Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-16
THE MESSAGE
BY LOUIS TRACY.
c.pysh. ~ ].

gard to my stolen letter." she demanded
You heard what ! said to Mrs Laing.
That letter is my evidence against her.
ut may have blown out of your win
dow. There is generally a strong breeze
just before dawn. At any rate. 1t is bet
ter lost. Such disputes are useless
But 1t was of the utmost Importance
in other ways
Young ladies' love letters always are.
he gurgled. with forced laughter. Still.
II 1t really has gone, you can hardly pro-
pose to remain In Las Palmas on the OFT
chance that 1t may be recovered.
She felt that she was trapped. but for
what purpose 1t was hard to imagine.
Lord F'airhome had told her already that
Baumgartner was very much annoyed
with him for falling to remember what
Warden had written. and it was now be-
yond doubt that the Sans Souci's voyage
to Funchal was blind for some Interior
object
In her dilemma she thought of Morti-
mer. When Baumgartner went away she
hurried out of the hotel and drove
straight to the harbor A boat brought
her to the Valiant: the commander him
self met her at the gangway and escorted
Sorry couldn't call last evening Miss
Dane.' he said. but l was detained on
board unexpectedly. Things are happen
ing. ! hear"
Eyes. Figuero is here and we leave
He smiled.
us that the DODGE" he exclaimed. "Of
course. I was posted in the movements
of the Portuguese and his friends. but the
trip to Madeira is clever. What has
caused the change of program"
She told him. and he banged clenched
fist emphatically on table which d
steward had just arranged for tea.
For once I can find it in my heart to
wish YOU were a man. he cried. "A
steamer starts for Lagos within two
hours and 1t would be a fine thing If the
Nigeria administration heard your story
from your own lips. OF course, ! can
write. but it is difficult to put on paper
that is going on
The words were scarcely uttered ere a
wild notion leaped into Evelyn's BRAIN
Why should she net go to Lagos? She
doubts and misgivings that must have
gathered around Warden's name. Above
all else. If there was news of him. 1t
would surely reach the officials there long
before it became known in England.
eff I were man." she said, tremu
lousy: would you pay my passage on
that ship?''
''of course. You would be travelling on
government service"
'Then l shall 60. Please arrange mat
me on board"
Yes
by Jove, Miss Dane. you astonish me
more each time / see you. But how
about the Baumgartners?'
II shall simply write note resigning
my situation. 1t is a mere question OF
doing that today or three weeks hence.
But shall not tell them why l am leav-
ing their service 80 suddenly"
"Baumgartner will find out. Unless
am much mistaken. it will worry him.
Now, you are sure you intend to take
this trip
Quite certain"
very we'll I shall give myself the
pleasure of calling for you at 3 o'clock"
Evelyn packed her boxes as speedily as
possible Counting her money she found
she had only twenty-five pounds. But
How better could she use it than in
furtherng the interests of the man she
loved? She wondered II Lord Fairholme
would lend her fifty pounds on its Sc
curity? A note brought him to her room,
and she explained briefly that she meant
to visit Lagos and might need more funds
than she had at her command.
We'll, that beats the band.' he said.
Mrs. Laing Is going there. too"
Not on tOday's steamer? she pro-
tested, for it seemed that an unkind fate
was conspiring against her.
Sure thing! Heard her tellin' Beryl
an hour ago
Though Evelyn wished heartily that her
many which led from Las Palmas. her
resolution remained unaltered But there
was another thrill in store for her:
Tell you what. Miss Dane, said Fair
holme, Il don't think you ought to tackle
an expedition of this sort single-handed.
You may want some ono to pull you out
of a tight place-what price me as
puller-out? I'm q pretty useless sort of
chap in most things. but there is no rea-
son why shouldn't try to do my country
good turn once in a way. Let me go
with you, and then you'll have no need to
worry about COIN
You are really very kind" she fall
tered, but-but-"
you are afraid of Mrs. Laing again.
he grinned. Don't worry yourself about
her, dear girl. Not even Mrs. Grundy can
growl at me for bein'. your fellow pas
senger. I'm mixed up In this business.
an, by Jove, I mean to see it through.
Look here can't you adopt me as a sor:
of elder brother, an make it Billy an
Evelyn. an that sort of thing-eh.
what?'
(To be continued tomorrow.)