Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-14

illuminated line. Salveter. too, glanced
at the floor, and frowned.
I'm sure / don't know" he said In
puzzled voice. THE last person in
the museum is supposed to turn OF
the switch But no one to my knowl-
edge has been in there tonight.
I'll See He stepped toward the door
but Vance moved in front of him.
Don't trouble yourself" he said
peremptorily. TN attend to it.
Good night"
Salveter took the dismissal uneasily,
but without another word he went up
stairs.
When he had disappeared round the
banisters on the second floor, Vance
gently turned the knob and pushed the
museum door open. Below us, on the
opposite side of the room, seated at the
desk-table near the obelisk, and sur
rounded by the filing boxes, photo
graphs and cardboard folders. was
Scarlet. His coat and waistcoat were
hanging over the back of his chair;
green celluloid shade covered his
eyes; and pen was in his hand
poised above a large note book.
He looked up as the door opened.
"Oh. hallo!" he called cheerlly.
Thought you we're through with the
Bliss mensge for today"
"It's tomorrow now" returned Vance,
going down the stairs and crossing the
museum.
What" Scarlet reached behind him
and took out his watch. Great Scott!
So it is. Had no idea of the hour
Been working here since O'clock"
"Amazin" Vance glanced over a few
of the upturned photographs. Very
interestin' Who let you in,
by the by?"
Brush. of course" Scarlet seemed
rather astonished at the question.
Said the family were having dinner
in the breakfast room. told him
not to disturb 'em-that I had a bit
of work 20 finish :"
us" Vance was apparently engrosSed
in photograph of four amuletic
bracelets.
But why should he, Vance," Scarlet
had arisen and was getting into his
coat. IT'S a commonplace thing for
me TO come here and work in the
evenings. I'm drifting in and out of
the house constantly. When 1 work
at night I always shut of the light
on going and see that the front door
is fastened Nothing unusual about
my coming here after dinner"
That probably accounts for Brush's
not telling us, don't " know" Vance
tossed the photographs back on the
table. But something out of the or
din'ry did happen here tonight" He
laid the sheathed dagger before Scar
lett. What do you know about that
bizarre parazonium?"
"Oh, much" The other grinned, and
shot Vance an interrogatory look. How
did you happen on 1t? It's one of the
doctors dark secrets"
"Really?" Vance lifted his eyebrows
in simulated surprise. Then you're ia
miliar with it?"
Father. 1 saw the old scalawag
slip it into his khaki shirt when he
found it. / kept mum-none of my
business. Later, when we were here
in New York, he told me he'd SNUG
gled it out of Egypt, and conf1ded to
me that he was keeping i. Sequestered
in his study. He was in constant fear
that HAM would unearth it, and swore
me to secrecy. I agreed. What's one
dagger, more or less? The Cairo Mu-
scum has the cream of all the exca-
waited items anyway"
He kept it ensconced under some
papers in one of his desk drawers"
yes, / know. Safe hiding place
HAM rarely goes in the study. q.
But I'm curious"
We're all curious. Distressin' state,
what?" Vance gave him no time to
speculate. Who else knew Of the dag
gers existence?"
mo one, as far as I know. The doc
tor certainly didn't disclose the fact to
HAM; and I doubt seriously If he in
formed Mrs. Bliss She has peculiar
loyalties In regard to her native coun-
try. and the doctor respects them. No
telling how she'd react to the theft Of
such a valuable treasure"
What about Salveter?"
I'D say no." Scarlet made an I'M
pleasant grimace. He'd be sure to con-