4 B
THE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE: JULY 16, 1916.
Th
e Social Pirates -
C
9
Plot by George Bronson Howard
Novelization by Hugh C. Weir ::: Copyright Kalem Company
Story No, IS Black Magic
'.Mary Burnett suddenly held up
warning hand, ana tip-toed to the
door. The trio behind her stopped
their laughter, and looked alter h
curiously. They, too, had heard the
sound of voices, raised in argument, in
the entrance hall ot the fashionable
apartment building, where Mary and
her chum, Mona Hartley, had taken
a small suite.
Mary opened the door softly, and
-jjeered out. In the hall were stand
ing a man and a woman the former
especially noticeable because of the
i costume of an bast Indian which he
wore, and the tan on his face, suggest
ing a recent return from the tropics.
His companion was quite obviously a
woman of wealth and refinement. Her
gown bore all the signs of the expen
sive simplicity of a fashionable de
signer. Just now her face was un
naturally white, and she was staring
at her escort with wide eyes.
The East Indian stepped closer to
her, and passed his hand swiftly be
fore her eyes with the gesture of a
proicssionai conjuror. i he woman
stiffened, her breast heaving, her
hands clenched. The man peered
closer into her face. shrtisrEed. and.
topping, inserted a key in the door
of the opposite apartment, motioned
for her to enter. It was not until the
couple had disappeared that Mary
turned, and then she saw that her
companions were gathered about her
shoulders. They, too, had witnessed
we strange taoieau.
"Can you beat it?" gasped Rodney
Grant, the young newspaper reporter,
who, in comosnv with Casner fjrmn
the millionaire philanthropist and so
cial worker, had been ci ini on the
girlt. "Was the woman really hyp
notiiedr -
Carson frowned, as he stepped back
i.w iiv ii,tu aw,,,. uuil t IIKC WIC
looks of it," he said soberly. "There
was something about that little scene
which " He stopped, hesitating for
word, and Mary, motioning the oth
ers back, stepped softly across the
halt until she was just opposite the
door. Kneeling down, she peered
through the keyhole. She saw the
Hindoo make more passes in front
of the woman, and then, under the
domination of his stronger will, the
woman handed him a paper. Then
the curious couple left the apart
ment. A moment later Mary, with a
skeleton key, entered the room and
seized the paper, which proved to be
a safe combination. She copied the
figures and returned to her room.
"Looks like a .combination," said
Grant - .
"It Is a combination,' stupid I" re
turned Mary. "And that is why the
Hindoo wanted it. The poor- woman
is evidently completely in hia power,
and was probably obeying orders
when she came here with hint to
night." -. -. .-, :..,-
: Carson nodded thoughtfully. "I am
toiflf to do some investigating," he
decided. "First, I am going to lee
what the, janitor can tell me about
our curious friend." .
2 The janitor was quite ready to talk
when Carson showed him a $5 bill,
but he could supply little information
except the fact that the occupant of
the apartment -was a Hindoo, who
Cave the name of Hadj Rulu, and that
ne had quite large number of visit
ors, most of whom were well dressed
women, who came in private auto
mobiles. As for the rest of it, the
man kept only one servant, a Hindoo
like himself, paid his rent promptly,
nd had little to say to anyone.
At it developed, it was quite as
much coincidence as skill that Mary
and Mona chanced on the next clue to
the case. They were passing a fash
ionable hair-dressing establishment on
a shopping tour the next afternoon
when a woman emerged from the
doorway, and crossed the walk just
ahead of them. It was none other
than Mrs. Wallace.
; Mary and Mona watched her step
into a private limousine and drive
away. '. ? ' - .
'Whatever in the world is the mat
ter?" cried Mona as Mary suddenly
teiied her arm.
"I have thought of a way to reach
the heart of my mystery! was the
quick response. "I am going to call
on Mrs. Wallace this afternoon, and
see if she doesn't want to hire my
professional services I I am going to
be a hair dresser and manicurist, ex-
ained Mary, "one who specializes
n giving home treatments to wealthy
citnens. ' - ' vi v
. Two hours later Mary rang the bell
at the Wallace home, and explained
the nature of her errand to Mrs. Wal
lace, who agreed to have- her begin
treatment ,he next day.
