Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-05
BLUE MURDER
By Edmund Smell.
Thrilling
o In PERIL.
By Edmund Smell.

Haye spread out his hands and
dropped them on to his knees.
1T is very remarkable"
"I should never be surprised" pur-
sued the other, "if Greta walked into
my study one fine morning with the an
nouncemens. that she proposed getting
married on the following day. She might
be precipitate. but she'd be frank about
it nevertheless. No, Dick, hate TO pose
as an alarmist, but there's more IN TINS
confounded business than meets the
eye"
He touched the bell.
You think so, eh?"
I'm sure of 1t. You can bring in the
whisky. Jarrett-and tell Mullins to see
that Mr.. Hayes beds aired"
He sprang up suddenly ana began
pacing the room.
You've more than an inkling, Dick.
what my job is. A career OF this sort
brings. one enemies. You could naroly
expect it 10 be otherwise. These enemies
are divided into two clasSes-those VINO
know who I am and those who would
like to know In general sort OF way,
these enemies of mine and myself wage
a war of mutual hate without actually
ever coming into contact with one an
other. We are the generals, so TO speak,
and our representative agents serve as
cannonfodder Our warfare Is Waged
along certain fixed lines, and ACCORDING
to certain accepted rules. Occasionally,
however, a foe comes into the field VINO
treats these conventions with contempt.
And it is a person in this category VINO,
believe, has spirited Greta away.
The painter sat back in his chair,
with his legs crossed and the tips OF MS
long fingers pressed together in front oil
him.
"And do YOU mean to tell me my
daughter has been kidnapped BY
"By a fellow styling himself the
Lizard" said Taverner bluntly.
There was brief period OF silence
while Jarrett brought in the tray and
set 1t down.
'Greta," pursued the baronet, "is due
in Rome at o'clock tomorrow
morning. I'll wire my fellow there TO
look out for her. I'll let my men in Ra-
PABLO know, too. They're Immediately
interested In the Lizard, and may be III
a position to follow him up.
He rang the bell again.
Jarrett appeared in the doorway.
"You rang, Sir?"
Eyes: ask Mr.. Baird to come In"
every good, sir"
A few moments later the door opened
admitting o tall, bronzed, gray-haired
man, with pronounced military Dear
Ing: .o o.h,.s T.,
code Baird. II YOU don't mind One IS
to 90 to Lamotte at Rome and the other
to Marney:-'Miss Haye due Rome
THURSDAY morning 8 O'Clock. Lizard at
tempting to kidnap. Do all in your
mower" He glanced at his brother-in-
law for approval. Il fancy that should
answer our purpose"
Haye nodded.
II have no suggestions to MAKE.
Taverner looked at Baird.
"We1l get these off as soon as pos
sible. If anything occurs to me before
the morning we'll have time TO wire
II understand perfectly" said the
otner-and the door closed softly
Haye had helped himself 10 the
That's not the chap you had when
I saw you last" he remarked.
mo. I-er-I was rather unfortu-
nate with my last secretary. He met
with sudden end, poor chap!
Sir Ian did not say what his END nao
been; he did not want to narrow the
others nerves. Haye was rather ike
Volcano in imminent state OF eruption.
what makes you think 1t was this
this Lizard, LAM"
Taverner had returned to his chair.
1T have my reasons"
His non -committal answer evidently
annoyed Haye, for he moved restlessly,
and two patches Of crimson appeared
on his cheeks.
Chang it all, IAN" he burst out.
"Greta'S my daughter, you know, even
though I have showed the responsibility
of her upbringing on to your shoulders.
I think you might be more explicit"
Tayerner moistened his lips. The
crater was sending out smoke already!
you've got to be patient, Dick, ne
said. We're treading on pretty dan
gerous ground. There are lots OF secrets
that I am prevented from touching
upon, even In the privacy OF my 1amly
circle. try to make 1t habit not 70
lump to conclusions. When I said that
the Lizard had abducted Greta 1t was
not an effort to be dramatic or even
wise. NV deduction was based on very
solid earth-on o series OF events which
have happened during recent weeks
The Lizard is the only opponent VINO
has ever carried the war into my own
territory--into this very fiat, IN fact. l
am as sure as you are sitting opposite
me now that this bogus cable, and any
thing that may have occurred after us
receipt, is the work OF q man VINO
cherishes some peculiar grievance
against myself"
He took q mouthful OF spirit ana re-
placed the glass on the table.
This fellow was particularly well ins
formed. He knew of the private stair
case by which my agents come to VISIT
me from time to time; he had key 10
the door which leads from 1t TO my
study: apparently he was thoroughly
conyersant with the movements OF my
household 1t hardly requires stretch
of imagination to assume that he was
aware thai had q niece OF whom
was very fond. II he desired to hurt me
he could have devised no better way
than TO kidnap her"
Have picked cigar from the box,
tested against his ear, and lit 1t With
out troubling to remove the band.
"Who Is this Lizard. LAMP"
"rhat is precisely what ] am trying
to find out"
The cigar had tilted to truculent
angle. Haye only lacked the cap to
make him the living image Of famous
dictionary skipper.
But your agents"
could tell you no more about him