Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-14

actly expect an enemy airman to drop
bomb at G. H. O.! Perhaps I ought
to be more explicit. For some time It
has been common knowledge in GER
tain circles that Dane, resident in
Italy, Karl Ahlhorg by name, has been
,perfecting an entirely new type of
weapon. Thousands of people are doc
ing much the same. sort Of thing, but
Ahlborg had a reputation and was
worth watching. Ahlenite was tried by
one of our allies in the late war, but
proved SO destructive to the territory
itself over which We were fighting that
they had to give 1t up. have 1t on the
best authority that 1t put liquid fire in
alitieS are lowering around Ahlborg's
villa at this moment. Quite apart from
these. an independent crowd has come
into the field, headed by rather in
teresting personality who styles him.
self the Lizard. A fortnight ago one of
these weapons was removed from the
Villa Sabine by person acting In our
interests. He succeeded in sending It
here through certain private channels
and we received it yesterday. had
news only this afternoon that our in
vestigator was mysteriously murdered
in sleeping car between the italian
frontier and Paris. That, believe, was
the work of our friend the Lizard"
He crossed to where the safe was
standing and threw open the door to
its fullest extent.
THE weapon was put In here. Our
next move was to hand it over to the
ordnance authorities so that It's pos
sibilities might be tested"
His gaze travelled along the track of
ominous blue until 1t rested on the dis
figured corpse.
II fancy it has been adequately test
ed tonight"
In spite of himself Dighton shud-
dered
what a CHASTITY invention!"
Horrible! But it's not a thing we
can leave out of our calculations. To
put it in plain English, either Ahlborg
| his invention and every document re-
lating to it must cease to exist--or the
Pocket Death must come into our pos
session"
Dighton nodded
"It would be blessing for human
ity If his laboratory were to blow up
You think the Lizard was personally
responsible for this fresh outrage?"
I'm sure OF it." said Taverner.
He drew something from the safe
and tossed it across the room.
Dighton picked 1t up. It was circu-
| lar bone disc, the color of Jade. about
an inch and a half in diameter, witt
the head of lizard impressed on one
side in gold.
The sign and superscription of pos.
sibly the best-informed scoundrel ir
this hemisphere" chuckled Taverner
He likes to let you know when he!
pulled off job to his own satisfaction
Queer notion. isn't it."
Before leaving the study Tavernel
locked the door leading to the staircas.
and pocketed the key. He stood fol-
some seconds staring down at the body
of his late secretary.
He flashed look at Dighton.
Not much left to identify him by
eh. Alan?"
The other shook his head.
II don't know If it's my imagina.
tion," he returned, but he seems tx
have shrunk somehow since we frs
saw him."
Taverner bent closer.
Cad / believe you're right. Hei
he's crumbling to nothing!"
He crossed to the door. glanced alonl
the passage to insure that the road wa
clear, then held 1t open for the younge
man to pass.
I'm not usually addicted to nerves,
he added, but I don't mind tellin,
you I'm mighty glad to be outside
Well finish our chat in the drawing
room. I've some particularly fin
whisky rather wanted you to try"
: Dighton noticed that he had gon
oddly white again. and that the ham
that fumbled with the key of this sec
ond door trembled.
Sure you're all right, sir?"
: The other drew himself erect.
/ Funny how these things take you.
! he murmured. II was as right as raj
in that room. See II you can fastel
! this door, Alan Your fingers ar
stronger than mine. You'd better kee
both these keys, by the way. I'm rathe
expecting a visitor from Paris"
oh. yes"
"A certain NJ Daubot, late of tn
$ Surete. He was due here at 8. but
: suppose he's been delayed somewhere.
Dighton tried the handle, Statistic
that the door was locked, he followe