Show T H E MAd E t LS T Q OM I BY FRANK FREST iI it f o Late Laic J SU Superintendent ri ef f Cri Criminal i r i. Department D N New Scotland Y Yard d London LondonA A Detective Romance by the Only World-Famous World Professional Sleuth Who Has Scored Equally as a Brilliant Writer of Fiction Jim Circumstances have baTe brought tube rule n a young Joung American In to London who litho never steps side steps adventures adYln tares tures that thai como conio his hb hisnay nay nay Into Into the I oi of friend and champion of or lt lety gy Greye Gr a young youn oun lady nho ho li h s under police pollee on of tho the murder of her father WeIr father Melr Menzies Chief DC- DC teethe Inspector of Scotland Yard appears appears ap ape pears to be working on the he theory that Ius' Peggy Is b an nn adventuress Indignantly repudiates this Insinuation tion lion even eYen after learning that Peggy reggy has been legally leally married marched to ono Stew Stewart I Stew art Ling Xing leader of or a gang of International Donal crooks which also includes f t cIncinnati Red lied and tho the clever cleTer woman I criminal s regg Peggy's Peggys half hall i brother Errol a wt weakling and a forger for lor l ger ser Is In the tho power of this gang Mho ho are scheming to fix the tho warder murder of Greye Stratton reye-Stratton Stratton on him and at nt the tho same canio time are arc making every effort to put ont out of the way ha has lust Just rescued Hallett from a 8 trap set act by through I I a no note to tor forged ed in Peggys Peggy's name and I nu now tho the are following Jim nilo 1111 guIded by Cincinnati lied Rd to tore a re restaurant where reggy Peggy is found In I It t 1 company with tho notorious Ling I 1 Cb 1 1019 toy W U the bot J. J L Mr Co Co I 1 CHAPTER CI XVI I. I U t the our she gasped You You hero He too was was was' I YOUr taken aback For lor a moment moment mo mo- mo- mo ment meat ho he was incapable of or consecutive thought He Ho bad had fiercely combated even to himself Menzies's Menzies s theory that she n was waa a willing associate of or the peee peo- peo o e 10 o were being hunted down Bu nut But t or iby i staggered his faith J be he Scotland Yard mans man's pus pus- L were right It was not at a all l l r. r thing that she should b be e dint dining g quietly with Ling Ling LinS' Ling he her r hub d and the master brain of th e CO conspiracy I tt u i know my this my-this this lady Je e pulled himself together J j was Wal no time for considered ac acil ac- ac I Jle il 1 threw a backward glanco glance a at t lI Menzles Menzies lles and Royal had no not not t eared ared met before he be ans answered ered d late he assumption of coolness ney cT ej Isn't It It Can I have s a ayour you your He beckoned he her r 9 isles tes ol of the other two me methem men n them with curiosity I Iati Is Ia s e natt ati Ling ho he whispered b she answered What na no ao time for questions Th Thare Theare The Theare e are Immediately behind us I are going to arrest him him and and d fee 9 e you ou too You must get away alva ic ce Is Ie s there another way way out people are coming in at th the e whom fc Whom we dont don't t want to mee meet gleam l beam am a.m. of gold between his bis s fingers finger s informed formed the waiter aller into Into a quick quid k It I Itou you ou will wOl step this em way sir sir sir- t way WaT madam He lie pushed fora for- for a t L halt half a dozen steps and flung I v indoor Ioor They descended 1 Upon pon a aj i q j gf pt steps into a derelict side sido r. S W rs r.'s Sg ig s g who Vho had watched them with a aled aea led ea frown crown turned to Cincinnati s jie 1 hat in 1 thunders thunder's the game gamer gamerl l know said Cincinnati our dour lady friend She seemed S s b O o my friend nd I sat sad black and lowering lovering on onu onS's u Ss S's f a face tape His is hand dropped to his G po pocket et and Cincinnati had a little apprehensive thrill as he heard r nt t click and the bottom corner ot fee the Jacket pocket poked over the the table He longed to look took 1 to see lee if Menzies Menzles had entered but he be dared not turn his bis bisto tt I glided to hi his side aide and as alp up uP the menu card and with de gave his orders order he felt fell Inn It g gaze still upon him They ved oved away awa I iw a trick on the a Ling In a voice whose nothing of an intensity t qc J Ill Til plug you TOU if you rou dont don't t tell what's on What hat are you doWhy do- do Why did you bring m Answer If It you ron move or urra a a a. Ill I'll blow a hole bole through you you dog Cincinnati had no opportunity to d how 1 Ling had come to guess gues H Ue ts t's Identity Ei Easy 1 y does it it Stewart be he said aid Easy Eay does It It I couldn't could help myself f Between clenched teeth lelh Ling spat a vicious oath at him He withdrew his bis right hand from hb p pocket et keeping it concealed with witha a serviette The serviette lay at last arlu J crumpled In front of or him And ind his lus hand was under ItI it I See that tha h tip he growled linly a Theres There s two men just come in Pals of yours I 1 guess You'd better belter get your jour our thinking apparatus started for if it those splits otter offer to come near me its it's going to lo be an as almighty bad time lime for you ou ou You'd try to 00 put it across