Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-31
- BY WEBSTER

ders. THE mystery OF. the murders
doesn't interest me particularly just
at present. Granger, if you were in
my position, how would you go about
finding Miss Hardwick?"
The reporter considered for a long
! time. My first step would be to get
in touch with the Dukes gang and try
to ascertain where Miss Hardwick is
being concealed. That's large order,
and you will find it fairly exciting.
The Duke, I've been told, hates you
as he never hated any one before, and
he's almost as dangerous behind
prison bars as outside. He froths at
| the mouth whenever he mentions your
| name to the other prisoners. Your
| borrowed personality won't give you
great deal of protection. for there are
a lot Of sharp-eyed men in the Dukes
crowd. and, besides. you're in almost
as great danger whether you appear
as the Gray Phantom or as Tommie
Granger"
The Phantom waved his hand dep
recatingly. 81 have considered all
that. The question is. how am / to
get in contact with the gang" He
peered refiectively at the man on the
couch; then an idea came to him.
How did the heads OF the organiza-
ton communicate with you? To whom
did you report and from whom did you
receive your orders?''
From my acquaintance Of the Turk
ish coffee house."
1.-THE piratical looking fellow"
Granger nodded.
How can / find him?'
The coffee Joint is in Catherine
street, not far from East Broadway.
You can easily locate it, and you will
| probably find your man there about
| 10 or II at night. But hadn't you
better take me along?"
The Phantom shook his head en-
phatically. You have just told me TO
what extremes you are willing to go in
| order to get a good story for your
paper. The capture of the Gray Phan-
tom would make an even bigger story
than the one you were after. l can't
quite trust you, Granger. You love
your liquor not wisely but too well.
+ and you're likely to give the show
away. Besides. it wouldn't do for las
two to be seen together"
That's So said Granger resign.
edly. "Well, anyhow, you might send
me something for a bracer.''
The Phantom promised to try. He
got up and raped on the wall, eyeing
Granger steadily as he stepped through
the opening that appeared as il BY
magic. But the reporter, evidently
realizing that any attempt to escape
would be useless, made no move.
An opium lamp was sizzling in a
corner OF the room. At a table sat
Peng Yuen. his face as impassiye as
granite. II he had overheard anv
part of the conversation he showed
no sign of it,
You need food and Sleep" he re.
marked toneiessly, pointing to the
table, on which a meal was spread
out.
The Phantom thanked him and sat
down. He was famished and tagged
out and he could accomplish NOTHING
until night came, SO he gladly accent.
ed the Chinaman's hospitality. As he
ate. Peng Yuen regarded him stoIidI,-
While he smoked his acrid pipe of li.un.
he did not speak until the Phantom
had finished his meal.
The Book of the Unknown phi
losopher, he remarked, without
looking directly at his guest. "says
that the overwise sometimes go far
aheld in search of truths that NAV
be found at home
The Phantom looked up, bewildered
suppose there is a priceless gem of
wisdom hidden somewhere in tnst
sentence, but | don't see how it can
apply to me-" - ''ii
Inc Chlnaman gave q queer Iau0h
nan chuckle and half grunt. and deer
IN the annond-shaped eyes lur<ed a
1aint. shrewd twinkle.
Continued Tomorrow