■-...L'= . --=
I was not surprised, for I had
hardly thought to find him in.
Leisurely I pursued my way over
to the laboratory, which at that
hour af the night was rather de
serted.
As I approached, 1 was sur
prised not to see any light in it
end I quickened my pace. What
more surprised and even alarmed
jne was that the front door of the
darkened building was wide op
’en as I entered. My foot crunched
on something brittle. I stooped j
and in the light, from a street
lamp far up the avenue J saw
something gleaming. It was shat
tered glass. I looked again at the
door. The glass in it was broken
completely out. An my eyes be
came accustomed to the blackness
I saw that all around were
splinters of glass, as thongh
many windows had been shatter
ed.
i I was by this time in a high
Btate of nerves. What could have
happened/I Cautiously, I pushed
my way into the hall and stood
for a moment, listening.
Chapter 13 ! 1
LIKE A ORGAN
Down the coridor came a faint
■ound, almost like a groan.
I groped forward. As 1 came
upon the laboratory door I saw
that it was a complete wreck.
1 Inside in the dimness, I could see
the tables and chairs thrown
about in confusion, wood splin
tered, glassware broken.
My foot stumbled on some
thing soft on the floor, and I
bent down and touched it. It
moved. I struck a match.
It was Kennedy, barely con
scious, groaning and moving fit
fully, in the flickering light of
the match. On his head was a
deep gash. Ilis clothes were
torn. What othop injury ho had
sustained I could not tell. I
tried to switch on the light, that
something was wrong with the
slectricity.
Instantly there flashed
through my mind what must
have happened. Somehow the
message from Speed must have
been used to decoy him over to
his own laboratory where a
bomb had been planted. As he
pushed open the door it had ex
ploded. Only his natural cau
tion had saved him from being
too close and blown into bits.
I looked about hastily. What
to dot If I left him, perhaps the
attack might be renewed. Call
ing for help would do no good
now. There was no one on this
end of the campus likely to hear.
I bent over him. Vaguely he
seemed to recognize me.
“Walter," he groaned.
I stooped down and picked
him up staggering under his
weight. I felt that I must get
him away. Out through the
broken glass entrance I man
aged to carry him, straining to
hold him so that the jagged bits
of glass on the ground would not
cut him.
The air seemed to do him
good, for he was overcome quite
as much by the noxious fumes
of tho chemical infernal ma
chine as by the shock.
It was not long now before I
managed to get a ear and soon
1 had him back in the apartment,
in bed under medical care.
A devilish attack had been
planned on Kennedy and he had
received it. The doctor insist
ed that rest was imperative.
Fret though Kennedy did, it
made no difference. For a time
at least the Black Menace would
be able to operate unhampered.
Chapter 14
The Pool of Flame
Flaring made Kennedy com
fortable and assured that it was
merely a question of keeping
him quiet for a time, I returned
to the laboratory and with the
aid of a carpenter whom I man
aged to get out of bed under
the promise of a substantial
bonus, I‘had windows and doors
boarded up for the night.
Kennedy passed a restless
night and was glad enough to
be quiet the following day. To
reassure him, however, I spent
the day at the laboratory, re
storing it to its original condi
tion as nearly as my unscientific
hands could do so.
As I worked here and there I
came upon evidence that before
the explosion had taken place
the laboratory itself had been
ransacked. There did not seem
to be anything missing, though
there was much that had been
smashed by the explosion. But
•***.
I
then I considered there had been
nothing that could have inter
ested the Black Menace except
the hampering of Kennedy in
his work, and if possible remov
ing him from the case once and
for all.
It was a hard job to get the
place in order again, but with
the aid of Kennedy’s students
we were making pretty fair pro
gress and I felt sure that in a
few days everything would be as
shipshape as ever.
I was deeply engaged in the
work when Speed called, very
much excited.
“I know that, Kennedy must be
kept quiet,” he began, as he
looked about with interest on
what I was doing, “yet I feel
that we must not let up on this
fellow fpr an instant.”
SPEED IS CORDIAL
Speed was very cordial, but i
could see that it was really Ken
nedy he wanted to see.
“i’ve been thinking about
that decoy letter that was sent
to me the other day,” he finally
remarked.
“Why should anyone have
wanted to get me out there at
Trocadero Inn? I’ve been mak
ing inquiries and I find there is
something about that place that
bears investigation. I’ve almost
a mind to go out and look it
over.”