Mary was rising when a maid en
tered, and announced, "Mr. Hadj Ru
lu.'.' Evidently the maid was unfamil
iar with the Hindoo's native prefix,
and it was apparent also that she was
in awe if not fear of the visitor. At
once Mrs. Wallace's gay manner van
ished. She fell back in" her chair,
gripping her fingers convulsively, her
face whitening. With an effort she
roused herself, and followed the maid,
apparently forgetting Mary's pres
ence entirely. The girl glided behind
a chair until . Mrs.- Wallace had
reached the stairs, and then followed.
-Mra. Wallace entered the library
where the man was awaiting her.
Mary hesitated, and then observing
that- no one was in the lower hall,
followed boldly after her until she
reached a point outside the library
door, where she could observe what
transpired in the room beyond. The
Hindoo had risen from his chair, and
was bowing over Mrs. Wallace's hand.
He straightened gracefully, and fixed
his dark eyes in a piercing glance on
her face. Mary saw the woman be
ginning to stiffen as she had done the
previous night, and then the Hindoo
repeated the mysterious passes which
he had made before across her eyes.
It required only a moment for the
effects of the mesmeric spell to show.
Mrs., Wallace's stiffness increased and
her eyes dilated. ...
The Hindo stepped back, and from
fcit pocket produced curious slip of
riper which the woman had brought
j him the previous evening. He read
a oud the combination it contained,
a -i pointed to the farther end of the
room, where Mary could see a small
"vate safe. .
: "'ou will open that," he command
ed iu a low, penetrating tone.
Unhesitatingly Mrs. W,lace obey
i 1, crossing the room like a person in
f ance. and twirling the knob at the
doo's suggestion. When the door
ng open, the Hindoo peered over
- enoulder. . -. .
"You will bring me what you see
"tre ye," he directed. Again Mrs.
. uce fallowed bit orders without
hesitation, and handed him a package
of bills.
"Ten thousand dollars," said the
Hindoo. "You have done well, my
high priestess I"
Mary's eyes widened. This was too
easy I ,
She would have lingered at her post,
but she dared not risk discovery. With
a final glance at the two figures in
the library, she made her way to the
front door, and to the street. The
situation was progressing wtih a ven
geance I With a smile of elation at
the thought of the startling story she
would have for Carson and Grant that
night she hurried back to the Royal
ton, where Mona was eagerly await
ing her return.
"I. too. have found something
which may be of service to us," said
Mona after she had heard her friend's
excited narrative, and duly compli
mented her on her success. She pro
duced a business card, on which Mary
read the professional announcement
of Hadj Kulu, and an invitation to
those interested to call at his flat for
advice as to business or social per
plexities.
"I am going tonight!" announced
Mona. "And I think I see a way
whereby I can co-operate with you,
and we can work together."
Early that evening the two girls
went over the situation carefully with
Carson and Grant, and Mona outlined
the scheme which had occurred to her
when she had received the card of
Hadj Rulu from the janitor, who had
been delighted to part with it for a
quarter.
Mona was admitted to the Hindoo's
apartments without difficulty, and
found that she had beeen preceded by
at least a doaen others, drawn for the
most part from society. Indeed, she
recognized several from pictures of
celebrities of the smart set in the
newsDaoers. There was an undercur
rent of eager anticipation through the
audience, heightened by the subdued
lights, the general shadowy aspect of
the room, the odor of burning incense
and the heavy draperies. The master
of ceremonies had not yet appeared,
evidently having learned the value of
a theatrical entrance. Or was he
waiting for some one who had not yet
arrived.' Mona askea tne question
when the door opened and Mrs. Wal
lace glided to a seat in the front row
of chairs, for almost immediately aft
erward, Hadj Rulu, in white robes and
turban, appeared, bowing solemnly.
. The scene that followed was suf
ficiently impressive from the view
point of the uninitiated. The Hindoo
was a oast master in the art of trick
ery, and several of the effects he had
arranged were managed so adroitly
that Mona could readily understand
the secret of the sudden vogue he had
attained. The girl watched Mrs. Wal
lace closely, and saw that the woman
sat like a oerson in a trance, with her
eyes never leaving the solemn figure
of the Hindoo. When the seance was
finally ended and the audience grad
ually dispersed, Mona lingered be
hind. , . . -
The Hihdo finally approached her
and asked if there was any personal
problem concerning which she wished
to consult mm.
