Casper Daily Tribune Newspaper, February 8, 1923, Page 12

PAGE TWELVE. “FIRE MOUNTAIN” A Talo of Mystery, Treas ure, Love and the Sea. BY NORMAN SPRINGER Author of “The Blood Ship.” INSTALLMENT NO. THREE Who's Who and What's Happened:| Martin lurched forward past the Martin Blake, law clerk with a long-|™8n who opened the door into a room ing for adventure, gets a taste of it)™Much larger than the one he had just fier, hia employer, [quitted, the full width of the house, Josiah Smatt, who handles some/#nd, it seemed, part of a suite, for mysterious cases, directs him to carry|tWo doors, besides he one he entered & sealed envelope to through, let upon it, from the rear Capt. Wild Bob Carew, who ts to bo| Wall. At tho instant of his tempestu found in the “Black Cruiser” saloon|©U8 entrance, he had eyes only for) fat Green Street and the Embarcadero,{the dominant figure that stood behind | San Francisco. While Blake is get-;® Paper-littered table. To this man ting his instructions as to delivering ‘Martin addressed himself without pre- the envelope, {uminary: Dr. Ichi, a dandified Japanese, sits} ‘That woman—didn’t you hear?" at Smatt’s table, While I¢hi previous-lcried. “These Japs have a woman | ly has been closeted with Smatt, al/prisoner in this house—a white | supposed book agent who Martin later/an' See! This is her cap. learns is “Are you the messenger who w Little Billy, a hunchback, steward |to come to me tonight?” interrupted | of the Brig Cohasset, apparently tries|the man addressed. He spoke in a} to se'l a “Compendium of Knowledge.” |commanding and vibrant bass voice. The book agent, however, lets his|“I am Capt. Carew." eyes rove all over the place as he| yy i | | was sudden bourne in upon talks. His attempt at a sale is Inter-/prartin's consciousness that he rupted by Smatt's summons. When/in the presence of a personality. They Blake with tho envelope in his pocket.| were immobile yellow gargoyles, those Peenters the main part of S| ~s who stood against the far @ffice he has a sense of someone’s|ther wall, they did not count. having just left. That night, on his) Martin stood still and played errand, Blake encounters jeyes upon the other in appra‘sal The Bosun of the Cohasset, a!co-| “And he was a picture to fill the eye. holically mournful over the disappe his | this man who pore him: 5 ance of Little Billy, with whom nfully, this Capt. Wild Bob i had started out to buy a birthday! Went glimmering the graccless, blas present for the brig’s “blessed litt mate." When Blake refers to Ichi| and Carew, the Bosum, a gigan’ Car hiess Englishman, becomes suddenly | soment belligerent. a As he nears the “Black Crutser,’’| Martin runs into Little Bil he tells of the bosun’s Though Martin detects phemous ancy. sea-renegade- of Martin's | t. Carew was quite the hand. t man Martin had ever seen. He od at least six fee and was leanly nd finely built. He was, per! ™/35 years old, but the springine: ‘Y:|youth was still in his carriage. But Martin divined.a flaw in that fine mask. The full, curved lips were a short, blond mustache, maintain his balance, seizes the law nut that hirsute covering did not con clerk's overcoat, in which he carrtes|ceal the cruel quirk. the envelope Smatt was sending to| Martin thrust his hand into his in- Carew. Near the saloon Martin passes|side overcont pocket and felt of the ® figure in a gray overcoat. He en-|enyelope. Smatt's formula came to ters the “Black Cruiser" and is put /nis lips fn an empty room of the lodging house upstairs while Carey is to be ‘told of his arrival. As he waits in| anx no odor of| Uquor on the hunchback, Little Billy appears unsteady and, in seeking to|shaded by "lL wish to see date business,” “It uu on the Hako- he said. is time that business was set- v the dark room he hears a nolse that | tied. Did the chief send you?” cir makes him look out in tmo to see a!responded prompt! thi group of Japanese dragging a beauti-; «That 1s correct.” sald Martin. ed ful white girl, ciad in a gray coat.