Evening star., 1898-06-04

The fact was As obvious as Bourke's
Red Riding Hoos $, serious eyes opened a
1 Here" said Botirke, desperately care
some bonbons and he solemnly presented
ribbon. -- , r
Red Riding Hood thanked him graveIv.
ntled the parcel, retied the scarlet bit of
! ribbon in her targled black locks and
came up to him holding out the sweet
! meats.
Take one" she said
| Bourke obedently took a chocolate drop
and placed it in his mouth Red Riding
| Hood did likewise.
| Now she said. 81 will return TO my
dishes Goodbye"
| Goodbye" he said, understanding that
| the audience was at All enG
| Upstairs he found Harewood lying on
Hello, Jim: out of sorts?" he asked
amiaby.
No" said HARDWOOD without looking
up.
| Bourke sat down on the bed.
| Sent your Dispatcher"
| Il sent mine, too. Well, the Prussians
are here at last. What a devil of a row
| the forts of the south make when the wind
Is right. Where were you this afternoon?'
Outside the city,
| Go far?'
"Bas-Meudon."
| See anythng?"
After a pause, Bourke said Don't Won
care to talk, Jim"'
Yes said Harewood, sitting up sudden
| iy' let us talk. for Gods sake-let US dc
| something
What's the matter with you" asked
| Bourke sharply.
Harewood's face changed: he smiled at
| his comrade and touched him affectionata
| ly on the arm.
| "Nothing-case of blue deviis-they're
gone. You're good chap Cecil"
| Am I?' replied Bourke gratified "J
| haven't had a chance to see you-to talk
things over today-you went away rather
| abruptly"
| After a moments thought he added:
| what's the matter anyway Jim? Have
| you had a MISUNDERSTANDING with Hilde?''
No replied Hardwood, forcing a smile.
| oh. wasn't sure. Hide seems to have
+, all day? 'e
| when came back from Bas-Meudon."
! sasd HareWood, crossing Cne leg over the
other and clasping both hands above the
| soldier and rried up all the fagstones in
| the courtyard. You know the governor
| issued orders for all sorts of precautions.
At noon today soldier came to see
| Guess who 1t was?'
Not Speyer" exclaimed Bourke.
Yes. it was Speyer."
They looked at each other Significantly.
Bourke begah to pace the floor.
| Il foresee what's coming" he said bit
terly. "Buckhurst1 and Speyer are going
| to nag us and irrifate us until we do some,
| thing for which they can denounce us.
| Buckhurst fears VS. because we know mis-
record. Speysr wants to get into this
| house. because its, the ideal headquarters
for spy. They are both working for the
IT think said Harewood, tightening his
clasp about his kPee, that Speyer is the
center Of ths whole spy system in Paris.
| Shall tell ybu why? Listen, Cecil. When
| paved the c3crt-7and incidentally to dis
I cover whateYer he could to our detriment-
| l. luckily. had just finished prying up The
| fagstones and pilfLg them against the
| wall. He was in cqniform-the uniform of
Belleville staff captain. He spoke to me
and looked lle in the eye as though he had
never before seen me. And all the time I
was eyeing the mark my riding crop left
across his face. He came into the house
| l dared not strike him; his uniform Won
| know-and that would have been fatal
| fatal TO all. 1t was not until he went
| that he said anything important: but as
he left by the same steps down which /
| bad knocked him a few nights ago, he
stopped and said: Take my advice and
| get out of this house before you're kick ed
out"
Bourke,s face crimsoned He stood STOCK
still in the middle of the floor
Il replied" continued HARDWOOD "that in
| the event of a frost in hell would leave.
and not before. / also pointed ont thai
uniform or no uniform, I'd twist tis heaS
| off his shoulders II he ever came back,
Harewood had risen while speaking. and
now he also began to pace the floor.
'You see, Cecil" he continued. that I've
committed us all. But mean it. We can't
stay here with these Belleville ruffians free