Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-04

FOURTEENTH INSTALLMENT.
~ VOW did it get there?" said
~ Elk wonderingly. as he eyed
Lila's red slipper on the
i i edge of the Mecca Wharf.
ut may have been thrown
up from boat deliberately, said
Wade There's no mud on the heel,
and practically none on the sole. The
boat came here to land Mum Oaks.
After that, it went on. Lila took adj
vantage of the woman'S landing TO
throw up the shoe, on the chance that
we would find it,
He lifted the slipper with wild
hope that she might have scrubbed a
message on 1t.
There's no mark here" said Elk.
Lets get this woman up to the
station. We may make her squeak"
And then, suddenly: Il suppose there's
nobody in the rat hole?"
He pointed to a pile of bricks near
the entrance to the wood cellar.
Evidently workmen been repairing the
breach in the wall. for scattered about
was a litter of building material
In a hurry to make that place
habitable," said Elk thoughtfully. Can
you spare a minute?"
Reluctantly John Wade followed him
down the steps to the door Of the cellar.
It was not fastened, and they went IN.
Elk put his lantern into the steel bin
in the corner.
New sand and everything" he said.
Cropping down. he found the handle
and pulled it. The door swung open.
AS it did so, they saw that the in
terror was lighted. Wade passed into
the long room, where he had suffered
the greatest fright of his life. AS he
! ~ hing ctirrad AFT the far
end of the room. For second there
appeared a figure near the door of the
little chamber that had once housed the
mysterious Anna.
Come out, you'll" he said sternly.
There was no response. Leaving
! Elk in the doorway, he ran toward the
little room. He reached 1t just in time
to see two feet disappearing through
the ventilating-Shaft Turning, he
raced back to the wharf. Quick as he
was, however, his quarry was quicker.
Something raced past him toward the
end of the wharf. In another second
the figure had leaped into the water
and disappeared.
Wade came back breathlessly. and
Elk met him at the head Of the
stairs.
"Golly, or I'm greatly mistaken"
Wade said. "A surprising little fellow.
I didn't even know he could swim"
Cant you pick him up?"
There isn't a launch within miles"
said. Wade. You might phone the yard
for an emergency squad. This girl
must be found-tonight. If Mrs. Oaks
doesn't talk, Siniford will"
| Driving westward, Wade went over
his interview with the lawyer and his
talk with Lila.
st hope nothing happens to that
girl" said Elk. Listen, Johnny. Sup
pose them india rubber fellers v. :"
"Oh. shut up!" Snarled Wade.
His imagination needed no Stimulant.
IT think. by half-paSt 10 tomorrow
I'll have Siniford under my thumb.
No, I'm not worried about Lila: The
marry her. and. for some reason,
Aikness is helping him. Lila is Della
Pattison, which means that nobody is
going. to hurt her. What will happen
/ after the marriage. Is quite another
matter but the ceremony has got to
be properly performed. Siniford will
/ take no risks"
What do you expect to find in this
private deed box? BY the way. where
! is that box?"
AT Brude's bank"
"And where is that?" asked Elk.
Wade realized that he hadn't asked
I'm only wondering" said Elk, be
cause, II remember rightly, this young
lady told you that she'd heard some
talk about bank and an engraver
=, Where Is the bank? Lothbury
street. isn't it?"
Wade leaned out of the cab window.
Full up at the first telephone
Booth" he instructed the driver I'm
going to telephone Brude," he ex-
planned It was a fool not to connect
the Lothbury Bank with the story Lila
told"
He reached Mr.. Brude at his fat in
Portman square.
THE Great Central Bank" said Mr..
Brude. 'SThe Lothbury branch"
"Lothbury?" exclaimed Wade. Tell
me, Mr.. Brude. is there a firm of en-
gravers anywhere near that bank?"
He thought he heard the lawyer
gasp.
why" he began.
Tell me-" said Wade impatiently. 1T
is very important"
Eyes. there Is q firm of engravers.
They occupy the top floor of the bank
building. AS . matter OF fact, the
engraver. an elderly gentleman. is a
freeholder of the property, and he al
lowed the bank, which originally oc-
cupied the ground floor. to rebuild the
premises only on condition that he
should have the top floor for his bust
ness. There is, OF course, separate en-
trance"
THAT is all I want to know. thank
you,' said Wade, and abruptly cut him
| off
| He returned to the car and reported
the conversation to his companion.
Did you call the yard?" asked Elk.
and, when Wade replied in the mega
| tive: SILLY idea, isn't it?"
1T is job for the city police. any
way, and don't want to look silly in
Old Jewry," said Wade.
| Old Jewry is thoroughfare that
houses the headquarters of the city
| police, an independent body over which
| Scotland Yard exercises no control.
| Wen have a look at the bank"
said Wade Policemen are as thick
as flies near the Bank of England, and,
If there's any trouble, Wen have all
/ the help We want"
Lothbury street was deserted They
| saw q policeman turn the corner and
walk away as they went into the
thoroughfare. The bank occupied a
| stone-fronted and rather narrow build
ing. As they approached Wade saw
tall man standing outside. The man
scrutinized them as they alighted from
their cab.
Isn't that Inspector Wade?" he
asked my names Cardlin, detective
sergeant of the city police"
us anything wrong?" asked Elk.
The man did not answer Immediately,
but smoothed his short black beard
PROPOSALS.
SEALED BIDS, INDoRsED, bids FOR
Shed. Spec ifca ton No. $500" will be receiy-
ed AZ the Bureau Of Yards and Docks. Navy
O'clock = m Nav l. 1929. and then and