through which the two were to
be seen, rapped smartly upon the glass, and remained standing in full
view, of the two in the room.

[Illustration: HE RAPPED SMARTLY ON THE WINDOW]

Pendleton saw the pad drop from Locke's hands; he saw the mute wheel
as he felt the vibrations and stare at the window, his eyes puckered
and straining. He also saw Miss Vale rise, saw her hands thrown out in
a gesture much like despair; and also he heard the cry that she
uttered, muffled by the confines of the room, but full of fear. Then
the room was plunged into darkness; an instant later a door was heard
to open; the sound of quick-moving feet came to him; there followed
the pulsations of a motor and the racing of a car away into the night.

"She's off," breathed the young man, and there was undoubted relief in
the knowledge. "She's off, and I really believe that's what Kirk was
after."

He walked toward the house and found his friend standing in the
shadows.

"Well," chuckled the investigator, "it did not take her long to make
up her mind, eh?"

"You had some motive in doing that," accused Pendleton. "What was it?"

Ashton-Kirk was about to reply; but just then the small figure of
Locke made its appearance. He carried a lantern and was approaching
with stumbling steps, his eyes peering and blinking in their efforts
to pierce the gloom. Not until he was well upon the two did he make
them out; then he halted, lifted the light above his head and surveyed
them intently.

In the rays of the lantern Ashton-Kirk smiled urbanely, and bowed.
The supple fingers of the mute writhed inquiringly.

"Each of them forms itself into a wild note of interrogation," said
Pendleton. "They are fairly screaming questions at you."

Ashton-Kirk smiled even more agreeably at Locke and shook his head.
Then he went through the pantomime of one writing, and finished by
pointing to the house.

Carefully, eagerly, fearfully, the mute examined them; his
near-sighted eyes and the wavering light must have made it all but
impossible for him to make them out. However, he at length motioned
for them to follow him, and started back by the way which he had come.
But after a few steps he halted. He indicated that they were to remain
where they were; then he went to the shed-like building, closed the
door and locked it, placing the key in his pocket.

"It would seem," observed Ashton-Kirk, "that we are not to be trusted
implicitly."

"Also," replied Pendleton,