I shook my head. “I afraid it
will be a dangerous thing for
you, Jack,” I cautioned. “Really
I should advise you and Clare
against making any avert move
as long os Kennedy is laid up.”
“Ravenal thinks there may
be something to it,” urged
Speed, still unconvinced by my
presentation.
You know how things are,”
I urged. “It seems to me that we
might better let well enough
alone. Every time Kennedy has
been away something has hap
pened to ether you or Clare.”
“I don’t know what to do,”
figeted Speed. It is too good a
chance to let slip past. Who
knows but that just because
Kennedy is laid up the Black
Menace may have become a little
careless. Besides the letter
would hardly have been sent to
me unless the Black Menace had
some reason to depend on this
place. I’d like to look it over.”
The more I argued against it,
the more I could see that it
merely confirmed Speed in his
desire to investigate. He finally
left, and instinctively I knew
that he would follow out that
clue. I couldnot but fret over
the danger. Tell Kennedy I
would not, for if he thought as
I did I knew very well that he
was likely to get out of bed,
orders or no orders from the doc
tor, and forestall or prevent
Speed.
I was in a quandary, and fin
ally determined that the best
thing I could do was to go ahead
on my own line, trusting that
chance would favor Speed.
THE EXPECTED HAPPENS
And, indeed, the result was
just as I expected, if not quite
the way I anticipated, although
with such a criminal, or band of
criminals as the Black Menace I
do not know that one might say
that anything might be expected
except that which more diaboli
cal than imagination.
it was m Tne rorenoon that
Speed had dropped in on me.
Once or twice T called up to
find him during the day but was
able to get no answer. After the
second time, when T called up
and was unable to locate Speed,
I began to get anxious and call
ed up Clare. To my greater
anxiety she did not answer, and
it was then that I knew that she
had gone Avith him on some
quest..
Not until late in the evening
did I get any Avord. And then
it Avas that a car pulled up short
at the laboratory. To my great
relief, I saAv both Clare and Jack
in the doorAvay. But they Avere
dishcbelled and looked as
though they might have been
through a Avreck. Their clothes
hung on them Avrinkled, and
there Avere several bad burns on
their flesh.
“For hea\’en’s sake,” I ask
ed. “What’s the matter T
Where have you been?”
Speed forced a smile. “Yoti
Avere right,” he answered. “We
should not have done it. Yet
the temptation Avas too great.
We Avent out to the Trocadero.”
“Yes,—and wluat happened?”
“Clare insips<5 going,” he
replied. ' ‘ And it was a correct
clue, alright.”
I listened in amazement as
Speed, with a word now and
then from Clare, poured out the
remarkable story of how he had
gone to the fast road house and
had almost succeeded in getting
the goods on the criminal whom
' we were pursuing.
ALL RIGHT AT FIRST
It seemed that Minna Oak
leigh had been in reality pretty
well known there and starting
upon that assumption, which
proved to be correct, Speed had
played his game cleverly, not
disclosing who he really was but
posing as one of those who had
become involved in the game
that was being played at the
Mystery Mansion.
Everything had gone along
famously, and late in the after
noon, he gathered by hints that
someone, perhaps the Black
Menace himself, was expected to
meet Madam Rene and Monsieur
Jacques at the Trocadero.
The moment bad arrived
when the meeting was to take
place and Speed and Clare were
waiting for the arrival of a fast
car which was to betray to them
the identity of the blackmailer,
when suddenly something must
have gone wrong.
The car was approaching then,
perhaps by some secret signal,
its occupant must have been
‘warned. Insteau of turning in
off the road to the Trocadero,
he swept on past, never pausing.
Speed and Clare had not ex
pected that, but it was only a
moment when they were out in
Jack’s racer and away.
The other car was no mean
machine for speed and it was
with great difficulty that they
hung on to it, as it veered off the
road and started up toward the
Sound shore of the Island, in
the direction of North Harbor.
It was an exciting chase, but
Speed took the risk, for the
prize was a great one.
Besides, he knew that it could
not last forever. When North
Harbor was reached, the other
car must turn either back to the
city or go out further on the
island, and, in either case, he
reasoned he had a good chance
of catching it.
NOT WELL PLANNED
Ihere was one thing, however,
on which he had not figured.
They had reached North Harbor,
tearing through the town much
to the scandal of the inhabitants.
