The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1931-04-10

afraid to be left alone with. Well, q
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 q
swift glance straight in their direc-
ton and a 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, ''he
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.
bright-eyed with excitement, utterly
oblivious to their pressing need for
haste.
Hurry" he called. ut 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. II can't. Some
things happening that I've got to
watch. Claire Cleveland's in there
with him."
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.
"Pve 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 II 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
q lllIlc cApCA " OAhh SOAA-
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 mnffler dangling from
the pocket of one Of the oyercoats
hanging in the closet suggested the
means of 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 alb
sorbed in watching.
(TO BE CONTINUED.l