Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1934-06-22
CHAPTER vi


NV laboratory" He took the light
from the girl and led the way. Be-
hind Niles came the slam of heavy
door moving back into place. Down
a long corridor the doctor paced and
entered a low-roofed, white walled
room blazing with electric globes. An
acid-seared wooden table stood IN the
middle of the floor and few plain
nine chairs were scattered here and
there. By one wall was metal sink
and shelves and cabinets were filled
with retorts, tubes, trays and all the
paraphernalia of an expert chemist.
"You are now in the next house,
my dear Mr.. Miles," the doctor inform
ed him. at is the one which backs
upon the building we have just left.
What chance do you suppose anyone
would have of finding you here!
That connecting door in the wine Gel
lar cannot be broken through with
anything short of battering-ram.
By that time-well, there would be
plenty of opportunity to dispose OF
a laundering intruder. But now to
work. Will you sit down, Mr.. Niles
and watch in interesting experiment?
These chairs" he smiled wintrlly-
care not equipped with the clamps
which you have already met. Watch
him carefully, Tracy and Gabriel"
The doctor turned to a closet in
corner and drew out white chemists
smock which he pulled on over his
evening dress. From one Of the cab
inets he took bottle of colorless fluid
and poured it into metal tray. With
a second flask he filled second tray.
Three in all were prepared when he
had finished. Then he drew the ace
of spades from his pocket and put it
between the pincers of a pair Of for
ceps, his hands protected by rubber
gloves. A queer CLINT was in his coal
black eyes. Slowly he washed the
card in the first tray while those in
the room looked on in silence. He
lifted it and for a full minute dip
ped it in the second tray.
'Tt is something like developing a
photograph" he said. "Observe what
happens, Mr.. Niles, when I have fin
ished." The card had come out of the
third and last tray of fluid and with
a thrust Doctor Weston pinned it to
the wall and turned on it fierce
white light from a strengthening
apparatus. ''The process is my own,
I assure you. perfected it while
was studying in one of the German
universities. Yes, 1 hold number
of degrees in science and have found
my studies highly useful in a great
er field-that which the police and
the public are accustomed to call
crime. Watch!'
The white of the card was changing
slowly to a greenish tinge. The doc
tors tones rose higher. 81 told you,
did l not, that this card is worth five
millions, ten millions to me? 1t is
worth far more than that! With it
there is not bank in the country
that l cannot wreck! There is an un-
told fortune in it in my hands," The
green tint faded and the card was
becoming white again. 1t cleaned
there, unspotted except for the mark
ing of the spade Doctor stood gazing
at it as though in trance and what
was almost a scream of fury burst
from his throat. He showed the APP
paratus to one side and clawed at the
card. When he turned, his smolder
ing eyes were terrible.
"This is not the ace!" he raved. For
the moment all his poise had gone,
shattered by the shock of his discov-
cry. "You have given me another!
l called you fool, but take it back!
You are a clever, clever antagonist"
He signalled jerkily to the gunman
Gabriel strip him to the skin! 1
have already been through the cloth
es that Benton WORE" A buzzer
sounded suddenly in the wall with a
peculiar ring, and he Strengthened.
"Anita, that is Benton and Ramos,
back again. Go down the corridor
and let them in"
The girl passed out through door
at the other side of the room while
hands tore at Niles person. Shirt
and undergarments revealed nothing
and he was back in them and the doc
tors dressing gown when Anita re-
turned with Amos and Benton behind
her.
Game through this house as you
told us to, chief" said Benton. CIV
ervthing was lake. | saw the cop.