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Show ' - - SUNDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 25, 1921. r,.- THE OGDEN t Jd) P it , J Mi&Mh n.7 Fj . 71 , ft ft L Author of Many Stories and Novels of international Reputation. CHAPTER I. The Black Menace. recall the sudden death of my uncle, Martin Dale, M-a fortnight ago?" It was a very anxious and worried young lady who had come to Kennedy's laboratory and Introduced herself as Clare Claremont. j STANDARD-EXAMINE- R . a Van Dyke heard. As ho caught alfcht of vs. half way down, ho looked quickly over at the butler. "Who are these gentlemen, Ka vor he asked. -Dr. Gilbert. I believe," hastaned Kennedy, before tho Jap could ren ply, recognising at onto the society physician, "Yes," returned tho doctor, slightly tlsvatinjt his eysbrowa. 7 well-know- "I don't betleTo that wo hTO ever met," introduced Kennedy, taking the card from tho Jap and handing it to the doctor, "but perhaps you have heard of mo at the university?" Dr. Gilbert glanced at the card, then hts manner changed as ho Her clear gray Leyes looked out eearchlngly beneath the rakish hat that tilted over a mass of tho softhair. Altogether, est Titian-tinteClare Claremont,- from the nervously nodding tip of feather above her head to the dainty toe other modish little boot, was - a fascinating creature, trebly so in her appealing distress. "I recall It perfectly," encouraged Kennedy. "Is there something I can do to hep you?" ,Craig shot a sldewise glance at me. Indeed, we did remember tho ease, for we had discussed it sev-- . eral times. Two weeks before the highly re--' spected president of the One Hundredth National Bank had passed out of .life most mysteriously and most dramatically, and we had wished that we 'might have an ex.- d - - ' ii - . a tu -- ;- i . - ' ; . . r r :,- 'f , 1 ". i ? ,fv r v i - ; cuse for becoming connected with the case. It had happened on the evening of a birthday party, which had been arranged for bis niece and ward, Clare Claremont, to celebrate the arrival of her eighteenth birthday. The party was already assembling at the Dale mansion, A shot was heard upstairs, and, according to ' the newspaper reports, Clare herself, followed by a young man well 'known In society, Jack Speed, had rushed up. There they found Dale In his room, lying on the floor, an "ugly wound in his forehead, and clutched in his hand a revolver. There had been the usual attempt to hush the matter up-"tconflicting stories of an Intruder and of his cleaning a gun, but It was generally understood that, although the Coroner's jury brought a rverdlct, Dale had committed suicide. Clare leaned nervously forward, watching Kennedy's face Intently. "Professor Kennedy," she went on, in a very tremulous tone, 'nvben my unclo's safe down at the office was opened, It; was found that my entire estate of oyer a million collars was dissipated. There was not a cent lef a cent of his own." She leaned over even closer in her excitement, talking rapidly, though without hysterics. "But I did find In some of his papers, which he overlooked or f to destroy with the rest of his books, a number of strange letters. Someone had blackmailed Ulm. Every dollar was gone. I was penniless. I set out with a detective trying to make something out of the letters, for .they seemed to point to I detera gang of blackmailers. mined to get back what I could. She paused thoughtfully and added: "Somehow I believe that the money, or at leat a large part of U, Is somewhere, If I could only find it." She laid down on the laboratory tabic a piece of paper on which was "some writing in: a peculiar dls- pulsed scrawl. The paper was dirty and crumpled. , I received this," she explained, I bent over with Kennedy and -'.- V'.'Uw '4 u .KV - 'v V ' ...kJ.. V Ho Had Hi Handt Up Befortj His Eye. A I Entered, He Saidt "Kato, what color doc tht room eem to you?' " he . . non-committ- al tnor ; , or-g- ot great deal of him, and I felt pure that if he ; came through or the Star it would bo the best thing for both of them. we already knew as a young detective who had, llkf. so many others,, come to New York "Itavenal apparently from nowhere and by some process "arrived." I did not lecall that he had had any very remarkable cases and yet he seemed to have done pretty well. Some of the cases were given to hira by peo- ple very well known. He did rot call himself a detective, but 3iniply an "investigator." It sounded better with his society clientele. 'Whit hai e you and Mr. Ravenal discovered so far?" asked Kennedy. "Very little. It seems as though every time we get a clue that load3 anywhere, this gang must get ahead tit us and spoil it. Now coim-- the note. I had heard of you and I thought that the best thing I could do would be to come and see you a before" An envelope suddenly scaled in through the air fvom the window - - ' "To-day- read: - ' ' - You will call off your detective Ravenal as well as that young man. Speed or we will get you all. t , THE BLACK MENACE. Jack Speed, I happened to lenow, was at the time a newspaper man on the Star. His father, a broker, had become tired of Jack's wild and notorious society 'career and had told him that he would have to do some serious work.