The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-04-07
CHAPTER vI-Continued

p
was six steps short OF the land
ing which gave to the upper door,
when Percy spoke-to bring my
heart into my mouth.
''Oh, and bring my pistol, damn
you. It's next to the torch"
The man was beyond the curtains
masking the upper door.
Herrick and I stopped dead.
An instant later the curtains were
dashed apart and transient glim-
mer of light revealed our enemy.
Then
'sWho said it was shut?" he
screeched. "It's open wide. They've
done it on you, you poisonous fools.
Where's Elgar? Get hold of Elgar
and tell him to watch the drive"
With that, he thrust into the tow
ser.
He could, of course, see nothing,
but his foot at once encountered the
heavy length of carpet which we
had laid on the steps.
s'Hullo! What's this?" he NUT
tered.
I heard him pass on to the car
pet, but what further movement he
made I could not tell, for the pile
was tremendously thick and dead
ened all sound.
With Herrick one step below me,
I crouched there, straining my
ears. We were just clear OF the
carpet, standing upon the stone.
Then Virgil spoke again-and
made me jump like foal.
"God in heaven" he yelled. "Why
don't you bring that torch?"
The man was three steps above
me-and coming down.
I dared not try to hit him-1
could not see: but, quick as flash,
I seized the end of the carpet and
jerked it downstairs towards me
with all my might.
His feet whipped from beneath
him, with foul but forgivable oath.
Percy Virgil fell violently on to
his back. AS he did so, still hold
ing the carpet, I flung myself full
upon him, enveloping him in its
tolls. Moved by some brilliant in
;stinct, Herrick fought his way past
us' and, seizing the head Of the car
pet, flung this over and down.
Remembering Percy's orders to
Elgar, Il hurled myself up to the
doorway and on to the landing be-
yond. (.
''Well DONE" breathed Herrick.
s'Which way?"
The mighty landing was empty,
but, as we bolted across, a man
came full tilt up the staircase, the
head of which was six feet from
Elizabeth's door.
So dim was the light and he was
making such haste that though we
must almost have met, I think he
would have. let us go by, but I
dared not take the risk, and hit
him, very reluctantly, full on the
jaw.
AS he crumpled and fell down.
stairs, Elizabeth's door was opened,
and Herrick and I passed in.
Thirty seconds later, the four OF
us left the castle by way of the
staircase : turret by which, two
nights before, we had hoped to come
in. The drive was clear. If Elgar
had had his orders, he had not yet
had time to carry them out. We
darted across the gravel, slipped
down the steps to the garden and
FASTENED, Elizabeth leading, to
where the walk began that led to
the belvedere.
Twenty minutes later Winter,
still breathing goodwill, was lead
ing us down to where he had berthed
the car.
If our narrow escape had shocked
us, the drive to Raven ministered
to our minds.
Arrived there, Herrick found
note addressed to him.
Sir,
am told that you are returning to
Raven tonight. A man. Of the name Of
Max Bracher, was found by Salzburg
yesterday afternoon. He corresponds to
your description of the man of that
Christian name. Your Identification of
him Is sesTsd aas beg You will visit sit
had been dead for some hours. shot
through the back. ~
Your obedient servant,
Sergeant of Police.
confess that from this time on a
medieval vigilance ruled whatsoever
we did.
Herrick visited Sa1zburg against
his win, and viewed the corpse of
the man we had known as Max. No
evidence had been discovered
against Virgil or anyone else. Even
the bullet was useless, for it had
spread irreparably. The same day,
Thursday, Elizabeth, resting at Ra-
ven, laid her plans. sat by her
side in the meadows, and listened
and watched the woods.
The Duchess of Whelp was at Ira
Gerry, IS miles from Innsbruck and
90 from where we lay. Tales out of
number were told of the state she
had kept, of the things she had
said and done, of the efforts which
had been made to obtain an invita-
ton to enter her house. If the half