Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-31
CHAPTER XIII.
Across Europe.

Till nearly O'Clock / waited
! knew that the moment l put my nose
outside into st. Martins lane / should
be closely followed by one or other Of
the men from Scotland Yard told off
to keep me under surveillance.
II was necessary for me to esca pc
from London unobserved. and with that
object l had been cudgeling my wits.
Just before J i strolled along to the
bank. and drew out some money. On my
way back | became conscious that my
footsteps were logged by rather shah
billy dressed young man, evidently a po-
lice officer. Back in my rooms, l wrote
a note to the old woman who kept my
chambers clean. and. putting on light
overcoat, prepared to make a dash for it,
The instant [ stepped out into the street
the watcher crossed the road and again
followed behind me- | took no notice but
walked to the corner of Cranbourne
street, and turned toward Leicester
Square. The man sauntered behind me,
believing, of course. that I was entirely
unaware Of his proximity.
Those moments were full of GREATNESS
anxiety.
Suddenly I halted outside the Hippo
drome. attracted by a large frame of
photographs OF a lady tightw;re artist.
pausing in such manner that the
watcher was forced to pass on In front
of me. He was compelled TO walk for
little distance. not daring to halt lest
he should face me and thus attract my
attention.
OF those moments 1 made the best use
possible. for l slipped back across Char
Ing Cross road. into the Tube Station
passengers. was about to descend, so
slipped In, handing a shilling to the lift
man in lieu of a ticket and explaining
was in a great hurry
Next instant the big wooden doors
closed TO with bang. and down we went
Into the subterranea,l regions.
A weight was lifted from my heart.
knew, however, that the detective had
probably seen me disappear into the sta
zion and that the next lift In few sec
onds would bring him down also. There
fore, as soon as the lift gates opened
disregarded the Hammersmth-F insbury
Park line. and turned OF to the platform
of the Hampstead Tube.
A. train was just entering the station
therefore I stepped In. and In a few sec
onds We had plunged into the long tunnel
nOrthward.
All this happened in less time than it
takes to put 1t upon paper.
l was again free-free.
Arrived In Hampstead. strolled up the
hill and across the Heath TO Jack Straw's
Castle. that ancient hosielry of coaching
the manager the address of a garage
where l could hire a motor car
Half an hour later. wrapped In {. thick
ready made frieze overcoat, which | had
bought in the High street. l was seated
in forty Mercedes being driven down
Spaniard's road. To Hornsey we went,
then through Tottenham. Wodford Rom
ford and OH to Chelmsford, which We
reached after darkness had we'll closed
in. Without pause we sped on. with
our open exhaust roaring continually.
Ill the young chauffeur and l reached
the Cups a Colchester. where We turned
in. and had tea and cold meat
Then in half an hour we We're On the
road again heading for Harwich. arriv-
ing at Parkeston quay al about 10 o'clock.
Thus NE accomplished the hundred-mile
run In I'VE hours. the length OF time TAX
en- being on account of the first half OF
the journey being entirely by byroads
where We three times lost our way.
did not run the car right to the quay
but as soon as tie long line OF electric
lights came into view l paid the driver
gave him a substantial tip for himself
and stepping out walked to the railway
terminus and purcha sed ticket for
Rotterdam by the Hook of Holland.
The mail boat lying alongside
therefore l went aboard, the stew