Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-18
Danger.

Danger
| OoOLLY, though every nerve and
muscle In his body was on the
" alert, the Phantom took case
~ from his pocket and lighted q
cigarette. He stood face &c
| face with q peril of a tangible and def
mite kind. The protecting beard was
! dependable only so long as he did not
attract the attention of the police and
| invite a closer scrutiny. Ii would not
| for long deceive an officer whose train
| ing had made him habitually sus
picious of appearances and who had
been drilled in the art of seeing
through DISCUSSES.
Voices came from the outer room
Mrs. Trippes surly tones clashlng
with the gruff accents of officer Pinto
| The Phantom felt Jingle of suspense
| 1t was the kind of situation he would
| have thoroughly enjoyed but for the
/ fact that in this instance he could not
| jeopardize his liberty without also en-
dangering his purpose.
Footsteps approached. and presently
a stocky figure, with the housekeeper
lowering behind, stood framed In the
doorway. The Phantom, smiling Sc
renely. felt instant relief the moment
he glanced at the heavy and somewhat
| reddish features. with the unimpres
sive jaw and the stolid look in the
eyes. Pinto might be a faithful plod
der and a dangerous adversary in a
physical encounter, but ii was plain
| that he possessed only ordinary intel
ligence.
We'll. who're you?" bluntly de-
manded the officer.
1t was the housekeeper who an
Swered. He saws he is MIR
What did you say your name was?"
MIR. Adsir of Boston" replied the
Phantom, with al" air of superb tran
quillity. adding the explanation he had
already invented for Mrs Trippes ben
eft. Hope I'm not intruding," he
concluded.
Pinto stepped inside, his eyes fixed
on the Phantom's face in hard stare.
Then, by slow degrees. the churlish
slightly contemptuous grin took its
place.
You're welcome" he declared. Go
as far as you like. / s'pose you're
trying to dope out how the Phantom
got out of the room. Well believe me,
you'll have to do some tall thinking"
The Phantom chuckled affably. Evil
IDENTIFY Pinto had classified him as one
of the harmless cranks who flock in
the wake of the police whenever a
mysterious crime has taken place.
II was just discussing the problem
with Mrs. Trippe," he announced
easily. IT'S a fascinating riddle. I
infer is has gripped you, too, since you
come here in civilian clothes while not
on duty"
well. I've been kidding myself
along. thinking maybe I could find the
solution" Pinto's face bore a sheepish
look. There's got to be a solution
somewhere. you know, and"
And it wound be a feather in your
cap If you We're the one who found it
first" put in the Phantom genially.
Perhaps it would mean promotion,
too-who knows? But has it occurred
to you that the murderer's exit is no
more mysterious than his entrance?
If he accomplished a miracle getting
out. he also accomplished a miracle
getting in"
THE Phantom's strong for the mir.
acle stuff. all right. But it's possible
Gage himself let the murderer in.
Maybe he expected somebody to call.
Anyhow, we know the villain got in
somehow. What I'd like to know is
how he got out"
The Phantom's eyes had been on the
floor. near the point where, according
to the newspaper article he had read,
Cages body must have been found.
OF a sudden he looked up, and the
gaze he surprised In Pinto's slyly peer
ing eyes sent Jingle of apprehension
through his body. He wondered
whether the patrolman was as obtuse
as he seemed. II understand" he
said, without a tremor in his voice,
that you found the room dark upon
breaking In. Couldn't the murderer
have slipped out while you were look.
ing for the light switch?"
Huh The contemptuous snort
came from Mrs. Trippe, who. with
arms crossed over her chest, stood in
the rear of the room. How could he,
I'd like to know, with me standing
right outside the door and crowd of
rubbernecks at the main entrance"
The Phantom seemed to ponder.
The theory he had just suggested did
not seem at all plausible. and his only
purpose in mentioning 1t had been TO
turn Pinto's thoughts in a new dlrec-
ton.
I'D swear the rascal wasn't in the
room when | broke in" declared the
patrolman with emphasis.
And he couldn't have got out be-
FORE" remarked the Phantom, with q
grin. AT the same moment he felt
Mrs. Trippe's eyes on his face. She
was gazing at him as IL his last re-
mark had made profound impression
upon her. He sensed a new and BAT.
| fling quality in the situation, some.
thing that just eluded his mental
grasp. and he began to wonder
whether the housekeeper did not know
or suspect something which she had
not yet told.
THE Phantom's a devil" observed
.f,, ST.
/ the other man. Nobody of flesh and
bone could pull off stunt like this
| Maybe some day he'll tell us how he
did it. He'll be roped in before long
Say" with a forced laugh. "wouldn't
| II be funny if he should get caught
right here. In this room? They say a
murderer always comes back to the
scene Of his crime"
! All the Phantom's self-control was
required to repress a start. Pinto's
remark, though uttered in banterng
tones, was entirely too pointed to have
been casual. and the CLEAN in his eyes
testified that his Suspicious were
aroused.
Il think the Phantom's talents have
been grossly overestimated. When he
is caught we shall probably find that
he is quite an ordinary mortal. Don't
you think SO, Mrs. Trippe?"
The woman started. then mumbled
something unintelligible under hei
breath.
We'll, maybe" said Pinto. "Ive
got a feeling in my elbow that say.
he'll be caught before night, and Their
well see. He may be an ordinary
mortal. but III be mighty interested
to know how he got out of this room
Got any ideas on the subject. Mr.
Adair?"
The Phantom's frown masked the