THE SCARLET TERROR'S RETURN

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 10, 11 July 1936, Page 20

THE SCARLET TERROR'S RETURN

(Sequel to "The Scarlet Terror.")

(Chapter Two «>f a Serial by Cavell Niehol, Wellington.)

A S the Scarlet Terror dropped out of sight Peter Ross rushed forward, pulling Bill Foster back from the drop of death. ' -; '"Just in time," gasped Peter, ss he freed the bound and gagged figure of his chum. Bill rose unsteadily to his feet, clutching a violently-aching head. "Phew," moaned Bill,.,"what a thump, on the head I got." In halting sentences he related what had occurred in his bedroom the previous night, and Petr % r-nodded. -grimly. .:■;•..,;■. ::>;.- . '-■. -,-•,■■■. ~,- ' ■) "Wh^n I woke rup," concluded Bill, "I found myself in a passage, lie must hive kept me lying there for hours. . Anyway at dawn he dragged me up to the, roof, meaning vto tip me'over the edge. ' Thanks to you, Peter, he failed." Peter made an impatient gesture and peered over the edge, expecting to see. a red, motionlessI'kvreck 'lying on the hard'ground far below, but a yell , of surprise made Bill turn sharply. "He's gone," howled Peter. "He's escaped us after all. But how'd he do it?" On closer inspection a rope tied to the roof was seen, swaying in the morning breeze. In falling, the crook had desperately grabbed at the rope which had slowed up his fall." He had then darted in through one of the many windows at the side of the manor. He was gone, and the lives of the lads were still in'danger. -.. ■ , . . • "Quick, Bill,'" shouted Peter excitedly, "he couldn't have got far. After him!" ~: ■:•:■; - ■.■...-■.■'■ . :■ . . ■;: ■■•..••,.••. ■. He made a rush for the trapdoor, followed by Bill, who was still feeling groggy from the bang on the nead! Back down the stairs stumbled the chums. Peter's torch stabbing the blackness. Then they were back in Bill's room and flying down the stairs to the nallway below. • ' The roar of a motor-cycle awoke the echoes of the manor, and. the boys were just in time to see a peculiar figure, seated astride a powerful bike, roar off down the drive. " • "He's getting away after all," shouted Bill furiously, and-shook a leg-'o-mutton first at the retreating crook. , ; Peter tore away to the garages, to appear a few moments later with his own machine. _ A precious moment was lost in getting the cold engine started, another in Bill catching his trouser leg in the rear light on the back mudguard as he clambered on to the'pillion. Then, with a deafening roar, they were off hvhot pursuit-pf the Terror.. . : ■-...' ' /' . ■ A feeiing of: dismay crawled into Peter's heart as he raced out into the roadway and saw .ho- sign. 'of the crook in red. Another corner was negotiated, then a gasp escaped.Peter's lips as a red speck could be sighted a long way off.- The throttle was opened further and "the- sturdy bike responded, "taking them along at a breathless speed! Miles passed-beneath them arid only occasionally' did the boys catch aglimpse of that fleeing figure ahead of them.' The moor rushed up, and .they saw the crook no, more. They-rode on in" silence, and a gloomy-looking house loomed-up ahead of them/dark and forbidding, despite the morning sunshine, sinister and gloomy. . . "We'll search about here," said Peter, bringing the bike to a halt. It'took but a moment,to prop the machine against a tree growing nearly/and the two approached the house on silent feet, peering cautiously ahead for any ambush the Terror might spring on them. • Suddenly Bill clutched at Peter's arm. ' ■.. ''.'/"' ' "Look," he'whispered'hoarsely, "there's the Terror's bike!"' • Peter stared-past .BUL's pointing finger and nodded grimly as he saw a powerful machine concealed cunningly among the tangled mass of undergrowth. Indeed, He Was; secretly surprised that Bill should have spotted it at all. .. •--. ■..-..- ■ „■■ ,«■:■■... '■ • ..■/..■ \.-. . :,: :■. "We'll have to go careful," he'.told'that worthy. "He's lurking about somewhere. Be on your guard. Come on, we'll get to the house." And they proceeded once more. . ; • They little realised that at that moment two burning eyes, filled with hatred, glared at them from a dusty window on the upper storey of the dilapidated house. 'A cruel mouth curled in a mocking sneer behind the scarlet cow] the man wore, and his fists were clenched. ■ ; "At last I have tfiem," he hissed venomously. "They'll never leave here alive." . . ■ ; • . ■ the boys' had entered the narrow passageway, the' front door having opened at their touch. A systematic search of'the house was their next job, and this they did with a feeling of repulsion. Everywhere lay filth and dust. Cobwebs hung everywhere, the windows being almost covered with them, stopping the 'light and making the rooms dark and desolate A few rotting, dust-covered pictures decorated, the peeling walls, and save for these and a broken chair the hall was barren.and deserted. _ •: They went further into the house, flinging open each door in turn, but of ' the Scarlet Terror they saw 'no sigh. . "He musj; be somewhere," snapped Peter,'as they stood in the kitchen. We 11 hunt upstairs. Hullo," he added, "this will come inmighty useful" He stooped and pickedup. a-rusty, axe, old but, still serviceable..-. . .;.. ■ They climbed "the rickety jstairs which' creaked .'and groaned with each step they took. -,This floor was, even gloomier than the ground, so that Peter flicked on'the torch which he .had brpugKt-The beam showed more dust 'and dirt,,and more-doors. '.'.-These they commenced to open, and at the last one they halted; Peter looked at Bill, then flung open' the door which" swung back on protesting hinges, which had been long in want of an oiling. Stepping in, : they saw yet another barren room, yet this was different. Thick iron bars were set across the only window the room boasted. Heavy shutters once swung over the window, but these had fallen to the floor in decay: Slam! Both jumped with sudden fright as the heavy oak door crashed home in place. A well-oiled lock clicked and a. low, cackling laugh sent cold shudders clown their spines. Peter reached the door in a bound, and wrenched so violently at the handle that it gnapped off in his hands sending him .cannoning into Bill who ■ was rushing up behind Peter." .' . ..- ---„ "Ooff!'-' said Bill, and both sat down. ."Fools," came 'a harsh grating voice, "think to' capture the Terror?' You killed my brother. Now you too shall die, but a much more horrible death " And a mocking laugh followed. There came a splashing sound and liquid began to trickle under the door; the room began to reek with petrol fum6s. : Fouff! A blinding flash lit ; up the'• room, 'aria/in a: moment fierce flames darted under the door eating the petrol-soaked boards hungrily. They were trapped in a blaring room! A barred window behind them, and a-, blazing door their only exit. Had the Scarlet Terror, triumphed after all?

(To' be continued.)