The Daily Alaska empire., 1932-07-11
0 Gamblers Throw g@ bn EtsAtack l. AdezA,tA-

out of bed. The inhuman scream that had walked him was dying out in a ghastly bubbling wall whose oventones echoed and reechoed through the darkened house. For an instant there was utter silence. more horrible than the grisly sound which had preceded it.
 He reached his door in the space of dozen heartbeats. The corri- dor reverberated with the sound of turning knobs and opening cf doors. There was the skipping shuhfle of bare feet, the noisy clump of heavy shoes. That night liglnt, which usually glowed at the end of the han had been ex- tinguished, the faint gleam of an approaching flashlight gave every thing an eerie appearance.
 Stand still" A cold, concise voice snapped through the hall. q shoot at the first footfall."
 The shuffging of bare feet ceas- ed abruptly. A heavy silence fell again. relieved only by the sound of heavy breathing and the rapid tread of heavy boots approaching from the direction of the living room.
 "Is that you, Mueller" It was Ashwood's voice, crisp and metal lie.
 "Yes, sir"
 Hurry and bring me that flash light"
 The white beam progressed on through the hall until at last. tt became stationary.
 Thanks. Now see what's the matter with that night light. The rest of you, please, stand right where you are. Turn around to face me"
 The dazzling ringer of light point ing down the hall, suddenly s1lhou- cited the short, overstout figure of
 the detective, fully clothed but in
 his stocking feet. Stevens bhnked
 in the glare of the light, but his
 face was wild and inquiring. The
 searchlight swivelled to the man
 standing next to him. Ut was Elm
 ory. in trousers and Singlet, nls
 eyes glittering, his mouth firm
 and fearless. The light fingered
 but an instant, then darted to
 Hamilton, half dressed, diSheveled his face a study in fright and be-
 wilderment. Jerry's turn camt
 next. His dark eyebrows were sci lin a scowl, but his lips were set
 in a half smile, as was their GUS
 tom in a moment of stress. Hi' Ilithe body leaned slightly forwarc as though ready to leap into in T stant action. The searchllgh
 swung on Mallory, leaning agains j the wall.
 The night light flfckered on a , 1.-the man Mueller screwed the bull 4Einto it's socket. The others stoo' revealed in the pitilesS glare o tthe electricity. Lucci, standing Il lthe middle of the hall, his ho
 black eyes darling from one to tn , other. His coarse black hair rum pied from contact with the pillow , bhis cheeks covered with a blac
 stubble of beard, his full red Lip l compressed in a thin red slit, h ,. looked what he was, a dangerou f man. Martin, beyond him, pal e but frightened, in flowery pajama' { staring at Ashwood with distende e eyes. Nancy bewitching in the sod n close negligee so thoughtfully pro
 vided by her host, without sell : consciousness of pose, yet obvious n ly shaken by the ghastly nois d which had awakened her. I Thanks, Miss Wentworth, yo V may go back to bed" The crippl Il in Japanese kimona and hempe l. sandals, stood just beyond Nancy
 door. An oversized automatic l. his right hand, he was ready f' IT instant action. Mueller" he snal
 ped, watch these men and dor u let one of them move until l T 1t turn" le Then, as the guard shifted h d own automatic from his left har Id to his right. Ashwood limped ral :" idly to Williams door, four fe Id from the spot where stood St le vens.
 :" Stevens, Calhoun he said Sc last, "it might be well if you joi I'd ed me"
 t. Jerry shuddered little as
 followed the detective to the do' u. He could still hear the dea q lshriek which had echoed from t It dark still hall. Ashwood, who h Il, already entered the room, switch " on the lights and stood just l
 side the threshold, set exprt fly Ision on his lined face, gazing Stea he fastly at the bed. Stevens a irl Jeryy looked over his should ds The latter, inured to the sig
 of death during many months ed the front, gasped as he met