Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-04-09

been leveled at himself.
The girls hand was still on his
sleeve. and, without looking directly
at her. he knew that she was facing
the menacing pistol without fiinching
Her slight uch on his arm gave him
a feeling of tenderness and strength
Already his wits were at work. "
his hip pocket was the weapon he had
taken from Granger, but he could not
reach for it without jeopardizing the
girls life.
Cruel trick you played or
Granger" observed the doctor, stand
ing a dozen feet away. Il don't know
how YOU manag ed it, but you seem Ia
have a special talent for such per
formances. Fortunately, one of my
men happened to enter the room in
which you left the poor fellow, and he
saw how things were. Well. Phan
tom, one thing is sure, you have
played your last trick"
The Phantom maintained his atti
tude of immobility. but Bimble' S
words gave him an inward twinge. AS
| far as he could see, the doctor had ap
praised the situation with accuracy.
| The windows, with their shutters and
! iron bars, seemed impregnable. The
murky walls and the low ceiling gave
| forth an impression of solidity that
accentuated his sense of bafflement.
| The way to the stairs was barred by
Bimble with his pistol, and the rooms
and the corridors above were swarm.
| ing with the Dukes men. And, mean
while, the Phantom dared not bend a
muscle. for fear of causing Helen
Hardwick's death.
You will admit that you are very
neatly corn, ed?'' tainted the doctor.
1T would seem So" admitted the
Phantom dryly. but / have been cor
nered many times before. There S
nothing very original in the situation.
mo, nothing except that you wrig-
| gled out of the others. while this one
will hold you till 1 am through with
you. Don't you think it would be the
part of wisdom to submit and tell me
what want to know"
Never" declared the Phantom with
emphasis.
Wouldn't it be better" whispered
Helen. He'll kill us both unless we
do"
Its his intention to kill us any
way" the Phantom whispered back.
The only reason he hasn't killed us
already is that he hopes to persuade
us to give him the information he
wants. Afraid?"
Not for myself. But YOU"
Then step behind my back as
quickly as you can"
The girl looked up at him with ali
expression of uncertainty.
Hurry whispered the Phantom.
Its our only chance"
She hesitated a moment longer;
then, with the swift motion of a
startled doe, she darted aside and
stood at his back. The blue steel of
the pistol barrel f1ickered for an in
slant as the doctor transferred his
aim to the Phantom. Evidently the
sudden movement had disconnected
Bimble.
"A fairly clever maneuver." he ac-
knowledged, but you have gained
nothing by it,
81 am satisfied" declared the Phan-
tom, his spirits rising again. You
can't reach Miss Hardwick with a
bullet without first perforating me,
and you have no intention of killing
me until you have learned what you
want to know. Eth, Bimble?"
The doctors lips twisted into an
ugly sneer I'VE shall see" he NUT
tered irately. You are a clever man,
Phantom, but your cleverness can't
help you now"
He plucked small metallic instru-
ment from his vest pocked and
| brought it to his lips. Three short,
shrill whistles pierced the silence.
With a gratified grin on his lips the
doctor restored the little metal tube
to his pocket The third blast had
no sooner sounded than tumult of
discordant noises came from above.
Bimble looked gloatingly at the Phan-
tom as the sounds drew nearer. A
man ran down the stairs, quickly fol.
lowed by a second and a third. Others
kept arriving, in groups of three "
more, until the Phantom had
counted "a.
Like a great human fan, the crowd
spread out in a triangle along the
walls and about the foot of the stairs.
AS each man took his place in the
line the Phantom gave him a quick,
appraising glance. In their faces he
read low cunning, british instincts
and stolid obedience to orders. but the
keener wit and subtler intellect which
the Phantom had always demanded of
his men were lacking.
He read each face as If it were an
open page, and finally his gaze rested
on DIR. Bimble. The anthropologist
subalterns, but at a glance the Phan-
spot in his moral fiber. Already a
plan was forming in his mind All he
was waiting for was favorable com
bination of circumstances that would
enable him to act.
The pistol in the doctors hand was
still pointing straight at the Phan-
| TOMS chest. BimbIe's expression was
a repulsive mixture Of cruelty and
SNUG satisfaction
Il trust you are convinced that re-
sistance is useless, my dear Phantom. -
he declared in drawing tones. There
are more than 20 of us, as you see"
Excellent" remarked the Phantom.
II am glad to see so many of you
here"
"Glad?" The doctor seemed a little
dumfounded. why. pray?"
Because having you all here in this
room will make my task much
easier"
Your task?"
The Phantom laughed easily "You
must surely know that it is my inten-
ton to hand you all over to the po-
lice?"
Bimble stared. Twice he opened his
mouth. but no words came. The
Phantom's cool audacity seemed to
have silenced his tongue.
Are lou crazy?" he asked at
| length.
Never was saner in my life. 1t is
my firm intention to turn every one of
you over TO the police. That's why l
am glad TO see so many of you gath
cred in one ROOM"
He smiled as he spoke, but his
heart was not in his smile. He was
turning an audacious plan over in his
mind. but he was not at all sure that
he would have a chance to put it into
execution. At his back he heard
| Helen's quick, nervous intakes of
breath, and he turned his head
slightly.
1.-THE Gray Phantom star has
never yet set" he whispered.
! L..