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The man ran as one who runs for his life. He was about fifty yards away when he wrned the corner, and he approached with incredible swiftness. As he drew nearer, Pryde gained a vivid but light- ning-like impression 0‘ hi; appearance. His face. was long, his cheek: lean and narrow, his eyes protuberant. His mough was open; the breath was coming In short, quick gasps between his teeth. E- was hailess, but .‘ otherwise his attire seemed to be like that of a clerk or some person in a moderate posiiion. Foremost among his pnrsuers, and gaining upon him rapidly. was a tall, fair~hsired man. He, too. was hatiess, and he had appar- egntly thrown away his coat during the chase. A thin stream of bleed was trick- ling down his face from a wound mien his forehead. His cheeks were dent 1y bale, his eyes were blazing. He had out- stripped the policemen by several yards, and already his hand was stealing out is though to make a spring toward his quarry. Pryde had a matter of ten sec- onds during which to make up his mind as to his course of action. He was some- thing of an athlete, and it would have been perfectly easy for him to have trip- ped or held up the flying man. To do to was his first impulse. Ea changed his H“At any moment,” he pointed out, "we might be working together. It would be an advantage to both of us to be better acquainted." “That may come by degrees,” she re- lied. “Excuse me now, please. I am usy." Pryde went away, dissatisfied, and walkâ€" ed into the arms of adventure. He had barely issued from the doorway.“ the building in which he and Graoe Burton both lived, before he was conscious that the street was in some sort of commotion. From out of sight around the corner of New Oxford Street. he could hear the blow- ing of whistles, a hoarse tumult of voices. Along the main thoroughfare traffic had stopped. Everyone seemed to have come to a. standstill in their places, watching. ‘A taxi-unb~driver had sprung from his cab and was running forward as though to intercept some one. Pryde saw him sent head over heels into the gutter by an unseen hand. Then round the corner ap- peared a man. running. He had left the more crowded thoroughfare with a. sud- den turn. and he came fi-traight toward Pryde. Stephen Pryde, with five hundred pounds in the bank, started life afresh. He be- gan by returning to his regular routine, temporarily interfered with by the loss of his money. He played golf on Mon- days, Wednesdays. and Fridays, fenced on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, and played auction bridge during “those after- noons at his club. 0n Saturdays he took a holiday. After about a. month, how- ever, he became conscious of a distinct slackening of interest in these pursuits. His late plunge into the more adventur- ous life had unsettled him. He began to hang about the police courts, to scrape acquaintance with the smaller fry among the detectives. He developed theories of his own about criminology. He visited prisons and talked with suspected men. He became a voluminous reader of a. cer- tain type of literature. He even haunted the neighborhood in which famous crimes had been commitLed. He began, also, about the same time to haunt Grace Bur- ton’s rooms, but on the third occasion of his presenting himself there uninvited, she spoke to him very firmly and very plainly, ‘V‘You must. reason," she ed to going it." Viri‘VIH-dévri‘itr see why you choose to keep to yourself so much,” he continued, a lit- tle__dogged1y. _ (TCOHIE 3361717114737 Wifii fiiiéisome'where this evpping gnu; d0_2_L theggre,_" helbegged‘ She looked at him with the faintest pos- sible uplifting of her smooth young fore- head. The brown eyes, mo, seemed a lit- tle surprised. “Thank you, no." she re- plied coldly. “\Vhy not?" he persisted. "Mr. Pryde,” she said, "to be perfect- ly frank with you, you must not expect that sor: Qf companionship f_r_om m9.’