Evening star., 1927-10-30
Continued from Yesterdays star.l
"Wbat's that?, Norman stared.

Continued from Yesterdays star1
"what's that?" Norman stared.
s'You know as well as I do" Janet
retorted. did you follow us and cap.
ture me Just to talk over what has
happened in this last week?"
''No. young lady! What's the game
afteri 1 swear you had me going
when you told me you didn't know
anything about the little deal we're
all in; l believed you. but your work
when YOU fell in with your fathers
friends was too smooth and you knew
the ropes too well, with your watch set
always at z! The Black Joker s
game is over, and your father-but
well crme to him presently. Have
you thrwn in your luck with Mar.
lott here's That's what I've trailed
You to ANA out; that, and what you've
done with the prize we're out for! I've
got you both and I'm going to take
you where you won't escape by air. or
land, or water, until I've learned the
truth. This time therell be no half
measures, l promise you! Out with
it! Are you two in league?"
1--WE are notr' cried Janet. II
don't care where you take me or what
you do, you will never be able to
compel me to betray my fathers
friends, and I'll fight both you and
Mr.. Marriott to the end"
Norman watched her flaming face
for a moment and then bent forward.
81 told you their game was up!
You've failed, all of you, and the
cards are in my hands. Give me the
information I want and you'll go free:
I'm not saying / wouldn't protect you.
for 1 like your spunk and cleverness
and you'd go far with the right
Look herem Philip Marriott step
ped forward with clenched fists.
That will be all Of that, you low.
down crook! This girl may be tool
of the Black Jokers gang. but she's
no cheap, blackmailing thief"
"Oh, no! So that's the way the
wind blows!' Norman tossed hack his
tawny mop Of hair and roared with
laughter. played you for q sucker,
has she, and you've fallen hardp'
He got no farther for Marriott gave
a leap for him and knocked him from
his chair. He was up in a moment
with below OF rage, but the very
rury OF the younger, quicker mans
onslaught was binding at first and he
could only thrash about impotently
with his enormous fists. Janet shrank
back with both quivering hands to her
cheeks and watched the combat with
Mortified fascination.
Norman had recovered himself, how
ever, and now his superior weight
told. for his adversary would have
been no match for him. clean-cut as
his science was. even had he not been
weakened by his recent injury. Nor.
mans lips We're split and blood was
Ifn
he struck home and his terrible.
sledge-hammer blows were having
deadly effect upon Marriott. Janet
saw him stagger and screamed, but
he recovered himself and rushed in
gamely. Norman guarded himself
and then suddenly lunged forward
with an uppercut that lifted Mariott's
BODY clear of the floor and flung him
across the cabin, a quivering, sense.
less heap
You beast" Janet cried. "You
great coward!'
She felt an impulse to rush to
Marriott. to save him from this com.
mon enemy as she had from Nat but
Norman was watching her closely as
ne wiped the blood from his face and
ne did not appear to have any inten-
tion of wreaking further vengeance on
''He asked for it, didn't he?" he
mumbled. Il fought him fair. and he
didn't even wait for me to get out of
my chair. Look here, young woman!
I've told you your games up, and it is,
You'd better take my advice while I'm
disposed to meet you halfway, for I'll
give you short shift later. You're
through by yourself-get me? You're
finished"
His great chest heaved and he flung
himself once more in his chair painting
from his exertions. Janet dared not
turn her eyes again on the senseless
figure crumpled against the wall, but
as slight moan issued from Mariotts
lips she cried furiously:
so you'd like to believe. but We'll
beat you yet, and when my father
She paused, faltering with sudden.
hideous dread at her heart, for Nor
mans puffed, discolored lips had part.
ed in slow, horrible smile, and as he
continued TO grin at her her dread
mounted.
After long minute he spoke.
Your father isn't going to come for
you. Miss Dane! I've tried to break
Il to you easy, but you will have it.
You think your father went abroad to
hunt for you, don't you? His own
friends lied to keep you quiet, but
they're all up in the air themselves,
for they haven't bsen able to get
line on him. And why? Because he
was visiting some friends of mine and
a little accident happened. You under.
stand? They'll never see him again,
nor you either, for Richard Dane is
dead"
CHAPTER XII.
A Discovery.