Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-03
The Yellow Crayon
CHAPTER XVII:
he Further Adventures of ''Mysterious N
BY E. Phillips Oppenheirn,
Author Of "A Maker Of FIsry, The Traiets" TIKI Ma,
"The Betrayal" "A Praee of Sinners" Etc.


Mr. Sabin drew q little breath, partly OF
| satisfaction because he had discovered the
place he sought. and partly of disgust at
the neighborhood in which he found himself.
Nevertheless. he descended three steps from
| the court into which he had been directed.
and pushed open the swing door, behind
which Emil Sachs announced his desire to
supply the world with dinners at eightpence
and vim ordinaire at feurpence the small
bottle
stout black-eyed woman looked UP at
his entrance from behind the counter. The
place was empty.
| "What does monsieur require?' she asked.
peering forward through the gloom with
some suspicion. For the eightpenny din
ners were the scorn of the neighbOrhood.
and strangers were rare in the wine shop OF
Emil Sachs.
Mr.. Sabtn smiled.
"One of your excellent omelettes, my
| good Annette" he answered, IF your hand
has not lost it's cunning?
She gave a little cry.
'1t Is monsieur she exclaimed. AFTER
| all these years it is monsieuri All, you will
pardon that did not recognize you. This
place is a cellar. Monsieur has not changed.
In the daylight one would know him any
where"
The woman talked fast but even In that
dim light MT. sabdn knew quite well that
she was shaking with fear He could see
the corners of her mouth witch. Her black
eyes rolled necessarily. but refused to meet
his. Mr.. sabin frowned.
you are not glad to see me, Annetter
She leaned over the counter.
For monsieur's own sake" she whis-
pered, "go!'
Mr.. sabin stood quite stiil for short
Can I rest in there for few minutes?"
he asked. pointing to the door which led
into the room beyond.
The woman hesitated. She looked up at
no r1nck nd dorUn again
Emil will RETURN she said. "at 3. Mon
sieur were best out Of the neighborhood be-
fore then. For ten minutes it might be
safe"
Mr.. Sabin passed forward. The woman
lifted the flap Of the counter and followed
him. Within was a smaller room, far
cleaner and better appointed than the gem
eral appearance of the place promised. Mr..
Sabin seated himself at one of the small ia
bles The linen cloth, he noticed, was spot
less. the cutlery and appointments polished
This, I presume" he remarked us not
where you serve the eightpenny table
d'hote?"
The woman shrugged her shoulders.
'"But 1t would not be possible" she an
swered. I'VE have no customers for that.
If one arrives we put together few scraps.
But one must make a pretense. Monsieur
understands"
Mr.. Sabin nodded. --
II will take" he said, "a small glass of
IN champagne
She vanished. and reappeared almost i'm
mediately with the brandy In a quantity
cut nqueur glass. A glance at the clock as
she passed seemed to have Increased her
anxiety.
'If monsieur will drink his naueur and
depart" she prayed. Indeed. it will be
for the best"
Mr.. sabin set down his glass His stead
fast gaze seemed to reduce Annette into a
state Of nervous panic.
Annette. he said. ''they have placed me
upon the list
Tits true, monsieur" she answered.
why do you come here?
ct wanted to know first for certain that
they had ventured so far" Mr.. Sabin said.
II believe that am only the second person
In this country who has been SO much hon.
ored."
The woman drew nearer to him.
Monsieur" she said. your only danger
is to venture into such parts as these. Lon
They only watch. They will attempt moth
ing. Do not leave England, There is here
no machinery of criminals. Besides. the life
of monsieur is insured"
"Insured?" Mr.. Sabin remarked quietly.
''That is good news. And who pays the
Premium"
great lady, monsieur! know no
more. Monsieur must go indeed. He has
found his way into the only place in Lon
don where he Is not SAFE
Mr.. Sabin rose.
You are expecting. perhaps" he said.
lone of my friends from the"
She Interrupted him.
"It is true" she declared. He may be
here at any instant. The time. il already
up. Oh monsieur, indeed. indeed it would
not do for him to find you"
Mr. Sabin moved toward the door,
| You are perhaps right" he said regret.
fully. although I should much like to hear
about this little matter Of life insurance
Indeed. monsieur" Annette declared. Il
know nothing: There IL nothing which I
can tell monsieur
GoI>s,
gaze was compelling His tone was low
but terrible. -. -
Annette" he said, "obey me- Send Emil
here"
The woman trembled. but she did not
move. Mr.. Sabin lifted his forednger and
pointed slowly to the door. The woman's
lips parted. but she seemed to have lost the
power of speech.
''send Emil here!' Mr.. sabin repeated
slowly.
Annette turned and left the room CROP
ing her way to the door as though her eye
sight had become uncertain. Mr.. Sabin lit a
cigarette and looked for moment care
fully into the small liqueur glass out Of
which he had drunk.
THAT was unwise." he said softly to HIM
self. Just such blunder might have cost
me everything"
He held it up to the light and satisfied
himself that no dregs remained. Then he
took from his pocket a tiny little revolver
and placing it on the table before him, COW
cred it with his handkerchief. Almost i'm
mediately a door at the farther end of the
room opened and closed. A man in dark
clothes, small, unnaturally pale with deep
set eyes and nervous, twitching mouth.
stood before him. Mr.. Sabin smiled a well
come at him.
Good morning, Emil Sachs" he said. "I
am glad that you have shown discretion.
Stand there in the light please and fold
your arms. Thanks. Do not think that I
am afraid Of you, but T like to talk com
fortably."
'T am at monsieur's service" the man said
in low tone.
Exactly. Now, Emil. before starting n
visit you I left q little note behind adj
dressed to the chief of the police here-no,
yon need not start-to be sent to him only If
my return were unduly delayed You can
guess what that note contained. It Is not
necessary for us to revert to-unpleasant
subjects"
The man moistened his dry lips
'It Is not necessary" he repeated. Mon
sieur is as safe here-from meas at his
own hotel"
Excellent Mr. Sabin said '.Now lis
ten. Emil. 1t has, pleased me chiefly, as
you know, for the sake of your wife, the
good Annette. to be very merciful to you as
regards the past. But do not propose to
allow you to run poison bureau for the
advantage of the Prince of SAKE Leinitzer
and his friends-more especially, perhaps,
as I am at present upon his list OF SUI