_’ There was about her. Pryde felt unreasonably disappointed. He looked at. her, for a moment, stea‘d- fastly. She had pushed her chair a _1lt- tie away from the desk and was leaning back in it. Her simple black dress was not even fashionably made. Her fluffy fair hair was brushed severely back. Her feetâ€"and she had, without doubt, pretty feetâ€"were encased in two-thick shoes. “I have no work to suggest to you just now, Mr. Pryde. I am engaged myself on a purely feminine and unimportant in- vestigation. When anything turns up, I shall send for you at once_.”__ “BVlXt'iI 75m baked to death,” Pryde pro- tested. “I am sick of golf and cricket and brigge. __I cgn't settle dgwn to anything" “‘T’I‘i’faltf Elie rarnsrwered composedly, 7‘is without doubt, the price which you must pay__ for havjn; led lay idle life.” ‘ The Human Four Rioâ€"tflgvbâ€"ow Hr fibbén anywhere let my wishes be sufficient declared. “I am accustom- about by myself. I prefer y Refined to absolute purityâ€"sealed tight and protected from any possible contaminationâ€" A Clever Detective Story mind through some inexplicable instinct. He stepped backward, and the man fled past him. They were so close that the man’s coat brushed his as he flashed by. Suddenly he was conscious that, some- thing heavy had been dropped into his overcoat pocket. It was all over in a mo- ment. The chase was ended. Pursuer and pursued lay together upon the pave- ment. A dozen yards farther on, a man in a dark overcoat and bowler hat was looking. not at. the tragedy at his feet, but at Pryde. She looked unwillingly away from the idol. Her lips had curled a, little; there was a shade of contempt in her tone. "Get rid of the thing. indeed!” she re- peated scornfully‘ “Can't you see then: this is the chance of our lives? We wfll keep the idol and wait. They will find out. when it is. They will try to get it bat-k again. Don’t you know that, the police have been months searching for these men? We will succeed where they have called. We have the lure here. Depend up_on _it, they will o_ome." A crowd collected almost at once. Pryde, with his fingers clasped around something cold and strange and heavy in his pooket. remained upon the outskirts. The tall, fair man was with difficulty in- duced to release his clutch upon the other's throat. He was dragged away like a dog. The mam upon whom he had sprung lay white and still. A policeman was kneeling by his side. ~Pryde'mad'e no effort to affect, an en- lhuliasm which at that time he certainly “Who are they? What’s it all about?” Pryde asked a loiterer who was elbowing his way toward the from. “Big jewelry robbery this afternoon in Hatwn Gardens,” the man replied. “They say this is one of the Human Four gang. 'l‘he'chap who caught h‘m was robbed of fifteen thousand pounds’ worth of jewels last. year by tham. ' “This is their mascot.” she whispered. “Can’t. you understand it? Criminalsâ€" men who plan crimes on a. great scaleâ€" uljfzmnearly always superstitious]: “Thâ€"exft’fie E6655 vie'Eé’t‘i’iH bfthe thing thg beptey,”_ Prydgudecified. The figure on the pavement. remained motionless. There was a. 'ittle murmur. Soon an ambulance arrived. A whisper went round that he was dead. Pryde slowly backed 'out from the throng and re-entered the ‘lock of buildings item which he had just issue-‘1. A man who had been standing wuthu: a few pace: of him, followed. Pryde made his way up three flights of stairs and knocked .11; the door of Grace Burton’s :ooms. She moved away from the window as she saw him upon the threshold. Grace made no reply. She seemed, ~ln- deed, oblivious to his words. She was holding the idol as far as possible from her face, her eyes fixed upon it. Pryde was suddenly conscious of a vague, smol- dering excitement in her manner. Her lips had parted, her brown eyes were glowing. a slight flush of color had sto- leg_t_.h_mx_13h _th_e transparency of per skit}. “You have been looking out, then?” he exclaimed. “You saw?" She nodded. “I saw everyihing." “Who are the Human Four?" he asked. “I’ve never heard of them." The girl listened for a moment. She held out her finger. Then with swift footsteps she crossed the room and softly turned the key in the lock. “What. is it?” he asked. She came up to his side before she an- swered. “I think," she whispered, “that some one followed you up the stairs. I think that there is some one outside now. Tell me, what, was it that that man slip- ped into your overcoat pocket as you stood down there?" He started. "You saw that?" “I was at the window," she assented. "I_hea}'d the polieemenjs whistles." "Just a. gang of murderers," she told him. “They have terrorized half London by their melodramatic tricks. «Was that man really one of them?” _ i‘r‘rNor 6717176: seérnrleai tIonanow for rennin " Pryde replied. “They spoke of a big jeyielry‘ 1:03)!)er finr Hatton Gardflls.’ The girl was silent. It seemed to be a little idol. He held it for a moment. in his hand. and then sci it down on the table opposite to them. It was the image of a, man squatting upon the ground. a. man with long, low forehead, small fea- tures, and great. eyes. His lips were part- ed in a. hideous smile. There was a st;a_n_ge leeg np9n_ >th§_chise_19d iggtlzreq. ' "W’fidt 'é‘haiéfifi.1&ixiޤ"dsiéct1” 'Pryde muttered. The girl’s eyes were fixed steadily upon it. There was little expression in her face, but he could see that she was in- terested. "Look at. its hand." she mur- mured. "See how he holds it out. four gngees in front of his faceâ€"the Human our.” Pryde shivored. "Beastly thing!" muttered. “I never saw anythmg so pqlsive." He drew the- object from his overcoat pocket. “My God!" he exclaimed. “Look! Look at it!” """""||l|“ nd nrotected 1‘0- “I do," she admitted. “But. somehow or other, I think you will find that the risk is not quite so great as it seems. Of course, my whole idea may be wrong. They may not come at all. On the other hand, I was looking out the window. and I saw at least three men who were watch- ing from different points. I believe that they all know that the idol is here. I have an idea that they will risk every- think to regain possession of it.” Pryde thrust his hands into his pockets and looked at, the copper image. Even he could not get away from the idea of menace in that wicked face. did not feel. "Frankly," he said, "I can- not conceive that the coming of any one of these gentlemen could possibly be an occasion for rejoicing. In the last six weeks alone, they have committed ‘four murders. All their exploits are conduct- ed in the same manner. The moment they are 'n the slightest danger. they shoot to ki 1.” “Are you afraid?" she asked calmly. He shook his head. “Not. on your life!" he exclaimed. “If you want-to inwte these gentlemen 14) Visit- us. I am not go- ing to object. I was only poiniing out the polsfsiyle result. Don't you value your rm: 1e." “If I had ,’ he declared heartily, "I should either beat it to pieces with a poker, or take it out and throw it into the Serpentine. For sheer and brutal vic- ioprs ugliness, I never in my» whole li£g~” Pryde, with the faintest possible shrug of the shoulders, turned away. The girl watched him as he crossed the room. He walked unfalteringly, and her eyes filled with an epprobation which it would have done him good to see. He opened the door. The man was standing there whom he had seen a short. time ago in the street. below, an inoffensive-looking person with pale, rather narrow face, a fair mustache, and hair turning gray at the extremi- ties. He wore a black-bowler hat and a. long overcoat. He remained .for a mo- ment without speech. "What do yep want?'f Pryde inqpired.__ ishe'i'aid hér hand upon Ilia arm. They both turned quickly around. There was a Short but instant knocking upon the 601‘. 7‘Kiready!” she murmured. "Open the door.” ' He came inside without waiting for an invitation. Pry'de ushered him a little farther into the room. Gracehwho had been standing by the desk. came softly past them on her way to the door. She tried the catch and, finding it secure, re- turned to her place. “What can I do for you?" Pryde asked. The newcomer did not answer for a mo- ment. His eyes were fixed upon the lit- tle idol. His lips were parted. He seemed to have forgotten for a moment where he was. He pointed toward it. new. , "I am prepared to do so." the newcom-; er declared. “I was standing below when I saw the man who has just been picked up dead thrust something into your over- coat pocket. I have no doubt that his eyesight was blurred. He failed to recog- nize you. There were several of his friends about, 1 among others. He mis- took you for me. That idol is my pro- petty." “Then who are you?" Pryde asked. “It is a. foolish question,” the other replied. “If you knew who I wasâ€"" He stopped short. “We waste time,” he con tinued. "I recognize the rights of pos- session. I will give you two hundred pounds for that little figure.” Pryde shook his head. “Three !