Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-15

" Have you a lady go out? asked David.
The man drew back one hand on his lever and the
other on a sliding trellis-wOrk of iron.
4" N-no, sir, he Stammered.
Don't be frightened said David sharply " [
want YOU to keep your wits. Some one has been IN
my fiat"
" Is that so, sir"
Where have you been during the last five min
utes?"
Downstairs sir"
AT the door?
No, sir, in the back not five yards from the lift
sir" He thought it unnecessary to mention that
he had been talking to the housemaid of No. in the
basement on her way to the post
So anyone could have gone out without your
knowledge?"
:" If they went by the stairs, sir.
Come in and help me to search my place again. "
The porter hung back. The mans sheepish face
almost comical.
Come comet said David. There isn't much to
be afraid of now, but tell you that some one put
out the light in the corridor and | am almost sure
that heard the stir of a woman's dress somewhere
The ft-attendant's pallor increased. That's
just it, sir he murmured. The others have
heard it, too"
Stuff said David turning on his heel.
Few Britons stand contempt. The porter
followed him.
That's a mani said David, and they entered the
fiat.
Harcourt shut and bolted the door. 'Now," he
said, YOU mount guard in the passage while carry
the hunt.
hiding so complete his second scrutiny of every
nook At the end of a frutless quest he gave the
porter whisky and soda.
60 I'll tell YOU w'ot, sir said the man, there's
more in this than meets the eye. Miss L Estrange,
she never saw anythink, but she card all sorts O
runmy noises an twicet she found that all 'er
things 'ad been rummiged. An it was no thief,
neither The maid, she acshul1y sawr the pore
lydy. If | may s'y it in confidence, sir, and you
wants ter be comfortable there's No IS in the next
block"
Il have rented the place for six months. and |
shall stay in it. - said David. Have another? MOI?
Well, here is half crown Say nothing about to-
nights adventure. | am going to bed"
"Lordy! Coin ter sleep ere alone?" gasped his
companion. a. wouldn't do it for a pension"
Yet l am paying for the privilege. However,
not word remember.
Right YOU are sir Ope you'll ave a good
nights rest sir I'll be in the lift for another arr
hour, if you should 'appen to want me"
Left to himself, David bolted the outer door
again, and returned to the diningroom: Obeying
an impulse he jotted down notes of the occur
renee, paying special heed to times and impressions
Then he went to bed, having locked his bedroom
door and placed his revolver under his pillow. He
imagined that he would remain awake many hours;
but, tired and overwrought, he was soon
asleep, to be aroused only by the effort of
a news-agent to stuff a morning paper into
the etter-box. The charwoman was already
in the fiat, and the shining through
the drawn-thread pattern of the blinds.
The air of London must be drugged,
thought David, looking at his watch.
Asleep at half-past eight of fine morning."
Such early-morning reprOaChes mark the =
first stage of town life
After breakfast he went to his bank He
hadeXpended good deal of money duringthe
past month, but was well equipped in substantials,
owned a comfortable home for six notwithstanding
such experiences as those of the preceding night
and found at the bank good balance to his credit.
/ will hold on until have two hundred pounds
left of my capital and earnings combined, he de-
cided; then shall take the next steamer for some
place where they raise stock" He called at the
agents office
Nothing amiss, hopper" said Dibbn.
Nothing whatever. / just happened in to get
a few pointers about Miss Gwendoline Barnes"
Harcourt found that in London it was helpful to
use Americanisms in his speech People smiled and