On went the other car until it
came to a dock. There the oc
cupant of the car had abandon
ed it, running out on the end of
the dock and leaping into a
motorboat with a hunting cabin,
which was tied up there, evi
dently waiting for him.
He was away, leaving them
for the moment helpless.
It was the work of only a few
minutes, however, for Speed to
find another fast boat in the
neighborhood of the yacht club.
In it he and Clare took up the
chase again.
By this time the Black Menace
if indeed, it was the Black Men
ace, on whose trail they were,
had perhaps a mile start on
them. But their commandeered
boat proved to be the faster of
the two; and it was not long be
fore it was evident that they
were overhauling them.
As their boat gained, Speed
seized a megaphone and called
for the other boat ahead to stop.
But it was without effect. He
drew his gun and fired. Back
from the pursued boat came an
answering shot.
f or some minutes there was
considerable gun play. Clare and
Jack dropping down out of
sight so that they would not be
quite such good targets.
Suddenly Clare exclaimed in
consternation. It was evident
that it was not so much to hit
them that the pursued boat-roan
was firing as for another pur
pose. The gas tank on their
boat had been punctured by a
shot and the gasoline was pour
ing out in a stream, spreading
over the water in an irridescent
scum.
Another shot and another
stream poured forth, as the
Black Menace realized that he
had correctly located the tank.
Still their boat gained, although
it was now a question of how
long it would maintain its head
way, as the gas sank lower in
the tank.
FAR IN THE LEAD
Desperately, the Black Menace
pulled two cans of reserve gas
from a locker in his boat. He
opened them and began pouring
them out over the water astern.
The gas spread over the water
as he sped on.
Gradually the headway of
Speed’s boat decreased as the
gas in the pipe line failed and
none reached the carburetor.
The engine stopped. No gas was
reaching it.
The Black Marace was bjr
this time far aheajf an< tmt-d£ »
tancing them. He turned an3
from the locker pulled what
looked like a Costan signal flare.
He tore off the top. It flared,
and he shot it out in a long curve
of smoke and flame.
The rocket fell close to
Speed’s boat on the water as it
hung idly. Instantly, the gaso
line that lay heavy all about,
surrounding them as they drift
ed, was ignited. They were in
the midst of what was literally
a pool of flame.
Around them licked the
flames, setting their boat on
fire. The heat was intense,
scorching the paint and varnish.
The inside of the boat was now
on fire. It was only a matter of
seconds now that they could
stand it.
Far off the Black Menace was
but a speck on the water. A
boat was coming toward them
with help but it was half a mile
or so away, and it was slow.
Something had to be done and
immediately, or they would be
burnt to cinders with help in
sight.
Speed seized one of the leather
cushions which was not yet afire
and flung it overboard. It fell,
parting the flame and throwing
the burning gas to one side for a
moment, only to have it, close
together again on the surface of
the water ominously. Yet it was
enough to suggest something to
Speed.
“There’s just one chance,” he
muttered. “Will you follow
met”
She did not cling to him. That
was not Clare’s manner.
“Yes,” she answered, her
quick mind already divining
what was in his thoughts.
QUICK ORDERS
He leaped to the side of the
burning boat, above the scorch
ing and smoking pool of flame
about them. As he did so, he
seized another cushion, motion
ing to her to do the same.
“Let go of it the moment you
strike the water,” he shouted.
“Then down—down—with me.”
He leaped over, the cushion
before him like a shield to part
the flames. As he touched the
flaming water, thrashing about
with the cushion, he cleared just
a small space in the flaming pool
about himself.
Clare was ready. Before the
flames on the water could close
again she leaped into the space
he had cleared.
As she struck the water, he
seized her. Together they sank,
diving down on the angle as far
as they could, swimming under
water—the blazing oil above
them.
To come up for air meant
horrible destruction, for they
could not dive back again fast
enough.
Once Clare’s breath gave out
and she began to rise.
Speed seized her and with his
last remaining strength man
aged to carry both until they
bobbed up, a matter of inches be
yond the circle of blistering fire.
Chapter 15
The False Clue
I cannot say that the exper
ience Speed had had in his pur
suit of the Black Menace had
cooled his ardor in the least, al
though it did one thing. He was
determined now that in any
future attempt he would be sure
to go alone and thus save Clare
the danger of any attack.
