The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-07-03
CHAPTER Continued

P
In the doorway stood huge man
covered from head to foot in black.
In each hand he held a revolver. with
which he covered the eight occupants
during the second or two which 1t
took for half dozen similarly dis
guised men to file past him, and take
up their positions round the walls.
And Waldock, little more educated
than the remainder of his friends.
found himself thinking of old tales
of the Spanish inquisition and the
doges of Venice even as he huddled
a little nearer to the table.
Stand by the table, all of you."
1t was the man at the door who
spoke in a curiously deep voice, and
like sheep they obeyed hin-all save
Flash Jim. For that wofthy, crook
though he was, was not without
physical courage. The police he knew
better than to play the fool with,
but these were not the police.
"Wot the" he snarled, and got
no farther Something hit him be-
hind the head, thousand stars danced
before his eyes, and with a strangled
grunt he crashed forward on his face.
For moment or two there was
silence, and then once again the man
at the door spoke.
Arrange the specimens in a row."
In a second the seven remaining
men were marshaled in a line while
behind them stood six motionless
black figures. And then the big man
walked slowly down in front of them,
peering into each mans face. He
spoke no word until he reached the
end of the line, and then. his inspec-
y ton concluded, he stepped back and
leaned against the wall facing them.
"a nauseating collection" he re-
marked thoughtfully. "a loathsome
brood. What are the three under
sized and shivenng insects on the
right?'
Those are three of. my clerks"
said Waldock with an assumption of
angry bravado. "And I would like
to know"
I'm good time you WILL" answered
the deep voice. Three of your clerks,
are they; imbued with your rotten
ideas, suppose, and yearning to fol-
low in fathers footsteps? Have we
anything particular against them?"
There was no answer from the
masked men, and the leader made a
sign. Instantly the three terrified
clerks were seized from behind and
brought up to him, where they stood
trembling and shaking in every limb.
Listen to me, you three little
worms" With an effort they pulled
themselves together; ray of hope
was dawning in their minds-perhaps
they were going to be let. off easy.
MY friends and / do not like you
or your type. You meet in secret
places and in your Shiny minds you
conc0ct foul schemes which, incredible
though it may seem, have so far had
more than fair measure of success
in this country. But your main idea
is not the schemes, but the money
you are paid to carry them out. This
is your first and last warning. Another
time you will be treated differently.
Get out of here. And see you don't
stop"
The door closed behind them and
two of the masked men; there was
the sound as of boot being used
with skill and strength and cries
of pain; then the door reopened and
the masked men returned.
"They have gone" announced one
of them. 1--WE helped them on their
way"
"Good." said the leader. "Let us
continue the inspection. What are
these two?"
A man from behind stepped for
ward and examined them slowly; then
he came up to the leader and whis-
pered in his ear.
as that SOP" A new and terrible
cote had crept into the deep voice.
My friends and l do not like your
trade. you swine. 1t is we'll that we
have come provided with the neces-
sary implement for such case. Fetch
the cat"
II silence one of the men left the
rom, and as his full meaning came
horne to the two Jews they flung
themselves groveling on the floor,
screaming for mercy.
Gag them"
The order came out sharp and clear,
and in an instant the two writhing
nien were seized and gagged. Only
their rolling eyes and trembling hands
showed the terror they felt las they