Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-07
EIGHTEENTH INsTALLMENT.

white room black hgure was
seated. Neither hemisphere could
have provided another such room
i nor another figure like this.
This room was circular and sur
mounted by a dome. This dome was
carried out in mother-o'-pearl, so that
its effect was rather like that of a
tropical evening sky. It was invisibly
lighted. 1t served as a reflector and
dimly illuminated the room as II by
moonlight. The walls were paneled in
the same manner and outlined in ebony.
There was but little furniture. At a
large white table Uttered with papers
and provided with a number of COM
plicated and queer-looking switcn-
boards sat the sole occupant OF the
room.
This was a woman.
She wore a black velvet robe Of
medieval fashion. It sheathed her
figure like a serpent's skin. Her arms
and shoulders were almost abnormally
white Her hair, which she wore in
the Spanish manner, coiled low on her
neck, was blue-black, like a ravens wing
depended large hoops of diamonds.
Her luminous, darkly fringed eyes
staring straight before her. she sat
motionleSs. Her brows were two perfect
straight lines. Slim, exquisite hands
rested upon the table. On the index
finger Of the right hand diamond ring
of notable design and size struck a
blatant note.
A faint sound became audible. It was
like that Of a distant silver bell. In O
small lacquer cabinet upon the table a
speck of red light sprang to life. The
effect was as though some tiny hidden
animal had peered out with one in
furiated eye.
&c. H. O." said gutteral voice.
The voice was that apparently of some
one in the room. But no one had en-
tered the room-which, in common with
New York police headquarters were
s arching-posSesSed no visible doors.
Report of Head Center, New York, y
replied the woman.
Her voice was low, vibrant, intense.
Head Center, New York, is on the
line"
Connect him."
Beside the speck of red light within
the little cabinet a companion speck
appeared. It was mauve.
The woman slightly moved one OIL
those slender white hands. A tapering
finger touched button. The room be-
came plunged In darkness. .-
Head Center, New York" said a mu-
steal male voice, seemingly from a few
PAGES away. Standing by in H. O."
Your report"
Following complete failure at the
home of Page Sutton, already reported,
Zone Ofilcer 2-A-Fee Czerna-escaped
to neighboring road house In the COM
pany of the English ships surgeon-Dr.
Stopford-of whom you have been no
titled. Usual routine was followed.
Comdr Drake Roscoe, in charge of State
operations, raided the house at $50 this
morning. The. following officers are
detained: Divisional Chief A, Zone Of
ficer ga, Zone officer ga, Group Mas
ter 2, 3 and 4, Sector ga 1, with
Acting upon untraceable information.
Deputy Commissioner Burke has closed
all streets surrounding H. O.. New York.
Traffic has been diverted. A raid upon
The Blue Barber is pending. STAFF
standing by. Other units dispersed.
Awaiting instructions. Report ends.
Their, were some moments Of silence,
Then came the woman's voice:
Divisional Chiefs B and G will report
to Head Center. Chicago, at the earliest
possible moment. Advise Chicago, Dr.
visional Chief D will report Head Cen
ter, Phils delphia, at 8 o'clock tonight.
Advise Philadelphia. Each divisional
chief will follow the usual emergency
routine regarding his zone Officers before
leaving. Transmit this order and stand
by for another"
Silence fell again. From out Of the
darkness sprang an illuminated map.
It must have occupied q great part Of
the wall facing the table ct which the
woman was seated. In the dim light
which its appearance created, her beau
tiful, cold face looked less human than
ever.
The map was that Of the United
States. And over the whole of 1t spread
Q delicate network of circles. It SEEM
spinning q web Of different color, had
lahored from every important city on