New-York tribune., 1909-05-09

pany had left and were racketIng down stairs
Astro had the satisfaction of perCeIv1ng a faint
light deep down in one OF the openings 1t was
now only a question of waiting TIL FaTralOn was
alone and hailing him. To hnd out what was
going on. he had started down stairs when he
heard voices y man was still IN the larger
room speaking through the closed door OF the
office
Don't you try and make a row now, or We II
come in and make YOU quit You keep qu1ess
Farralon' I'm going to turn IN now So long.
old man Dream of your bride and happy
wedding and after turning the key IN the
door he rolled over on cot IN the halI- IN =
few minutes he was snoring
AstrO stole up stairs and put MS mouth 70
the hole calling FarralOn. No answer came
Then he sat down on the floor, took of his
sock. and raveled out a long line of silk Next.
ne wrote a short note fastened the paper INTO
his pocket knife. and tied the line TO It This
he let cautiously down the hole, and tangled u
softly at the bottom. In a few minutes ne feIt
the line pulled taut. FarralOn took the note,
read it. and came back.
Who's up there he called up IN Ioud
whisper.
"A friend"' Astro replied
And thereupon ensued a long dialogue.
after which the Seer of Secrets. chuckhng to
himself nightly stole down stars and out the
door found his still waiting taxacab, and was
driven rapidly back to the city It was four
O'Clock when he threw himself, exhausted. on
the great couch IN his studio
A T half-past seven. that evening AstrO and
n Valeska stood behind the inside shutters
of the parlor window at No. 5,65z Lexlng-
ton-ave 1t was the house for rent that NaIeska
had noticed at the other end OF the block IN
which Miss Wister lived 1t had been hired for
a month.
\ large furniture van stood IN front Of the
door long table was on the sidewalk stand
ing parallel to the curb Two men IN Overalls
walked in and out Of the house occasionally
4 - I, - f,rssrT rTrrNsz for
the show" he remarked How IS Miss Wis
ter standing the suspense
VaIeska giggled Il don't think she slept
a wink last night and when | got 70 her this
morning she was almost frantic | don Z think
that even now she considers herself safe You
see. she doesn' know you so well as do II YOU
told me l was 70 be married to-day, Id be-
lieve it,
Astro turned to her with a sudden look II
his ewes. &" II told YOU that YOU were 20 be
married next month, would YOU believe II - he
demanded.
All. but you're not going 20 tell me that
said NaleSka, putting away his hand gently,
But 1t was impossible to get Miss WlSter TO see
the funny side of It, at al I'm afraid that
young Mr. Farralon IS going to have a hard
time getting some things into her head
Well her heart IS accessible. at any rate,
Astro replied His gaze returned 70 the VIII
dow Its queer the PI RO M aren't here
We have mighty little time to get hun ready I
believe they're going to wait till the last minute
No. bv love- there they come now" He
raped on the window sharply 70 the men on
the sidewalk. who Immediately put their hands
TO the table
A the other end of the block. where a long
awning stretched from the door OF the Wis
ter house to the sidewalk and 4 curious crowd
had gathered. large red autOnobIle-NO
II.1I5-had stopped Just as ne spoke 1t was
full OF men One got out. then another then
another As the fourth stepped on the side
walk, however. there was a sudden COTunOtIOn-
\ man dropped. Two others seemed fighting
They were Joined by two more, who Jumped
from the car Another dropped. and another.
and then
Sprinting down the block came a wild. fan
taStIc creature, half m man S clothes. half IN
wonans with ribbons streaming, with short
skirts Tapping. fighting his way with excited
gestures through the pasSerSby, knocking down
several as he Strove Behind HIM instantly
followed the crowd. led by the men who had
risen to their feet As the fugitive came up to
the house where Astro and Faleska waited the
men the sidewalk swung the long table
round and the mob dashed against the barrier
One or two hurdled It the rest ran round the
ends. But the moment 5 handicap gave the
Just time 10 rush up the front steps and