Evening star., 1936-12-13
December 13, 1896

ing you a square deal. Cesare's no fool He
wondered if you were bluffing with the
formulae. But he'll make you speak. Don't
have any doubts about that
Melville had reached the passage, and he
slammed the bedroom door shut, swapping
home the heavy bolt. The narrow wooden
stair was in darkness, but on the landing
below tiny oil lamp was burning. At the
top of the lower staircase, he could see the
dark features of Eugene. peering upward.
You're all right, Valerie?" Eugene called.
The reply from above startled him. A bullet
splintered the plaster over his head, and with
cry of dismay he retreated downstairs. AS
Melville followed, he saw Eugene backing
into the room on the left.
For nearly minute there was strained
silence The man was evidently preparing to
attack, and at the bottom of the stairs
Melville took quick step forward His foot
brushed against something, and it toppled
over. STOPPING suddenly, he picked up the
wooden stool that lay at his feet, and hurled
it with all his strength through the open
doorway. His aim was good; the electric light
globe splintered into pieces; and the room
run for the outer door. But almost at the
same instant. he heard step behind him, and
apair of strong hands went around his throat.
This attack from the rear had taken him
unawares. A foreign oath was spoken in a
harsh voice as the fingers closed more tightly.
1t was not the voice of Eugene; it had a
deeper, more cultural note. Straining to one
10 ;, all E,c
felt it thud against the mans s ribs. There was
a gasp, and the fingers around his throat re-
laxed Selling his chance he made a wild
effort, and shook himself free swinging round
and driving his fist blindly into the darkness.
He heard grunt of pain, and his opponent
reeled back.
A harsh order was gasped out; there fol-
lowed cry for light, and footsteps rapidly
retreated across the floor in the direction of
room. Melville remembered the reading lamp
there, and knew he had only few seconds
to spare.
He could hear the jingle of curtain-rings
as the heavy fabric was swept aside, and at
the same moment the hand of his opponent
grasped his shoulder. cropping once more for
his throat. He managed to elude the man,
squirming from his grip and making blind
rush towards the outer door. Half stumbling
over chair. he lurched forward and fell
against the wooden panels. His fumbling hand
came upon the key, and he snapped the lock
back as the light from the reading lamp
dimly flooded the long room.
Eugene's automatic crackled and he ripped
out an order to halt. Tugging wildly, Mel
vile managed to swing the door open, and
plunged out to the head of the stone stair
case that led down into the courtyard. The
fog was still thick, and the lamp on the wall
bracket made vague yellow blur at the
mouth of the alley. Richard raced forward
and paused out in the narrow street.
He could hear pursuing footsteps in the
alley; and turning sharply to the left, he took
to his heels. 1t was fifty yards further on
that he found crawling taxicab, and ordering
the driver to take him with all speed to the
Marquise Hotel, he scrambled in and sank
upon the cushions with a long gasp of relief.
Once safe in his suite in the hotel Melville
carefully secured the door, and went into his
bedroom. He glanced at himself in the mirror;
his collar was soiled. his white tie partly un-
loosed, and there was dust on his overcoat.
1t did not take him many minutes to
change: then he began hastily to turn the
pages of the telephone directory. In the taxi