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*-<«aCH"CUBtK I Tired of starch too thick, too thin? Weary of arriron Wjf that sticks and scorches? V Then use CUBE starch! Iron WT ing will be pleasant...no wax W ing, sticking or scorching. Your V clothes will have the exact stiff F ness, the extra-fine new finish you ! desire. Try Staley's Gloss Starch Cubes NOW. They cost no more. Send today for handy CLOTHESPIN APRON Get an attractive handy clothespin apron. Just send name and address with Staley Starch box top and V to help cover mailing cost. Supply is limited. Send today. A. E. Staley Mfg. Co.. Dept. B. Decatur, III. NEXT WEEK Be sure to look Jor THIS WEEK I The Spider's Touch Continued from page six "I went to Hamburg,” he said with growing agitation. "What became of the man 1 was to meet? He couldn't come to the hotel — he sent word that he was waiting for me at some cafe on the water-front. 1 remember taking a taxi there, going upstairs, but after that ...” He clasped his head in his hands. Patricia lifted a tear-stained face. “Don't bother trying to think back, Jimmy boy. Nothing matters, now that I’ve found you again." His bewildered air was clearing. Now his eyes snapped angrily and he squared his jaw, sticking out his underlip in a way she remembered of old. “But it does matter,” he retorted obstinately. “I had to collect a packet from this man — I'll get his name in a minute — and bring it back to London. It was most important, the Ambassador told me.” Patricia had run to the door and opened it a fraction, listening. Now she closed it hurriedly and came back. "It would take too long to tell you now," she said. “We haven't any time — we’ve got to get out of here.” Jimmy grabbed her wrist. "Not un til I know what became of that packet.” “You were robbed. Jimmy." "Robbed? By whom?" “This girl of yours, Arlette Las sagne; she was a spy.” The boy's face was blank with con sternation. “Arlette? It isn’t possible. Why, she was with me only — ” Violently he pulled his sister toward him. "Is that why she ran away?" And, Patricia remaining silent, he went on. frowning, “It’s true, she was the only one who knew I was going to Hamburg. She followed me there — she said her brother had been arrested by the Nazis.” He glanced wildly about him. “Where is she? They kept on telling me they were taking me to her.” Patricia put her arms about him again. "You must forget about her, Jimmy.” He shook her off. "Whose house is this?” “It belongs to a man named Grundt. Arlette betrayed you to him." “I've heard that name recently. Wait!” He pressed his fingers to his temples. “Is it a big man who's lame and bawls at you?” She gazed at him aghast. "Oh, Jimmy! You’ve seen him?” "He was up here with the doctor chap this afternoon. He asked me a lot of questions, but I can't think what they were." “It's he who has those plans you were sent to fetch,” Patricia said, watching her brother anxiously. "He intends to sell them back to you — for half a million dollars.” “Half a mil- !” He broke off. “Like hell he will. Where is he? Take me to him — I’ve got to get that packet.” Patricia had returned to the door and was listening again. Now she stepped in front of him as he came storming towards her. “Jimmy,” she cried, clinging to him, “you don't understand. We're prisoners here, you and I, and the house is full of this man's people. There’s someone mov ing in the corridor outside now, but once things quiet down, we’ll slip out of this room of yours and hide some where until we see a chance to escape.” By this time young Fane had thrown off his lassitude. “Escape, nothing! I’m not leaving without that packet.” Patricia stamped her foot. “You’ve got to do as I say. Help’s on the way. I sent three men over from America to find you. I believe that shooting we heard just now means that they've arrived ...” The words died on her lips for, with out warning, her brother had clapped his hand over her mouth. The door was softly opening; inch by inch it gaped until an unkempt face was visible, peering in. The next instant the door was noiselessly shut and a tatterdemalion apparition stood be fore them. The layer of dust and grime that obscured his features, the gaping rent in the sleeve of his jacket suggested a tramp. But the eyes, cobalt blue in the lean, dark face, and a certain, panther-like swiftness as the newcomer advanced were unmistakable. He was hatless and a blood-stained ha'ndker e...k., >*as ,1,-,., ,d A smile wrinkled