out, and this
| time 1t was followed by the sound OF q
! shot.
The Professor moved deliberately 10
| the nantelpiece and pushed the but
| ton Of the electric bell in the wall be-
! side II. But there was no answering
! ring. He pressed il again. with the
| same absence Of result. If he WIS
I disconnected he did not Show il
| Il am sorry. Captain Preston II.
! sad. but | must ask you 10 wait :.
moment while we ascertain what these
| unexpected noises may mean Mai.
| Adler appears 10 he amusing himself
| rather oddly"
Josef" he added. turning to the
! servant. who. impasSive as ever. was
! still SraspinG the chair. please see
| what is happening in the room up-
| stairs
! Josef released the chair and. pull
| ing his pistol from the pocket where
| he had thrust il as soon as | was
safely secured. walked quickly to-
| ward the door
Continued in Tomorrow's Star0
4 H..