Show r J. J t 1 t i. i The Day ay ff Days ays B By y LOUIS JOSEPH V VANCE NCE Copyright 1912 by th the Frank Trank A. A i Munsey Co SYNOPSIS IS t I Perceval al Sybarite bookkeeper receives tickets for tor th the pin piny Kismet and asks a- a All bibs Le Lessing Violet Iolet Prim and George Drugs fellow boarders to make up his bit party Fr Fry Ii h y thinks Madge Madee Les Lessing Ing Is I. I really Marian Marian heiress trying to es er es Ca cape from marrying Hayard Bayard son sonI r I j Jot f of ot n n fh her lUar guardian lan play M Yo accosted at III th the d door or of ot the boarding ho house so by a f. f r wry r mouthed young man In evening clothes I The two t talk lk out of ot P. P Srba y rite At lolly's lollys request reque t Sybarite detains the man while ho he uses nees In Ip a taxicab b f I rh The man mall r runs ns after atter h hr r his hat tr co an address Following him I t Sybarite himself hi hia bi a house ta a gambling is' is The twisted d mo mouth mouth th mon man 18 Is not there risks his only 5 15 and wins wine us breaking the bank t tr Pen Penfield fi Id the th gambling house houle keeper kuper t. t tries to rob Sybarite A raid by the district dis attorney gives given him a chance to es es- es it cape J dressed In p policeman's uniform with Ith his 1111 winnings I rf r fj- fj He lie himself an uni te In- In In Intruder r ff trude In a 11 lads tatty's boud boudoir lr In oj v In In Ins In time to prevent her mura mur- mur a cler der l b by her husband a masked man with n R tw twIsted ted mouth The latter escapes t f CONTINUED 1 J p i stealing softly on the darkness r f 1 I nt d' d to to thicken around him Uny Un- Un y t u this penetrating un un- Y fastnesses of ot a dirk dark and silent house huse at dead of ot night a trespasser uni un- un i t td surmise le when the righteous householder on familiar ground lurkIng lurk- lurk i. i fn Ing rend and vigilant under tinder arms might not 1 open ope II tire firc v Nevertheless t ei rth I R the police behind him were a menace e of ot known caliber With whatever and dire misgivings ln P. P Sybarite went on k Without misadventure he gained the main wall of the house and there found toun open windows window and upon tipon further r cnut cautious us h ve a doorway likewise likewise like like- wise wide to the bland night air but no DO sound Round significant of ot human tenon tenon- cy Ji In Fn spite of this if was without the least confidence that presently he hl plucked up courage age e to proceed Three steps on OI oti Into darkness and und his Or knee knel found n a chair that might ha have hae e poised Itself on oa one leg IeR In malicious ambush so su promptly did It go over- over und and with what a racket Incontinently rustled quite near at hand followed a click click blinding blinding blinding- light light light-a a shrill shill excited voice Lands Hands up 1 I With a n Jerk up went his bis hands bands high boo above his hh head Blinking furiously he lie comprehended hl his s plight j Th The he be found so from sconces round the walls of ot a bedr bedroom m more moro handsome than any be he heInd had Ind tho thought ever ever everto jo to see see see-l unless see unless perhaps per per- hoi haps upon up n u stage Th The vol voice e belonged d to II u- u young young woman sitting up In bed bed and coolly covering him with the K of n a pe peculiarly poisonous poison poison- n ous s looking automatic pistol I I I It was was astonishingly evident that she she all frightened The arm that I leveled the the weapon a u round and ond I i a J JK Jl l K 1 t t Ii II 1 fJ w With Witt Witha a Jerk Up Lip Went tile His tia Hands d. d r halt bare G to tu the shoulder was shoulder w 8 f admirably r steady tit till rich coloring of ot r her distinctly handsome fo bowed sot nut n II inice truce or of pallor Ahr Abruptly she Idle dropped tier her weapon mid H HO slit t up 1111 Yi yet cl I straighter Itral In lu her ber hud bud died lied clothing mouth and eyes e with n Well she said quite gaits Ill tit fie If It II II clip cop I 1 Sybarite y immediately U tuck ok occasion to 0 I hl bis bands to t a II more mica comfort comfort- il rIH Thank Cod fod lie lit ly IJ r Youre the tilt one otle woman c In lu u a thou thousand thousand sand who I laton I U i CIcI JUKI t h ty y Jook CJ lie l e J fore fI she t I. I il ts nb 4 J vi Jt- Jt I j c 6 l or G c s Quite Q Quito ro lm ii rally he h. drew a II 1 blue bine cuff cua across n a headed beaded forehead That's all nil very ery well the I I took him up but but ut be careful I 1 dont don't shoot after atter looking Cop COI or n no n 3 nv cop top you what you what do you want lInt In m my v bedroom at et this hour of ot the night Madam I P P. Syb Sybarite expostulated a aggrieved yet with an air of ot the utmost utmost ut most mORt my candor candor my duty Duty she echoed What do you u think you yon mean mean by that Perhaps he be countered blandly youre not aware u a burglar has bas passed room JA J- J A lJ burglar What r t Pardon Purdon me madam madain P. P Sybarite tied lied nonchalantly but five minutes ago 1 I was called In by the people In Forty fifth street to nab a burglar w In there They thought tile they had him locked up lip sar safe enough In n non on one of ot the thc ro room roms mIJ they came t I to open the door and let me at him the