Evening star., 1909-02-14

Il car
| Naeska followed him. She got out with him
at Preston-st and from here her task was more
difficult. Keeping at a safe distance, however
| she saw him stop at a tWo-storV wooden mouse.
| At that moment man approaching from the
other direction with two dogs held IN leash met
| him The two entered the house together, and
Naleska approached and reconnoltered. As
| she passed, she heard the dogs barking, and
min gled with the noise was the sound OF whln-
ing as of animals in pain The lower windows
were dark but the three above, on the second
floor, were lighted. Creeping softly up the
steps Ealeska laid her ear to the keyhole and
listened There low but distinct sound,
"a rumbing as of wheels turning, wheels with
heavy load, IT some machine was beng
laboriously worked.
TWO days passed, and each night Ealeska
took up the scent, following the manicure
girl across to Brooklyn as before: Both times,
however she was alone. The first night she
dined alone at a little dairy near the borough
station and went to a vaudeville show alter
ward The second night she went directly
home. The next day was Saturday.
I'VE seem to have got nothing yet, she SAID
| to Astro that morning. u confess m dis
couraged Ii that man saw is the go-between,
| he covers his tracks well. If he hands her any
drug it is impossible for us to detect it. If we
| could only get into that house on Preston-st!
That's impossible said Astro; its too
we'll guarded. I've been over there to see 1t.
| was looking for house to rent, you know,
| and found out enough to arouse my suspicious
| The neighbors are gossiplng about the place
already. Dogs go in; but don't come out;
There are means and howls all night long, and
| its getting to be scandal. But to-day hope
| t. find out something definite about the rela-
| tons that exist between Tulllver and that girl.
| Mc(1raw has agreed to tip me off when Iulllve1
goes to the shop, and think can get a chance
| TO watch the two together
Nothing had been heard from Mrs. Tulliver
in the me antirne. To Nalesllas s mind that in
itself was suspicious Astro's story when he
returned did not relieve her mind.
| . got III after TUllIvtr, he said, and was
shaved, Just managing 70 miss my turn with
the maIlicure lady. Tulliver had his nails
polished as usual. She frightened up CON
| siderably at sight of him 1t seemed to me
| that she was excited He talked and laughed
| d little with her; but not enough to prove any
great intimacy She was undoubtedly nervous,
however Once she went behind the screen
| and did something | don't know what. But
| she had ample opportunity to convey any
| message to him without arouslng the least sus-
picion. | confess I'm worried about him.
WITH this, Valeska had to be content for
W the time and she heard no more till
| Monday morning. Then, upon her arrival at
the studio, Astro met her with Il, black face
"Tulliver is down again.! he said lnlrne-
| diatev. Mrs. Tulliver telephoned yesterday
a, ten o'clock in the morning, while her hus
band was asleep. He absolutely refused to
| work, said he was exhausted, and insisted on
taking nap, He said he wasn't i'll at all only
| felt tired 1t was plain enough that she is fear
fully worried now. and will help us out with
| information whether he iects or not. You had
better go and see her and get all the details
Valeska lost no time in obeylng him. Astro
| threw himself on the divan, refused all comers,
and gave himself up to a struggle with his prob
| lem Something in his memory baked. He
| was usually wonderfully IN control Of it. and
| the refusal tantalized him.
| NaleSka returned at eleven o'clock and re-
| ported that Tulliver had gone down to the Of
| hce though still listless and blue Mrs. Tulli
| vcr's alarm has increased, and she was now
| willing to tell all she knew.
| Il spoke to her delicatelv as could about
the manicure girl" she said. Mrs Tulliver
seemed a bit worried at the subject. She SAID
that Tulliver had often spoken OF her as an
| original, slangv type, whose conversation re-
| freshed him after his hard work. In fact, that
was his chief reason for having his nails done
there,-so that he could listen to the girls per-
sitlage, to which he Didn't even have to answer.
| That seemed to be her main talent, III fact; tor
| Mrs Tulliver said that she had gift OF CAB,
| rather striking looks, and the ability to create
| a high and snowy polish on mems nails. She
| is clumsy though. She has managed her
scissors SO unskilfuy that she has cut Mr. Tul
liver's fingers twice.
| Astro jumped to his feet. 'Abracadabr I"
| he exclaimed, and stood staring at Ea!eska.
| What's the natter.
| Were getting on" He started to walk up
| .,J I,u-,, Let M. over