Evening star., 1927-04-07


let, with Dan the Dope's pistol, was
gone, and so was the little metal box
that on so many occasions had en-
abled him to squeeze out of tight cor.
ners. The chain was not heavy, but
strong enough to resist all the force
he could muster, and each end was
fastened in n way that left him no
hope OF escape.
"The worthy doctor is taking no
chances" he muttered. "He has left
me as helpless as a newborn babe.
Wonder where l amp
He had no idea where the black
limousine had taken him, for 1t had
Travelled devious course. and he had
been chlorofermed before 1t reached
its destination. He was certain he
was not in DR.. Bimble's house, for he
had searched that dwelling from cellar
to attic, and there had been no room
in It that resembled this one. Prob
ably he was in some other house
controlled by DR.. Binble or ono Of
his associates.
After all, where he was did not mat
ter, greatly. The one thing that con-
cerned him was his helplessness. for
evidently the doctor had taken every
conceivable precaution against his
cred. it was as hopeless a situation as
the Phantom had ever faced.
A glance at his watch told him 1t
was nearly 4 o'clock. He had eight
hours in which to accomplish the
seemingly impossible before the doctor
should learn from his agents that they
had been sent out on a wild-goose
chase. He shuddered as he contem-
plated what would be the consequences
IL he failed. Yet, he told himself, the
course he had taken was the only one
possible under the circumstances. II
he had directed the Doctors agents to
Sea Glimpse, Helen's usefulness to the
organization would have been ended,
and then
He turned quickly as the door
opened, admitting DIR. Bimble, with
a newspaper in his hand.
Thought you would be interested
in the news about Pinto" began the
doctor, advancing somewhat cautious
ly and taking care not to step within
the narrow half circle that bounded
his prisoners movements. The Phan-
tom regarded him languidly, for his
mind was on other things.
HAS Pinto recovered conscious
ness?" he asked, indifferently.
BiYnble nodded. Much sooner than
the doctors expected, and he has cele-
brated his return to consciousness by
making a rather interesting state.
ment."
mot a confession?" The Phantom
was still speaking in dull tones. In
the last few days he had almost lost
sight of the purpose that had called
him to New York. The danger threat
ening Helen Hardwick had seemed far
oV-fa ~ hn he nf
the two murders.
well, you might call it that.
though it probably isn't the kind of
confession you have in mind Pinto
has made a clean breast of everything.
but he still insists that you murdered
Gage"
That's a contradiction" mumbled
the Phantom. He is not making
clean breast of things so long as he
denies his guilt"
His statement sounds fairly con-
vincing, nevertheless. He admits
practically everything except that he
committed this murder. For instance.
he frankly admits that he concealed
the body of the housekeeper and"
That in itself Is evidence of his
guilt"
But Pinto has what looks like q
be an honest, hard-working, unimagi-
native fellow. not overintelligent, and
deeply devoted to his wife and baby
You probably know the type. He
says that for months before Gage was
he had a queer premonition
that something of that kind was to
happen, and he never passed the house
an uneasy feeling. / suppose
what he really means is that he had
noticed signs of strange doings about
the place. and that without analyzing
his impressions he found it getting on
his nerves.
Pinto reiterates his previous asser-
ton that Gage made a dying statement
accusing you of the crime. He admits,
however, that he felt nervous about
the whole affair. The poor fellow was
In a very trying position. After fore
ing the door. which was bolted on the
inside, and listening to Cages dying
words, he made a careful examination
Of the room, paying particular atten-
ton to the little window which was
so narrow that no grown person could
possibly have crawled through it. He
did not understand how even an ac-
complished person like the Phantom
could have committed the murder and
from the room.
Then, all of sudden, Pinto got
Even his crude intellect per
ceived that it looked as though nobody
put himself could have committed the
murder. He thought Of his wife and
his baby, and he did not relish the |
dea OF being tried for murder. AS he |
saw 1t, he might easily be convicted |
ana sent to the chair. However, his |
fears proved unfounded, for nobody |
,fRA Nj NF Nt.n
,ould breathe freely once more"
But what about the housekeeper?"
inquired the Phantom. gradually be.
coming more interested
II am coming to that After the /
murder or Gage, Pinto got into the |
labit of visiting the house between
'ounds. He was still hoping to dis.
,over a way whereby the Phantom
'ould have escaped from the room.
late one night, according to his state
nent. he found the housekeeper's body
n the same room where Gage had
'een murdered. He says the body was
till warm. SO the woman could not
lave been dead long. At the discovery
III his fears returned with trebled
orce. The supposition he thought,
would be that the murderer OF Gage
1ad also killed Mrs. Trippe. The
Tray Phantom was supposed to be in
all at the time and therefore could
lot be accused Of having murdered the
Iousekeeper.
Pinto was in a terrible quandary.
'ince, as he thought at the time, the
'hantom could not have murdered
drs. Trippe, 1t might be questioned
he. had murdered Gage. The
Whole case might be reopened, in
which event he feared the finger os
uspicion must inevitably point to
i'm. Again Pinto thought of his wife
nd babys and, the more he thought ,
{ them, the more nervous he became.
lie did a foolish thing, as men often
o when fear conquers reason. He :
ould think of nothing to do but cover :.
- the crime until he could get
hance TO think the thing over. and so
e carried the body upstairs and con- ;
ealed 1t behind some packing cases.
.afai. aftar IL davalnnad that tlna :