The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-10-27
CHAPTER XVII.
THE SIGNAL is GIVEN.

Its all right, said havanagh. "See
there they come. Let us go on. They
cannot overtake us until we are mt the
top of the stairs, and | have something of
the utmost importance to tell you. The
preparations are all made. We only wait
now for a favorable opportunity to take the
last step. That opportunity may present
itself at any moment after tonight. Some
time tomorrow, probably in the evening"
cannot fix the hour-or the next evening,
certainly not later than the night follow
ing, the thing will be done. You must hold
yourself in readiness for immediate action.
All depends upon your promptitude and
exactness."
"What am / TO do'"
'T am about to tell you. Listen atten-
lively, for may not have the chance of re-
peating instructions. When come to Lam
beth. Taras may be with you. Now you see
this ring on my finger'-as he spoke he
passed his hand lightly over his mustache-
''if you see it on my left hand you will know
that nothing can be done yet awhil hut il
1t is ON the little finger of the right nand-
the right hand, mind-you will leave the
room, the workshop, wherever you are
without excuse will be best-put on your
things and leave the house as quickly as you
can. You may depend upon my fixing
Taras' attention for clear space Of five or
ten minutes In front of Lambeth church
you will find my carriage. The driver will
be the long, thin man you have seen before.
He knows what TO do Directly you are
seated he will drive you to Gordon's cham
bers You " Ill find him in his rooms, for /
hall have seen him in the afternoon and
warned him that development of Ruders-
DORIS plot is to be expected. Say TO him:
'Taras went out before dinner and has not
returned. Kavanagh says they have carried
him off to Shadwell. He has gone on in
hanson. He sent me TO fetch you. His
carriage is outside. The driver knows where
to take us. Come, for heavens sakeP Now
repeat what have said"
Word for word l repeated what he had
told me to say. He nodded approval and
said:
You need not study the part you have
TO act. Your own agitation will preclude
any doubt of your sincerity"
was about to question him as to the
course to be taken after reaching Shadwell,
but reaching the top of the stairs he cut
me short
"Hero they are" he seid. Now when
Gordon asks you what you have learue5
from me say shat 1 saw Rudersdorf follow
ing you when you left the building and
that he may be recognized by his wearing
a coat with a deep sable collar and cuffs.
Warn him not to alarm Taras, and you
yourself be careful as you value your life."
Taras and Gordon overlook us as we stood
before a statue which Kavanagh had
stopped to criticise with the drawing man.
ner Of a man who is at loss to find n sub
5ect for conversation. With ready addpess
he made some observation on sculpture
which provoked discussion with Taras, and
enabled me to escape observation by falling
In the rear with Gordon as we walked on
down the half lit alley toward the transept.
Following Taras and Kavanagh, cleft the
alley to cross the brightly illuminated tran
sept. AT that minute a Couple of children
darted out from their ambuscade behind q
groupof statuary and caught Gordon's dis
engaged arm. Even that startled us, and
before we had recovered from the surprise
young lady came forward, who knew must
beJudith Bell before Gordon introduced us.
A more unfortunate moment for this in
PRODUCTION could not be imagined. Gordon,
at no time remarkable for self possession,
and i, naturally gauche and awkward from
want of cultivation, were now, under the
paralyzing influence OF fright and nervous
excitement, absolutely incapable of assum-
ing an attitude of rational composure. We
must have looked like culprits discovered
In misdeed. After stammering the usual
form Of introduction i'm an unintelligible
iargon Of bad French and English, Gordon
hid:
"Pm making an awful mess of this; but
TO confess the truth, Judith, you have taken
me by surprise"
"That scarcely needs confession" replied
Judith. "You did not think to ask Mr.
Kavanagh IL | were herei"
"Oh. | remember, he said you were here"
stammered the honest fellow, but my
thoughts have been so absorbed by some
thing else Hang I'll don't mean that"
1T would be quite excusable IL you did"
she retorted, with a slight inclination Of
her head as she turned 70 address me.
There was something painfully ludicrous
In the embarrassment OF this big. awkward
man-something which tinged the express
sion OF Judith's pretty face with sadness as
we'll as mirth. He submitted to be dragged
away by the children 20 the group where
Taras was chatting with Mr. and Mrs
Charlea Kavanaoh -