Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-27
"The police officer looked suspicious at the figure"

morning / may find myself inside the house.
1 may even return with the lame gentleman
as my prisoner. 1t is all in the air.
by Jove,' Bennington cried Il should
like to go with you. AS an old campaigner.
and one with some little knowledge of
strategy, ! may be useful. Anything is bet
ter than sitting here doing nothing. Would
you very much mind, Inspector"
Field regarded the brown, eager, clever
face and steadfast eyes of the questioner
shrewdly
II shall be delighted. SIR he said heart
lily, with one proviso-that you regard me
as your senior officer and commander in
this business Military strategy is one
thing. the hunting of criminals quite a diff
ferent thing. | shall start from the Yard
before 10 o'clock and even then l shall not
make my way to Wandsworth direct. We
are dealing with an exceedingly clever lot,
and it is just possible that l may be
watched. Therefore I shall disguise myself,
and you had better do the same. Then
like"
That's a bargain Bennington said Gag
erly. I'm go over to Wandsworth pretty
early and try to see my police friend, Mack
lin. At II O'Clock | shall be under the trees
opposite Audley Place, waiting for you.
Probably l shall assume the disguise of a
sailor
"Um, not a bad idea" Field remarked.
I'VE will both be sailors just paid off from
a ship and with money in our pockets.
Sailors, in that condition who have asSimi-
lated fair amount of liquid refreshment.
do strange things. Oh, We shall be all right.
Merchant seamen let be. from the ship
Severn just home from South America.
Good afternoon, sir
1t was nearly 10 before Bennington reached
the rendezvous. He was perfectly dis
guised as a sailor fresh from tramp
steamer his clothes We're dirty and grimy.
and the cap in his hand had decided ma
val cock. So far as he could judge there
were no lights visible at No. 100, opposite.
He waited for Macklin to come along, which
presently he did. The police officer looked
suspicousy at the figure In a slumbering
attitude on the seat, and passed before him.
Now. then" he said sharply. What are
you doing here? Come out of that"
Bennington came unSteadily to his feet
and blnked into the lane of light made by
the policeman's lantern. He was rather
proud of his disguise and the way in which
it was passing scrutiny.
"All right, Mackin," he said in his nat
ural voice. It's Col. Remington. Not quite
the same sort of disguise that l tried to
pass into the Madi Halfa camp with when
you were on guard that night. Still 1t took
ut did indeed, SIR Macklin said. not
without admiration. And might l beg to
ask what manner of game the colonel of
my old regiment is up to in London at this
hour?'
I'VE need not go into details. Macklin,'
Bennington said. Regard me as your Sc
Nor officer for a moment, and answer my
questions without comment. AS L told you
yesterday, / am interested in that house
opposite. Have you found out anything?'
Nothing worth speaking about, sir u
Macklin replied. They seem to be just re-
spectacle people who have plenty of money
and very few visitors. Last night about
half past IL the old gentleman went out in
a cab, and came back about half past with
a friend who had big box on the top of the
| cab. That's all can tell you
"Ah, perhaps that is more important than
Harrington o
today?" 3
Nothing today, sir. Oh, yes, there is
The parlormaid reported to the man who is
| doing day duty here this week that the
house would be closed till Saturday and
| that the police Were to keep an eye on the
place at night. Looks as if they've gone
SIR
Bennington swore quietly and under his
breath. 1t seemed to him as if he and Field
were going to have their trouble for Their
| pains. No. 100 was not the kind of house
where people are unduly economical on the
| score of lights, and there was not one to bt
seen.
Il should like to go and have a prowl
around" Bennington said, after a pause
| II suppose If 1 did, shouldn't have any
officious policeman to reckon with"
WELL sir, I'm not quite sure" Macklin
| said obviously. "Of course l know you tC
| be gentleman wouldn't do anything in
the least wrong, but there's my sergeant to
| consider. Still. as this is on my beat, nc
other officer is likely to see you"
Good" Bennington exclaimed "What
| time will you be back here again?"
Macklin calculated that he would reach