Then, "Kerry!"
he cried. "Kerry! Where are you?"
But apparently his voice failed to reach the invisible speaker, for:
"Sam Tuk barber! Entrance in cellar!" repeated the voice.
Seton Pasha wasted no more time. He ran out into the narrow street. A
man was on duty there.
"Call assistance!" ordered Seton briskly, "Send four men to join me at
the barber's shop called Sam Tuk's! You know it?"
"Yes, sir; I searched it with Chief Inspector Kerry."
The note of a police whistle followed.
Ten minutes later the secret of Sam Tuk's cellar was unmasked. The
place was empty, and the subterranean door locked; but it succumbed to
the persistent attacks of axe and crowbar, and Seton Pasha was the
first of the party to enter the vault. It was laden with chemical
fumes. . . .
He found there an aged Chinaman, dead, seated by a stove in which the
fire had burned very low. Sprawling across the old man's knees was the
body of a raven. Lying at his feet was a woman, lithe, contorted, the
face half hidden in masses of bright red hair.
"End case near the door!" rapped the voice of Kerry. "Slides to the
left!"
Seton Pasha vaulted over the counter, drew the shelves aside, and
entered the inner room.
By the dim light of a lantern burning upon a moorish coffee-table he
discerned an untidy bed, upon which a second woman lay, pallid.
Pages:
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396