Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-14
THE RAGGED
PRINCESS
By
Edgar
Wallace

| turned and fed along the way she had
come, leaving Dick to stare after her in
wonder.
| By the time he had reached the end
of the square Audrey was waiting for
him.
ITO whom were you talking?" she
asked as he walked by her side in the
| direction Cf No. Ssh.
"Nobody--at least, nobody you know"
he said.
She would have left him near the
house.
Don't come any further, please" she
begged.
you" he insisted, ''or else you do not go
inside I certainly have no intention OF
allowing you to go alone"
She looked at him thoughtfully.
Perhaps that is best. though feel
that shouldn't allow you. He may be
dreadfui old man, but I owe him
something"
by the way, have you the money
with your"
All that is left" she said with little
smile. I've been very mean. paid
my board for week In advance at the
hotel. l suppose you realize that I've
got to get another Job on Monday, and
police If do not account for the money
I've spent
Let him send for me-" said Dick.
BY this time they were opposite the
door of ssh. and, after moments hesi-
taticn, Audrey tapped. There was no
reply, and she tapped again. Then the
hard voice spoke from the door pillar.
who is that?"
1T Is Miss Bedford"
Are you alone?"
She hesitated, Dick nodding furiously.
"Yes." she said
The words were hardly spoken before
the door opened slowly, and she slipped
in. followed by the detective. A dim
light burned In the hall.
Wait here" whispered the girl as the
door closed behind them.
Dick mutely agreed. though he N2d no
intention Of waiting SO far out o. each
She had scarcely got to the f1rs land
ing OF the stairway when he VAS fol-
lowing her his rubber-soled boots max
ing no sound. She saw him as her hand
wsS raised to knock on the landing door
and frowned him back. Twice she
knocked and her hand was raised for
the third time when, from the room
within, came the sound Of two shots In
rapid succession.
Instantly Shannon was by her side
and had pushed her back. Throwing
his weight against the door, it opened
suddenly. He was In the well lighted
lobby. and ahead Of him was the open
door of the dark room. And dark 1t
was, for no glimmer of light showed
inside.
rs anybody here?" he called sharply,
and heard a stealthy movement.
What is it," asked the frightened
voice Of the girl.
Il don't know"
There was in that room some terri
tying influence. He felt the hairs at
the back Of his neck raise and q crawl
ing sensation run along his scalp.
Who Is there?" he called again.
And then, most Unexpectedly, two
lights went on: table lamp and
heavily shaded light above q small table
and chair within reach of his hand.
For second he saw nothing unusual,
and then, lying on the carpet in the
very center of the room, the figure of a
man. face downward
He ran forward. A wire caught his
chest. another trip wire nearly threw
him down. but his fash lamp revealed
the presence OF third. and he broke
1t with kick. In another second he
was kneeling by the mans side and
had turned him over on his back.
1t was Lacy Marshall, and above his
heart the white shirt front was smudged
black with the gases OF a pistol fred
at close quarters. The outfiung hands
were clenched In agony the eyes, half
closed. were fixed classify on the somber
ceiling. and now q thin ooze of blood