Evening star., 1934-03-09

engaged Tor just thoSe 1eW SECONDS
which would enable this Angel OF
Mercy to gauge the distance and take
her stance. And SO stimulated was
Mr.. Carlisle by the sight of rescue so
close at hand that inspiration des-
cended on him.
"Ixnay, ixnayl" he said protestingly.
You got me wrong, Soup, you got me
wrong"
He saw that the girl behind the vase
had stepped onto the tee and had be-
gun her preliminary waggle, and the
sight lent him eloquence.
Surely you don't think I'd double
cross you, Soupie? 1t was like this.
After you told me what had happened
that other night-you out on the
window sill and ALL said to myself,
The way it looks to me, poor Soup
may feel he don't want to come visit
ing here again.
Mr.. Slattery's was a single-track
mind. why didn't you wise me up
that you could open petes?"
"I can't open petes" Mr.. Carlisle's
voice was all musical reinsurance.
But some guy once told me that II
YOU listened for the tunblers you could
get the combination, and l thought 1t
was worth trying. You see, after what
happened that night. it struck me
that you might want to wish yourself
out of the thing, and"
He had no need to say more. And
if he had said more he would have
/ been addressing an .inattentlVe audi
ence. There was a sound like the COL
lision of two heavy pieces of wood,
and Soup Slattery slid to the floor.
Mr.. Carlisle expelled long, Whistling
breath and passed the sleeve Of his
coat across his forehead.
'At-a-girlI" he said reverently.
His bride-to-be had no leisure to
listen to verbal tributes. She was as
brisk as Lady Macbeth giving inStruc-
tions what to do with the guest in
| the spare bed room.
Push him under the bed and get
move on" she said crsply. I'll
look after the broken china. You've
got to work quick, Oily. Somebody
may have heard that smash. How
long1l it take you getting that thing
open?"
"Coupla minutes"
Then snap into it. III be going
down to the car We may have TO
scram any minute now
She hurried through the curtains
and Mr.. Carlisle. having disposed Of
his unfortunate friend as directed, re-
/ turned TO the safe His boast that
only a period Of two minutes would
be required for its opening was COM
pletely justified. Ninety seconds had
not gone by when the steel doors
swung free. revealing the interior.
And it was at this moment that
there came to his straining eyes the
sound Of soft footsteps in the passa &c
outside Gordon Carlisle was pri-
marily a man of intellect. but he
could act. He switched of the torch
and Joined Mr.. Slattery under the
bed
He was not in darkness long. A
half-minute later. light flooded the
room. Somebody had pressed the cleo
tric button by the door.
1t was Packy who had pressed tht
electric button. Arrived at his desti-
nation, with the door shut behind
him he saw no reason why the pro,
ceedings should not take place witt
the fullest illumination possible. TIL,
house was asleep, and nobody coulc
see through those curtains that tn,
: room was lighted.
All seemed quiet on the Venetian
front. Despite her haste, the efficien
Gertie had gathered up every vestigt
of the broken vase. and the hanging!
of the bed. reaching to within an incl
Of the floor, efhectually concealed tht
MesSrs. Slattery and Carlisle. Never
thelesS. there came to Packy that Samt
feeling of unreasoning nervousness
which had gripped him on his flrsi
visit TO the room. Now that he hac
actually met Mrs. Gedge. the intimi-
dating atmosphere of this boudoir OF
hers seemed intensified.
Jane. whose reaction to the vibra-
tions of womans room was less pro-
I nounced. had hurried to the safe. And
now. observing its condition, she ut
tered a squeak Of astonishment.
why. it's openl"
Packv. too had made a discovery.
so" he pointed out, sis the win
dow"
Odllt> tNtS IilCb A411s AlC eAo W CAN4ANN
to note that. brave girl though she
was. she moved a little closer to him
Somebody" she said with a slight
CULVER in her voice. "has been here
Must have heard us coming anc
dashed out of the window" agreed
Packy.
Perhaps they're on the balcony!
"I'll look"
"Oh. do take care!"
'No," said Packy, returning. "there':
no one there. They must have goi
away. It's an easy drop"
The pallor of her face attracted
his notice. If ever there was a CIR
who needed a strong man to clasp hel
little waist and draw her to him anc
stroke her and breathe comforting
words to her. it was the hitherto in
trepid Jane Opal; and it was gall tt
Packv to think that. simply because
she had got herself tangled up with
the unspeakable Blair Eggleston. tht
honor of the Franklyns must cause
him to censor the first three items OF
the list.
However. he could breathe com
forting words. and he did so. Don
be scared" he said There's nothing
to be frightened about. They hav'
gone. I never saw anything like this
Joint for burglars. They absolutely
congest the place. The Chateau Bills
sac seems to have burglars the way
other houses have mice. However, it,
all for the best. They have very
conveniently opened the safe for US
so I don't see what we've got tt
grumble at"
James composure had returned
"Quickl Look inside and see if It!
still there The letter, mean"
Packy did so. "Yes, this must be
it. Yes, this is it. all right"
"Are you sure?"
"Quite."
"Then," said Gordon Carlisle
emerging from beneath the bed, Jus
hand it over" He pulled himself Il
his feet. There was an automatic
,,ietol In his hand He directed IL a