over her mouth. She was dragged into the
room.

CHAPTER XXIV

THE MUMMY'S LAST WARNING

Pauline had barely time to recognize in her new captors the four
strange men who had attracted her attention on the train, before a
bandage was drawn over her eyes, another over her mouth, and cruel,
heavy hands began to bind her limbs.

As she listened to the rough voices of the men, the mystery of the
"Carson & Brown" letter was entirely cleared away.

"That was easy," commented Wrentz.

"Easier than the rest of the work will be," said one.

"Shall we leave her on the floor, boss?" asked another.

"Yes, of course."

"Then I'll put a pillow under her head."

"Pillow? Why a pillow? Since when did you become tender-hearted,
Rocco?"

Rocco scowled, but he made no reply.

"You don't need any pillows or Pullman cars on the way to heaven," said
Wrentz with a snarling laugh.

The laugh was checked abruptly by a rap on the door. For an instant
the ruffians looked at each other in alarm. There was no telling
whether to open that door would be to face the drawn revolvers of
detectives or only the expectant eyes of a bellboy.

There was nothing to do but to answer, however. Wrentz moved to the
door.

"Who is it?" he asked.

"Your trunk, sir."

"You are the porter?"

"Yes, sir."

"Well, you can leave the trunk at the door. I am too busy to be
interrupted just now. But here--"

Wrentz opened the door an inch and passed a dollar bill to the porter.
"I am going to need you again in a few hours," he said.

"Yes, sir; thank you, sir."

"Move the girl over behind the bed--out of range there," commanded
Wrentz. Two men seized Pauline and dragged her across the room where
she could not be seen through the door, which Wrentz now opened wide.

In the corridor outside stood a large trunk. Wrentz and one of the men
lifted it and carried it into the room.

"Your baggage is light," said the man.

"It will be heavier in a little while. Open it."

They obeyed.

"Do you think it is large enough?" asked Wrentz.

"Large enough for what--the girl?" demanded Rocco, who had been
sulking since his rebuke.

"You are shrewd, Rocco. You have guessed rightly I suppose you'll want
to put a pillow in it."

"Yes, I would," said Rocco, who was the youngest of the band, "or else
I would kill her first. What is the use of torture?"

Wrentz's dark fact grew even blacker as he eyed the young man.

"If you were a