Evening star., 1927-03-26

himself and looked unsteadily
~ at his companion. They were
in dark street and their faces
were indistinct.
shay" demanded the tipsy one
''thish ish my cab. Get out"
Now, Granger" replied the Phan
tom with a chuckle. you surely don'i
\ mind giving fellow a lift? BY the
way, where do you think you are
going?"
Home, but
You forgot to tell the driver your
address,
Dam the driver. He ought to
know enough-hic--to take a fellow
home when he's soused. Where elsh
would / be going? Huh?'
But your address
Dam my address. It's nobody'sh
business. / live where I please
see? I'm drunk I get drunk when
hic-whenever / feel like it. Know
where to get the sh-stuff, too. AL
waysh carry a bottle on my hip.
Want a drink?"'
Never touch it. Thanks, just the
same. What was the matter back
at the Office? They were treating you
rather roughly
Granger seemed to recall a griev'
ance. He made an effort to draw
editor and-hic-he told the watch
man to bounce me. / alwaysh in
shut people when I'm soused
Did / ever INSULT you?"
Not yet, Granger"
Maybe I will shome day Shay,
tell the cabby to turn back wanta
go back to the offish and clean out
that bunch of stiffs."
Now. Granger---''
can't treat me that way. Lemme go,
tell you. Hey. cabby. reversh the
current"
Granger sprang from the seat,
lurched against the side of the cab
and would have hurled himself
against the pavement had not the
Phantom jerked him back. The
drunken man lunged out with arms
and legs, but he subsided quickly
as he felt something hard pressing
against his chest.
''Cut out the nonsense." The Phan-
tom spoke firmly and incisively. ~
have you covered, and / won't stand
for any foolishness.''
The touch OF steel against his, ribs
seemed to have a SOLDERING efE6cf on
Granger. For - few moments he
stared sulkily at his companion, then
he settled himself against the cush-
ion, and his mind appeared to be
cropping its way out of stupefying
fumes.s The cab was pursuing zig
tagging route through crooked and
dinly lighted streets. the jehu having
been instructed to drive at random
until he received further orders. The
Phantom's mind worked quickly
. while he pressed the pistol against
his captive's chest. A new problem
confronted him. He had kidnapped
his man, but where was he to take
him? The logical answer was Sea.
Glimpse, but the trip would consume
too much time, to say nothing of the
risks involved. Dr. Bimble's house?
The Phantom shook his head even as
the idea occurred to him. The anthro-
pologist was too erratic a man to in
spire confidence. and the Phantom
needed some one whom he could
trust absolutely.
Presently he felt Granger's eyes
on his face. The cool night air, to-
gether with the steady pressure OF
the pistol, was rapidly driving the
alcoholic vapors from the reporters
brain, and now he was subjecting his
captor to a blinking, unsteady scru-
tiny, as il he We're just beginning to
suspect that something was ar1iss.
rs this pinch2" he asked. his
tones still a trif7e thick.
The Phantom laughed. NO, Ora IN
ger I'm not an officer. Besides, why
should / be pinching your"
For being drunk and disorderly
and carrying bottle on my hip"
Those heinous crimes don't inter-
est me. Anyhow. / understand jour
nalists are more or less privileged
persons. / am merely taking you to
q, safe place, where you won't go
around insulting people and getting
your head smashed
Granger fell into a moody silence.
and the. Phantom thought he detected
signs of growing uneasiness about
his captive. Evidently the period Of
depression that follows artificial stinu.
lation was already setting in. Be.
cause of the darkness and his befud.
died state of mind, the reporter had
not recognized the man at his side.
but his gaze was taking on a keener
edge and would soon penetrate the
thin disguise afforded by the mus.
tache. The Phantom felt the need OF
quick decision.
a clock struck /. In scrupulous ODE.
oIence to his orders the jehu was
urging his nag over the darkest and
most dismal streets he could find. The
Phantom looked out, and a glance at
II corner sign told him that they were
from the heart Of old Chinatown. A
recollection flashed through his mind
and In its wake came an idea
stop he called through the tran.
Inc hanson 5olted to the curb and
halted. The street was silent and the
SIDEWALKS. as far as eyes could reac
were deserted. There was q thin
lazy orizZie in the air and the atnos
phere was trifie heavy.
Listen, Granger" he spoke sharp
~ We are getting out here. but
intend to keep you covered every i'm
stant. The slightest sound or the
least false move win cost YOU your
life. Is that clear"
The reporters response was slrIv
but the Phantom knew that his warn
Ing had had the effect he desired
Holding the pistol with one hand. he
took out his wallet with the other and
selected bill. Then he stepped
~ the curb, ordering the re
porter TO follow.
Here. cabby." He extended tn.
bill. which. with the other the Phan
tom had previously given him. wa.
surely enough 10 make the jehu forge
any little irreguiarity he might hav,
observed. With fervent, Thanh
YOU. sir" he whipped up the scrawn,
nag and drove away.
Nov, Granger" The Phantom
spoke i'm low, but commanding tones
NV life depends on the success o
this little undertaking, I'll shoot yoI
the instant you show the least inten
lion TO spoil my plan. Understand?
Granger nodded. seemingly cor
WINGED that he was dealing with des