- Steed had come down to the Star with the Tather novel proposal thati owing to his close society connections, he could write a great deal of stuff that no one else could get. The novelty of the thing had appealed to the Star and they had given him a job. To the amazement of everybody on the. paper, Steed was actually making good. He had" never done anything serious before, but now seemed to set his chance and take It. I was very glad of it for he was a most likable fellow and the experience was making a man of him. More than that, it was easy to see from the way In which Clare spoke of Jack Steed, that she thought a : -- ; ' . 1 ' . and dropped on the floor Just beside us. Clare Jumped up with a little scream. I picked up the envelope as Craig ran to the window. He looked up and down, but there was nobody there. Whoever had scaled the envelope in had had Plenty of time to get around the side of the Chemistry Building and disappear on the campus. Pursuit was useless now, He turned and took the envelope from my hand With bis finger he tore It open and pulled out a note. As he did so, from the note there . fluttered to the floor a crisp yllow piece of paper. I stooped to pick It up and as I did 40, gave a startled gasp. My fingers closed over a thousand dollar bill! Kennedy looked In amazement, first at the note in his own hands and then at the bill in mine. Clare uttered a' startled scream. It was evident that she had thought the letter was another threat from the Black Menace. Together we three crowded about and read the note. It was short and direct: "Miss Clare Claremont: "I know of four attempts to get the Black Menace the great soI approve of ciety blackmailer. to your going Kennedy finally. That fs all I can say. I know who It Is, but my Hps are sealed. If you knew you would understand. You must keep this secret even from your detective and Mr. Speed. . "RIPLEY GRANBY." The name at the end of the note was no less of a' shock to us than the strange succession of events which had Just led up to this mysterious communication. Ripley Granby was perhaps the best known clubman In town, a friend of Dale and of Clare 8 own father before his death, clubinate of Speed, and altogeneration to an indifferent office gether a notable figure in New building of the present York society. We entered the building and What the note could mean none climbed the stalrn to the second of us was able even to dream. It floor. Clare tapped on the door of was certainly not a forgery, nor was a front room and It was opened it likely that any ons would lightly quickly by a colored boy. At the throw about thousand dollar bills 'sight of Miss Claremont be bowed unless there was some great and and ushered us In. It. reason for Whatever may ba said of Ravenal compelling as a criminal Investigator, he cerKennedy's mind was working tainly was a connoisseur. I had exrapidly, endeavoring to piece topected to find a detective office gether some order out of the sudden with perhaps several operatives chaos. Clare looked at him anxiousabout In a back office. , banging ly, Kennedy smiled. This place was he direct antithesis. "Evidently you have one friend," Few artists might have boasted a he encouraged, "even If he "insists btudlo or den which was more beauon remaining unknown to every one tifully fitted than this headquarters except ourselves." of the society detoctlve. But then, Clare' mind seemed to be in a I reflected, that was probably the whirl. A moment before she had very genius of the man and part of been penniless. Now at least she his stock in trade. Lad a sizable sum of money, and Ravenal himself was a moderatethere seemed to be no reason why and olive ly tall, one who did things In this way man of a type young would leave her In the lurch. I which one may see by the score handed her the bill. She hesitated a moment to. take it and I could any afternoon on the Avenue. The only difference between Ravenal fancy tho thoughts that were passand the type was that. If anything, ing through her mind. Finally she he seemed to be the mould frcm turned to Craig. which the others were cast. That, "Evidently he had confidence In too, was a point In his favor as a you," she said simply. If there had been the slightest society detective. There was no Boclal gathering at which Ravenal doubt before of Kennedy's Interest In"1 the case there certainly was would not pass as one of the inner circle lUelf. none now. There could be no quesAs Clare Introduced us 1 watched tion but that the death of Martin Ravenal closely to see how ho was Dale and the looting of his estate Involved matters of the utmost Ingoing to take the change. Instead of showing any annoyance, the terest and Importance. "You may need all that money young dstectlve stretched out his and much more," he remarked hand frankly to Craig and smiled, ihowlng a perfect row of teeth. C f.!owly, "bHt you are quite right, Miss Claremont. We must follow "Really, Profesror Kennedy," he thfs" thing