on me you jou OU tin Un horn I tell lell you sou OU if I 1 go o out of or this place with the lire culls cuffs on you you'll 11 go out feet first Think It out quick you Ou dirty squealer Cincinnati Red lied was frightened badly f frightened though his taco face t co did not show it H. The walter wallet placed a plate oC of soup before him and his hand band was steady as ho he lifted the tho spoon That back door those others used h ho he e said quickly slip sUp out Ill I'll hold rho bulls back Tho The serviette stirred Impatiently Not on your tintype my son You dont don't pass on this hand You'll stick closer to be than a brother Ill I'll trust you you while while my fingers finger's on a gun and the gun on you you I Menzles Menzies and Royal Royal- Ro ar li lied had d- d seated themselves three or tour four tables away Nothing seemingly was was of or less interest interest inter Inter- inter inter- est cst to them tl than tho two crooks one of or whom had bad just fin finished ed his dinner r rand and the other just begun I I I cant can't think of or nothing protested C Cincinnati sullenly How much do they know asked Ling sharply They raided Gwennie's shanty this morning They're after her but you mainly r I You Ton seem to know a a hell o of or a lot commented Ling crisply I suppose youve you've arranged to give em the office when they're to lo pull me That would have been all right if it Hallett hadn't gone Sono oft off at half cock Now the surprise surprise surprIse sur sur- prise packet is going to be mine Im I'm going to drink this liqueur and my attention is going to seem to wander oI oil ocr you for a little lilUe minute only minute only seem mind you Theres There's a menu card down by your hand Youve You've got a pencil Now write on that that I 1 suspect noth noth- nothing l ing that ug-that that Im I'm going to take you around now to the spot where the rest of or the boys are Then give it to the thew w waiter alter to pass to them The Tho astuteness of ot tho the move appealed t l A Cincinnati He lIe followed Lings Ling's instructions in in- docilely and over his shoulder shoulder der he saw Menzies read the card and nod without looking up Ling LinS' drank his liqueur slowly and there was a more complacent expression expression sion about his thin lips He pushed back his chair Get my my coat waiter waller And this gentleman's Th They y marched march out marched out dout of the restaurant side by side and a little walk brought them into Inlo Shaftesbury Avenue v n e. e CincInnati Cincinnati Cin Cin- had every very every nerve strained watching for an opportunity to e escape escape cape but Lings Ling's vigilance never v r re relaxed ax d. d Cincinnati Red grunted something unintelligible un I n Then hen If n I 1 were Rere l vou Hil u Stewart Stewart Steva t Id I'd take a taxi Well We'll never never throw these splits off oU walking J k kWell Well well nell exclaimed Ling Ll g in well assumed surprise Its Youve You've got the brains Fancy thinking of that I Never mind The walk wont won't hurt us us and perhaps a little exercise will do y your ur chums good 4 Cincinnati CInci doubted doubled it b but t d d not repeat his his' suggestion He was very cloudy as as to what Ins his companion proposed propos proposed pro pro- pos posed d' d to to do He knew Ling Ung as a dare daredevil but for a man whose neck was in jeopardy he was- was carrying things jauntily 1 It n was in Bloomsbury that they SW off olt the main l load adi into u one ne of those cou st streets e ts of tall tall boarding bo boarding hous houses house with railed iron d areas area's areas and forbidding forbidding for- for bidding front doors of ot Victorian mid era Nearly home Cincinnati encouraged encouraged aged aed Ling Now ow you'll ou II be able to lo see things move They ascended the steps of one of the most gloomy looking of ot the houses and Ling inserted a key lIe He carefully closed and bolted boiled the door after him and ordered Cincinnati forward The back room will wiil do for us said Ling Ung Get along alongA A descent of a couple of steps led into tuto a back sitting room Ling pointed pointed point- point ed with his pistol he pistol he was carrying it openly In his hand now now Theres Theres a chair Sit down No Xo never mind your four court manners I want you with your back to me That's right Now put your arms behind your back and ke keep ep stilL Cincinnati Red felt something encircle encircle encircle en en- circle his wrists and a lashing was dexterously drawn tight An Aa involuntary involuntary involuntary tary cry escaped him Ling Ung finished the knot and stepping in front swung a 3 smashing blow at the bound man mans man's s h face That s on account he said fierce fierce- ly If you dont don't keep still sUll you'll get got what's coming to yon He thrust his hist face contorted with I t passion close to toI that of the con man and Cincinnati I shivered I I I cant can't do all Id I'd like to to Ling Line went ent on but Ill I'll pay the bill In tn fun full some oth other r time you time you bet I T i Twill will will I lie stooped and tied Cincinnati s 's s ankles to tho the chair legs as effectively as he he he- Lad had bound his wrists Then he lifted chair and all and staggered with 1 It into the tho front room lIe He placed it b by tho the