The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-10-28
CHAPTER X-Continued

ent, too. The difference was as subtle
as it was unmistakable. What we saw
was another-radically new personal
which had separated the personality
of the stupidity respectable chamber
maid from that of the untamed savage
OF the South seas were breaking
down as if these two widely sundered
persons were merging into one. Neither
Jane Perkins nor Fanenna could have
uttered the word murder" in just that
accent of half-apprehended horror.
We were nearing our journeys end
Our road lay alongside the railroad
line, and already we could see the one
light in the Oak Ridge station window.
There was no time to grapple with the
new problem.
Then the chauffeur spoke to us
through the little speaking tube which
connected the chauffeur's seat with the
interior of the limousine:
"There's house on fire, up ahead
there" ts2S
We all looked, and instantly saw a.
sudden lurid light which was piln2
up the sky; saw it pierced the next
moment by angry orange-colored
flames
"He's set fire to the house! !" the doc
tor cried; and added. into the speak
ing tube, put on all the speed you
can! We've no time to wastev'
The chauffeur obeyed and within
two minutes we were at the scene of
the fire. The cold air of the winter
night was already resonant with the
shouts of the tiremen and the excited
EXPLANATIONS of the crowd of half
dressed citizens who had gathered to
render what assistance they could. and
to enjoy the spectacle at the same
time
Mallory had already swung the door
open and was half way out of the car,
when an exclamation from the doctor
stopped him.
"Hold on!' he cried. "This isn't the
house. The Morgan house is two
blocks further on down the street.
Drive on!" he shouted to the chauf-
eur. rWe mustn't waste a minute!"
= Mallory sprang back to his seat, and
bnce more the car Iurched forward.
The doctor held the door with one
hand and leaned far out, scanning the
load ahead with eager eyes.
''Drive Slow" he cautioned the
chauffeur.
Then he turned and spoke to us in
Tide the car. "rve an idea that we
ybetter not drive right up to the house.
There's no need of giving any more
warning than necessary of the fact that
we're coming. Look out ahead here.
Phelps. Isn't that white gate half way
down the next block the gate to the
Morgan yard?"
/ peered out over his shoulder.
"Yes. I couldn't mistake that" said I.
"Good," said the doctor, "Stop
here"
We four men clambered out of the
car the girl still fast asleep, still lean
ing back against the cushions in the
corner, undisturbed by the confusion
Of our dismounting from the car.
'What shall we do with her?' in
quired. II suppose she's safe enough
where she is. She'll hardly wake up
until you tell her to, will she?"
mo. The sleep is hypnotic" said
the doctor. ''She'll be safe enough here
so far as that goes"
SIT comes down to this" said Ash
ton. IF Wilkins is in the house, we
sha'n't want the girl. She'd be in the
way, for if he's cornered, he'll make
stiff fight. But if he's been to the
house and done his work and already
got away, and we're too late for him.
as / fancy we are, then We'll have to
use the girl again to track him.
There's no other way"
"Then the thing to do" said the doc
tor, sis to make reconnaissance. II
he's already been here and searched
the house for what he wanted and
gone away, that fact will be easily APP
parent, and, as you say, it's the first
thing to find out. Come, we've wasted
time enough. The girl will be per-
fectly safe here"
"Hold on" said Ashton. "Why
should we all go? We might defeat
our purpose that way. Send Mallory.
He's worth all the rest of us put to-
gether at fences and locks. and that
sort of thing. He can find out in five
minutes whether that house has been
entered or not, and he won't attract
one-twentieth part of the attention
that four of us WILL"
The doctor nodded.
Without waiting for any further
bidding, Mallory rushed off in the dark
ness, up the street toward the white
= gate. The rest of us stood just where
we were, on the sidewalk, twenty
PAGES or so from the automobile. We
had nothing to do but wait for NAL
lory's return. and under such circum.
stances time. as rule. drags heavily.
But hong before we expected his re-
tutn, almost, it seemed, before he