Evening star., 1927-03-30
The Gray Phantom's Romance
Astonishing Advsntares Of an Unusual Hero
~ stet&s Smith

Phantom fancied he was signaling
some one on the other side. He walked
prisLly toward the elevated $ a..
- i'antly CuIligore had put a colleague
on his trail. thereby showing that he
was not SO unsuspecting as the Phan-
tom had thought. He ascended the
stairs and walked out onto the plat
form without single backward
glance, but his ears, trained TO catch
and classify the slightest sounds. told
him a nursuer was behind him.
The train. a southbound one. was
crowded with passengers. The Phan-
tom selected a strap near the rear END
Cf one of the cars. The many curious
glances leVeled in his direction told
him he was being recognized as the
newspaper reporter who had won fame
by being mistaken for the Gray Phan-
tom and whose photograph had ap-
reared side by side with that Of the
notorious rogue. While ostensibly alb
SCrhed in an advertisement, he cast
a sidelong glance at the platform OF
he car just ahead.
The brief glance sufficed to identity
his pursuer as a broad shouldered in
dividual in a brown suit, whose rather
commonplace features were shaded by
the brim of a derby.
The Phantom was in a quandary.
He could accomplish nothing with
shadow" at his heels, and there was
something maddening in the thought
that he was losing time while Helen
Hardwick might be in danger. He
could probably elude his pursuer with
out much difficulty. but that would be
a confession that he had something to
hide, and might possibly result in his
being picked up on a general alarm.
He was safe behind the personality of
Thomas Granger only so long as he
did not engage in suspicious conduct.
An idea flashed in his mind as he
caught { glimpse of the skyscrapers
of City Eall Park. He would take the
bull by the horns, he decided. The
safest and sureSt way Of averting sus-
picion from himself was to play his
borrowed role boldly and thoroughly.
He would proceed at Rnce to the offices
of the Sphere and make a judiciously
colored report of the latest affair at
the Gage house. 1t was q dangerous
experiment, but the Phantom believed
he could carry it out. A bold play, a
bit of clever acting and the usual ac-
compartment of good luck were all
that was necessary.
He was still conscious of pursuit as
he alighted and turned in the direc-
ton of the Sphere Building. A glance
at the bulletin board in the rotunda
showed him the location of the edi-
torial rooms, and he ascended in the
elevator The mirrors lining the walls
of the cage threw back at him a re-
fection showing signs of suspense.
worry and want of sleep. His face was
luster of his eyes was a trif1e dimmed,
but these symptoms might also be in
dications of heavy drinking, and they
his resemblance to Granger.
The building throbbed with the pull
sations of presses. From above, like
a continuous rattle of shrapnel, came
the din and clatter of the linotypes.
Faint odors of ink and whiffs from
the stereotyping and photo-engraving
plants hung in the air.
The Phantom stepped out with a
jaunty appearance, though inwardly
he was quailing a trifie. A sign on
frosted glass told him which door to
enter, and red-haired youth presid-
ing at desk in an anteroom grinned
broadly as he passed through. A dozen
jabbered noisily in the
room beyond. AS the Phantom walked
in, spectacled, shirt rt-sleeved man
seated at a desk near the entrance
looked up and regarded him with
eyes.
"Lo, Grangeri' was his good
humored greeting. Understand Old
War Horse tied a can to you last
night"
"Did he2" asked the Phantom.
that the individual referred
Hs. n
Granger bounced. "It was q large
night, and 1 don't remember the minor
letails." He looked uncertainty about
he room as If his vision was a trifie
,louded. Where is the old fire-eater?
Don't see him around"
'Of course, you don't" The spec
acled man laughed. "Old War Horse
S in bed, where he belongs. I guess
,ou haven't quite recovered your bear
ngs yet, or you'd know that Slossdick
S on the day shift. see him looking
his way as II he had designs on you"
rhe Phantom trailed the spectacled
mans glance to glass-partitioned
at the other end of the
'oom, where a bald and sharp -nosed
nan sat at desk. He advanced airily,
In response to the knowing
Ninks and well-meant banter that fol-
owed him, and boldly approached the
scowling parsonage at the desk.
Don't you know you're fired?" de-
nanded Slossdick, jabbing at a page of
copy" with his pencil.
Am I?' inquired the Phantom, in
nocently. He spoke with a little catch,
as if he had a slight cold, and he
avoided the sunlight streaming in
through the window. 'It hadn't oc-
cured to me-"
"No? Old War Horse had you kick