bird had bad flown lied Hed taken a long thane t swung himself from the window win dow dour ledge to U h Ore fire escape five Live feet teet away I 1 saw him climb your fire escape escape es es- cape and so so I 1 came after him The woman frowned Would she or wouldn't she accept that wildly fanciful fanci fanci- fanciful ful yarn yam He made another quick survey surey surrey sur sur- rey vey of ot th the room and a second and und mOTe more shrewd appraisal of ot this admira admira- admirably bly Wy self possessed creature i A bit too florid and ornate be he concluded con eluded woman and lodgings alike were somewhat hat overdone A A superabundance superabundance super super- abundance of ot gilt gUt and pink marred the the- color olor scheme of ot the apartment and there there was ostentatious J e evidence ence of ot wealth la lavishly expended on its is fur tur- Sitting up In bed In silken n nightgown night night- gown she looked P. P Sybarite up lip and down with fth wide wide eyes e In the ways of t life lite shrewdly Judicious Ious of mankind Maybe ny e. e youre you're telling tl trie lie truth at that she she announced suddenly suddenly eyes coldly You sound fl fishy l unil I Iy y sotire r the sickest cop I p 1 er e laid eye eyes on PD But there arele are le lens ess s unlikely 1 cely things ii t than 1 n that i a a second story n r i sho try this route for tor his l Well Welt ab she d demanded a un un- gently you standing ot there for tor Ike man 1 My dear lady Indy expostulated the dismayed P P P. Sybarite It rt youre you're a cop go to It It cop cop somebody some 1 d b body dy she replied with a blU brusque que laugh and n then clear out I i can use the tho i r room 9 and time you youre you're re occupying Bei Besides Besides Be- Be Besides i sides youre you're slipping the said burglar a flee fine young chance to make the front he hes he's B under the bed M obedient to her suggestion Bugg suggestion 9 tion d down P P. P on hs his hI knees lifted lifted the silken valance at the j foot ot of the bed and pretended to exi ex- ex pore the darkness i While thus occupied and badgering ot his bis addled wits to Invent some plausIble plaus- plaus plausible Ible way to elude this amazon he was i at et once nce startled and still sUlI further dla mared to to hear the bedsprings creak i a light double thump as two bare feet found the floor and ancl again 8 the womans woman's voice flavored with acid sarcasm j i You seem t to find It Interesting down I th there re Is It tb the view OJ try lug Ing to hypnotize your our burglar by the I I power of the human eye I Its pure and simple reverence for tor forthe the proprieties P. P Sybarite replied i j without stirring keeps me emulating the foolish ostrich I dont don't pretend It Its It's comfortable but butI 1 belle madam am a n plain man man of modest tea tastes tastes unaccustomed un un- unaccustomed accustomed to to That said the lady Jady smothering smothering l ig a giggle will b be about al all from you Get up or Ill I'll callIn asure enough cop to search your title to that uniform Hastily P p. p Sybarite withdrew his bis head and androse and ro rose An embarrassed lance glance askance comforted him measurably the lady had thrown thron an exquisite negligee neg over her nl night ht dress n and n had I thrust her pretty feet teet Into extravagantly gantly pretty silken slippers X Now ow said she tersely y well comb the flu premises for tor this burglar bur of ot yours and If It we dont don't Und lion him ht her r lips hips tightened lightened lI her brows clouded ominously ominous ominous- ly- ly 1 iy promise you JOU a nf Interest tere Ing time of tf It Where's Wheres your nl nightstick With consternation oil P P p Sybarite Investigated In In- 1 the vacant I loop op l at i his bis side t dropped out while I was shinning t o over r the back t fence nce he surmised sur sur- vaguely However er I 1 shant shan't need 1111 It This with Tunis with a bright and confident confident con con- smile displaying re- re volver will do Just as s well better well better In fact That she questioned not a. a police pollee J I department gun Where'd you Oh yes yrs It Is pattern rec adopted d They've just begun be be- begun gun to Iss Issue Tern em I 1 only got mine mIn tolay today today to to- day lay The ladys lady's lips curled Very well she he concluded curtly i 1 dont don't believe n I word you OIt say but well we'll see I warn want you nd me IIII n 11 burglar burglar- 1 she site added with unmistakable hie significance Ill find on one mp myself Interpreting the Un level le challenge other of ot her P P Sybarites Sybarite's heart quaked But nut there wits was no nn use offering resist resist- resistance ance to the demands of ot thle masterful She be was itS ono uno patiently to be humored against a f more auspicious i r affairs Hi Ue ri shrugged l In gave Ine e In with n II II gesture Iture Her Imperative t firm uplifted 1 Indicated ed Id nn tit Inner door Find tint flint burglar Ix fend ad fh the fhe way now novel A Awed Id P Sybarite grasped his re revolver revolver re re- volver and strode I to tn t the hI door with much dramatic manner hut but p paused with 11 n hand on the ht th knoll knob to tn look over his hili shoulder The woman way M there thre not a 8 foot toot distant her countenance a s