Evening star., 1927-10-16
THE BLACK JOKER


! there was a great deal that no ont
seemed privileged to tell her!
Come, Janet, Mr.. Protheroe has
| offered us his hospitality till tomor
row and we are both worn out
| Thanks we had supper late" This
| i'm answer to their hosts gesture to
ward a table where light meal hat
been spread. IF you will show
| us . ~
| Lighting a second lamp, Mr.. Profile
roe led the way up the narrow stair
case and down the plaster-walled tun
| mel to a door opening on a great win
dowless chamber, tomblike in spite OF
| the conglomerate collection of old
fashioned furniture which stood about
You'll find the pitcher freshly
| filled and clean linen i'm the chest,
he remarked. in the tone of one prof
| fering the utmost luxury. Good
night. ladies"
"What a very odd old gentleman"
Janet remarked when he had gone
down the stairs to attend to his third
guest. Does he live here all alone
like "a mole?"
Mrs. Kerr laughed softly as she
prepared for bed.
"He is a very important old gen
tleman, Janet! This is The safest place
for him to live, considering what he
manufactures--but don't let us talk
any more, little Seven of Hearts
We've a long day before u.s."
What did Mr.. Protheroe manufac
ture? 1t was evident that it must
be something very secret or possibly
dangerous, and equally evident that
Mrs Kerr had made a slip in men
tioning 1t. Was that one of the things
the "the girl mustn't know? Janet
fell asleep still pondering.
She awakened in the pitch darkness
to find that the bed beside her was
empty, and sat up in sudden fright
calling softly, but no response came
from Mrs Kerr, and, rising, she felt
her way to the door. Fumbling about
she discovered that it had no plate
nor keyhole, but above the height of
her head she found a small knob and
pulled it.
The door swung inward and with II
a faint streak of light stole up from
below. At the same moment Mrs.
kerr's voice reached her.
This is the worst blow of all, I've
been dreading it, even with Marriott
out OF the way. What will the Black
Joker say? The greatest coup of his
He's got to know it at once"" A
strange voice spoke in quick, decisive
masculine tones.
But how?" Mrs. Kerr seemed in
despair. "Oh. why did hep
He's keeping in touch with events.
never fear" old Mr.. Protheroe inter.
Vened. I'VE might have known II
couldn't have been Norman's crowd
or they wouldn't be so anxious to get
hold of the girl. They think she has
1t or knows where it is. How MANY
are there besides Mariott?"
NO one knows" Mrs. Kerr replied
IT'S certain that Kingsmere is among
them, and Of course that intrepid wife
or his, but they haven't been located
Every steamer is being watched. but
there are a million ways they tcould
sup out of the country with 1t, II
Norman could be informed convinc.
ngly that Mariott's faction have oh.
obtained possession Of 1t, his crew
would be our allies in spite of them.
selves, for if they had the luck to
get 1t we could easily handle them
afterward; they'll sell to the highest
bidder. too"
We can't make such a move with.
out the Black Joker's sanction" the
stranger said. I'VE can only continue
TO draw their fire by means Of the
girl. and try to locate Mariott's asso.
ciates. To make it worse, there's a
whisper OF dissaffection among our
own. Two of Diamonds and Nine of
cubs told me quite openly that they
think We've traiter in camp"
"A traitor" Mrs. Kerr cried sharply.
"Why?" ' '''
who knew Of Affords connection
with us? Who knew the signal of
the watch?" the stranger demanded.
Only the girl upstairs!" Mrs. Kerr's
tones shook with horror. "How do we
know, after all, that she is really the
daughter Of"
CAREFUL Mr.. Protheroe warned
suddenly, as Janet's blood turned cold
in her veins. Marriott and his asso.
ciates are convinced of 1t, and if
she's really an impostor from Nor.
mans camp they've been cleyerer
than ! thought, pretending to kidnap
her. 1t doesn't ring true. Besides, the
girl is too young to play such q part "
"Nonsenser Mrs. Kerr snapped.
Don't you know that every female
IS an actress from the time she draws
her first breath? Has any one Of US
except her father ever seen her? Do
we know of any one in America who
could recognize and identify her?
Janet turned, tore a blanket from
the bed and, wrapping herself in it.,
went to the stairs.
There Is some one who knows who
I am" Her young voice rang out in
scathing indignation. Send for
Horace Cray
Co0tinuad in Topoarrou,'S CtorN