wherever It leads us to greeted, "I cannot help saying I am the end. Would you mind taking delighted. When Miss Claremont me with you so that I can have a came to me at first I was only too talk with Mr. Ravenal and find out glad to take the case, for It seemed Just how far he has gone? I should as though it mu?t be that I posmuch prefer to work with hira than sessed the confidence of other to have him think, that I have come clients of her acquaintance. But In to crowd him out." the case Is too big. If I might be Clare was delighted at his acceptcssociated with you, and even share ance. Though she said nothing In the credit of it, I would be quite about It, It was easy to see that the ratl6fid." situation troubled her. One detecKennedy said very little, althongh tive who had gone so far and could he had a way of putting anyone at go no further might be a serious his ease. We rat down in tho won-- , block if another was derful easy chairs that Ravenal tad stumbling called In. Kennedy's attitude promgathered and with a few ised to smooth over what she had questions Kennedy was considered to be a very rough spot. straightway into the heart of tho she all means." case. If Ravenal had any expecta"By replied, rising with sudden energy, as though she tion of Kennedy he were fearful that Kennedy might remost have realized immediately consider his offer. "1 was almost v that he had met more than his afraid to come to you at first and match. Kennedy Interviewed blra then I didn't know whether It would with an art that I envied. It would be fair to Mr. Ravenal to do it anyhave been a wonderful asset to any how. There must be some way In one In the newspaper business. which we can all go ahead together." . I shall not attempt to repeat the A quarter of an hour later our long story of the fruitless efforts of taxtcab palled up before an old Clare Claremont, Jack Speed and brownstone house, which th upRavenal to trace out even the slenward march of trade had converted der clues contained in the packet of from a splendid dwelling of the past notes found among the effects of dark-hatre- corn-plexlon- ei d well-direct- ed cross-examini- -- . sm tool T B -- . . , , r ng Martin Dale. It was true thst after reviewing them IwaT"forced 'iVth'e conclaslon that none had actually teen a good clue. And yet all seemsd to hare presented possibilities. Whether the Black Menace was an Individual, as seemed to be hinted at in Granby letter, or a ganz of blackmailers, as MUs Claremont evidently thought, was still as mysterious as ever. That there was some individual who was the head and brains of the gang, If gang there were, was at least certain. The frustration of every attempt, whether by Clare herself, or by Jack Speed with hts newspaper connections, or by Ravenal seemed to point to the fact that there was more than one. Even the. method of blackmailing was still a mystery, whether It was through beautiful women or shady finance, or both. Bat that there was some powerful wespon wielded by the Black Menace was beyond question. As wo sat there, forgetful of ibe minutes. It seemed that In our consideration of the case we were exhausting the list of the best known men and women of the metropolis. There was every reason to believe that the operations of the Blsck Menace had reached Into lives of which we did not dream. The most difficult. In fact seemingly In possible, part of It was that by the ary nature of the affair evidence against the Black Menace was concealed, not only by the Black Menace Itself, but by its very CHAPTER It. Tht Orttn Dtsth. REFLECTED on the danger cf the visit, not so much to our-sicItcs as to Granby. If Granty knew that Clare had been to see us, others might know It, too might even know cf Grsnby's own attempt at secret communication and assistance to her. Kennedy, I saw also, felt that we mutt observe the conditions of the gtrL Yet the Black Menace had covered up its tracks so well that after our talk with Ravenal we bad' no point of attack. Every that to so seemed have had occurred far been exhausted. We were practi caily forced Into starting our investigation with Granby. If we could only see hira once secretly we tnltht never need to see htm again untlt such time as he himself determined thst tho meeting was safe. Accordingly, when our cab stopped on the corner of Madison avenue and Thirty-fourtstreet, and and oat paid the Kennedy Jumped was doing driver, I knew that he cover to in his power everything Wo walked Into back our trail. the Murray Hill district of old houses, turning corners and endeavoring to see that we were cot trailed. Finally wo came out on tho block' on Park avenue en which I, knew the Granby house to be, in that llttlo oasis of splendid dwellings beand Forty-eo-ontween Thirty-fourtstreets. As 'we walked up the street we could see that a clossd car was already standing before tho door. 4 Kennedy passed, looking Intently at the house and at others near It, men boui up and down the street. Instead of going in he walked about the block. When we had nearly completed the circuit, he turned and we doubled on our