his face as he caught sight of Patricia. “It’s a regular fortress — 1 had quite a job to get in.” he observed. “Hut here I am!" His glance shifted to Fane. “This ts your brother, isn't it? He’s very like you.” “Who’s this?” said Fane grutlly. "It’s Robert Dallas — one of the men I spoke of.” Patricia replied. Dallas nodded coolly to Fane. “You’ve had a rough time,” he said to him. “I'm glad it’s no worse. How do you feel?” “I’m all right.” was the rather un gracious reply. "His memory has come back.” the girl explained in an aside to Dallas. "Hut he must take it easy. We must get him out of here.” Fane overheard her. “I’ve told my sister,” he broke in. “I’m not going until I’ve recovered that packet that was stolen from me.” Dallas laughed drily. "Don’t let that worry you. It was hard enough getting in; but it's going to be the devil’s own business getting out.” The girl was staring at Dallas’ hand. "You’re wounded— they’ve shot you?” she exclaimed. "I'm all right. It's only my hand,’’ he answered. “I nicked it on the broken glass, shinning over that in fernal wall. Hut they got poor Ned, I’m afraid.” She clasped her hands tightly to gether. “The Major? You don’t mean he’s ...” “I’m afraid so. They opened fire on him from a window as he was hammer ing at the door. 1 left Wolf to look after him and made a dash for the back. Poor old Ned!” He paused. "Has Grundt talked to you yet?" Patricia bowed her head. "He wants halt a million for the plans.” She told briefly of the interview. Dallas nodded. “I think Grundt’s getting ready to bolt. Down at the private airfield in the grounds here, three men are tuning up that plane of yours. Grundt himself went down af ter the shooting, to hurry them up — that's how 1 managed to slip upstairs after getting in through a window in the basement. With these three assis tant murderers away at the air-field, so far as I know only Grundt and Dr. Keller are left in the house — oh, and an old woman I had to dodge in the kitchen." “Frau Schratt." Patricia explained. "She’s my jailer. She stole iny pocket book with all my money.” Fane had swung to Dallas. “And you think that you and I can’t lake on a couple of ‘heinies’ and an old woman, is that it?" he demanded truculently. Swiftly the other turned on him. "All that matters to you is to recover that packet and complete your mis sion. You can’t do that if you git shot. And I don't suppose you’re anxious to cough up half a million dollars, either. Very well then! You keep out of this and leave it to your sister and me.” The young man Hushed angrily. “You can't give me orders.” Dallas glanced at Patricia. ‘‘You haven't told him — about the Feds?" She shook her head and the Fnglish man spoke to Fane again. “You don't realize it." he said quietly, "hut you’re in a mess. The State Department be lieves you sold those plans totlrundt." With lists clenched Fane sprang at him. “It's a filthy lie!” "We know it’s a lie, hut the fact re mains that IJ. S. secret service men are at Salzburg, only a matter of • twenty-live miles from here, look ing for you to arrest you." “To arrest me? You're kidding!” The boy was aghast. "What we have to do is to get you, anil those plans away before these men nab you. We'll run you hack to London where you can hand those' plans over to your Chief. Now, will you kindly shut up!” Dallas turned to the door. Patricia quailed at his grave look as he came back. Fane had flung hitnself full length on the bed. Dallas said to the girl. “Cirundt hasn't finished with you yet, you realize that?" She ntxided her head. "I know.” "He's bound toreturn to the charge. When he does, temporize. If the worst comes to the worst, give him his ct>de word, but not the right one. I believe he's planning to take you and your brother away with him in your plan£ to Paris to keep you as hostages there until the money's paid over. Well, he mustn't — you'll have to try and hold him.” “What tire you going to do?” "Get those plans before Grundt sends for you again.” “Alone?" Dallas shrugged "It depends on what the situation is downstairs.” "You're crazy, lie's raging.” He nodded. "I know, lie's tasted blood.” He paused. "Arlette l.as sagne ...” "It’s true, then?” Her voice trem bled. "He told me, but I couldn't helieve it. it was so horrible — I thought he was trying to scare me.” "Stay here with your brother,” said Dallas. “Don't let him do anything sniy. The house is buzzing with them, for all we know. If I get the plans. I'll try and come