Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-02
The Emperor
OF America
By
Sax Rohmor
Copyright Alliance ana Nepcrtan
Service.

all b reinforcementS. instruct group
master charge motor boat stand By.
plane stand by. DiSconnees.
Followed some moments OF sffenee.
Then the instrument repeated its call:
"Tick--Tickl Ticker--Tick--T ick!"
At last the answer came:
Zone A."
"Your report"
Roscoe allotted room facing Sound.
Dogs have attacked perhaps killed
some one in grounds. Search party
setting out. Awaiting orders in room.
Report ends"
Instantly
Proceed Roscoe'S room" licked the
order. Lift pillow. Return at once and
report If reel of silk is there and If
silk extends through window. Test If
tight or loose. Don't disturb. Hurry.
Hold the connection. Move"
The silence which followed was
broken by sound Of running footsteps
They ceased somewhere on the edge
of the hollow There was a muffled
colloquy. Then a figure appeared be-
side the car.
"Well?" said q musical voice--that of
the man at the wheel.
Report Of sector captain 8 A 3 COW
ering Page Sutton home. Group mas
ter 4, sector 3 A 8, inside the Sutton
home. was attacked by the dogs while
adjusting connection. He used his
pistol. The house is alarmed. Group
master believed to be dead"
Had he made the connecticut"
According to the outside report
yes"
stand by for instructions"
The figure disappeared into the dark
ness. The instrument In the car began
to tick out a message:
Zone A reel is there. Silk stretched
tightly. Cannot stay in room longer
Report ends"
meet"
Silence fell in the hollow where the
lonely darkened car lay hidden
you're taking risks!" growled Ned
Regan.
I'm used to 'em!" was Roscoe's
reply. Were all in dinner kit and
I'm wearing soft-brimmed hat"
Remote, behind the house, uprose the
mingled protests of the dogs, kenneled
by the daring cunning of Bach. He had
rejoined them at this very moment.
His left hand was swathed in bandages.
"All right Doctorl" he said, catching
Stopford'S reproachful glance. Those
dogs are clean enough. ought to
know. look after them"
I've washed the wound" DR.: Cross
interrupted. II happened to be the
| Ahob AL OAA tAAS JSOt ~VORNOAA' SND
superficial, and used plenty OF 10
dine
"I'd like it cauterized."
st take YOU on that, doctor!" said
Bach. But let's get our job done
first"
He was keen as mustard Ned Regain
you'll go far. my sport" said he,
If you live"
Already he had the bolts drawn, and
the party of seven--for Wilson. the
chauffeur, had reinforced the group
poured out on the lawn. Molly OHay
watched from the balcony. Partieu"
larly, she was watching Roscoe.
Spread out!" said he, there may be
shooting"
They famed out, then converged on
the shrubbery. The night was still as
desert. Once under cover they came
together by the spot where the victim
of the dogs lay. Stopford actually
found him first.
K ray from torch told the truth.
"Armitage!" whispered Page Sutton.
Lights outP' snapped Roscoe.
The search party became plunged
into darkness.
WILSON Roscoe had automatically
taken command grab his head.
body hoof along and make sure the
women aren't around"
Better sttll"--the hushed voice was
that Of DR.. Cross "open the Summer
ballroom, Sutton. If you haven't the
key, run and get it. We can leave him
there. It's unpleasant taking him into
the house"
Five minutes later 9 CHASTITY thing
lay under sheet in the long, low out
building, q wing of the Page Sutton
home. Ignoring protests, Roscoe search
ed the body. He seemed to be disSatisi-
fed.
IAN in again." he directed tersely.
Then loose the dogs. Can you risk It,
. Bach?"
sure" was the confident reply
After which," said Stopford, looking
at DR.. Cross, II should like to take q
! peep at the wound, Bach"
Back in the house, Roscoe headed
: straight for the room which had been
occupied by the dead man. Among
: Armitage's Scanty possessions he found
what he looked for. Stopford was at
; his elbow. Roscoe held up his find.
; I'VE know what the badge Of q zone
oficer" looks like" he said; have
one in my collection. This, take
/ it, is the badge of lesser ofacial. But
we're sure, now, that Armitage be-
longed to the Zones"
The thing was attached to a safety
clasp, by which 1t might be fixed to
the owners garment. 1t was enamel,
/. colored blue and white; three parts
blue and one part white. Below was
q tiny &c" executed in small diamonds.
: mot such a lavish display OF bril-.
I liantS as in the badge OF the Zone of1lcer
= you'll note" Roscoe commented. This
= chap must have correSponded to some
A thing like a sergeant-major."
HE earned his pay" said Stopford
solemnly.
!, 1T wonder If he didP"
8 what d'you mean?"
J, I'VE shall know later" was the cryp
d tic reply.
y Shouldn't headquarters be inform"
; ed?" Stopford asked.
= Headquarters" Roscoe answered, 'is
busy enough. There are no less than
: $50 men covering this section at the
d present moment"
r It was not genial atmosphere which
]. prevailed when, presently, the house
9 party came together again. Any pre-
: tense of gayety was palpably out OF
!, place. Furthermore, all realized, in
= timately the menace which overhung
:, that home. The dogs, newly released
> were making the night hideous with
I their bowling.
9 break up the party. Nobody expected
y to sleep we'll. But when, at last, all
: the indications pointed to dispersal,
: Madame Czerna, who had been chatting
with Stopford, grew suddenly serious.
Her charming face quite suddenly al
tered. 1t was as though the weight of
troubled years had suddenly been i'm
7cSeH Hnon her. CHANGING aside to
where Roscoe was SeaLeo.
"I think we must all soon go to bed, -
she said. DIR. Stopford thought her
accent was exquisite. 81 want to ask