Having seen that Clare was
safely returned to her apartment
where a new and trustworthy
maid had been placed in charge,
Speed lost no time in returning
to me at the laboratory.
Again he began recounting his
experience and his theories, and
it was in the midst of it that
Ravenal dropped in.
“My dear fellow,” remon
strated Ravenal as he heard the
story, “don’t you see that what
you are doing is nothing short
of foolhardy ! What is the use
of retaining Kennedy, to say
nothing of yourself, if you are
going to deliberately expose
yourself to danger, as well as
Miss Claremont!”
I had had in mind the same
caution to deliver, but was glad
that it came from Ravenal, for
I felt that it came from him with
much better grace than from my
self. It had little effect on
Speed, however. He seemed, if
anything, more determined than
ever.
VERY LITTLE EFFECT
“And another thing,” Speed
insisted, brushing aside every
argument, “I mean to get at the
botton of the connection Bresh*
kaya has with this affair.”
“That, too, is another matter
onrrhicii I ryish caution you,”
cirf in Rav' nal. ‘1-re- been do
ing a little shadow job on that
lady myself ever since she led us
that chase up in the Highlands.*
As far as I can find out, Bresh
kaya, since the death of Thorne,
with whom she was really in
love, seems to be a changed per
son, a very dangerous woman.
And, besides, she is very bitter
against both you and Miss Clare
mont. Watch out for her.”
I could see -that the argument
had very little effect on Speed.
When it came to matching wits
he felt himself the equal of any
“I’m going to renew my ac
quaintance with her just the
same.” ho persisted. “Some way
Pm going to trap her into tell
ing me something. I’m convin
ced she knows more than we im
ginc.”
As he spoke, I was really
afraid for Speed. Nor did Ra
venal make any concealment of
his own concern.
“I guess I’ve watched Brcsh
kaya as closely as you,” retorted
Speed to Ravenal finally. “At
least, I think this time I shall be
able to cope with her. I know
her kind.”
Ravenal shook his head. It was
plain that he was loathe to allow
the young newspaper man to
make the attempt. And, as I
\thought of it, I myself could see
no reason why Speed should be
able to take care of himself any
Better tBafl others yh# had been
enmeshed by the siren.
Still, both Speed and Clare
had that unfortunate penchant
of youth for rushing in where
even Kennedy, with his exper
ience, would fear to tread. I
shrugged. If ho would not listen
to Ravenal his own man he
would scarecely listen to me.
(Continued Next Week
- ■ — • --*
LET UNCLE 3AM TELL 'EM.
Premier Mussolini of Italy be
lieves tlie Uultod States is the
proper outlet for surplus labor In his
country. Because it has been proved
to him that America will not welcome
whoever Italy may wish to unload he
has been making some effort to sort
out undesirables before they embark
for this country. His proposal
therefore to hold an International
conference on Immigration and emi
gration at Rome early next year
seems entirely in order.
Rome dispatches state that the
United States and all interested
countries of Europe have agreed to be
represented at this conference. It
seems doubtful whether any definite
program can be adopted in advance.
European countries will have some
differences of their own to thresh
out, in all probability, but the big
point on discussion is sure to be how
many and what sort of immigrants
the United States will receive.
It is to be hoped the American del
egation, providing the “bKlor enders”
can be persuaded to Ignore entang
ling alliances and let It go, will be
prepared to give the European dele
gations definite answers to all the
questions they can think of to ask.
No opportunity which promises so
much in finding ways to reduce the
troubles of Ellis island has hereto
fore been presented. If the Euro
pean nations can be told definitely
Just what sort of emigrants they need
not expect to unload on the United
Statos there will be little excuse for
many of that sort reaching American
ports of entry. Mussolini deserves to
get the information he wants. He Is
seeking it in the right way.
I Wky • do I wor ry so
fru/ck
And tkink till I'm
weik in my mind ?
No problem's too deep
to be solved
E>y just being Honest
aS
Fine Ancient Earrings.
From the New Tork World
Within the last decade baa occurred
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pass In taste and delicate finish th|
earrings gf Blote, the daughter of Aria,
totle, which were found In Challca
where the young woman was burled. 1
These ornaments represented dovei
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Wars are caused by selfishness.
Our Christianity Is so immensely su
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When Opportunity knocks on the
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The key to success has the best pos
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Many a man doesn’t realize that he
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A married woman seldom wastes
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It’s easier for a dentist to fill nn
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