| 346 half withdrew the envelope from Ke along the passage. As he opens the nis pocket, and then hesitated. *¥ door, ® fist shoots through, hits him| “put, Capt. Carew, you could not! ar in the pit of his stomach and knocks have understood me aright!" he ap-| a nim back into the room. |peated. “I tell you, these Japaneso| ta Se |have a young white woman—" a Martin crouched on the bed's edge! “Enough!” barked Carew. His tone a and panted to recover his breath. The;made Martin jump. “Young man,| scoffling without grew faint, a door you were sent here to deliver certain = slammed, and the house was again|papers to me. Do so.” cd quiet. | SMently, Martin handed over the ¢ In the back of his excited mind/envelope. He was baffled. He was danced grim shadows of the tales angr: | t ery San Franciscan knows; white] “Now—get out!” commanded Carew, | women lost forever in some under-|waving him toward the hall. P ground cave of Chinatown. Sicken-| Martin took a step toward the door 2 ing thoughts! land then stopped short. j s Martin drove his boot ngainst the| Hoe saw a:man's gray overcoat lying | & oor. It shivered and splintered. on the floor in the corner. | A Before he could kick a second time,| He wheeled. upon ‘ew again and| ¥ there came a cry from the hall, and found the latter's eyes upon himiin a | I the door was unlocked. Martin jerked threatening glare. | © it open. Confronting him was the| “You—you—that coat!” stammered ¥ Japanese who had been his guide. Martin. id who had gone to “make prepare’| “Enough! exclaimed Carew. “You Capt. Carew. have finished your business with me, | J “You come now,” announced the/young man. Your guide will con-| 4 Uttle man, bowing courteously. you to the street, And)a word a “What does all this nes de-of advice, my good fellow: If you} “, manded Mart! ngrily “Who struck value your skin and yo employ m through the door? Who was that ment, you will promptly forget ever Then a heavy blow smote his jawbone and ho went a dancing throug’ into darkness. white woman? What was that gang ay have no fn thi doing with her? “No u 8 1 choked upon his ra woman—no gang. y 1a hot hatred n “No savvy 1 uilor *and he pounce 1 upc you value your skin and your cap which was lying on the employment! So that was it—a oor. He held it up for the other's|threat! Ie would show this high-| inspection. “You sav his?" he de-|handed captain that Martin Blake manded would risk his skin as readily as th ‘The Jap shook hi His smile|next man. The police . ] was gone, and t § a hostile € what treachery ts this!” gleam in his eyes Carew, his face convulsed with pas no understand," he said|sion, was regarding him. You cone for the Captain— What does this mean?" cried Ca you catch the Captain! rew, "Come bank here, you! Exptain Martin uld not this beastly trick! from this 1 furt Ho thrust the sheaf of par words followed 1 ath =oM 2 no Th paused before t ‘ Tho | shee bla whitey ee guide rapp: ed the 1 bee 1 by eters with ae? : ~ Wammet, ant the door wh. Sone: - P Tay steed was openad. Tell me A WISE AW BA 7 THEIR Ot voEsAr S| Go HS TRIP — Tm Wet , WELL. BARNEY. SHAKE WE KNEW OLD Nor A_ BAD SPARKY Would COP THe * PIECE OF CHANGE WISE To "EM - Her HAMBURGER SYAKES - Cant “TAP MEE A NICKEL ~ IM AS Touch as a ORIDE'S THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1923. FoR The CAST Time At I Tet You = Aint Gor A SENT — THar FouRTEEN GRANO I Gowecren DOESN'T BELONG By Billey De Beck \Ts Sparky's = tm GoNwa SHOVE Vr ww THE BANK For HIM in ws Name !} 7 — SURE tLe Cac Hem uP\L ANO TELL HER I've Cotta A Bic BUSINESS DEAL ON TONIGHT —THar ALWAYS Gots BIG - —TusT A MinuTe Jacte- Sue Don't SEEM TO ANSWER — Boy!