Evening star., 1909-05-09

light deep down in one of the openings 1t was
now only question of waiting till Farralon was
alone. and hailing him To find out what was
going on. he had started down stairs when he
heard voices man still in the larger
room speaking through the closed door of the
office
come in and make you quit You keep quiet.
Farralon I'm going to turn in now So long.
old man Dream of your bride and a happy
weddngl' and after turning the key IN the
door he rolled over a cot in the hall In
few minutes he snoring.
Astro stole up stairs and put his mouth to
the hole calling Farralon No answer came.
Then he sat down the floor, took off his
sock. and raveled out long line of silk. Next.
he wrote short note, fastened the paper into
his pocket knife, and tied the line to it. This
he let cautiously down the hole, and tangled it
softly at the bottom. In a few minutes he felt
the line pulled taut. Farralon took the note,
read it, and came back.
Who's up there?" he called up in a loud
whisper.
x friendi' Astro replied
And thereupon ensued a long dialogue,
after which the Seer of Secrets. chuckling to
himself nightly. stole down stairs and out the
door, found his still waiting taxacab and was
driven rapidly back to the city. 1t 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. 5,652 Lexing-
ton-ave. 1t was the house for rent that Valeska
had noticed at the other end of the block In
which Miss Wister lived. 1t had been hired for
a month.
A large furniture van stood in front of the
door A long table was on the sidewalk, stand
ing parallel to the curb. Two men in overalls
walked in and out of the house occasionally.
Astro looked at his watch. About time for
the show he remarked. How is Miss Wis
ter standing the suspense?"
Valeska giggled. Il don't think she slept
a wink last night and when got to her this
morning she was almost frantic don't think
that even now she considers herself safe. You
see, she doesn't know you SO well as do 1t you
told me l was to be married to-day, I'd be-
lieve it,
Astro turned to her with sudden look in
his eyes. IF | told you that you were to be
married next month, would you believe it 7" he
demanded
"Ah, but you re not going to tell me that!"
" But it was impossible to get Miss Wister to see
the funny side OF it. at all I'm afraid that
young Mr. Farralon is going to have hard
time getting some things into her head "
Well her heart is accessible, at any rate"
Astro replied His gaze returned to the win
dow. Its queer the Pi Ro NJ aren't here
We have mighty little time to get him ready. /
believe they re going to wait till the last minute
No. by Jovei there they come now!" He
raped on the window sharply to the men on
to the table
A T the other end of the block. where long
awning stretched from the door of the Wis
ter house to the sidewalk and curious crowd
had gathered a large red automobile-No.
11,I5-had stopped just as he spoke. 1t was
full of men. One got out, then another then
another As the fourth stepped on the side
walk. however, there a sudden commotion.
A 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 in mans clothes, half in
woman's, 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 who had
risen to their feet As the fugitive came up to
the house where Astro and Valeska waited, the
men on 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 S handicap gave the
fugitive just time to rush up the front steps and
enter the doorway before the doors were closed
and bolted behind him
Quick! Follow me!' exclaimed Astro.
He could hardly speak from laughter, but the
man followed him with curses, raving like
wild beast. Up three flights of stairs they raced.
entered a small closet, and scrambled up a
ladder AStro handed Farra1on a 1iphted lam