"I need your help badlyr she said
impulsively. 1 will be trank witn you.
When I came here I never expected
to stay. 1 thought it was all trickery
and sham, and now I can see how
wronv and uniust I was. and what a
wonderful person you really arel
Mv name is May Allison, i am an
orphan, and alone in the world except
for mv guardian and his wife. I am
afraid that mv guardian has taken ad
vantage of that fact, and knowing I
am only a woman, and as he thinks
helpless, is trying to swindle me." She
reached into her handbag, and drew
out a check, which she laid on the
table. The Hindoo picked it up, and
the girl saw that his eyes glistened
when he noted that it was drawn to
her order for the sum of $1,000. And
then his attitude stiffened. His eyes
had fallen on the signature at the bot
tom Howard Wallace.
Is Mr. Wallace your guardian f" ne
demanded quickly. Mona nodded.
"I am sorry to have to say that he
is, and that he is the man to whom I
referred. That cheek represents my
Quarterly income. It has always been
$20,000 until now. Mr. Wallace says
that mv investments have been unfor
tunate, and that my stocks have
dropped in value. But it is hard to
believe that can be true. Think of it I
Only $1,000 when my checks before
have always been for just itwenty
times as much 1
"Of course you may not be able to
help me I Perhaps 1 am asking too
much of you I" 1
The Hindoo caught her hand eager
ly. "Indeed, you have come to just
the right source for assistance. Shall
I show you how I shall punish this
scroundrelly man, who has dared use
you so falsely and cruelly?"
As Mona nodded curiously, the man
stepped back to the teakwood table in
the rear of the room, and clapped his
hands to summon his servant. The
two conferred together in whispers
for a moment, and then the servant
vanished, to reappear a moment later
with a small wax image which he de
posited solemnly in the center of the
table. . -
"Watch I" said the Hindoo gravely,
and proceeded to make a series of
weird passes directly above the image.
For a moment nothing happened,
and then Mona gave a low gasp. The
image was slowly vanishing before
her eyes vanishing as completely as
though it were actually dissolving
into thin air.
"That is the way I shall treat How
ard Wallace," said Hadj Rulu gravely.
"He shall vanish as completely as the
image you saw disappear into thin
air I He shall know what it is to mis
treat one so lovely and innocent as
your charming self I" . - v
Mary colored and dropped her eyes.
"When shall I come again?" she
asked. - ' ;. . '
"As early as you wish." '
Mona gave her address, seeing no
reason why she should conceal it, and
the man bowed her solemnly out. On
the whole, she was very well satisfied
with the impression the had made,
and her eyes were thining when she
returned to the flat and told the oth
ers of what had happened. .
The theft of the Wallace safe was
discovered sooner than the girl ex
pected, and as it happened she was
present at, the Wallace home when
the aituation was divulged. True to
her agreement with Mrs. -Wallace, she
called, for her appointment at hair
dresser, and was shown to the bou
doir. When Mary finally stepped
back, leaving the other to study the
effect of her work, she drew a deep j trappings of the Orient, which had
sigh of relief. been used with such effect, had not
Mrs. Wallaces h&wed no signs of yet been called into service for the
displeasure at the result. In fact, she day. The brazier of incense was cold
was about to express her approbation and dead. The windows had been
when suddenly the entrance of the raised, admitting a generous allow-
maid interrupted.
"Mr. Hadj Rulu is in the library,'
she announced.
Again Mrs. Wallace stiffened,' and
Mary saw her hand clench, as though
in an effort to control her nervous
ness. Then, as before, she rose ab
ruptly from her chair and left the
room. Mary was following when the
street door opened, and there stepped
into the hall a man, whose every
movement cried out that he was a
plain clothes, detective. The girl
paused, watching breathlessly as he
also made his way to the library,
Would the presence of the Hindoo be
discovered, and, if so, what would be
the result? It was quite evident that
Hadj Rulu did not care to have his
presence advertised
The reason for the detective's pret
ence Was explained by hit first words.
