Evening star., 1928-03-23
The Devils Mantle
A MYSTERY STORY.
Rp FRANK I. PACKARD.
Continued from Yesterdays star.>
By FRANK L. PACKARD.
ccnsrisht 1897. ev Frank L. Packard.

~well. it's this" said Rand slowly
ITS long chance, of course-but it
stil chance. Were not far from m
place now-not far enough to make th
time It would take US 10 so on ther
instead Of turning directly back 70
Syoney a factor one way or the other
I suggest that we so on and that yo,
land me there. It viii seem reaSonab bl,
enough to Lahat Khan that for per
Sonal reasons, want TO be home--ir
any case, can dig up reasons. i
they're needed, that will appear strons
enough and plausible enough so tha'
they viii not arouse any suspicion
Once there, there isn't a native any.
where in these parts whose services anc
friendship could not command, anC
there is the possibility that may bt
able to obtain q clue to the where
ahouts OF the lair and rendezvous oi
these fsendS. One thing is certain. in
a few days could have 8 thousand na-
tiveS at work for me all over the
islands, and more with every day that
went by as / got the news farther and
farther aield-even up into Borneo,
What do YOU think about it?"
Il think il might prove very danger
Gus for you" said Humphrey Garth
slowly. If what YOU we're doing got
4
not hesitate ioyc before paving you a
you"
Rand. with 8 grim smile, shook his
head,
He would hesitate a very long time
before he ventured upon anything of
that sort IN this part Of the world with
me" he said. I would have too many
natives at my back. But, anyway.
was not considering that phase of it.
It's the IDEA Of doing something. the
chance of striking back. I'm not hope
ful-ITu admit that frankly. Tajal Ali
and his lot may have their headQuar-
ters way up in the Archipelago couple
o1 thousand miles away, for all know
but anything is worth trying"
Yes" said Humphrey Garth. his
voice shaken and almost inaudihle now,
anything IS worth trying"
You agree then?" said Rand quietly
Humphrey Garth nodded his head.
Then let's find Capt. Stone and La
hat Khan" suggested Rand.
Humphrey Garth nodded his head
again and stepped olst Of the cabin
but Just outside the doorway he halted
suddenly and for an instant stood very
still, and then. with low, quick CRY,
he walked straight across the deck to
the rail, and with his face crushed In
his hands stared out 10 where the brig.
ike some white wrath in the darkness,
wss rapidly vanishing from sight.
Rand followed and touched the other
OF the arm.
= wouldn't do that. Mr.. Garth" he
protested gently ITS only making ii
q bit worse, isn't it? And it won't do
any good" And then, in an undertone:
Here's Lahat Khan now coming along
the deck and he acts as though some
thing we're up for he appears TO be in
an unusual hurry"
Humphrey Garth turned around. His
lips scanned 10 have gone suddenly dry
as he faced the erstwhile steward, who
had halted abruptly before him. He
touched his lips with the tip Of his
tongue. His hands clenched and un-
clenched al his sides. Finally he reach
&c out behind him and locked his fin
gers fercely on the rail.
Lahat Khan. in spite of the haste
which he had exhibited a moment be-
fore, was now both impassive and i'm
perturhahie
Mr.. Garth he said Internationally.
"t1e man named Peter Blake has es-
capped"
Humphrey Garth made no reply.
Peter Blake. what did Peter Blake
matter under the present circum-
gtances
what DO you mean-escaped?"
asked Rand sharply. How could he
have escape6?"
How can I teI7" replied Lahat
cabin where he had been locked UP
and the door was open and he was
gone"
Then" said Rand, some OF your
own filthy crowd must have done it
when they were aboard here-and n
that case he's hkely"-Rand terked his
head 10 seward in the direction o! the
br1g-'out there. He'd be IN congenial
company, anyway"
Lahzt Khan's eyes narrowed almost
tMperceptibly.
Even 50. Ar. Rand" he said. 1T may
be Sc. vii send word 70 Tajal Ali al
here for the man"
Rand laughed shortly.
Well-he ought TO be found then
set thief 70 catch thief. you knowi7
he turned half way. and then, as though
u we're an afterthougnt, he swung
around again. And by the way. Lailat
Khan. when you're singing your damned
song TO Ta3ai Ali. which imagine viii
ELI b. your mode Of communication.
sou can add another piece Of informa-
ton Afr. Garth has consented TO drop
me At my home before going back 70
Sydney. suppose ! have 10 obtain
permission, II there is any objection
can give plenty Of reag ,ns-n you
want them"
Lasazt Khan shrugged his shoulders.
Why should there be any objection2
II as not you VINO viii procure the gold
IN Ey6ney--at Is Mr.. Garth. II that
much more tine is taken IL is his
affair"
Thanks. 80 much" said Rand grim
fy. And leaving Lanst Khan standing
there, he Linked his arm IN Humphrey
Garths and passed on along the deck
CHAPTER XVII.
The Pirate Brig.
ETER swept his hand across MS
s::1s {: e: E: s. + e: = .:aE J; ssss; = rs: % ::
bs19s hold, staningIy not, and Ms
ezertlonE of the last half hour, which
be had spent IN scYanlbling and claw
snR his way over the lumbled mass o1
cargo. had not made the heat any more
en6ursole
He tat now on a bale Of some soft
material, physically az rest for the mo.
anent, though f1is mind Was, II any.
thing, more gYignjy and felentleSGiy ai
WORK than egeF. He knew. Of course
fpona the motion that the brig rad beer
under way for some time. but the hatch
through which be had entered had beer
closed very shortly after he had dfOppeG
into the hold and IL vas lFnpenetrabls
DARK here 1ndeFdeek Save for the fac
ftsat the FsesG was only half filled with