Page:Weird Tales v02 n01 (1923-07-08).djvu/74

 The Weird Adventures of Ah Wing Reach An Astounding End in the Final Installment of

ONTE and "Doc" walked silently away from the cottage on their way to the house of Ah Wing. There was a sense of impending catastrophe upon them, the realization of which neither was at any pains to hide.

They followed cautiously along the gravel road leading to the big house. Skirting the west wing, they took up their station in the shrubbery.

"I've an idea a man could get through one of those windows," Monte said in a low tone, pointing to the lighted panels of Colonel Knight’s suite. "Of course, we could jimmy one of the bars off or use a hacksaw on it, but I don’t believe that would be necessary—Billy could get between them, if they were bent a little!"

"Doc" nodded.

"It looks that way from here," he agreed. "It might be a good idea—"

"Sh!" came Monte’s warning whisper.

A door had opened close at hand, and they could hear deliberate steps ascending a flight of stairs. From where they stood the basement door was invisible, but next moment the tall figure of Ah Wing came into view. He was carrying something which looked like a wire basket.

The Chinaman turned and walked away from the house. As his footsteps grew faint, Monte stepped out of the shelter of the bushes.

"You stay where you are and watch the house," he commanded. "I'm going to find out what that yellow devil is up to!"

He struck off into the darkness, and "Doc" found himself alone. In a way, this suited him admirably. He wanted to think.

"Doc" had observed the signs of open revolt among his companions, and the perception had caused him uneasiness. In spite of his habitual indolence, he was an observer and a thinker. He had read much on the history of organized crime, and he knew that the phase at which the gang called "The Evening Wolves" had now arrived was a dangerous one for each of its members. Monte had not been able to hold the men together. The gang was disintegrating.

Unaccountably "Doc's" mind turned back to the origin of this warfare between the Count Von Hondon and the wolves. Probably he knew more about the affair than anyone else except the count himself. It had been "doc's" association with a certain famous actress that made the original theft of the jewels possible.

Through this light-minded woman he had learned of the intention of a former dancer whose escapades with royalty had entertained the world to bequeath on her death—which was imminent, from an incurable malady—the famous Resurrection Pendant to Madam Celia. "Doc" had made it his business to become acquainted with the Mother of the Friendless, and had so worked his way into her confidence that he had become her accredited representative. When the bequest was put into effect, it was to the hands of this international crook and confidence man that the jewels were entrusted for transfer to the bank.

A picture flashed before the eyes of the watcher outside the house of Ah Wing: again he saw the face of Madam Celia, as he had last seen it. The pendant was then in the hands of the Count, who had taken French leave. And "Doc" had gone out of his way to see how one looked who had lost outright a king’s ransom. He saw an old woman with a still, tired face. She was living in poverty, deserted by even those for whom she had done so much.

Within Colonel Knight’s apartment he could hear regular footsteps. Cautiously, "Doc" drew himself up into the pepper tree and stood with his head raised somewhat above the level of the sill. So situated, he could see the former leader of the wolves, pacing the floor, his hands clasped behind his back, a cigar tilted up from one corner of his mouth.

Knight came slowly toward the window. The light struck fully upon his face, and "Doc" was amazed at the change that had come over it: the old florid coloring had changed to a dirty Rh