Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-16


ing and kept my temper.
You are doing marvellous work,
aren't you, Joseph Knocked him, with
your sham hercism and your blank
cartridges"
He was ever so slightly disturbed
the faintest of froWns only!
"A fool with one eve open!" he
murmured. And talking about one eye,
ma jor what about the Buddha?"
safe" 1 told him. Why didn't you
come up to seize 1t? We might have
settled this matter between us, once
and for all
The thought of Rachels pathetic face,
of Beatrice still in his power, maddened
me, and this time made no mistake:
struck his wrist such a blow that the
gun he had been holding fell to the
floor. 1 snatched it up. and while he
was hesitating l slipped the cartridges
into my pocket.
We'll see tomorrow" I threatened,
what the hero of tonight was playing
at have a gun too, Joseph, and my
cartridges bite
And l have another" he countered,
his hand going to his hip like lightning.
Shall We call it quits?'
He was painting little now. his
weapon half-drawn. barely foot or
two between us. Ali around. the scream
ing of women. the smashing OF glass,
the whole ugly work Of the marauders
still continued. It seemed to me to
matter nothing that I looked into the
dark muzzle of Jossph's gun. had him
covered, and my finger itching for its
work.
TELL me where Beatrice Essiter Is"
I demanded. "or I'll blow the brains out
OF your head, even If have to die with
you"
into his face that hideous. damnaole
smile. Then rage swept me into m
sanity. I threw my own gun to the
ground. sprang at him. snatched MS
automatic. and sent it Gathering across
the floor. MY fingers clutched MS
throat. Although his strength amazed
me. and even his convulsive efforts 70
free himself were the movements OF
practiced wrestler. had him, ana ne
knew 1t. Then. in that breathlesS mo
ment. I heard another sound-the
sound for which I had been listening
eagerly a few minutes before. but which
now ir1furiate ted me- man came dash
ing into the restaurant.
"Cops! Ten vans full of them ne
shouted, and over he went, shot by a
pursuer
l looked up for moment, and l
paid. felt a hot breath upon my
neck, and Leopold hit me with the butt
of his revolver. Joseph had his chance
then. He staggered to his feet,
CHASTITY sight. his collar ripped 10
pieces. the marks of my fingers upon
his throat, a queer dark shadow under
his eyes. He snatched up his gun:
With my left hand 1 sent Leopold head
over heels. stopped for a moment and
once more faced Joseph. Again 1t was
life for life between us two, but
again I was denied. We we're sur
rounded by plain-clothes police. ABOVE
the tumult we could hear the shsIp
defamation of bombs. and little puffs
of green smoke came floating down.
Then my enemy amazed me once more
He flung himself into a chair with a
great shout of relief, produced a hano-
kerchief and began to mop ms race
The police at last" he cried. ITS
all right, Leopold. all right, Major.
These rascals won't have a dogs
chance now"
/ stared at him. taken aback. the
room was ALREADY almost empty OF the
marauders. except for those who were
being handcuffed and led away. The
main body of the police had rushed
on TO the entrance hall. Two or three
nurses had arrived, followed by men
carving stretchers, and a great MAN.
guests who we're more frightened than
hurt were sitting up once more at their
tables and more were troopmg from
the place Mr. x. with WORD Q!
apology. poured himself out glass OF
wine from the bottle upon the table
by his side.
Il hope you have lost nothing, Lady
Robinson?" he said.
my necklace" she sobbed. "They
have my necklace. thought you hao
shot the man. He went over when
you fired, but he got up again. You
hit him. am sure, because he was
limping and calling out with pain, but
he took tn: necklace
He edged away from my scrutiny, but
he was too late. One side of his
face. at any rate. was most amazingly
made I'D. but there was the slightest
of cracks in the wax. It might almost
have been a human wrinkle but, slight
though IL was, l could see the change
in the contour Of his face. My hanc
rested as though by accident upon
his arm.
Couldn't We finish our little dispute
out on the terrace" suggested. Man
| to man. and no weapons What about
that?"
NV enemy hesitated, and Leopold
whispered in his ear.
Wouldn't explanations of that sort
| be rather an anti-climax?" Mr.. 4 ask
ed sweetly The end between us is
not tonight"
why not?" I demanded. IT am
going to hand you over to inspector
! Bloor"
you poor fool" he scoffed. who'll
/ believe YOU! There are so people in
| the place who would bear witness to
nv feats of heroism. Besides which.
| am established here, well known-not
penniless adventurer. who was IN
| the police court yesterday morning. TO
every charge you could bring against
me I have a perfect abb. Come. be
reasonable. What is 1t you want OF
me?"
Beatrice Essiter, for one thing"
He shrugged his shoulders.
BretZgel was coming towards us, lis
arm in sling Bloor by his side.
well, gentlemen" he announced.
with a smile. The great raid is at
an end. The inspector has just been
explaining TO me how 1t was that he
had 800 police ready armed. They
arrived just In time
THE safes?" inquired anxiously.
They blew the Office to pieces" hi
admitted They smoked us out, too
but not one of them crossed the threshs
old of my. room. Your little deposit
major" he confided, lis quite secure
felt that 1 must come and thank
you two gentlemen" he went on, turns
| ing first to Mr.. x. and then to me.
! In the intervals of our own seige I
| saw a good deal of what was passing
! down here. How you, sir" he con-
| cluded, addressing Mr.. *, escaped be-
+, ing shot I can't imagine. You seemed
| to be in the thick of it all the time.
! There was q shorter gentleman with
| you. too"
my friend, Leopold" MIR. x inter-
rupted. He made for home by the
embankment entrance directly he saw
| that the frniIhle WAS nvsr C1nnd thing