The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-06-12

Sui iouS HitcIeu look OF the llgiit III the
observation post, would be enough to
prevent anything being seen through
it. unless there was light back here.
He checked his impulse to ask
Rhoda what she'd been doing for
hours and Tours in the room they were
looking into and what she meant by
saying that Conley had always come
in at the right time. What his mind
fastened upon was her conclusion that
Forster's bodyguard, stationed here
where his eye could command the
whole room, was not able to hear what
the actors N the scenes he watched
were saying. If that were true the
converse was probably true also, that
Forster wouldn't be able to hear any
ordinary sounds. "He must be
timOrouS old rabbit of rascal" he re-
marked, rather low but in his natural
voice
RhOda was rather startled at this
and admonished him to be careful, but
she smiled in agreement with his char
acterization of Forster. And when she
saw that Martins voice hadn't reached
the old mans ears, she said in tone
that matched his, 'He thought for
minute this afternoon that I'd come up
to shoot him; made me take my hands
out of my pockets. And COnley was
in the room through that little door
down there almost before I'd had time
to do it. Only don't see," she added,
"why he wouldn't want him to listen
as well as look"
81 think do" Martin told her. 1.-THE
poor old goat lives in terror of physical
violence, you see. l imagine he's some
thing of a crook He must have to
have lots of talks with people he's
afraid to be left alone with. Well,
spy who could hear everything they
said would have pretty good hold on
the old man if ever he wanted to use
it. Blackmail, don't you see? But he
can watch from up here, ready to
come in if he sees anybody make a
pass at him, without ever knowing
what it's all about"
Forster startled them both by a
swift glance straight in their direc-
ton and perceptible motion of the
head that must have some sort of
signal. They both started back pre-
cipitately, and Rhoda collided with
the table, which moved with protest
ing grunt much louder than their
voices had been.
'It's all right" Rhoda said, she
didn't hear"
"Well soon hear something, though"
Martin said. very quietly in her ear.
"Conley will be coming to, down there
in the closet. We'd better beat it out
of here while we have chance"
He was at the foot of the little flight
of stairs before he realized she wasn't
following. Conley was by now well
along the road to recovering conscious.
ness. In another minute he might
again be formidable. Turning back
impatiently to learn why Rhoda didn't
come he saw her gazing out through
the glass with the utmost intentness,
with excitement, utterly
oblivious to their pressing need for
haste.
Hurry I" he called. at will be too
late of you don't"
She answered without turning her
eyes away from whatever she was gaz-
ing at in the room. 81 can't. Some
things happening that I've got to
watch. Claire Cleveland's in there
with him."
If Martin could have been sure that
he dared leave the PROSTATE detective
alone long enough to dash back, pick
Rhoda up and carry her out by force,
he would probably have done it. He'd
have liked to do it. He was furious
with her just then. But already Con-
ley had rolled over prone and was
trying to get to his feet. Martin had
Just time to bestride him and drop
hard with both knees on the small of
the mans back. In almost the same
instant he snatched his wrists and
pulled around so that they crossed be-
hind his back Conley's head hit the
edge of the step pretty hard, and he
went limp once more.
"I've got him now" Martin called to
Rhoda. "Only for heavens sake come
along"
81 can't" she answered. Incredibly
in the next breath she added, 81 wish
you wouldn't keep talking to me-"
If she wouldn't come along he must
manage to find out what she was do
ing up there. Some vague memory,
probably of the movies, suggested an
expedient. Holding the crossed wrists
with one hand he unbuckled the mans
trousers belt with the other, pulled it
| through the loops and managed. after
little experimenting, to bind Con-
ley's arms together in a way that he
! thought would hold.
He was about to leave him thus
when a faint grOan suggested another
! necessity, and simultaneously the sight
| of a white silk muffler dangling from
hanging in the closet suggested the
means serving it. He'd never
gagged anybody before and wasn't
quite sure how it was done, but he
succeeded in getting several folds Of
| the thick silk between the relaxed
Jaws, and tied the ends tight at the
| back of the mans neck. Then he
sprang up the steps to Rhoda and
stood beside her, looking out through
| the glass at the scene she was so abb
sorbed in watching.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
|
Tonic in Laughter
To laugh long and heartily is q
splendid tonic Many a dyspeptic
+, ..,,,l ~ o,,ro1 ho launched hoo rt;I N