Evening star., 1930-03-24
FOURTH INSTALLMENT.

marrow table. Inc TOOTH WAS uLnpcu
i in strange shadows. A pedestal
lamp on the table afforded the only
flight. A sfadowy dome crowned the
room and the rays of the lamp fell
upon the figure of a man. This hgure
resembled nothing human; 1t might
have been that of an animated mummy.
There was no sound. A long, yellow
hand was stretched out to press put-
| ton. A point of red light appeared In
| the darkness.
H. O." said clear, sing-song voice.
The indefinable creature spoke in mu-
sical, cultured accents.
Report of Divisional Chief b.
Report to hand" the Sing-Song voice
went on. "Comdr Roscoe is not In the
B Zones. Report ends"
The voice was as that of one stand
ing in the room. But no one had en-
tered and there was no visible mouth
piece nor did the table carry tele-
phone.
Report of Zone officer in charge Of
party covering the Ruritania."
"To hand. Zone Officer &c reports
that Roscoe was not seen to leave the
ship by way of the pier. Group master
covering from North River confirms.
sector Captain 3-C-3 has advised that
steward who went ashore at 1917, after
proceeding to Roscoes apartments and
finding it empty, went across to Hotel
Memphis, Immediately opposite on
West Forty-fourth street, and booked
accommodations for DR.. Stopforu.
Steward is in room. Sector Captain
S-C-3 standing by at Hotel Memphis.
Report timed II pm, at which hour
Stopford was still on board. Report
ends"
Followed some moments of complete
silence. Then the long. yellow hand
touched a key. Out of the darkness
masking the opposite wall a map of
New York City leaped to sudden life.
1t was brightly illuminated. It was
divided into a series of zones, each dis
tinctly colored. In reSpons to some
silent manipulation of the yellow nm
gers half the map disappeared. A fun
minute passed, then:
Instruct Zone OfIicer "a" the man
at the table ordered, "to proceed to the
Hotel Memphis, relieve Sector Captain
3-C-3, and establish touch with DR..
Stopford in the event of his arrival. In
struct Zone Offlcer sc to report imme-
diatelv If Stopford leaves the ship.
Cancel previous order. Failing his TAX
ing a cab under Group control, Group
master is to follow. Withdraw II. q.
patrol from pier 50 and let him pro-
ceed at once to Hotel Memphis. File
his reports at 15-minute intervals"
The red light went out. The Zone
stopford peered out anxiously through
the rear window of the taxi. The name
of his driver, Patrick Milligan, was re-
assuring, even If the fact that he had
brought Deacon from somewhere up
town had not proved him dissociated
from the Zone Group.
aNk 4f hA Uyn fhHnta0h n
savory territory, and at point west OF
Fourth avenue Stopford detected pur-
suer. Another taxi was following. A
man standing on street corner, cigar
in mouth, hands In pocket, stared hard
as Stopford's cab passed. Now, peertng
back, Stopford saw q swift signal ex-
changed between this man and the
driver of the pursuing cab.
Good enoughi" he murmured and
pulled out his cigarette case. They're
after me. I'm the individual they re-
quirep
His association with Comdr. Roscoe
had attracted the attention Of that
shadowy but formidable being known a.
Head Center"
He breathed more freely when at last
they came out onto the lower end OF
Fifth avenue. The prospect Of q hold
up faded. But now, with every block
passed, pressure of theater trafic ahead
began to make itself felt. RemorselesSly
his wrist watch recorded the death OF
minutes.
At last, held up below Forty-second
street, he leaned through the window
and thrust dollar into the drivers
hand.
Here" said he, 'I'm gettin' out.
can do it quicker at the doublep
Whereupon he set OF at brisk trot
A patrolman on the corner outside
Fifth Avenue Bank stared hard. Stop
ford sprinted along Forty-fourth street
Roscoe had occupied an apartment
here for some time and the elevator
man knew Stopford. He looked II
amazement at the surgeon.
Commander amt been in since. yes
terday forenoon, sir"
"Yt's urgent!" Stopford glanced to-
ward the entrance door. Take me W
quick!" AS they shot by several noors
On the sixth floor, where Roscoei
apartment was situated, the man opened
the elevator, and:
Look here" said he "1'ye got q pass
key, but 1t won't work."
What d'you mean?"
1.-THE locks jammed. But that ain
my point. There's some funny game
on. First of all this evening comes |
police captain--sent by the commander
we find the locks jammed and he says
this copper: IN be back with some
body to force It, He didn't. Then hal
an hour ago comes steward OF you
ship"
what"
Wearing his uniform. He comes from
the commander, too. Must have done
cause he had his keys. Said he'd callet
for clothes and q bag, as the com
mander had spent the night on hoart
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