Evening star., 1904-02-01

them one al time into the silent house.
The sound of the refastening of the door
mad hardly died away when a figure step
pea out or the shadows in the lane not a
ooZen yards from the spot where the two
mer had been waiting for admission He
was evidently. to judge by his dress, a
Sdhib. but strangely enough wore a soft
slouch nat like a padre, and belt about
MS white drill coat that held a big army
revolver. He also carried a most suspi-
cious-looking cane, and was altogether A
very formidable person as he loomed big
from the shadows.
Glancing up at the windows, this gentle
man SWore softly, but with a certain fer
vidity that made up for lack of noise.
There was patch of moonlight across the
window. and this was evidently not at all
to the mans taste. He drew back to the
wall and, reaching down into the dirt with
his fingers, felt around till he found
piece of loose-lying string which he bro-
ceeded to pull slowly till it grew taut in
his hands He gave three sharp tugs ard
then let 1t lie easily across one palm while
he held it twisted tightly around the fingers
OF the other hand. In a moment there
came sharp tug that pulled his hand for
ward, then four more in quick succession.
After this strange performance the Sahib
dropped the string on the ground again and
stood watching the patch of moonlight as
1t slowly passed across the window in the
wall above him. Five minutes later stone
dropped in the lane a little beyond him,
and with sigh of relief he stepped for
ward and stood in the better light beyond.
A couple OF figures Joined him instantly
and certainly Ben Alif would have had no
cause to complain of The heaviness of their
coming
The Sahib drew them hastily into his
hiding place and they whispered eagerly
together, studying the window carefully as
they did so. They waited thus ten
had dwinded now to scant half
foot. and the Sahib had recourse to
his string again-with very startling
results this time, for the lane suddenly
grew alive with stealthy. creeping shadows.
A little knot of men gathered under the
window; two brawny ones braced them
selves against the wall; another sprang
quickly to their shoulders. and yet another
10 MS; then slim young boy leaped up
nimbly, topped them ALL and reached the
window, which, after little manipulation
With delicate saw and a long thin knife,
opened silently and the lad stepped
through. A stout rope knotted every few
feet OF its length, was flung np to him, and
In short time he signaled that II was fast.
There was another whispered consulta-
ton. quick tightening of belts and pug
garees, ana dozen 1.-THE, swarthy men
followed the boy into the silent house, the
last drawing up the-rope and closing the
window.
All had been accomplished with a celerity
and silence that betokened ex xcelIent training
not hitch or a jar had mar.red the whole
proceeding. and when the window closed
the Sahib drew back again into the shadow
with grim smile on his face. A bandit
coot poked it's curious snout out of a hole,
and seeing the land clear, went grunting
about his business up the lane,
Meantime Meredith and Ren Alff Rroped
their way after the woman who had let
them in. Where they We're II was impos-
sibie to decide after the first few steps.
Wmch were taken entirely in the dark; and
twice. later in their devious course the wo-
man nut out the little oil-cup lamp which
she had lighted, handing Ben Alif the end
Of her sari to follow by, Meredith In like