The Washington times., 1904-06-05
CHAPTER II.
A Home Scene.

The town in which the girl de-
seconded was already in darkness save
where yelled lamps shone uncertainty
through latticed windows. Higher up
on the fortihcations lanterns hung at
the end Of each sentry beat, looking
ike dim stars set in the hillside.
Outside the harbor were other Ian
terms slung TO the tops OF high masts,
and rocking 10 and fro like restless
firefiies.
These beacons were too distant and
too indistinct to relieve the pale of
gloom that hung over the irregular col
lection Of houses forming the town.
There were no public lights along the
crooked streets TO relieve the encom-
passing darkness through which Pc
destr1ans picked their way, with more
or less rapidity according to their
knowledge of the surroundings.
II had once been proposed by the
Spanish governor that a lantern watch
should patrol the streets after night
fall. But this suggestion had met with
opposition from some Of the most in
huentiaI citizens. Their consciences and
their purses both hourished better in
the darkness.
As II was, there was nobody whose
business il was TO hear or heed tbs
strange. black boats that passed many
times TO and fro between the shore and
the larger craft in the offing, bearing
goods that would never pay tribute into
the treasury.
A less experienced pedestrian would
have found it a difficult matter 10 keeI
footing In the uneven passa geways that
formed the Gibraltar streets. But Anita
seemed in no wise troubled by its many
Irregularities.
She tripped quickly on. suiting hel
pace 20 the rough surface and instiuc
lively moving to one side or the othel
TO avoid the greater depressiOns anC
the heaps Of rubbish that burdened th'
path at frequent intervals.
Now and then she passed darl
| slouching figures that moved aloni
within the deeper shadows OF the hous,
walks. They glided by silently and with
out greeting, like uncanny spirits OF TIT
night
The girl gave them no heed. though
| she knew that each dark cloak hid Z
desperate knife.
As she was well aware. the vult'u
] scent OF lltSt tNll AAnl+' JiA Us FFtA'
keen only for the gold Of registering
sailormen or fat WASTED traders. s.
If ones purse was light he might Civ
the laugh to fear IN Gibraltar. but wo
betide him who had more coin I'm hi
pouch than was matched by the stool
/ Of discretion I'm his skull
In n street that ran close to the water
| front the girl paused before hous
| built. like its neighbOrs, with a s!ngi
! entrance and a heavily latticed balloon
| projecting overhead. To all outwar
| appearance the dwelling might hav
been deserted. for not a ray OF Ugh
| escaped from H.
! The girl halted a moment as thong
| listening 10 learn II anyone was ap
/ preaching. The street was deserted an
40 silent as a churchyard vault. Exc
| the soft tap. tap of her fingers on IN
pane, of the low entrance save back
! half echo.
| H. response to her summons the doc
swung inward noIselessly and quickly
and the girl disappeared within the dar
recess thus formed. Quickly and noise
| lcssly the door closed again. under IN
hand OF the EthIopiai woman who Ia
| admitted her.
| Although the building from the eNte
rior had the forbildmg aspect Of a luH
| Feon. it revealed itself rs soon as tn
! girl had passed through \ short daT