tracks. No one, apparently, wa paying the slightest attention to what we were doing. The closed car, however, wa still standing before the house when Kennedy turned into the English basement and rang the belt, It was Jast a moment that wo waited. A Japanese butler opened the door, and his beady eyes slanted at us subtly. Before he could even refuse to admit us, Kennedy had stepped Inside followed by me. Give Mr. Granby my card," saI4 Kennedy, briskly. "Tell him ' It Is very important." The Japanese took the pasteboard and fingered It. glancing t It cat cf the corner of his eyes and then at us. In perfect English he purred. "But sir, Mr. Granby cannot see anjone Just now." "Cannot see-- anyone? Why?" There was a noise of someone coming down stairs, and I saw a man, nth rather portly middle-age- -- !i d le-tl- ms. It was late In the afternoon when we left Ravenal, and we still had not arrived at any programme of ac- tion, further than that after thinking It over we were to meet that night at dinner at fhe Crystal Palace, a new and very pcpir restaurant. On tho sidewalk again before Ravenal den paused, waiting a for taxlcab. "You think that we can do something?" Inquired Miss Claremont. anxious and eager. "We can do no more than try," replied Kennedy, and the words, though colorless, had a ring of confidence In them which caused her to press his hand In thanks tjs he plactd her in the cab which he had beckoned. Another cab cruising down the street ruHed up sharply at Kennedy's nod. Jump in. Walter," he said, then turned to the driver, directing him to Mad!sottavenae and East Th'rty-fourtstreet. Then, as he joined me In the cab. h whispered. "It will be cmr only chance to see h Granby, unobserved If indeed we can do so even now. We must pick up the trail there," Grtat Jr"4 jUrti, d not ten minutes later, Ksto says, he heard hira rlcjtcg tho ball an 3 calling frantically. TU then iia Katc Juit what ESened, Reluctantly the Jsp looked from us to the doctor, then concluded that he had better take hts orders from the physician. "I htsrd the ball, and as X came to tho library door Mr. Granby was standing by the library table. He had his hands up before his eyes. As I entered he said, Kato. what coIqt does this room sem to your I Vss greatly surprised, and I could think of nothing to say except 'Many colors, sir.' He stared aroand, and I thought his eyes would Jump cut of his head. Kalo if yellow! ETerythlng In the room is yellow! Call Dr. Gilbert immediately " "I did so, and before tho doctor came we tcanaced to get him up to bis room. He was very weak and delirious. He seemed to b getting worse, and Just before tho doctor came wo heard him groaning: It's turning green ererything Is turning green," Dr. Gilbert noddsd as though to indicate that tho butler had told his story substantially as ho had already heard It, h h looked up at Kennedy. "Ob, yes, yes. Professor Kennedy. You are hsro Just a bit late. Mr. Granby ts dead." Tho abruptness cf thi announcement almost swept us off our feet, but Kennedy quickly recovered. -Dead?" ho repeated, 'It seems almost Impossible. I know thst ho must have been alive at Itast two " " ' ' " hours ago." , The doctor shook his head sadly. "Quito true," he replied, "bet this thing has been so sudden that even I do not know as yet what happened." "But what was It? persisted Kennedy. "There mutt bo something that you know." Tho doctor waved his hand toward tho Jap. "It was Kato who cahed me, perhaps an hour ago. Mr. Granby, ho says, went cut very hurriedly early la tho afternoon and returned most agitated. Ho shut himself up In the library and 1 "Yes, Kennedy," said Dr. Gilbert, when I got hero he was very far 'gone, airooit'In a state, cf coma," His vision seemed to be very strancely affected, and the muscles which controlled his throat were gradually becoming paralyifrd, "I could make nothing cot cf what ho mumbled except that It seemed to be that ho ftared someone or something. Once cr twice he opened his eyes without recognising me. and I could Juit make out thatt as his vision was fsdlng, ho was mutterlnr, 'I see everything green green green. I see everything green In tho faxo of two tach witness? there could bo no doubt now cf the Into which wo had run. trsfdy -M1U I so asked Kend "You have no nedy quickly. we cam at last to the huge The doctor ecflul3erd a moment. "None whatever. Pcrhsps you can give us tome due. to tho mystery." He turned and led the wsy up through tho heavily carpeted hall and we cam at late to tho huge frost bedroom on the second floor. Granby iras a bachelor, although he kept the big granby home In tho city cpea Just as his father and grandfather had done bWore hlnx, Tho b!g room was luxuriously fur niahtd la the style of a past generation. Just now u vas in disorder In tho next room wero a nurso and a maid, stenned by the sudJerv cess of the death. As we entered we could if G ruby's body stretched on the bed, by a sheet. Kennedy steppe! over quietly to It snd lifted a corner cf the sheet, regarding tho cold and distorted face which bo discontinued en Next Pace. hlar ob-an- cov-ere- d |
