Evening star., 1928-10-15
BLUE MURDER
By Edmund Smell.
Thrilling story .
in Peril
By Edmund Shell.

I'VE must get out of this, Marney,"
| he returned. III look after this gadget
while you drive the bus toward the gate.
Well evacuate her in the shelter of the
trees and make bolt for it."
Greta's hand pressed his arm.
What have you been doing all this
time?" she asked II thought those
dreadful people must have killed you.'
Dighton laughed
I'm afraid I've been acting incen-
diary. But was forgetting. You told
me Corlitt hit you when he fired
1T was just a graze," she assured
him. I've bound it with my ,hand-l
kerchief." (
Keep down." shouted Marney from
the wheel. There's that ray again" :
Dighton pulled the trigger and aimed
at the spot where the trouble appeared
to originate. Apparently the hidden
operator was still uncertain as to the
actual occupant of the saloon, for the
thing like blue searchlight fell across
the drive--a menacing barrier between
them and the gates. Dighton'S gun.
hissed venomously and it petered out.
The car swerved suddenly. A momentl
later it had crossed the threatened areaF
and was drawing to Standstill by the
trees.
Dighton emptied his weapon at the
already blazing sheds, then picked up
Greta and carried her into the bushes.
Marney followed. They had barely
reached cover before the gates opened
and Ahlborg appeared, bareheaded, with
length of rope still dangling from one
leg. At his heels ran the little Italian
policeman. Dighton could see his white,
stained face and the carbine held in
readiness.
AS Ahlborg neared the house, shouting
wildly as he ran, the long-range gun
opened fire again.
Either he had forgotten its existence,
or the leaping flames from the building
daZ2led him. for Ahlborg did not stop.
One moment he was in darkness-the
next a towering figure bathed in blue
light, from which solitary carabiniero
staggered back, shielding his eyes.
And then he was gone!
They found Taverner in the road. He
had come to see the effect of the flames,
it transpired, and Ahlborg had taken
Haye unawareS. Dick Haye was in the
hired car now, recovering from a sore
head.
Its fine blaze" said Dighton, "in
spite of the rain. They won't be able to
get near it for hours"
Greta threw herself into Taverners
arms.
"I'm so glad to see you," she whis-
pered. Please let's get away from
here at once. Tit frightens me-
Were going now" he said. You'll
find your father little farther along,
but you won't see very much of him
because I'm sending you to England by
the De Luxe tonight"
Greta started.
Not alone?"
ooh, no-with Alan Dighton. He'll
be bit of crock when the excitement's
worn off and he'll want looking after
I've headquarters job waiting for him
when he's fit We're all scattering,
you know. Your father and I are going
to Genoa, and Marney's making bee
line for the Swiss frontier"
They let the chauffeur go and took
the road to Rapallo. Looking back,
Dighton caught many glimpses of the
burning villa. 1t was a magnificent fire
and he was proud of it. It stood for
so many things-for Ahlborg's faded
dreams of conquest. for justice, for fu-
ture generations relieved of scourge,
for the successful ending of great
adventure.
The sight of it checked Hayes VOL
uble excuses for the escape of Ahlborg.
the protestations of suddenly revived
affection for his daughter The pity of
it all was that he would never be able
% talk of it in Romel
=
Taverner's parting words at the sta
ton containing no promises, but con-
veyed a hint which was equally reas-
suring.
Don't get married before get back,
he said through the window: and then
Good luck to you both"
THE END