Part 33 (1/2)

CHAPTER XVI

THE LAMP AND THE MASK

”10761,” said Alden. ”I wonder whose car that is.”

None of the watchful trio had any idea. But whomever was within it, the second car performed exactly the same man[oe]uvres as the first, and, a few moments after its appearance, was lost to sight and hearing once more.

But a matter of seconds later, came the familiar _thud-thud-thud_; and a third car plunged up the hill and went swinging around the drive. Again, no one of the three was able to recognise the number. Out by the further gate of the drive it pa.s.sed, turned, and flashed by them in the darkness, to go leaping down the slope.

”Three,” said Alden. ”I wonder if there's any more.”

His tone was thoughtful.

”Say,” began Mr. Oppner, ”we'd better get on with it now, because----”

”I know,” Alden interrupted, ”there may be only one more to come? You're thinking that, after all those expected have arrived, there'll be trouble in getting the door to open?”

”I was thinking that, too,” said Martin. ”Maybe they're all arrived as it is; but we stand a still worse chance if we wait.”

”Come on,” said Mr. Oppner, with a rising excitement evident in his voice. ”We know there's one big fish in the net, anyway!”

_Thud-thud-thud!_

”There's another car coming,” cried Alden. ”Hurry up, Mr. Oppner! This way. Mind your head through this broken part. We'll be on the steps as the car comes around the drive!”

They crept through the gap below and ran across the road, Oppner as actively as either of his companions. Already, the white beam of the headlight was cutting-the gloom, below, where the road was heavily bordered with trees.

”Just in time!”

Past the gate they ran, and pattered on to the drive. Behind them, a big car was just spinning past the gate. As it came leaping along the drive Alden ran up the four stone steps to the door and jammed his thumb hard against the bell b.u.t.ton.

At the same moment, Martin whistled shrilly, three times.

Whereupon affairs began to move in meteoric fas.h.i.+on.

Several people came bundling out of the car. From the gloom all about it there sounded the scamper of hurrying feet.

The door was thrown open, and a blaze of light swept the steps.

Alden leapt over the threshold, pistol in hand, yelling at the same time:

”Follow me, boys!”

Like the swoop of heated play to a goal burst a human wave upon the steps. Oppner and Martin were swept irresistibly upward and inward. They were surrounded, penned in. Then:

”Break away, you goldarned idiot!” rose Alden's angry voice ahead.

The lights went out. The door slammed.