THE SIGN OF THE VAMPIRE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 378, 15 July 1911, Page 7

THE SIGN OF THE VAMPIRE.

Being a Strange Chronicle from the Note-book of John Lyon, Elucidator, Known as the " Lion of the Law."

Bj S. H. Agnew, Author of "The Castle Mystery," etc.

PART 2. Slythe ignored the badinage. In 'act he turned his back ostentatiously on the speaker. " Have you ever heard of the League of the Vampire ?" he queried, suddenly, his little gimlet eyes borng into Lyon's. "No," that immobile worthy responded, coolly,-'albeit he felt a thrill' jf interest run through his frame. 'What is it ?" The Scotland Yard man shook his lead gloomily. " I wish I knew, You will of •ourse, keep all I say. perfectly private— per-fect-ly private ?" " Of course. Fire away." " Well, I don't mind confessing ;hat I was called to Leeds to investigate a rather peculiar mystery. iVithin a fortnight eleven prominent ;itizens of Leeds have had their lives ;hreatened in precisely similar circumstances. A letter has arrived, ;ypewritten, with a flying vampire mprinted on the top, and the words The League of the Vampire.' WithDut preamble a demand is made for a certain large sum of money to be paid in some way or other, on penalty of death. Then if—" " Why not pretend to pay the olackmail and nab the man who :omes for the money ?" interrupted Lyon who was listening with the Keenest interest. " Wait. I have not yet reached the peculiar feature of the case. The various sums of money are to be paid at midnight next Saturday in each instance. In the event of failure to comply with the demands, murder ts threatened and—mark my words — to prove that they are in earnest the letters conclude with a statement, that three men will be murdered for each day in the week." " Bunkum !" Lyon snapped. Slythe's beady orbs glittered. " Say so if you like," he said, moodily. " But sesterday was the first day in the weeki, and three men were assassinated last night !" " By Caesar !"

" Yes, and on each man's forehead a flying vampire had been imprinted," the detective added, earnestly. " There will be a nasty message from headquarters when the facts are known. They will want to know what I have been doing during the past week to let the plot be unfolded under my nose. I have done all I can. I tried to obtain clues from the envelopes, the paper, the typewriting, and the places of posting, but I ran up against a blank wall in every direction—in every instance. " He paused, shaking his head dejectedly, and from the recesses of a fat pocket-book produced a photograph, which he pushed over to the elucidator. It was a ghastly thing, taken by magnesium light, and pictured a man who had been shot through the brain. On his forehead, clearly outlined, Lyon perceived the sign of the vampire. He examined it with grim curiosity. In every detail it matched the brand upon the hand of the girl who was hidden in the room upstairs. " Well ?" he jerked out at last, returning the grisly photograph with an unmoved face. " What has this to do with me ? It is not my case." "I am aware of that—perfectly well aware of that. But couldn't you give me a help ? I admit that you are very smart on working out the theory of a thing, and perhaps —" " You had better go before I throw you out," interjected the Lion of the Law, in steely tones. " You are willing to decry me in public and seek my aid in private. I have had enough of it. Git !" Slythe had sense enough to recognise his words as final, although he did not lose his self-assurance in the least. He turned an oily smile upon them as he reached the door.

" You may need my help some day Mister Lyon," he threw back sneeringly. " Then we will see whether you are so Why, what the deuce is this ?"

He interrupted his gibe with a convulsive start and a cry which brought both detectives to their feet. They soon saw the cause of his astonishment. Limned in glowing dolours upon the panels of the dooi was a flying vampire, precisely similar to that described by Slythe. " This is uncanny," wiping his forehead. " How in thunder and lightning did it get here ?"

Lyon shook his head, "Something to do with your case, evidently," he smiled. "Pray don't annoy me with the details. Such e little thing will not puzzle you foi long, I am sure. You have such s aiassave brain. Good morning !" James Penruddock Slythe mutterec not unlike a curse as he took his de parture. But he was still smiling.

CHAPTER 111. "I SIGN THE BLACK HAND." Lyon's expression changed abruptl} With the departure of the unctuous Scotland Yard man. " The fog thiclens," he muttered " Did you see the note ?" " What note ?" " There is a letter on the mat only Slythe was fortunately to< much startled to notice it." Following the direction of th< chief's pointing finger, Lesage sav that a square envelope of a brownisl colour, had been dropped upon thi mat. Ljon smiled as he stooped tc secure it. " No address on the envelope," h< said, slitting it carefully with i table-knife. "lam hoping that ther will be some elucidation of the my

stery inside ; I have been cudgelling, my brains all night, with precious little result."

