Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-04-10
CONTINUED from Yesterdays starl

crowd, detected a stealth
movement in the rear of til
group. Some one had droppe
20 his knees and was crawling towAr
q huge box.
Instantly the Phantom saw thu
meaning of the stealthy movement
For a moment, as the crawling fgur'
appeared around the edge of the
group, he turned his pistol from thu
doctor, took a quick aim, pressed the
trigger and again thrust the muzzle
of his weapon against Bimble's dia
phraghm.
A cry told that the bullet had found
its mark. AS the smoke drifted
toward the ceiling the man rose to
his feet with a look of distress in his
face, caressing a portion of his arm
as he skunk away toward the rear
A few of the others, who had sought
to take advantage of the Phantom $
temporary abstraction, fell back to
their places.
The Phantom drew a long breath
as he realized how narrowly Helen
and himself had escaped disaster.
They had the advantage for the pres
ent. but the slightest faltering might
easily reverse the situation and re-
lease the pent-up savagery of their
foes.
"Bimble." he remarked, sit would
be extremely unfortunate for you If
any of your men should get reckless.
] see some of them are impatient. II
anything happens to Miss Hardwick
or me YOU will be dead man. Hadn' t
you better tell your friends to throw
down their guns?"
The doctor glanced uneasily at his
men. His looks told plainly that the
Phantom had read him accurately,
that there was nothing he valued
quite so highly as he did his life. and
that his swagger and bland assurance
would wilt the moment he faced a
personal danger. There was venom
in his eyes. and his pale, distorted
features bespoke impotent rage.
Drop your guns" he commanded
after another despairing look about
the basement.
The men regarded him efficiently
and did not move. Their faces showed
that they were torn between the con.
fiicting impulses of self-preservation
and an ingrained habit of obedience.
You're first" The Phantom point
ed a finger at a tall. barrel-chested
man at the end of the line. step
forward and empty your pockets"
The Phantom was in a state of high
y
of mind over the situation, but all
might yet be lost if the man should
refuse to obey and set the others an
example of resistance.
Miss Hardwick," he said quickly,
realizing that each moment of delay
might cost them their lives. you will
count five. If our friend at the end
of the line has not emptied his pockets
when you are through, shoot to kill. .
The girl signified with slight nod
that she understood. AS she began TO
count, her pistol was pointing straight
at the man the Phantom had indi.
Gated. The fellows sullen obstinacy
yielded gradually to an overpowering
respect for Helen's craftsmanship, of
which he had already witnessed an
exhibition. Just before she reached
''five" he numbered forward and
turned the lining of his pockets in.
side out. A knife, an automatic and
several other implements clattered TO
Che floor.
Now get back in thescornerr com.
Wianded the Phantom, pointing. He
thrilled at the thought that the crisis
was past and the victory almost won,
The second man hesitated only for
an instant before he followed the ex-
ample of the first. After that the
pEONSeS OL QlSdTIHlnE the gang went
On swiftly and without interruptions.
Nan after man stepped out of the
line, emptied his pockets and joined
the others in the corner. When the
Jast man had Invested himself of his
belongings there was a small pile of
oddly assorted articles in the middle
OF the floor.
The Phantom felt a little dazed, now
that the tremendous tension was over
Al last he lowered the pistol and
tfrned TO the girl. Her face was pale
and a little haggard, but smile of
triumph lowered about her lips.
You're the grandest little woman ]
ever knew" he declared, feelingly.
''Oh, / don't know" she confessed
a little YEARLY. II don't think | could
have stood it if you hadn't been Sc
close to me. l felt as though you
were holding me under a spell all the
time"
The Phantom laughed "Bimble
you have seen how one man, with tht
assistance of a plucky little woman
has vanquished a gang of IS cut
threats and ruffians. The yellow
streak in you made it fairly easy.
should like to see the dukes face
when he hears about this"
The doctor swallowed hard. Hi.
putty-hued face reflected the depths o.
his mental agony.
"What-what are you going to d.
with us?" he inquired, weakly.
Precisely what / said / would do
hand you over TO the police
Not THAR The doctor looked a.
though he had received a blow
Listen! Down below. in the cellar
are several million dollars worth o
valuables. You can have it ri If 70,
will let us CO."
You're rather poor sort, Bimble,
sale the Phantom, contemptuously
There isn't gold enough in the worl,
TO buy your freedom. To see you ge
your just deserts is worth more to m,
than all the millions the duke and hi
gang ever stole"
The doctor staggered back agains
the wall, utterly detected. OF a sud
den the Phantom's expression of ella
ton faded out and worried look tool
its place. Where was Granger? TIL,
reporter had not been among thos,
who had answered the doctors sum
mons and the Phantom had seen moth
ing OF him since he left him chained
TO the wall in one of the upper rooms
Without doubt he had been release
for Binble had said that a naembe
OF the gang had entered the room an,
round him shortly after the Phantom
had started for the basement His alb
sence was somewhat disturbing, 70
the Phantom's task would not be fin
1shed until Granger had been caught
Admonishing Miss Hardwick to keel
an eye on the gang. he walked towar,
the farther wall. In the corner wa
q door which he had not seen before
It was locked, but he guessed that /
led TO the cellar in which the docto
kept the gangs treasures, and h
noted that it was of hard and soil
material and would resist almost an
amount of pressure.
Doctor" he said walking back t
where Bimble stood, IN trouble yo
for your bunch of keys"
With the air of a broken and de