= warr'te ou HEAR Me STAte Hee —GUESS SHES OVT IN THE KITCHEN okIN' AnD CANT HEAR THE BEU- SAY, JACK, SHES So DUMG Think Vee PULLTHAT SICK FRIEND WHY Where is that code translatio Where are my instructions? Whi a y clearance papers’ Mey—you staring fool!” | “Stop that!” flared Martin. ‘You moderate your tone when you speak UT MRS. BLOSSOM SAID IN COORT THAT SHE KNOWS Bi SKEEZIX YOU'RE MINE! ee ee eee THE SUDGE SAID SO. HE THE MOTHER. SHE'S NEVER The envelope was give SIONED THE ADOPTION EVEN HINTED AS MUCH TO and I deivered it to you DECREE AND You aL ME. HOW COULD SHE i, “It has ben tampered with!" de BELONG TO mew KNOW |THE MOTHER / clared Carew ; 1 DON'T 2 mili “It has not,” asserted Martin. “If a ee you found those blank sheets within they were before received the Martin's statements, captain. “You had better take the matter up| with the men who sent me here,” said | Martin. “You are righ ter up with them “Meanwhile, you I'll not lose trac to the L f He placed there envelope. and evidently 1 his positiv impressed the the mat aimed Carew. will remain hei of you until 1 get ss affair.” order in a gargoyles r at the | \F SHE DOES SHE HOLDING OUT ON ME.SH BEEN HASN'T ANY REASON TO KEEP THAT QUIET OH WELL, SHE PROBABLY FOUND OUT SOMETHING AND WANTED TO SPRING IT AS A SURPRISE aie Bole) ‘ t. ( Take Your Time MISS > ° DEAN" /\. med a) tiv Be RoOnT Down! ( Wat DID I 3 Tere YuH= Now weit , WAIT A COUPLA Houes! aw! Lets Go SEE { MeIGHaN! eee } ce! NIELS! oie rou) SHE CERTAINLY DID HELP US OUT? TLL FINO OUT ALL ABOUT IT WHEN. 1 SEE HER — PAO LEAVE 1T TOME) Suux- 1D Ramer SEEN LIU ou BeBe DANIELS ANY ov ISNT HE MANY, Haroun? DONT ASK HIM WoT HE THOUGHT OF TH’ PicTuRE- Sis- HE DIDAT see IT! LOOK HERE MR. SUPERINTENDENT — IF MY WIFE ASKS FOR TH’ KEY To. OUR APARTMENT, DON'T YOU GIVE 1 WANT A NEW LOCK PUT ON OUR APARTMENT DOOR 50 MY ho a world of bright shooting stars | end of the room sprang to life { started swiftly toward Martin rtin, wheeled about and darted for the door to the hallway. As he did he caught a glimpse of WELL“TH’ FREEBORNS: HAD ANOTHER FIGHT TO-DAY! THEY HAVEN'T MISSED A DAY alae] EVERYTHING THEY E) MRS. FREEBORN TOLD ME SHE KEEPS A DIARY OF VER A DIARY, HUH? SHE MEANS A The man had not maved from ‘his tion behind the table. Then a heavy blow smote his jaw bone, and he went adancing through > whew ee " INN9) rise, the window Mfted easily. But|s‘op, I shoot! |t5e wall, No pante gripped him, but|the gray over response from the other ee ee the hand he shoved without met aj] Martin kicked away. , eee of pe eee rap? Me sprite paths was the inipo me number of raps. A eadiong flight e-da eavy wooden shutter; and a padlock| There was an car-splitting crash, a| Chiefly, he was ished. | £ hing ho was 4 ne oe) caitinae falling, inte: theieottors: es Tocked. he shuliet tee: No’ nope FPORFng Of Woo a hot streak | Martin Blake, had ast encounterel|had she taken? If he cou'd only elation was short Joae Pitt A ireah, wknd Martine conidlof wetting eWay through the window'ty rt tla Aventure! ; sean, |e ord to the pol ce a 1 tapper iramedi- nd Martin's body became one again! He tried the r. Locked. He re-|scorched, a tink broken 8 | thing about that envelnp.| Martin's ears became suddenly |ately. e« an. tap-tap, tap- he atruele the floor sorted to the method that had brought] rom the window behind him, @ smell | Martin had been ns much surprised Jaware of a faint, strange sound. . {tap tap . He wan lying faco downward upon|him freedem once befor that night—ot burnt gunpc aw mon kad] 9 Carew at tho conte What kind] “Somebody was’ tapping on the watl| Surely there was method In that ir ait and toe kk aw weil ‘ax he the And, as before, the} “Ket you not keek, sh 1 nding. h'm wit unc Jiy came the response fr he other | ead 1 : . mediate | ower » dol'ver sinnets girl ' c ne wrrounding a ie, aimee aaa) atart the | pape Did and Ich! know| Tap-taptap, daptap. ‘The ame | But ' ew remaining | foo : the|"hout the abduction—the fmprison-[again. Murt:n rapped 1 | But sick, of Hicnitire JA YO Po Risse Maria, eet you not [nearest corsier and crouched agains! | ment of that git! who masqueraded it | wall with his own knuckles. Instant-| side 4 BE EA TO NT LE PTET ATE ITT OR RTC ara