â€"â€"Five 1” Pryde continued to shake his head. “Five hundred pounds." his visitor said slowly, "is all the money I have with me. You naturally would not trust me, and I wish to take the idol away. Five hundred pounds, therefgre,‘ is‘m‘y last loner.” “A Word “ha; yowu,r ail-{if ion filease,” thg stranger rqplie@._ é'Where aid you ’get that?" he demand- e . The man never withdrew his eyes from their intent gaze. “I, too, am a collec- tor." he said. "Is that. image for sale?" ijyde shook his head. “I never sell my mums." There was a. brief silence. The new- comer looked away at last from the object which seemed to have so greatly fascin- ated him. His eyes fell upon Grace. She had moved and was sitting before her typewriter. with her shoulder turned to- ward the two men. 771‘With3iiirrajrdoubt,” Pryde assured him. “May I add that it is almost time that ypqfiexplained the real object of your vxsx ” l ' "I brought it home from Africa,” Pryde asssrted coolly. "I collect curios of that. sor .” “TfieQbu'fi'g‘ 1§dy"is to be trusted?" he askid _quietly. _ unus. Lnel'euu‘e, us my Luau vu “The idol.” Pryde declared, "is sale." for There was a. curious light in the man’s eyes. “Do not, be foolish,” he advised softly. “Believe me, I have not risked my life for nothing. I have the money here â€"five hundred pounds. You can take it safely. No one but me and my friends will know that you have had the image in your possession, even for a moment." A sudden fierceness blazed in the man’s face, trembled in his tone. "Then I shall take it!" he cried. “You have brought this upon yourself.” His hand went. into the pocket of his overcoat. Pryde, who was unarmed, was already poised on his left foot, ready spring. Then they heard Grace Burton’s voice from her seat before the typewriter. She, had swung round_ _in her_ chair. The man turned sharply round. He looked into the barrel of his own pistol, held with remarkably steady fingers by Miss Grace Burtonra “The idol is not for sale." Pryde re- peated. “You need not trouble to feel in your overcoat pocket,” she said calmly. “I took your pistol away as you entered. It wag spoiling the fit of your coat}: “Wewéfirmurchr obliged to you,” she re- marked. “for giving us an idea. of the Eastern'Townships Bank Building. IF the Fii‘st Method is yours you will be interested in our SIXx PER CENT. PROPRIETARY BONDS, secured by care»â€" fully selected ReaL Estate Investments held in Trust by the Prudential Trust Company Limited, Montreal, Trustee for the Bondholders. A Safe Investment, properly safeguarded, with Income assured. Denominations: $100.00, $500.00, $1,000.00. You can purchase our Bonds on the PERIODICAL PAY- MENT PLAN and make 6% on your savings. THREE METHODS 0f HANDLING Your FUNDS CANADIAN CONSOLIDATED LANDS LIMITED IN VESTMEN Tâ€"Safety with Profit. SPEC ULA TIONâ€"Profit(?) Without Safety. HOARDINGâ€"Safety(?) Without Profit. and what Each Represents :â€" Write us at once 10: punculars New Zealand has 233 daily, weekr ly and monthly periodicals. The man hesitated, He looked at the idol, and again he hesitated. The girl’s finger remained upon the trigger. “If you do not go," she said softly, "i! you make a. single movement, toward the ingggg. y_ouA will seq that, I _a.gn ip eaynes‘t.” ‘31"; 1555;: 551111;; ififii ME the’éur of a hunted man. His sense of uneasiness was grovaing. "It is a trap, this?" he mut- tere . 'VE‘Neithexi'wsVIoiir {1071: yoier money,” Gracd replied. “You can go as soon as you plggxse”’ “You may find it one," she answered. "if you stay here any longer.” (To be continued.) Allâ€"night banks are to be intm duced into London. The man glanced from one to the other. His face had become whiter, his eyes shone. “What is the meaning of all this?” he demanded fiercely. "Who are you both? iWhat do you want?" value of this little curiosity. Have you algthing mqre to_ gay about,’ it?_” MONTREAL