" Probably we shall hear of the disappearance of some young lady," suggested Chris hopefully. " She must come from a good family, by her speech and dress." Lyon made no response. He was staring at the sheet of paper which he had taken from the envelope. The familiar sign of a vampire with spread wings ornamented the top, and underneath appeared a short, typewritten message, as follows :

"To John Lyon,—lf you would prevent a great crime, be in City Square at twelve o'clock. Follow th« man with the red-and-white carnation in his buttonhole, and do not take your eyes off him for a moment. I sign the Black Hand." Twenty times the detective perused the significant message, in no wise enlightened by the words. The signature only rendered his bewilderment more complete, and made the problem that was paralysing his brain appear more obtuse than ever. He recognised it instantly as the formula almost invariably employed by the dreaded league known as La Mano Nera—" The Black Hand." What could they have in common with the sign of the vampire ?"

'* I will answer that," he said, throwing the note to his companion. " It may be a trap to catch me, but, in any case will prove a valuable ;lue. Meanwhile, I am going down to the police station to ascertain whether any joung lady has been reported missing." The visit proved an abortive one. By ten o'clock Lyon was back again, with the report that no person was or had been missing from Leeds for a month or more. He had also endeavoured to obtain complete details ol the vampire cases, but the officials had baulked his efforts for the most part, there being some jealousy of th( unvarying success which had attended his investigations. The police, naturally enough, did not like to see an outsider bearing away laurels which should by rights have been theirs. Twelve o'clock saw the elucidator. undisguised, standing in City Square. He took up a prominent position directly in front of the Black Prince statue and from this coign ol vantage kept a sharp watch on the passers-by. His vigil was not of long duration. The post-office clock only registered four minutes past the hour when he saw a man saunter out of Boar Lane He was swarthy and long-haired, and in his coat-collar a carnation ol a peculiar tint—red and white stripe? —shone conspicuously. Lyon did noi hesitate as setting him down as an Italian of very low caste. The fellow did not appear to be expecting anyone. After a careless glance round he dodged through the traffic to Infirmary Street, and sel off at a swinging gait up that busj thoroughfare. The detective kept al his heels, and presently found himself emerging from East Parade into Pari Lane.

Without hesitation the Italian crossed over to the Town Hall, where some ceremony seemed to be in pro gress. The building was gaily decora ted with bunting, and a string o! carriage* were winding slowly past the steps, disgorging a continuous stream of daintily attired ladies anc immaculate frock-coated men. Lyon saw his quarry give up a ticket and pass into the building anc devoted his attention for a few minutes to the posters which were displayed along the front. From these he learned that the Lord Mayoi would open the Oriental Bazaar ir aid of the infirmarj at half-past twelve, admission being by ticket only. A few words with the inspectoi on duty procured his own entry, anc he hurried on towards the VictoriE Hall, where the opening ceremonj would take place, but before h< reached it his attention was drawr by the sight of the man with th« striped carnation slinking down a corridor to the right. Assuming e casual air the detective followed.

Apparently the Italian was unawan of his presence. He sauntered or slowly, finally coming to a halt tc light a cigarette—an action contrarj to the regulations. Lyon seized on this latter fact as an excuse for exchanging words witt the man. Advancing briskly, he tap ped him on the shoulder. They wert shut off from the rest of the building by a door at either end, and there was nobohy to interrupt the rencontre.

The Italian started convulsively a.' he felt the hand on his arm. Thee he turned slowly. Next instant his arm rose with the swiftness of a pis ton-rod, and before Lyon could re coil the man's fist shod with a stee knuckle-duster, struck him fairly be tween the eyes.

Limp and heavy as a sack of grair he went down, half his senses batter ed out by the force of the blow. As in a dream he realised that his as sailant' was clasping handcuffs aboul his ankles and wrists. Then he felt i gag forced between his teeth anc some sticky stuff closed upon his lips with vice-like effect. Twice he strovi with all the strength at his com mand to resist, but his head whirlec sickeningly every time he opened his eyes.

As the mists of insensibility clear ed from his brain he realised that tin Italian was dragging him behind £ heavy curtain which draped one o: the windows. He was dumped dowr with merciless force, and as tht dusty draperies smothered him h< heard a fierce sibilant voice hiss intc his ears.

" Fool of a detective ! We wil teach you to meddle with the Leagu« of the Vampire. The girl you shelter ed has been murdered by now, and ii ten minutes the League strikes it; first blow. I have hidden an interna machine in the Victoria Hall, anc soon the Lord Mayor and all thi other accursed aristocrats will bi blown to smithereens I"

The soft thud of footsteps ended r.he sentence. Then came the slam of a door, and Lyon helpless to move land or foot, found himself alone, [n vain he tried to cry out ; the bird lime gag had sealed his lips effectual.y. He could only lie and wait —wait jntil the bomh should shatter the Victoria Hall and its unsuspecting jccupants ! (To be Continued.)