Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-17

site rooms and slam the door.
BE sure was not long in securing mine
after him. l was In pitiable state of ter
ror, shaking at thought of the mans re-
turn, and in an ague when / considered the
power over me which the paper l had sign
ed gave him. / could hardly believe that In
so snort time anything so dreadful could
nave happened to me- Yet 1t were hard to
say whether with all my terror l did not
hate him more than 1 feared him. for
though at one time my heart was water
when thought of bctraying him, at another
1t glowed with rage and loathine and tn
spite him and to free myself from him 7
would risk anything. And as l was not
wanting in foresight and could picture with
little difficulty the slavery in which he
would hold me from that day forward and
wherein his cruel spirit would delight II
was the latter mood that prevailed with
me and determined my action when morn
Ing came.
Rejecting that I could expect no mercy
from him. but had little to fear from the
government il told my tale frankly de-
termined at all risks to go to the secretary
l. "ou,u siadiy nave done so the moment
rose, the thought that at any moment he
might burst In upon me keeping me In n
coiu sweat, put l was prudent enough not
10 after my habits or anticipate by a sec
ond the hour at which it was my custom
10 descend. l waited in the utmost trent
dation until half-past 7, when with a ol1ak
ing heart, but mind made up, yentured
down to the street
1t was barely light, but the coffee bouses
were open, and between early customers to
these and BARRIERS passing with their curI
ing longs and milkmen and hawkers plytnc
morning wares and apprentices setting ont
thelr masters goods, the WAYS were full
and noisy. so that had no reason to fear
pursuit. and In this hubbub gained courage
me further l left my oppressor behind me
Nevertheless, l took the precaution Of
going first to Mr.. Brome's opposite 81
Dunstan's, and. passing in there as usual
fingered a little in the entry. When by this
IA DE-
slipped out and through the crowded strand
to Whitehall. A
Mr. Bronze had species of understand
ing with the government. and on one occa-
SION being Ill. had made me his messen-
ger 10 the secretary's. l knew the place
therefore, but none the less gave way to
timid1ty when l saw the crowd Of door
Keepers, SPIES tipstaves and busybodies
that hung about the door of the office and
LOOK curious note of every enc who went in
or out My heart began to fail me al the
signt ana L was already more than half
llclihed TO go away, my business undoEe,
"hen Some one touched my sleeve ard /
started and turned. A girl, still in her
Teens. with gentle, scared face. and a
handkerchief neatly drawn over her head.
handed a note to me.
For me?" l asked.
Yes, she said. without more
LOOK IL ana opened 1t. my hands shak-
ing. But when l read the contents, which
were these, Mr.. Robert Ferpuson,s re-
spects to the secretary, and he has TODAY
changed his lodging; he will tomorrow he
pleased to supply the bearers character
.nousht Should have fallen to the ground.
Nor was my alarm the less for the refie,-
ton which Immediately arose In nv mind
that the note had Of necessity been written
and dispatched before l left Mr. Brome's
door. and consequently before l had taken
any step toward the execution of nv de-
sign. w
Gun. what held was but a piece of pa
per bearing a message from a man pro-
scrioed. VINO dared not show his face where
l stood. A word to the doorkeepers, and I
might even now go in and lay my informs
ucn. But the mans omniscience cowed
my spirit. terrified me. and broke me down.
went he would know and be warned in
time. and l gain by my information MOTH
ing but the name Of gull or a cheat l
turned from the door. Then, seeing that
the girl waited, There Is no answer r
said.
win you please 80 to the gentleman"
quoth she.
My jaw dropped. God forbid," 7 said
beginning TO tremble.
Il think You had BETTER" said She
ana this time there was that in her
voice reused doubts in me and made me
waver. lest what had done prove insuffi-
Gent and he betray me, though I re-
Trained from informing. Sullenly, there
lore, and after moments thought, 1
asked her where he was.
4 am not to tell you," she apsyered
You can come with me. II you please"
Go on, l said.
She cast a glance. thought, at the group
about the office. then turned and, walking
rapidly north by Charing Cross, led me
through st. Martins lane and Bedford
Bury to Covent Garden. Skirting this, she
threaded Hart street and Red Lion court,
and crossing Drury lane. conducted me by
Luke street into Lincoln's Inn fields, where
she turned sharply to the left and through
Ralph court to the Turnstile. Seeing that
she fingered here and from time to time
locked back, 1 fancied that we were near
led me along Holborn and through StanIe
Inn Presently 1t struck me that we were
near Bride lane, and cried: He is In NV
room?" ~
Yes" she said, gravely and without ex-
planation. III he please you will find him
there. And without more she signed to
me to go on and disappeared herself in the
mouth OF an alley by Green's Rents.
1t did please him. When 1 entered I
found him sitting on my table swinging his
legs and hummfng an air; and with so