"Mr. Wallace reports, that he hat
been robbed, and that to far as he
knows no person in this house
knew of the combination of his safe,
where the money was placed, except
himself. It looks like an 'inside job.'
Mrs. Wallace. What do you think?
"I am sure the servants are inno
cent! said Mrs. Wallace quickly. "I
would stake my life on them."
"That is generally the kind who will
bear watching," said the detective
cynically. "Who is the girl who has
charge of the cleaning and dusting of
this room?
"That is Hattie, one of our younger
maids, who hat been with ut all her
life, answered Mrs. Wallace.
The detective surveyed the maid au
thoritatively and literally barked hit
question! at her, at though priding
himself on the fear and repulsion
which the girl exhibited.
"What did you do with the combi
nation of that safe" he demanded.
"We know you took it we know you
took it from the red book there on
the top of the shelf, where you watch
ed Mr. Wallace hide itl Now, give us
the truth! No lies!"
The maid cowered back, ready to
burst into tears, and Mrs. Wallace
laid a hand encouragingly on her
shoulder. The detective scowled at
the gesture, and renewed his cross-examination.
And then suddenly Mary saw a
hand steal out from the curtains of
the opposite doorway, if:h.:fi chich
she knew the Hindoo was concealed
a lean, brown hand, and in its fingers
was the paper which Mrs. Wallace
obediently had delivered to her mat
ter in the trance. The next instant
the paper was dropped into an apron
pocket of the weeping Hattie, with
the action . unseen except by the
watching girl in the hall.
If the detective insisted now On a
search, what would be the result? Evi
dently the officer had been disappoint
ed in the result of hit fusillade of
questions, for suddenly he ditmitsed
the girl, with no attempt to search
her. Mary had just time to dart to
the stairs when Hattie appeared in
the hall, weeping, and followed to the
upper floor behind her.
Mary thought swiftly. If the Hindoo
had succeeded in slipping the com
bination- into the girl's pocket, why
should she not succeed in tlipping it
out of the pocket? On the sudden
thought, the called the maid to her.
and under the pretente of aaking ber
some questions as to the best hour
to call on Mrs. Wallace in future, the
managed to reach her pocket, and
fatten her fingers on the tell-tale
paper.
A few minutes later she taw the de
tective depart and hardly waiting un
til he wat out of the yard, the Hindoo
hurried down the hall, and to the
ttreet. The coast was now clear, and
descending to the lower corridor,
Mary nodded brightly to the butler,
and followed serenely to the walk.
The Hindoo had vanished, but the
girl wat not concerned with him for
the present. She realized that she
now held the trump card, that Fate
had suddenly and unexpectedly given
her a lever over the man, which even
the other's adroitnesa could not es
cape. How could the use it to the
best advantage, and with the most
telling results?
At the Royatton she received her
answer. To explain the aituation
which greeted her on her return,
however, it it necetsary to go back
to the morning, and trace the move
ments of Mona when the other left
to keep her appointment with Mrs.
Wallace. '
Mona had watched Hadj Rulu de
part on hit way to the Wallace home,
although the girl of course did not
know his destination at the time. 'She
knew only that the Hindoo wat gone
that his apartment was apparently
unguarded, and that the coast "wat
clear for an intimate investigation of
the mysterious premises. Should the
undertake ' it? Her question was
answered by the appearance of Cas
per Carson, grinning broadly.
"I passed that Hindoo chap down
stairs," he announced, "and he stared
at me as though he were making a
mental photograph of my handsome
features," Dp you suppose that he
knowa me?"
Mona laughed. "He thinks he
knows you. He thinkt that you are
Wallace, the banker."
Carson ttarted. Where in the
world did. he get that abturd idea,"
"From me," taid the girt sweetly.
"You don't object, do you. When I
saw him ,and told him my troubles,
he asked me to describe the appear
ance of the guardian who had victim
ized me. I suspected that he had
never seen the real Wallace, and that
he had timed his visit to the house
deliberately so as to escape embaraas
ing question! from the husband of
the woman in his power. Therefore,
I jumped at a chance, and sketched
a hasty word picture of you as my
villain. - Evidently my picture must
have been a fairly accurate one."
"Evidently," agreed Carson drily.
"But I don't catch your purpose?