back here and the three of us will have to make a dash for that plane of yours. Meanwhile, if you do see Grundt — play for time!” A linger to Ins lips, he opened the elixir, holding it slightly ajar. From somewhere close at hand, a shambling footfall came to their strained ears. Patricia caught his arm. "Frau Schrntt!” she whispered in dismay. Dallas did not close the dix>r but set his ft Hit against it. bracing it by the handle. The shuffling hxitstcp came nearer, its faint rustle mingled now with the chink of crockery. urunat sent ner to tctcn me some food." Patricia whispered to Dallas. ■'She'll go to my ruont on the floor above this and lind me missing.” I le laughed noiselessly. "So much the better if she has to hunt for you. Give us more time." "Stay here with us!” she pleaded. "It's insane to take this risk. Wait till the others show up!” Me shook his head. "I’ve got to get those plans.” Inch by inch he moved the door towards him. peeped out Patricia's agitation was growing “This man’s a monster. If you fell into his hands...." She looked desperately alxiut her. "When I think of Major Ned — ” she broke off. "I’ll give him the indicator word he can have his ransom. It’s a lot of money, hut I can afford it, I guess.” Dallas stared at her in horror. "Never!” "Money isn’t everything. If any ■ s . ;-.re ' oi yon. I should never forgive myself." (Continued on page 15) You Have Been Warned by FOUGASSE and MCCULLOUGH •WHOA!" Since the early days of motoring there have been many changes in the apparatus designed to keep drivers posted as to any sensational developments under the hood. In the first cars there was little or none of this form of affectation. If you smelt burning you suspected that the engine might be too hot and when your feet burst into (lames your impressions were confirmed. The temperature of the water in inv radiator was a parallel case. Steam coming out of the radiator indicated that the water was boiling, and a radiator that slowly became incandes cent showed that it had finished doing so. That was about all there was to go on. In those days motorists were motor ists. Nowadays things are made so easy for them that they cavil at hav ing to carry out the simplest roadside repair, such as slipping in a new crank shaft or even removing the body to fit a new dash-light. The history ot the dashboard is interesting. From its humble begin ning as the thing that kept the two sides of the car from falling apart, it rapidly became the center ot interest. This encouraged the experts to per severe until they had evolved every instrument that could possibly convey any sort of anxiety to the mind ot the driver. As a help to the driver, we now give in simple language a general guide to a few of the various complications that he may from time to time discover in or near the instrument board. 1. Oil Gauge. . . This is a little clock with only one hand, which moons vaguely about. A sudden return to zero can mean a hundred different things to the expert, but never more than one to the beginner, who won’t have noticed anything anyway. 2. Speedometer. . . . This is another and slightly larger clock, also with one hand. It is linked up with the wheels in some way. and the original idea was that when you were doing 40 miles naiiu Nowadays speeds have increased so much that when the hand points to 80 you are doing 60, and when it points to 10 you are probably in reverse. 3. Radiator Temperature. ... A great many cars have got a little device which tells you if the water in your radiator is too hot. If it keeps on pointing to boiling, you need a new fan belt, or a new radiator, or a new engine, or else a new little device. 4. Ammeter. . . . This is for measur ing electricity and is easily recognized, being the only dial that has nought in the middle, and scores both above ana below the line. It is the most pictur esque means of knowing if your bat tery is discharging — but not the most usual. 5. Rev. Counter. . . . This, in spite oi its name, is a purely secular instru ment. It tells you how last your engine is going, and. if you watch it carefully enough, you can change gear abso lutely noiselessly — apart from the tinkling of glass as you drive through a shop window in the process. 6. Clock. . . . This is just the same as any ordinary clock, except that it always points to ten past seven. Just Before the Crash j ! "As a matter of fact, I drive i ! better when I've had a couple." > SORRY. BUT I'M A STRANGER HERE."