Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-25

ing 10 as the Phantom withdrew
the bolt and, silent as q cat, step
ped out into the hall. He leaned
over the balustrade and looked
down. From the rear came an occa-
sional tinkle of glassware. DIR. Bim-
BILE, never dreaming that his guest was
foolhardy enough to leave his secure
retreat a second time. was evidently
at work in his laboratory. Noiselessly
the Phantom stole down the stairs,
carefully testing each step before he
intrusted his weight to 1t. The door
opened without a sound, and he darted
a quick glance up and down the street.
A fine drizzle was falling and the
sidewalks glistened in the lights from
the street lamps and windows. There
was a thin sprinkling of pedestrians
in the thoroughfare. Outside a pool
room across the street stood a group
of Ioafers, and band of gospel work
ers was addressing an apathetic crowd
on the nearest corner. The Phantom
was about to step away from the door
when he saw something that caused
him to press close to the wall.
"Our friend Pinto" he unused as a
thick set figure logged past. Seems
bit distracted this evening. Wonder
what's up"
perfunctory glance in the Phantom 4
direction. There was something about
his gait and the way he swung his
baton which suggested that his mind
was not quite at ease.
The Phantom waited until he had
turned the corner. then crept out OF
the doorway, assuming an easy, swing
ing gait as he struck the sidewalk and
turned west.
The streets had their usual hum
drum appearance, but beneath the
calm on the surface he sensed a ten
sion and an air of repressed activity
1T might have been only imagination
but he thought people were regarding
each other with covert suspicion. as II
friends and neighbors were no longer
to be trusted. The Phantom, saunter
| ing along as il he had not care In
the world, turned into the Bowery and
proceeded toward the nearest station
of the elevated railway. No taxicab:
were in sight. but he would be com
| paratiyely safe once he was aboard 6
| train.
He whistled merry little tune, but
| he was uncomfortably aware that the
cut and quality of his clothes were at
i tracing attention in that squalid neigh
borhood. Now he was only a few
PAGES from the elevated stairs. The
space Immediately in front of him
was brightly illuminated by corner
Hight, and each forward step was taken
at great risk. He advanced with an
air Of unconcern, glanced languidly
at the papers and magazines spread
out on the news STALL and in another
moment he would have been starting
up the stairs.
Just then he felt the sharp scrutiny
of pair of eyes. Their owner. he
fancied, was stationed In the dark
doorway of an abandoned corner
saloon, only few steps from the foot
of the stairway, but he dared not look
back or sideways. In second he had
rallied his wits to the emergency. To
show the slightest nervousness or
seem in hurry would instantly pro-
woke a sharp command to halt. He
purchased a newspaper, glanced dis
painfully at the headlines on the first
page, and was chuckling over car
toon on the sporting page as he
ieisurely began to ascend the stairs.
A loud rumbling told that a train
was approaching. The Phantom pur-
sued his unhurried pace, conscious
that the owner of the prying eyes had
stepped out of the doorway and was
regarding him suspiciously. Suddenly,
as he reached turn in the stairs, a
cry rang out:
Stop"
The Phantom looked down with an
air of idle curiosity. as if it were I'M
thinkable that the command could be
meant for him, and climbed on He
had almost reached the top when a
second and more insistent cry sounded:
Hey. there! ! mean your
The Phantom climbed the remain
ing steps, reaching the ticket window
just as a train roared into the station.
Three sharp taps sounded against the
sidewalk below, followed by shrill
blast of a police whistle. The Phan-
tom dropped his ticket in the chopper
and stepped out on the platform. The
train gates were open and a few pas
sengers were getting aboard. For a
moment he hesitated; then he hurried
swiftly to the end of the deserted
platform and leaped out on the mar
row walk used by track workers.
The train rolled out of the station.
The Phantom, lying fiat, guessed that
the agent at the next stop had already
been notified to hold it for search, and
1t was this circumstance that had de-
cided him against getting aboard.
From the street rose a great hubbub.
He began to crawl along the narrow
span, screened from sight by a heavy
beam. Each moment was precious
now, for soon the police would learn
that the Phantom was not on the
train, and then they would guess that
he was hiding somewhere on the plat
form or the track.
He had crawled the length OF half
a block when he stopped and looked
down. The commotion at the corner
had ceased, but as he glanced behind
him he saw that several dark forms
were moving rapidly across the plat
form. as IL looking for some one. At
the point where he lay the street was
dimly lighted and almost deserted.
Agilely he swung his body from the
walk, clutched the beam with both
hands until he could obtain foothold
along one of the heavy iron pillars
that supported the structure, then slid
quickly to the ground. Standing in
the shadow OF the pillar, he looked
about him. Apparently he had not
been seen, but In a few moments
dragnet would be thrown around the
vicinity, and he would have to ex-
ercise the utmost speed and caution il
he was to escape.
Quickly he lodged into a side street.
on the corner was q patrol box, and,
even as he glanced at II, the bulb at
the top OF the pole flashed into q green
brilliance. He knew what the signal
meant. Al &eneraI alarm had been
sent out, Spreading the news that the