Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-07
CONTINUED From Yesterdays star,
CHAPTER LIV.

from America, and he expected his
chief to make some reference to its con-
tents. But apparently 1t had nothing
to do with the case, for Dick turned tne
sheets upside down and addressed MIN.
self to the business for which ne nao
sent for Steel.
TAKE a plain-clothes officer with you
and admit yourself to 55l Portman
square. You will probably find the
controls are OF. I want you to walt
and watch the removal Of the MalpaS
god, AS soon as 1t Is gone close the
house and report"
Are you moving the idol?" asked
the other in surprise.
Dick nodded.
i've arranged with the Builders
Transport Co. to have q lorry and
20 men before the house at half
past 8. See that they get in, watch the
loading and escort the idol to Scotland
Yard. I've told the transport company
to cover it up, or we should have half
London following the trolley under the
impression that we're giving an exhibit
ton. We've arranged for its reception
at the yard, When we've got it there,
two of our engineers will make very
thorough examination and think this
will throw light upon Malpas and his
methods, and STEEL"
The sergeant turned back.
IT had a talk with one of MarShalt'S
servants today. She came with whole
lot of useless stuff about things that
mean nothing, but she let out one in
teresting fact: Marshall was really
scared of the man next door, I've been
thinking that all that talk and APP
pointment of Stormer's men to watch
was sheer bunk But it was true. One
day this woman had to go into Mar
shafts study to take some coal and she
lust got into the room when three
knocks came from the other side of the
wall. You remember 1 told you that
Miss Bedford heard the same signal.
Marshall and longer were together ana
the effect on Marshall was to reduce
him to jelly. That's what the woman
said, but I'm allowing a generous mar
gin for exaggeration. I don't know
whether you've any cut-and-dried the
DRY, but remember that Marshall and
longer were in the room together when
the knocks came. And Marshall was
scared sick"
Steel considered this new point.
st don't see how that adds to our
knowledge, sir" he said, and Dick
shannon showed his teeth in a smile.
1T adds lot to mine. 1t tells me
who was the two-faced villain who was
on the other side! Now. get along"
Half an hour later Sergt. Steel. &C
conpanied by one plain-clothes officer,
walked up the steps of ssh, fitted his
KEY in the tiny lock and admitted him
self and his companion. The light was
burning in the hall and in the big room
above apparently nothing mad changed
except that somebody had drawn the
curtain over the idol. -.
Pull back those window curtains,
said Steel Lets have a little real
light in this place."
So saying he switched OF the lamps
In daylight Malpas' room was even
more funereal than it was under the
glare of the electric.
81 don't know why the chief wants
us TO watch the removal" grumbled
Steel.
"Our people have been squealing
about this job" said the other, land
they will be glad Capt. Shannon has de-
cided to cut out the guard for good"
Steel looked at his watch.
1.-THE contractors men. will be here in
half an hour, and then we'll see what
this old idol looks like in the Black
museum"
Are they moving it' Is that the
idea, Sergeant"
"That is the idea" said Steel, idly
turning the pages Of a book he had
been reading when he had been IN
occupation.
The officer strolled up to the statue
and examined it curiously.
TT will take some moving" ne SAID,
at looks to be cast in one piece and 1t
must weigh ton. wonder the moor
"The floor doesn't; the wall is built
out underneath. Capt. Shannon had
hole knocked into it to see II there was
any hidden mechanism there, but there
wasn't"
who are doing the moving?" :,
"The Builders Traction Co, sala
Steel. Did you wedge open the oooi
downstairs?" he asked. with a pretense
of carelessness. The place was on his
nerves.
Half an hour passed and there was
no sign of the contractor. He took UP
the telephone and Immediately missed
the familiar buzz of the receiver ana
tapped the hook.
"The phone is dead. Has anybody
ordered It to be cut of, wonder?"
He glanced nervously at the door,
and, obeying an impulse, walked across
and planted a chair SO that 1t was
impossible that it should close Inc
light was fading in the sky; he put on
the lamps again, to find that they olo
not work. .r.
81 think we'll co." said Steel hastily
"but don't touch that chair"
He himself vaulted over it and went
down the stairs quicker than he nao
moved since he had been boy. Inc
wedge at the door still held. AS ne
stood there he heard the upper ooot
shut. o,, .,,.S tho
plain-clothes man, coming OUT AiVer
you've never been on duty here
have you?" ,,rd our
neonle made fuss about 1t, out
looks an easy job to me. ..
"It would snapped Steel. Aho ~
would look an easy job to anypooy WIG
doesn't understand 1t. 60 around 70
fhe store in Orchard street ana phone
tie tTaction company, ask them how
long they'll be-" 49,.
Pavement. keeping one eve upon the
omen door. his uniniured hand on tne
butt of the gun that he carried IN MS
His walk took him a few yards be.
,,ood the onen door on either side ana
he was turning when he, saw yer
low hand come round behind the door
and grip the wedge-the hand OF q
man. a flesh and blood man, ana Sleei
was afraid of no man in the world.
Wv Whipping out his gun, he leaped
I'm the steps. and as he did SO the
wedge was withdrawn and the door
began to close. 1t was within an incn
Of coming to rest when Steel nung
himself against the dark paneling ana
for a second it held. Then SOMEBODY
inside added his weight to the springs
and the door closed. Steel stooo, PAM ~
ing and exhausted, leaning aganss slts
saw his assistant coming back at
st cot on to the traction people;
thew saw that the order was counter
tlCy oI1 Fta~ooo,, rv Cant Shan.