Evening star., 1927-04-03

ding hither and thither at the oppo-
site end of the cellar. The Phantom
crawled into the opening, feet fore
most, and softly pulled the door to,
then lay on his back chuckling gently
to himself as he pictured the lieu
tenants discontinue.
He had no fear that Culligore
would find his hiding place The
door was so carefully concealed that
only careful search would reveal
Its location, and the detective did not
even suspect its existence Yet the
Phantom knew he would not be safe
for long. He could not remain in the
tunnel indefinitely, and escape
through the other end was impossible,
for he had previously ascertained that
the mechanism of the revolving win.
dow frame could not be manipulated
from that side. All he had gained was
time. He could only hope that his
lucky star. which so far had never
deserted him, would once more turn
the situation In his favor
His mind was working quickly
while he listened to Culligore's move
ments in the cellar. Doubtless the
detective would soon summon assist
ance ard have the building sur
rounded, and then unless some
chance or unforeseen development
came to his rescue, the Phantom's
position would be critical indeed.
Even If the searchers should not find
his hiding place, he would eventually
die from lack of air. !.
Suddenly his figure stiffened. He
lay rigid. trying to account for the
curious sensation that had Just come
to him. In a moment he knew what
1t was; faint current of air was
stirring in the tunnel At first he
could not understand. for he was Ger
tain that both exits We're closed, and
the tube itself was alright. He
worked deeper into the tunnel, trying
to trace the mysterious current to it's
origin, and presently it came to him
that, through some unaccountable cir.
cumstance, the other end must be
open.
1t was mystifying. but the stirring
or air could be explained In no other
way than that in some manner the
revolving window frame had come
open. He moved forward as RAPIDLY
as he could, hoping to gain the exit
and get out of the zone of danger be-
fore the block was surrounded. BY
this time Culligore must have discov-
cred that his quarry had in some in
expltcable way escaped from the
basement. Perhaps he was even now
cursing himself for his vainglorious
boast that he would take the GRAY
Phantom singlehanded and unaided
The movement Of air became more
noticeable as the Phantom drew near
the end Of the passage. He proceeded
more slowly now, moving forward bv
cautious twists and Wrigglings. a few
inches at time, carefully calculating
each motion so as to make no noise,
There was something at once puzzling
and ominous about the open exit. and
he could not know what awaited him
In the bedroom at the end of the tun-
mel.
His progress became more difficult
as he reached the acclivity in which
the passage terminated, for he had
been moving crab fashion, having en-.
tered the tunnel feet first in order to
be able to close the door behind him
and the width of the tube did not per.
NIT him to turn.
Silent as a mole, he twisted his
body upward. all his senses on the
alert against the slightest hint OF dan.
ger, Now his feet were almost at
| the window frame. As he had slIr
missed, the opening was clear and a
few more twists would land him on
the floor of the bedroom.
Cautiously he thrust a foot through
the opening, but in moment he
drew it back. Then he Law rigid lis.
tering, for something warned him of
danger. The bedchamber was dark
and there was not the faintest sound
yet he knew some one was living in
wait for him on the other side.
Continued in Tomorrow's Star1