curtained window and stood for a breathless Cincinnati was no light light weight Now lI ten t to me me ho said Incisive incisive- ly Im going to turn up tho the lights and draw V th the tho curtains back so that your head bcd and shoulders can be seen from tho street Your detective pals will bo be In 14 sight somewhere and they they'll 11 bo pleased to lo see you I shall bo be behind behind behind be be- hind tho the door and dont don't forget torget Ill I'll plug you good if you play foxy Youve You've got to shako your head to them s them see secT eT Convey to them that everything isn't x IY r fu c ry r U i r rC C 6 r r rv v a Y SL r a I i Nh h o c cate ate i r 1 c tit a f a f w r x p. p gi I I cant can't do all Id I'd like to Ling went on on but Ill I'll pay the bill in in full some other time you time you bet I will I quite ready You know how to ao it itLean it Lean a bit forward as though you were talking to somebody they cant can't cantsee sec see Its It's up to you jou oU to lo keen em stalled em stalled of ort for a quarter of ot an hour He Ie slipped the curtains s back and retreated retreated to the doorway out of the direct line line- of eight ight of any anyone one In th the the street Cincinnati cast a casual glanco Blanco ou on on the pavement and made a motion motion motion mo mo- tion wi with h his head as as Ling had directed Ced He He had a vision of Weir Menzles posed posed p precariously on the iron railings railings rail rall- ings io lour four r feet reel away alay There was as a s smashing ashing of glass glass as- as the the detective ye leaped and trio the con can man Iman heard a teh vehement nie t oath from Lh Lingo f followed ved bv by t two o sharp 8 in iu quick s c es- es sion sion t M Menzies s tore furiously through one or ot the tilt the broken panes panes-at jibe window vc I fastenings Presently he flung up the sash and half leaped reaped half hait tumbled within Congreve e stayed without long I enough to put a whistle to his lips Ups in swift sl summons and appeal and then followed his chief I Cincinnati Red Had had fainted with willi a i bullet wound in his shoulder n The 1 ru ithe Hallett bad had not stopped to consider any complications that might arise when he had rushed Peggy Greye- Greye Stratton from the restaurant In a flash 11 be he had realized how a ablack ablack ablack black cloud of suspicion already formed against her b by Menzies would be increased should she be found In amicable association with Ling Even b be himself had doubts doubts doubts which nc no reasoning could have suppressed but which he stilled stifled until there should be more time to resolve them She obeyed him without questioning He bustled hustled her Into a taxicab and gave an order to the driver He sat down dOt b bj by her side hi his heart pumping hardA hardA hard A close dose thin thing that he commented I i coolly She was trembling violently You said the poll police the police the co-the the detectives were were there Why What are they thoy going to do do How Ho did they know I am afraid afraid he ho spoke gently though his heart was aflame allame that your friend will bo be arrested Oh she dropped back baek against the soft sort cushions then suddenly she awoke to fierce life lIle They mustn't I 1 must goback go goback goback back Mr Ir Hallett HalleH Stop the cab Why didn't I think at first I must warn him Let Lot me alone If you jou OU aro arc a gentleman you will do as 1 I say Sho was striving to open the tho d door or and he bad had to use force to pull her herback herback herback back to her scat seat Sit still he said You can do no good now no It is too late You have haTe I got to think of yourself It If you goback go goback goback back you will ViiI be arrested Will that improve c matters v t I suppose I suppose you are right light she said colorlessly But But her her voice grew grew tense again you again you dont don't know v wb what t i it t means to me IDe You cant can't know v. all aU right he said soothingly soothing soothing- ly I I can guess guess We will l talk lk ov overall over overall r rI all ait th that t later Nothing can be bedone be done until you jou ou are more yourself If U If if I he suddenly be became ame i H diffident if f money can do anything to save him I you must call on me A loan you jou know he be ended tamely You think that that ma man man is is Ling is isa a murderer That I 1 want to lo save him she sai said breathlessly And then without warning she broke broke into laughter laughter laughter that was akin to toby by hysterics It was v then that t Jimmie Hallett did dida a thing tiring which in the tho ordinary wa way he heHe would have deemed impossible H He stood up took her by the shoulders and shook her roughly Stop Slop that Stop it at once h he e commanded harshly He had never llever had Bad occasion on to ta deal with a woman in m hysterics before and the was instinctive Ho was relieved to find it effective Th The girl quieted after one or two convulsive sob sobs Im sorry soro she gasped I am better better bet bet- ter now noVo Where are we going I told he man to drive to the Monument I don dont don't t know where you u might like to lo go and the important thing was to get away One moment i He pushed his head bead out of the window Which Is the nearest main mam line depot |