Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1936-12-04
CHAPTER 9

The artist showed them narrow
bronze cylinder ending in bell-mouth
ed horn fasteLed to the wall together
with some other instruments. Inside
of it was a small crystal globe. Sir
Herbert looked at it.
$50 it is. That's the photoelectric
CELL"
The artist drew him over to the
small cabinet near the clock, where
could be seen the soils and condensers
of the telegraphic unit.
"You see," he said, "the Grand
Duchess was standing here, and it
must have been when she was tuning
these dials that -
Haphazardly Jean twisted the dials.
An exclamation came from all of
them. The library was full of a
strange luminosity.
you've found the unit that puts
the set into action" explained the bar
onet.
"Just what the Princess did acciden-
tally" exclaimed Jean. What a
strange light! Your brother must
have been very much overweight not
to notice that his own machine was
betraying him."
"Some remnants of respect kept him
from touching the Grand Duchess.
Then he may have thought that the
message would not be received any
way. 1t was just luck that it was
intercepted. The only receiving set
of its kind in the world is aboard the
Gypsy"
Evidently. If someone were in my
cabin on the Gypsy now, he could see
and hear u.s."
Frawley shrugged his shoulders.
"We've no time to lose in such
thoughts. AS your cabin is always
empty, no one either sees or hears
US, and Captain Murray will never
know how much I wish he were cruis-
ing between the ports of East Russia
and the Black Sea-"
"The Black Sea
go in pursuit of my brother?"
Suddenly the library seemed to fill
with smoke.
"Look out, the place is burning"
Flames were running up the shelves
of books, the carpet was burning. The
room was soon roaring furnace.
They fled into the other room. AL
most instantly, the bed burst into
flames, and the pane. ings cracked.
The five people rushed down the stairs
half strangled by the smoke. When
they reached the garden, smoke was
already pouring through the smash
ed windows.
ITO the carriage quick! We have
no time to lose! The alarm will
sound soon"
They piled into the carriage. Sonia
wrapped herself in the coachman's
cloak and took the reins. They sped
along the road towards town. When
they reached Kazan, there was a red
glare in the sky and the bells were
beginning to ring the tocsin.
keep going, FAST"
By good luck, the horse was sound.
They crashed through the sleeping
town and continued along the river
bank. Having passed immediate dan
ger, they slowed down and, at gentle
trot, went for nearly three hours.
Turning into small wood, the car
riage stopped. The four men and the
young woman stared at each other.
"Fenian Fire." Sir Herbert explain
ed. when my brother left he COW
cred everything with mixture of
phosphorus, sulphur and charcoal.
The liquid evaporated and the phos-
phorus burned. It's trick of the old
Irish revolutionists."
whats worse" moaned Puy lassou
sis that, when they reach the fire,
they'll find the coachman and he'll
talk. They'll be on our heels soon."
The fugitives were in a small birch
grove. The horse stood immobile,
head low, almost falling from fatigue
The situation was desperate. They
were silent while each searched his
thoughts.
what time is it now?" asked Puy-
eassou.
"Two-fifteen in the morning." ans
wered Sir Herbert slowly, "Serge Mar
skine is far from here now"
"No doubt. Those motorboats are
fast" agreed Jean, and they're i've
hours on the way now"
Puycassou burst out:
"Fine bunch we are! Thinking of
that boat while we're here-where