Show A RETURNS THE EXPLOITS OF JUVE By Bv Marcel Allain and Pierre tre Continued from yesterday When Juve and ceased lightIng lighting lighting light light- ing the bundles of dry straw they at once went up and ad waited moments moments moments mo mo- mo- mo ments at the aperture nearest to them Suddenly the huge and formidable formidable head of th monster against which Juve had contented more than once sure of his existence but never having caught sight of him rose out of the darkness The men Juve had brought Inside the house were resolute men but never for foran foran foran an instant did they ever Imagine that tat antomas could assume such an unexpected unexpected unexpected shape Overwhelmed by un unconquerable unconquerable unconquerable un- un conquerable dred these men so brave against a known danger recoiled in a frenzy fled toward the exists calling for help in such agonized tones that their mates who were guarding the house outside outside paying no more heed to their orders ran at once to their comrades comrades' comrades comrades' com corn rades' rades aid A colossally false move Meanwhile Juve with wih some revolver shots smashed the hideous head For a moment the detective lingered to contemplate his victim but suddenly he was brought back to how things really realY stood This way This way voices voies called caled outside in sudden alarm Juve rushed to the window Of all al the officers on guard about the house only two had remained at their posts when the alarm was given following the appearance of the snake They had I been placed at the top of the terrace steps and had said there As Juve looked down he saw them rooted by discipline to their station staton but straining against it like two eager hounds In leash It I was they who were shouting Footsteps out In the garden garden garden- one of them called as he saw his superiors superior's face at the window Some one is running toward that old shed out back with In Instant instant instant in- in After Ater him Juve roared wih stant comprehension Its Is Dont Don't let him get a away way The two obeyed moving heavily in their clumsy service shoes Behind them Juve Michel and the rest thundered down the wide stairs in ina ina ina a mob and dashed out through the main door Their feet were pounding on the when when Boom Boom There was a thunderous explosion and simultaneously simultaneously with It I a terrific blast of air The earth shook A huge column of black dust shot sl skyward crashes succeeded on all al hands The thick walls wals withstood the shock but the interior was gutted and out through the window openings as from the mouths of cannon was ejected a voluminous and mixed volley voley of stone brick plaster broken glass splintered timber fragments of ot furniture furniture furniture furni furni- ture and fittings all al tho the debris of what an instant before had been a ahouse ahouse ahouse house and now stood up trembling a amere amere amere mere roofless shell shen Among Juve uve and his men knocked flat by the tho fell fel the tho deadly shower There were cries and groans then silence Juve was the first to stir str Still half haI stunned he sat up feebly conscious even in that first moment that no stabbing pain of broken bones shot through him Ho He was sound and and whole Across his knees dead weight lay something he recognized as while around him in the glooms h he saw huddled the prostrate shapes of his detectives This way called caled Juve I Two uve thoughts held equal possession of his I mind mind his his friend and his enemy The reporter had not stirred Lift him off of my legs Juve directed direct dIrect- ed and see if i he Jie e still breathes The men obeyed and made a hasty examination heart was beating and there was no blood on him He was merely stunned by the con con- Thank God for that said Juve Now get me on my feet We must be beafter beafter after Which way did he go I There was a black blace shadow one of ot the men explained flitting along be before be- be fore inre ore us through the shrubbery We Weere ere vere fifty paces I behind The black thing reached that old shed by the wall wal walland and anti flitted fitted around the corner Francois and I 1 heard it i bang a a door open We Ve were closing in when when Boom Boom Wo Wo Vo Never mind that now cut in Juve uve who weak weale and giddy giddy- could hardly I keep his feet Which wai way way wa- wa i Then came a mocking answer to his I unfinished question queston From the distant front of the garden garden down on the Boulevard Inkerman where the police had left lef automobile standing when standing when they arrested arrest arrest- ed his chauffeur rose the staccato of a motor starting with exhaust It quickened into a volleying drum beat There was a sound of meshing gears the groan of ofa ofa a clutch shoved quickly sears home Then the roar steadied to a drone which rapidly dwindled in volume as the sixty power horse-power racer shot away at full ful speed Once more the criminal arch-criminal had given the slip to his pursuers Juve stood helpless in the night and listened the ruined shell shel of the tho house behind him his companion lying senseless at his feet But failures were only spurs to Juve At that very ver moment he took up the pursuit again with wih undiminished patience You he directed one of ot his hla companions go to the nearest telephone telephone telephone tele tele- phone and call cl aid for our wounded comrades And you he told the other other other oth oth- I er come on with wih me Give me your yourl arm to lean on I 1 shall shan catch atch Fan- Fan l tomas yet THE END |