Loney realized now that Terry was re- venging himself and recovered composure sufficiently to stop that game. But he did say to Cullmer: “IT don’t care what he says or thinks, so long as you know I'm straight with you.” “Of course you are!” Cullmer said heartily. “And, Terry, you stop pestering Loney. UHe’s all right.” With that the incident closed. But the effect on Loney was to attach him the more strongly to Cullmer. Meanwhile, Scotland Yard was beginning to suspect the operation of some band of arsonists. For the many years of activity the gang had to thank their leader’s wisdom in going after only a little money at a time. The fires they set were so skilfully prepared and manipulated, and the insurance money involved in each case was so little that it was a long time before anyone was interested enough to entertain suspicion. It was only after more than six hundred such fires had been entered on records that some of the most observant insurance men began to speculate as to whether there was any connection between one fire and an- other. Then Scotland Yard began to con- sider the matter, and one of the superiors in that organization, Detective Inspector Dinnie, was set to work on the theory that perhaps there was a ring of firebugs. But the gang was safe enough as yet. Indeed, so safe from hazards of any kind did Cullmer feel, that he tempted the fates. It was the invariable rule that when a fire was to be started those on the job in that particular fire had to leave the premises at least an hour before the candle was due to ignite the house. It so happened that Cull- mer and Mrs. Wheeler had engaged rooms on the third floor of a house which Loney was to set off. Loney knew, of course, that his leader was upstairs at the time he laid the “traps” in the cellar of the house. It was, in fact, Cullmer himself who set the hour at which Loney was to light the candle. Loney carried out his instructions to the letter. He had painted walls, floor and wooden stairs in the hall with the mixture of resin, tar and pitch. He set the candle burning and left the house with the full assurance that he would find Cullmer and the gang at a nearby ale house waiting for him. But when he got there he found neither Cullmer nor Mrs. Wheeler. And from down the street came the expected clamour of “Fire!” “Where's the chief?” asked Loney. Terry scowled at him. “You're a fine one to ask us! You just came from his house. It’s with you he was staying!” Loney was careful not to give Terry an opportunity to start a fight. Cullmer had expressly warned them he would “get rid” of them if they ever clashed again. “Oh, I suppose George will be along any minute now,” he said carelessly. “Pll just stroll over there and see whose house is burning.” And he grinned good humouredly at his other comrades. He started out leisurely enough, but when he left the ale house he began to run. When he last saw Cullmer and Mrs. Wheeler jt” was in their room, above the fire. It had © never occurred to Loney to make sure that ” Cullmer and Mrs. Wheeler had left their room. His instructions had been to light the candle and proceed at once to the ale house, Now, however, he remembered that when he had left his leader and the woman, they ” were drinking amply of the particular brand of Scotch they most favoured. It was no wonder, therefore, that Loney i sprinted back to the fire he had started | When he arrived he saw that the neighbour - hood was already aroused. Also he saw that © he had worked better than he realized. The fire that should have taken at least an hour to reach the third story was far ahead of | the schedule. And there at the third story window were © Cullmer and Mrs. Wheeler, half smothered © with smoke, crying out that the fire had cut off their escape. The staircase had caught much more quickly than Loney had antici pated, and Cullmer and Mrs. Wheeler were © caught. For some moments Loney had the insane impulse to run into the blazing building and make an impossible attempt to save his lead” er. Then from down the street came the clangour and the roar of fire apparatus Loney yelled: “Don’t jump! jump!” For God’s sake, don't” A Narrow ESCAPE For fire came from the window at which : the two stood, and both Cullmer and the’ McLean's Boatyard and Marine Ways BOAT BUILDING Painting SEAL COVE Prince Rupert, British Columbia Page Seventy-six « g' Y-S1 a Repairing E. J. Ryan Construction Co., Ltd. Richard & E. J. Ryan Ltd. & Co. General Contractors and Engineers U.S. Army Engineers Project Prince Rupert British Columbia NORTHERN B.C. POWER CO. LID. Electric Supplies and Merchandise RADIOS RANGES Prince Rupert, B. C. ~ WASHERS IRONERS REFRIGERATORS e Stewart, B. C. THE SHOULDER STRA?