Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-14

tneodol.tc ana the notebooks. Now you,
Lord Ravenspur, have only got to look
wise and give us directions. You look
iexactly like the head of an exploring
Iparty We will pretend to work the the
lodolite. and make measurements, and all
THAT kind of thing
| Inside the grounds" Walter asked.
''Of course" Venabies went on; that
is the beauty of the scheme. NO spot Of
ground Is sacred to an ordnance party.
II have actually seen them work inside a
ichurch. All we have got to do is to go
about our business boldly, and be quite
firm If anybody attempts to modest us. It
may be news to you that nobody can be
prosecuted for trespass unless specific
damage is done
The Instruments were recovered pres
emily from the hiding place. and with the
| heodOlite his shoulder EeDables step
ped boldly on to the lawn In front of the
house and gravely went to work. The
blinds were all up by this time. The
windows were opened. and q glimps. of
lwell-furnshed rooms could be seen in tn
background. A couple % maids stood in
one OF the windows and watched the
strangers curiously.
| 1T looks respectable enough" Venables
imuttered, pretending to be exceedingly
busy. You may depend upon it this is a
tougher job than we anticipated. These
servants are all right You may he sure
hat they know nothing of what is going
on. However, to make certain, I'll ask
them for myself
Venabes approached the window and
asked civilly for the loan Of Il small piece
Iof string. He came back presently, after
a chat of q minute or two, and once more
appeared to be wholly engrossad in his
instrument. AT the same time lie was
telling his companions thu Information
which he had CLEANED.
Il knew / was right he said. The
house has been let furnished TO an Italian
gentleman called something or another
l didn't quite catch what ana the people |
only came down yesterday. Those serv-
ants go with the freehold, SO to speak |
and they have all been in their present
situation for some considerable time |
Their master is q city stockbToker. who, |
with his family, is the continent for
the next month or two. If we are lu ky
we shall probably get a sight o. the
Italian presently Trough ] expect we
have ali got a pretty shrewd notion who
the gentleman is
The work proceeded gravely for a
quarter of an hour. Levels appeared I }
be taken and there was much entering o.
hgurc5 in the notebooks. Presently as
Walter glanced around him. he drew a
deep breath, for there was no mstaking
the identity of the slim figure that
emerged from one of the open French
windows and came strding eagerly down
the lawn.
Silva Walter said finder his breath
Don't pretend to see him till he gets
4
thing If we left all the interviewing TO
Venables"
The italian approached the group and
superciliously demanded to know what
they We're doing there. He looked quite
the master of the place in his cool fan
mel suit. He had cigarette between his
strong. white teeth.
why are you trespassing here?'' he de-
handed Don't you know that this is
private property? Go, or | will cali in
notice int +,l,
he police won't help you in this
case" Fenables said with the air Of
military man who is quite sure of his
ground we are here on government
business. / don't know If You under
stand what mean, but we are surveying
and nobody has right to interfere with
us, providing we do no damage We can
come into the house If we like. Indeed
l am not quite sure that we shan't have
to- l see you have got a fiat roof sir.
with ratings round. If We have occasion
to take the theodolite up there ] will ring
the bell and let you know"
Inc whole thing was so coolly and
| naturally done that Silva was taken
| aback for the moment. Evidently he had
come out Of the house full of SUSPICION
and with the fixed intention OF getting rid
OF these intruders soon as possible
There was an uneasy look In his eyes as
Venabes suggested the roofsf the hous,
as the field of action. He deemed it wise
| to shift his ground altogether.
THAT will be very inconvcnient," he
sald IN quite another voice. Il hope
! you will be able to manage without that
| II you can. However If you will give
| me an hours notice, l daresay-'
But Walter was no longer listening He
was standing up. regarding the house
| with professional eye. His gaze vague
| ly took in dormer window immediately
| under the roo. There We're bars to the
| window. pointing to the fact that at some
time or another the room had been used
as a nursery. The window was blank for
moment, then a face appeared and
| looked out.
That instant was enough for Walter.
| There was no mista1ing those features.
| They were those of Vera Rayne.
| Go be Continued Tomorrow