'That ought to be self-evident.
You are to appear at Hadj Rulu'a
apartments at Wallace at the psy
chological moment. You tee, I am
to take you there for a teance, and he
is going to make you confett your
wrong to me and atone!" -
"Oh. he it, is he?"
1 Mona nodded. "And that reminds
me that right now it an excellent time
to make a little informal examination
of the apartment of mystery. He it
goiie, and we can go through the
place easily before he gett back
The apartment wat not occupied,
and it wat apparent that the ttage
4
ance of sunshine into the.rooms, and
there was little except the heavy
hangings to suggest furnishings at all
out of the ordinary. Mona stepped
first to the table on which had re
posed the waxen image, which had
been consigned to thin air at the
Hindoo's command. She had a girl
ish curiosity to discover how the
trick had been worked. She discov
ered that it was an electric hot-plate
device which melted the wax.
Mona laugher rather ruefully as she
saw the simplicity of the trick, and
how easily she had been mystified.
Her laugh was suddenly checked by
a sound behind them. Whirling, the
two saw that a man had risen from a
pile of cushions and pillows in the
corner of the room, where he had
been apparently asleep. It was Hadj
Rutu's native servant. For an instant
the man stared at them in surprise;
then he turned, and made for the
door, evidently with the intention of
raising an alarm, but Larson was too
quick for him, and caught him by the
collar before he could make his es
cape.
A short struggle ensued, but the
other wat no match for Carson's
trained muscles, and the young mil
lionaire soon had the man trussed up
like a fowl, with a rough, home-made
gag between hit teeth. Brief as was
the atruggle, However, it had evident
ly railed an alarm, for a heavy knock
ing aounded at the door.
"If you don't open thit door!" call
ed a commanding voice, "I warn you
that 1 11 break it in, you brown
faker!" -
"It it Rodney Grant!" taid Mona
with a breath of relief. "He must have
been at our place, and heard you
struggle through the door. He doesn't
know it isn t locked.
She threw open the door with a
smiling courtesy, and Grant started
with mingled surprise and relief.
"I thought someone was being mur
dered here. Hit glance ten on tne
bound and gagged tervant. and he
grinned appreciatively. "Good work!
Are you responsible for this, Carson?"
Casper Carson was busy witn an
other examination of the table of mys
tery, and suddenly looked up. "I have
made another discovery. Hadj Rulu is
no more a Hindoo than I ami" He
held up a small tin of brown paint,
which he had drawn from a hidden
drawer in the table. "The fellow is
probably an American, born on the
Bowery. Won't there be a pretty sen
tation in high society when he is
shown up?" He broke off, frowning.
"What are we going to do with the
servant in the meantime?"
"I have Mt." taid Mona auickly.
"Rodney Grant can take his place. It
ought to be easy enough for him to
dye hit face and put on the man's
robe and turban.
"I see this is going to be my busy
dav." nut in Urant ruetullv. "How
ever, fit do anything to oblige." -
He disappeared into an inner room,
with the, brown paint and the serv
ant's outer robe and turban, and when
he returned five minutet later - the
metamorphotit wat startling.
"You will do excellently' nodded
Carton. "You missed your calling, old
man. You ought to have been an
actor." He broke off, listening, and
glanced at hia watch. "It seemt to
me, Mona, that the sooner we are out
of thit the better for all concerned
unless you want your friend to sucJ
prise us on Ins premises!
"Are you going to leave me here
by myself?" asked Grant, with af
fected alarm. ' '
"After you help me lift our prisoner
into a closet," said Carson. The two
men raised the servant's body and
carried the man into a recess of the
room, where they fancied he could
rest for hours without attracting no
tice. Then Carson and Mona stole
back to the hall,, and across to the
girls' tuite. They were just in time,
for a moment later Hadj Rulu's grave
figure1 appeared in the corridor, fol
lowed shortly afterward by Mary in
the full fluth of her excitement after
the dramatic happeningi at the Wal
lace home. ..---.
"How do you tuggett we shall wind
it all up?" the asked, after the trio
had exchanged their ttoriet.
"It teems to me that the sooner'
Casper Carson appears on the stage
i Wallace, the Danker, the better."
laid Mona, rising from her chair. "I'll
inform., our Hindoo tneno tnat Wal
lace it coming up at once for a pri
vate teance."
