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Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 104, 3 May 1923, Page 14

Lady Joan nodded, and on tiptoe they walked into the room. Through an opening ill the door they could see Barrados standing "with a, cynical smile on his lips, and apparently speaking to fome person who was quite invisible to the intruders. He turned as the girls entered and curtly demanded their business. ""I don't think you arc very polite," Lady Peggy laughed. '"We tame here, impelled by the same fatal curiosity that not old Bluebeard's wives into such trouble. And now we have come, you will tell us the secrets of the prison house." '"You are in danger 'here," Barrados said with obvious" uneasiness. "You children don't know \vhat__jou are doing." "'Oh, indeed we do," Lady Joan said. "I assure you we know exactly what we are doing, and what we want. We are more than curious to see the inside of that wardrobe." 'Barriulos turned on them furiously, with the obvious intention of throwing them out of the room. "'I wouldn't do that if I were you," Lady Peggy said softly. "Look at this, Count Barrados. . It is a small weapon, and makes absolutely no noise. Then look at that little miniature on the wall yonder. If you will watch carefully you will see the head of it disappear. There! That's not a bad shot for a girl, is it? And my sister is equally expert. Xow, Count, please let us have no more nonsense. Are you going to open that wardrobe, or are you not? You won't. Very well then, just keep him covered, Joan, while I do". And if he moves so much as the flicker of an eyelid, don't hesitate to shoot." Barrados fell back, utterly baffled. He knew when lie was fare to face with determination, and, maddeningly absurd las it was, he had to stand there like a schoolboy caught in some ' theft, whilst Lady Peggy threw open the wardrobe door. Then he made a bolt for it, and raced madly along the corridor. "Ah, you were quite right, Joan," Lady Peggy cried. "Here she is, and apparently little the worse for her adventures." The g.isr was removed from Inez's mouth, and a few minutes later she was sitting in-her private room relating her And it was there that Jelicorse eventually found her. He listened till the last word, then turned to his companions. i "The telephone," he cried. "Police Headquarters at once." (To be continued daily.)