smash mask mash of suspicious determination He lie Ie untied pulled the door open flung out nut Into till the hallway paused again nt ot the mouth mout of ot the back well of ot the stairway stair stair- way V r l. Rebind Behind 1 bins the woman snapped on on Oll s t I Il L l'- l' An n hlll II j th the darkness behind him lId And P l' yb I ante arite peering If CrI down started back with witha I a It gasp t p of ot amazement that was wall Instantly Instant Instant- ly I hull nt It his hll tar ear I Or Ot th thi halfway down u Ii man was In a l posture sturt of or frozen In h n II small t electric pocket lamp hoop burning brilliantly In one hand hond the other lifted grasping n weapon of ot some tome curious tort sort In toe the eyes of ot P. P Sybarite more mor than anything else like liken likeR n R small black cannon a R balles man manitt manla la itt evening e clothes his face half blotted out by a black that left lett uncovered uncovered uncovered ered only his angular muscular Jaw jawand Jawand and ugly twisted mouth For or a u full tull minute It seemed not one one e. e of ot the three so 80 mu much h as ns drew breath And then as If It from n a heart henrt of ot agony agon tilt the woman at nt his bis side breathed breath d a broken braken bro bra ken and und tortured cry cry You dog So murder to-murder come coma come to- to er has ban it As AH if it electrified by that ejaculation P P. Sybarite whipped up Penfield's revolver revolver re- re volver voh and it at the the stairs Hands up he be snapped Drop that gun The answer was teas a a singular t so sound sound nd half halt a choking cough half hull a smothered smother d' d bark bark accompanied accompanied by of ot Lire fire from the odd 1 ap 9 and coincident i ld nt with the tinkling g got of ot n a splintered t i- i id d' d del d'el el electric bulb Instantly the ball hall was was again drenched drench rench ed in darkness but little liW mitigated by bythe bythe bythe the light from the bedroom I Heedless of ot consequences In his ex excitement excitement ex- ex x- x P. P Sybarite pulled trigger Tb The hammer bammer t fell U on ii an empty chamber cham cham- cli chamber m ber rose and fell tell half baIt a t. t dozen times without deducing any response oH other er than the tho click of ot metal against metal I demonstrating be beyond o que question that I his bis er revolver was unloaded d. d From the the hand hand of the marauder another another an an- other tongue of ot flame licked out to the sound of the the same same c dull t I bronchial bronchia I cough and anda a bullet thumped heavily Into the fife wall beside P. P Sybarite Enraged beyond measure he drew back his lils worthless weapon and threw it with all his might And kismet winged the missile to the firing arm of ot the assassin With a cry of ot pain and ang anger r Involuntarily he relaxed his grasp upon pon his own pistol and dropping drop drop- plug ping It he stumbled and half halt fell tell half threw himself down to the next floor As he did this a white arm was lev over the shoulder of ot p P. P Sybarite The rhe woman took deliberate aim fired and and missed CH CHAPTER PTER VII I The Tho Lady of the tha House Houle T T T once like Uke a demon of ot exceptional exceptional j- j jT malignity a breathless and o overpowering ng rage pos poa seated p P. P Sybarite Without th the least hesitation he stretched forth fortha a hand band snatched the pistol from the grasp of ot the tb woman woman i 1 to relinquish it mor more tl through rough surprise than thun willingly willingly threw threw himself halfway halfway half halt way war down and took a n hasty pot ot shot at the marauder almost invisible ble tile in the darkness a as he rounded the I I turn of ot the next flight Missing the little on reck- reck lessly essly As he gained the next floor down own the hall hail lights flashed up switch switch- on from the upper landing by the woman of ot the house Thus aided he caught another glimpse of ot his prey midway down the next flight and checked to take a second sh shot t at him Again he lie missed With but one thought he hurried on un swung round to the head bead of the the the- stairs saw his man at the bottom bot bot- tom om pu pulled led up to him and and and- Beneath him u a small on polished parquetry of ot the landing P. P Sybarites Sybarite's heels went up and his head bead down with u sickening thump He Ill heard leard his i pistol explode once onte more 1 Then llen n bounding up with uncommon resiliency he saw the street door of ot the house close clOrie behind the fugitive c and heard leard the hen heavy v slam of it Above e him on the stairs the lady of the house appeared Come back she Rhe called in a n guarded tone Hes midi made a clean getaway Jot Gilt to hand him turn that No use trying to follow You wouldn't catch up In a thousand years Come Conte buck back back hear hear aid and give ghe me W my gun A trifle dashed P Sybarite obeyed Now then theu she addressed ed the little littleman uta man 11 with n a brilliant smile smile- now we can powwow Come COID into the dt den det I and led ed the way WilY toward the rear relit of or the house He lie trotted submissively In her wake Turning tutu Into it II d dark doorway the thew w lm lh N switched ed light Into nn an electric dome ome Illuminating an tUl |