Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-13

b0A1Sts UsA&sks 1Ae0 yOU SNsk 80 stiasF
the Egyptian.
The mans eyes opened vida e. b
stared ct the glittering. ieweled OBJ
tect. At first he appeared fascinated
but the next moment his face cicude@
and the muscles Of his jowis wOrk69
spasmodically 4 snoldering aliges
had invaded him.
Where did that Pharaonic daeeel
come from?" he asked, striving 10 coaa
at was brought from Egypt By Does
tor Bliss" Vance told him.
HAM took the dagger and hold &
rewrently under the tabie-lanp.
1T could only have come from The
tomb Of A. Here on the crystal knob
y family engraved the kings cars
touche, Behold: Kheper-kheperu-Rs
Iry-Maet--"
eyes. YES. The last Pharaoh OF the
Eighteenth Dynasty. The doctor. found
the dagger during his excavations Il
the Valley Of the Tonbs Of the KINGS
Vance was watching the other intently.
You are quite positive you have neveF
Hani drew himself up proudly.
Had seen IT, would have reported
1t to my government. It would no
longer be In the possession OF an alien
desecrator. but ir the country where ID
belongs. cared for by loving hands &c
keep 1t hidden"
There was bitter hatred in his words.
but suddenly his manner changed.
May be permitted to ask when
you FIRST saw this royal dagger"
swered, "It was proiectin' from ths
headboard Of the doctors bed-iust be-
hind the place where his head had lain
q second earlier"
HAMS gaze travelled past Vance 10
some distant point, and his eyes be-
came shrewdly thoughtful.
Was there no sheath 10 this dag
ger7" he asked.
"oh. yes" There was . flicker In
the corners Of VanceS eyes. "0old
It. The fact q, HAM, we've deuced i'm IA.
terested In the sheath. IT'S diaap-
peared-lying perdu somewhere here
abouts. We're going to make . bit Of
search for It ere long"
HAM nodded his head understand
ingly.
you'll know more than you do now7"
1T may at least verify my suspi-
THE sheath would be On easy object
to hide securely" HAM reminded him.
Guilty Ia putting my hands on It." Vance
you perhaps suggest where We might
best start cur search7"
mo, enendi," Hani returned, after .
perceptibie hesitation. mot at this
moment. would need tins 70 think
every well. suppose you 20 70 your
room and indulge IN some iainaie cons
eentration. You're anything but help
full"
HAM handed the dagger back. aa6
turned toward the hail.
''as to knock on Mr.. salveter's door
and tell him We would Ike to see him
here at once"
HAM bowed, and disappeared.
II don't like that Bird" Heath gTuEn-
bled, when the Egyptian was out Of
hearing. Hes too slippery. And he
knows something hes not telling. I'd
like to turn my boys loose on him With
q. piece Of rubber hcse-they'd make
srpr fos M ssT0s Vance. Il I. wSu 9cn t be
DAGGER himself Bid YOU - notice s the the
way he held it. laying cut Aat n the
palm OF his hand with the point to-
ward the flngers?-just like those knife
throwers in vaudeville"
"Oh, he might have been thinkin'
caressingly Of Doctor Biiss' trachea,"
Vance conceded However, the dagger
episode doesn't worry me half as rnuch
as something that didn't happen to-
night"
pened," retorted Heath.
lively:
whats in your mindP" he ASKED.
The picture presented to Us to-
night, d ye see, wasn't finished.
could still detect some of the under
painting, And there was no yernis-
sage. The canvas needed another
terna-tias generating line wasn't COM
Just then we could hear footsteps on
the stairs. Salveter. with a wyinkled
Shantung dressing gown wrapped about
his pyjamas, blinked as he faced the
lights in the drawing-rooM. He ap-
peaFed only half awake. but when his
pupils had become adjusted TO the
glare, he ran his eyes sharply over the
four of US and then shot Q glance ct
the bronze clock on the mantel.
What now?" he asked. what has
happened" He seemed both bewil-
dereu and anxious.
Doctor Bliss phoned me that some
one had tried to kill him." Vance ex-
planned. $50 we hobbled over.
Know anything about it2"
Good God, mol" Salveter sat down
heavily in a chair by the door. Some
one tried to kill the doctor? Whenf
YAK. How?" He fumbIed in his
dressing gown pockets, and Vance,
reading his movements correctly, held
out his cigarette case. Salveter lighted
Reggie nervously, and drew several
deep inhalations on it.
Shortly after midnight" Vance an
swered. But the attempt failed dis
mally." Ho tosssd the dagger sn saI-
knacks"
The other studied the weapon
few seconds without touching It. A
growing establishment cFept Into his
expression, and he carefully picked up
the dagger and inspected it.
II never saw 1t in my life," he said
in an awed tone. TITS q very valuable
archaeological specimens rare mu-
scum piece. Where in heavens name,
Ss 0s Selon nsa e tn. Bliss collection sscts
"Ah. but 1t does" Vance assured
him. "A private item, 20 to speak. Al
eyes"
Elm amazed. III BET tbs Egyptian
Government doesn't know SholIt IT,"
Salvetey locked up abruptly. "fzas this
dagger anything to do with the at
tempt on the doctors Iifa4" s
Everything apparently" Vance res
piled negllgentiy, I'VE fouLA It lodged
In the headhoard of the doctors bed,
evidently thrown with great force 1T
the spot where his throat should have
been"
salveter contracted his brow and set
his lips.