Evening star., 1927-12-03

4
A ND now as he waited on the
| " yeranda, the low savage
| II chuckle came again. The
4 i boathouse would serve admi-
rably-since Runnells seemed
| TO have penchant for 1t. 1t was tar
| enough away to obviate the possibil
| ity of any sound carrying to the
| house: and, inside. it possessed light
He wanted light when he handled
| Runnells. Quite apart from the fact
| that darkness in itself afforded too
, many chances for a lucky escape, he
could not read Runnells in the dark
ness Also, affording him malicious
| delight. there was exquisite irony IN
| the thought that the setting for what
WAS to come should he the one one that
| Runnels had himself chosen tonight
for quite another purpose than that 1t
should be the scene of his own un-
doing,
The front door opened and Runnells
emerged.
What's the .came?" Runnells asked
hoarseIy. "Dye know where he is?"
1t was quite unnecessary TO be any
thing but frank with Runnells as to
their destination. Runneils, safe IN
the belief that he had been mistaken
for one Detective Sergeant Mullins
and that his master" was wide of
the mark and astray, would also en-
JOY the irony to be found on the trip
to the boathouse. 1t would be pity
to deprive. Runnells of anything like
that Capt Francis Newcomhe nod
Ged curtly, as, -motioning the other
fellow. he led the way across the
lawn.
YES; think So" he said. 1--WE rea-
son to believe he's been using the
boathouse to hide and live in"
Strike me pink" mumbled Run
| nells. That's what I always said 20
myself after that night: | says. look
| out for that bird-and l was bloody
well right"
Il fancy you were" agreed Capt.
| Francis Newcombe coolly. though ]
| didn't think so at the time.
But hurry up, There's no time to
| lose if we want to trap him."
| They had entered the wooded path
| leading to the shore, and, curiously
enough, Runnels was now in 'front.'
and in the darkness. as it swung at
| his side, Capt. Francis Newcombe's
hand held a revolver.
How'd he get here?" Runnells
| jerked back over his shoulder. How d
you twig it? And when did he Gomez"
About the same time we did.
/ imagine" replied Capt. Francis New.
combe shortly. Don't talk so loud
or any more at all, for that matter.
The wind has died down a bit, and
we might be heard. Make straight
for one of those little bridges at the
boathouse-the one on this side-the
| nearer one. Understand? And look
out for yourself-the mans no fool
I'll say that for him."
Right" said Runnels in a muffied
| voice, as they came out of the woods
and the boathouse doomed up, shadowy
and indistinct, some so yards away
There was laughter in Capt Fran
els NeWcombe's soul now, mirth
parented out of savagery and vim
dictiveness, a laugh at the blind fool
treading so warily and cautiously and
silently across the sandy beach here
| in order that he should not be denied
the shambles, The laugh seemed to
demand physical audible expression
He choked it back. In moment or
so more he could laugh to his hearts
content. The boathouse was only II
few yards away now He rubbed
close against Runnells' side, as
though to preserve touch with the
other in the darkness. Runnells re-
FoiNef was III lHe fTl5Hl-HdHo coat
pocket, and
Both men had halted simultaneous.
ly. Close to the boathouse now and
in its lee, the sound of the breaking
waves was somewhat deadened. but
from under the overhang of the We
randa there had come another sound,
as though vicious slapping were be-
ing given the comparatively smooth
| water under the boathouse. and then
a sudden fioundering and splashing.
and then the slapping again.
Runnells' hand went to his side
| pocket-but as it came out again with
his revolver, Capt. Francis New.
combe's hand closed upon it like a.
wise. and with a quick twist and
| wrench secured the weapon.
"What-what did you do that for?"
Runnells stammered in a low, startled
| way. Didn't you hear that in under
| the boathouse? There's some one
there. Maybe it's him.
| Capt. Francis Newcombe laughed
now-aloud.
so you think there's some one in
under there, do you, Runnells?" he
drawled.
Yes" said Runnells, and drew
away little. you heard it just the
same as l did, but-but / don't under
stand what you--"
You will in minuter' Capt. Fran
els Newcombe's voice was still
drawl. But meanwhile we'll see
whether you're right or not. You
don't mind going first, do you, Run
nells?" His revolver muZzle was sud-
denly pressed against the small OF
Runnells back. i've known you to
be bit tricky at times. Go on
al NJ iisa ,jc n1y1 1ara
from Runneils He stood irresolute
Go on. In under there! Well see
this some one of yours first of all.''
Capt. Francis Newcombe's voice snap
ped now. Move"
A push from the revolver muzzle
sent Runnells forward.
"What-what are you doing this to
me for?" the man burst out in a
shaken voice again.
Capt Francis Newcombe made no
answer He too had heard the sounds
in under here, but if Runnells were
up to some more of his games it would
avail Runnells very little now. Run
nells' body. If there were by any
chance some one ahead here in the
darkness, made most excellent and
effective shield. 1t was inky black
in here. and now underfoot, as they
WtItl lbi Ndlut III lJld'1c VI Lie pure
sand there were rocks and a slightly
muddy bottom.
His left hand deposited the surplus
revolver in his pocket, and in ex.
change drew out his fashlight, He
thrust the fashlight out beyond Run.
nells side in front of them both and
switched it on.
A cry broke on the instant from
Runnells lips-a cry Of terror,
Look Look Runnells cried,
This is horrible. Shiny, CHASTITY
hole! Let me go--let me go! It's
is dead man."
Capt. Francis Newcombe's jaws had
clamped. Into the focus of the round
white ray had come the big concrete