She wat back few moments later
with the beaming announcement that
Hadj Rulu suspected nothing, and
would receive Mr, Wallace at any
time.
"And . what do you think? she
gasped. "He thinkt Rodney' Grant
it really hit tervant and hat arranged
with him just, what to do in order to
trap the distinguished visitor without
delay 1". ,
You are a wonder I conceded Car
son admiringly. The two made their
way back to the Hindoo's flat and
Mona pressed the bell. Hadj T Rulu
himself admitted them and motioned
them gravely to chairs.
"My young ward has told me so
many surprising ttoriet of your pow
er!, taid Carton, taking up hit role,
"that I have let myself be persuaded
to come and see for myself. I should
tell you in advance, however, that 1
have absolutely no belief in the so
called occult sciences. If you can
convince me, I will take off my hat
to you I"
The Hindoo bowed. "Mr. .Wal
lace shall be convinced!" he promised.
The apartment had been darkened and
the incense relighted. Hadj Rulu
stepped back to the teakwood table
and bowed hit head for a moment in
deep thought. Then he tank into a
huge arm chair and hit eyet closed.
For several moments no one spoke,
and then came the Hindoo's voice
slowly: .
"I see strange things, Mr. Wallace
things which the world knows noth
ing of. I see you in your true char
acter. I tee you plundering and vic
timizing a young and helpless girl,
left in your care. I see you wrest
ing large fortune from her,' which
was entrutted to you to administer.
One-half million dollars it it," he an
nounced, mentioning the amount of
the fictitious estate which Mona had
told him. ; .'. v
Carson sprang to hit feet with a
white face. "Are you man or devil?
he demanded. :
'It it true I" taid Hadj Rulu, accus
ingly. "The spirit tiglit does not lie,
cannot lie. You are a wretch, deserv-
i
ing of no mercy!" yHe clapped his
hands, and Grant stepped forth from
the inner room a silent, accusing
witness. v
"Have pity!" said Carson quaver
ingly, catching the Hindoo's arm en
treatingly. "I swear I shall make
reparation for what I have done! I
swear that my ward shall not suffer
in any way I
"How shall you make this repara
tion?" asked Hadj Rulu, opening his
eyes suddenly.
"That is simple. I will go at once
and secure the stocks and deeds that
represent her property and I will
turn them over to her in your pres
ence, if you wish I"
"How long will it take?"
"Oh, a mere matter of a few mo
ments. The papers are in my private
box at my bank. I can take a taxi
cab. But you will promise,, both of
you, that if I do this you will make
no exposure?"
Mona looked at the Hindoo, and
Hadj Rulu nodded slightly.
"We promise," she agreed, appar
ently unnerved at her guardian's sud
den unmasking and confession.,
Carson staggered from the room
and Mona and Rodney Grant were
left alone with the Hindoo. Hadj
Rulu turned to the newspaper man
and ordered him curtly out of the
room; For just an instant, Grant hes
itated, and then remembering his sup
posed character, he bowed deeply and
obeyed. When he vanished Mona
turned to Hadj Rulu impulsively.
"How can I ever thank you?" she
began, looking at him admiringly.
"You are the most marvelous man I
ever knew."
"I is nothing," protested Hadj
Rulu! .
"Perhaps not to you. But it means
everything to me. I know what I
can do to . show my appreciation of
you. Will you accept the manage
ment of my estate? Of course, I can
not go on longer with Mr. Wallace
after what has happened." '
Hadj Rulu walked back and forth
over the floor, as though debating the
question.
"I hardly know what to say. In
the first place, I very much fear that
you may be disappointed, my young
friend. Your guardian may find it
impossible to restore what is right
fully yours, and I fear that in spite of
all I do you may suffer financially."
"Do you really jlhink so?" asked
Mona in dismay.
"I'll tell you what I might do, if
it would help you. When your guar
dian returns with your papers I will
buy a half interest in them for cash,
if you wish it. 1 will give you siu,-
000. Of course, my Interest may not
be worth so much, but I am willing
to do it if it will be of any benefit to
you. my little high priestess?"
