Evening star., 1928-10-15
Continued from Yesterdays Starr
INSTALLMENT XXXIII.

entrance ana Olgnton jumped
to the ground
IF you get in hole and you
want me-" sang the American
after him. use the siX-shooter."
"Ill leave the door unfastened' >
Dighton told him. push up the catch
you know. when I get inside"
He cannoned into Gerardo in the
hall emerging from a side door with
a bundle of papers. The secretary, de-
ceived for the space of A moment and
thoroughly unnerved at Ahlborg's un-
expected return. f1oundered on his hands
and knees. retrieving documents that
had blown from the pile in the draft
from the open door.
Dighton pulled him to his feet by
his coat collar and sent him into a
further fit of nerves by demanding in
good italian the key of the English
1adys room.
The cat was out of the bag now!
Whatever other qualities he possessed,
Dighton was no actor. His voice, dis
torted as it was, bore no resemblance to
that of the owner of the Villa Sabine.
He knew in an instant that Gerardo
had pierced his disguise, and kept his
fingers fixed tightly on the little mans
Jacket A glimpse of the weapon he
carried showed Gerardo the futility of
any attempt to thwart him. Acting as
an unwilling guide, he led the way to
a room furnished like study, drew
the KEY from the drawer and stumbled
presently up the stairs, driven by a
Nemesis that brooked no denial.
At the top of the second fight he
thrust the key in the lock- The door
few open, propelled by Dighton's boot
revealing a lighted interior, single bed
and Greta. rising from the chair in
which she had been sitting reading.
Forgetting the painful conglomeration
of paint and hair that Marney had
piled on so efficiently. he expected her
to recognize him instantly, and was
astounded at the look of horror which
shone in her eyes.
"Grets!" he cried. "It's ALAN
Don't you know me?"
She uttered a little cry of joy.
"Alanl You have come to save me!
OH my dear"
Gerardo, freed from the grip of his
tormentor, scuttled for the stairs like
a rat.
That was Dighton's one mistake. He
realized what had happened when it
was too late to repair it. The appear
ance of the Lizard in the doorway fol-
lowed Gerardo's exit so swiftly that he
was knocked off his guard. The bullet
from the others pistol, looSed off in
desperation because of the more effec-
tive weapon Dighton carried, grazed
Greta's shoulder.
Alan" she gasped; ''he's hit mel"
Alan leveled the Pocket Death.
Drop that gun, Corlitt, and put your
hands up. The games up, you under
stand. Taverner's outside and we've
put Ahlborg out of action. I've enough
in this little thing to treat the whole
lot of you as you treated Daudot in the
chiefs study"
The other put up his hands, but he
did not relinquish the pistol.
"A smart piece OF work. Dighton,"
he replied coldly. 81 congratulate you
When engaged you in London, must
confess thought you clumsy for the
Job. 1t seems was mistaken"
He made sudden wild leap into
the passage, putting brick wall be-
tween them in a desperate effort to
win clear. Dighton had reached the
door when a second report set his ears
singing and he saw Marney through the
bannisters.
PITY. that!" remarked the American;
'tbut Just had tpI''
He tucked smoking automatic into
his pocket.
Tell Miss Hsye to shut her eyes and
bring her down right now. Things'll be
getting lively in a minute!'
Dighton lifted the girl in his arms
At the foot of the stairs he handed
her over to Marney and darted up a
corridor toward the laboratory door. 1t
was locked and he had to fire into the
lock to get 1t open. 1t was chill and
dark inside. An odor Of chemicals
drifted to his nostrils.
Any one in there?" he shouted.
Receiving no answer, he pulled the
trigger of the Pocket Death and sent
the blue ray searching into every corner.
Something sizZled violently and, with
startling suddenness, terrific explosion
shattered the roof. He backed into the
passage with the noise of thunder in
his ears. A gap appeared in the party
wall. with clouds of blue smoke pouring
through. Masonry was falling every
where.
Get out all Of you!" he beloved as
he reached the steps.
He could hear sounds of screaming
from the back. A startled maid-servant
bumped into him and hurried down the
drive toward the porter's lodge. He
heaved sigh of relief He had no
quarrel with Ahlborg's staff.
That you, Dighton?" shouted Mar
ney from the saloon. "Say!" he con-
tinued as the other approached, "it's
been a peach of raid, and we've had
our share of it out here. The long,
range fellow got busy just after I car
ried Miss Haye in. turned my pea
shooter on him and silenced him for a
while. but he broke out again. Guess
he's firing from a gun-pit or some
thing