Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-04-09
The Gray Phantom's Romance
CONTINUED from Yesterdays Star.l
Astonishing Adventures of an Unusual Hero.
Copyright by l. Smut


that he won't like. Miss Hard
wick is going to make another
trip to the spook chamber, as oul
mulish friend so aptly termed it.
guess he will come across with the
information when he discovers that we
mean business"
They reached the floor below. AS
they passed a light in the hall the
Phantom saw a look of vemonous de
termination in the Doctors face, and
he knew that a terrible ordeal would
be in store for Helen il Bimble was
permitted to have his way. The an
thropoIogist opened a door. and the
Phantom glanced into the room over
his shoulder. About a dozen men. the
expressions on their faces ranging all
the way from low cunning to sullen
brutality, sat at long table, playing
cards.
"Jepsonr' called the doctor. taking
a bunch of keys from his pocket,
A tall, raw.boned individual with
features suggestive of gorilla's rose
from the table and approached them
with dragging gait.
''r want you and Granger to bring
Miss Hardwick here Immediately, Oh
rected Bimble, handing Jepson one OF
the keys.
The tall man nodded and SUNK
away. The Phantom, keeping in the
shadows as much as possible, followed
him down two flights OF stairs. Here
and there, at a turn in the halls or
stairs. they encountered soft.footed,
wary-eyed men who passed them in
silence.
''The whole crowd seems to be about
noSnFynd the PhantOn1,
Sure" said Jepson. The big chief
don't like to take chances. He means
to rush bunch of us to the Phan'
toms place as soon as he finds out
where it is. There may be scrap
when we get there"
"Quite likely The Phantom re-
pressed a smile. There was fever
in his veins and he wished Jepson
would walk faster. They descended
into the basement, sparsely lighted
by a small bulb suspended over the
stairs, and Jepson picked his way
carefully over the floor. Finally he
stopped before a door, inserted Key
in the lock and walked in.
The room was dark. but a quick
gasp, resembling a sudden intake OF
breath, told the Phantom 1t was occu-
pied. His body tingled with sup
standing in the doorway, and a light
scraping sound indicated that he was
running his hands over the wall in
search of a switch.
AS light flooded the narrow room
the Phantom stified an exclamation.
In a chair at the wall sat a slender
figure. rigidly still save for the
trembling of the hands clasped across
the bosom. Long waves of lustrous
hair framed a face white as alabaSter,
and the large brown eyes were st; ring
at Jepson with an expression of dread.
There was a CULVER in the distended
orbs, as if a frightful recollection were
lingering in their depths.
She shrank back against the chair
10 Jepson numbered toward her. For
a moment longer she remained mo-
tionleSs, then a long-drawn moan
sounded in her throat and with hands
thrust out she sprang from the chair.
'You shan't take me back there!'
she cried in tones edged with fury and
terror. "I won't go backi won't!'
Easy now, lady! No use kicking up
a fuss" Jepson roughly seized her
arm, squeezed it until she uttered a
sharp cry of pain, and started drag
ging her toward the door.
Then, Of sudden, the Phantom's
fist shot out. Hard as steel, it de-
livered singing, crunching blow be-
tween Jepson's eyes, and the big brute
dropped to the floor like a dead
weight. The girl stood immobile,
staring at the twisted shape at her
feet as IL unable to understand what
had happened. Then, very slowly, she
raised her eyes until they met the
Phantons.
"You?" she spoke lowly, as if not
quite recognizing him at first. Dazedly
she drew her hand across her fore
head. Are you the Gray Phantom
Or"
"I am the Gray Phantom. Don't
you know me-Helen -
She gazed at him long and search
ingly. A soft CLEAN penetrated the
film of terror in her eyes.
Yes, you are the Gray Phantom"
The words sounded hushed and
strained. She came a step closer and
placed her cold hand in his. There
was faint tremulous smile on her
lips. Can you forgive me-for
Aoubting your
~0ne little whisper from your lips
makes everything right" he MUIR
INJURED softly, gently drawing her from
the room and locking the door.
II couldn't help it," she whispered.
Everything seemed to point to
your guilt"
at did" admitted the Phantom,
''and / don't blame you. l suppose
Granger lied to me when he told me
he got into disgrace with the Duke 8
gang because of his refusal to abduct
you. He's skilled mixer Of truth
and fiction. What happened to you?
Who kidnapped your"
''One Of DR.. Bimble's men, l sup
pose. I slipped out of the laboratory
while you and the doctor were read
ing the paper. ] was sick at heart.
What you had told me while we were
in the closet expressed my feelings. 1T
seemed as though an idol had fallen
off its pedestal and broken to bits,
like ordinary clay.
"Well, l had almost reached the
front door when some one sneaked
up behind me, thrust black cloth
down over my head and carried me
upstairs. / must have been chloro.
formed, for shortly afterward | lost
consciousness.
1.-THE next day Granger called on
me in the little room where they We're
keeping me. I think his object was
to learn the location of Sea-Glimpse.
was-well, ] was stubborn and
wouldn't tell him. received a shock
the moment / saw him and noted his
striking resemblance to you. All at
once / knew he was the murderer. 1t
came to me in a flash, and of a sud
den l understood the meaning of
Cages statement"
There must be such a thing as
feminine intuition, after ALL" was the
Phantom's comment. "Of course you
told him to his face that he was the
murderer"
81 guess did. The words seemed to
tumble out of themselves. ! think /
told Bimble the same thing that eve
ming. He seemed greatly alarmed
The Phantom started. Intuition Is
sometimes a very dangerous faculty"
he murmured 1T is very likely
TO- But this is no time for talking.