Oh, thank you I . I hank youl said
fnna imn,iUivlv "Vnlt ar nnhl
and generous at well at shrewd and
successful 1
When Carson returned with his
bundle of counterfeit deeds and
papers, the Hindo accepted them and
gave Mary ten thousand as his half
interest. They were leaving the flat
when Mra. Wallace, who was sum
moned by a telephone in a nearby
apartment, was announced. '
Hadj Rulu frowned for a moment,
and then quickly recovered himself.
"You are just in time, my dear friend,
to witnets the unmasking of your
husband, whom I have discovered to
my surprise and sorrow it an unmiti
gated scoundrel!"
"My husband?" asked Mrs. Wallace
in bewilderment. "Where it he?"
"There!" cried Hadj Rulu, pointing
to Carson.
"But that man is not my husband!"
The Hindoo whirled on Mona with
a sudden suspicion, and taw her grin
ning. "What does thit mean?" he marled.
There came another ring at the bell.
The visitor thit time wat Howard
Wallace, the banker, in actual fact.
At tight of hit wife, he stepped for
ward angrily.
"What does thit mean" he demand
ed, unconsciously using Hadj Rulu's
own question.
"It meant that we have recovered
for you" your ttolen property," taid
Mona, itepping forward and extend
ing the bank notet the had just re
ceived. "The person who robbed your
safe is the so-called Hadj Rulu us
ing your wife as a helpless accomplice
while she was in a hypnotic trance,
and forced to obey his orders 1
"It is a lie!" screamed the Hindoo.
. "Is it?" The question was asked by
Mary, who swiftly' opened the door,
and stepped into the room just as
Kodney Urant appeared in his real
character. Mary silently handed the
combination of his safe to Howard
Wallace. The banker stared at it in
a daze.
"I saw Hadj Rulu force your wife
to give this to him," explained the
girl, "and later saw him slip it into
the pocket of one of your maids!" She
turned her head and called to a stocky
figure in the hall. It was the plain
clothes detective, who had been en
trusted with the investigation of the
Wallace robbery.
"We have two prisoners for you, of
ficer," said Carson, pleasantly, drag
ging Hadj Rutu's servant from his
place of concealment in the closet.
Twenty minutes later, Mrs. Wallace
in the apartment of Mary and Mona
deposited the bundle of bank notes on
the girls' library table.
"My husband and 1 agree that this
is the least wc can do for youl"
"But this is too much!" protested
Mona.
Mrs. Wallace smiled. "Is it? Un
less I am greatly mistaken, you will
need it shortly. Judging from the
glances of Messrs. Carson and Grant,
a double wedding is Cue to occur be
fore long! Am I wrong?"
The girls blushed and did not re
fuse the generous reward. - After all,
it would come in handy.
When Mrs. Wallace had gone
Mona happily perched herself on the
arm of Mary's chair and took her
companion's hand. -
"There's a whole lot in what Mrs.
Wallace said, Mary, do you rcalizo .
that?" she mused.
Mary, whose thoughts apparently
had been following the same channel,
nodded comprehensively.
"I haven't asked you much about
Mr. Grant," Mona went on, "largely
because you have avoided questioning
me about Casper. But we've never
had any secrets from each other. Tell
me, has he asked you" She broko
off suddenly, as if she hesitated to
speak the words.
Mary blushed and nodded. "I
promised Rodney that this would be
our last adventure. I've bren telling
him that I could not consider becom
ing his wife until the mission, which
you and I set out to accomplish had
been performed."
"That's practically what I told Cas
per," said Mona, blushing. "And he
made me promise to give him my an
swer tonight, with no more evasions."
Mary jumped up and clasped Mona
in her arms. "And what are you go
ing to telt him?" she exclaimed.
Mcna hung her head. "The same
thing you are going to tell Mr.
Grant, she smiled. . "Surely we have
accomplished what we set out to do.
The last note goes into my diary right
away. Of course," she went on, "we
won t decline to help any needy per
son who calls upon us, but having
helned so manv that the law could not
aid, it's high time we thought of shap
ing our own happiness.
"You're right," murmured Mary".
"And no one can blame us for buying
trousseaus with this latest reward.
They cost so confounded much nowa
days. ' ... V
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