Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-26
CHAPTER TX,

The girl paused at the threshold of the
sitting room and, opening the door softly,
looked in. Drake was lying huddled up
on the sofa, his face buried in his arms.
Chicot sat a few feet away. regarding
him dolefully. At the sound Of her COM
ing both turned toward the door. Drake
sppang to his feet. A little cry broke
from his lips.
"Christine! he exclaimed. You are
back again. What has happened? Why
did you leave me?''
She looked at him for a moment stead
lily. Certainly he was a strengthening
figure. His hair was tangled and disar-
ranged. There were patches of red upon
his face His clothes were splashed with
mud She held out her hands with a lit
tie gesture, almost of aversion. Then
she slowly began to remove the pins
from her hat.
Ambrose" she said, you have been
drinking
God knows l needed to drink he
cried. Il was away three. perhaps five.
minutes. When I came back you were
gone. I waited, we waited. Chicot and L.
When they made us move on we came
back again. We walked on the pave
ment, We stood in the street. the hours
went and You did not come. Yes, it is
true. Christine. Then l drank What
was to do? 1 could not eat, and 1 was
faint faint with fear. But you have
come back" he added, with little break
in his voice.
'Of course 1 have come back she in
terposed, YEARLY. What was there else
to do?"
''You want something to eat?'' he ex-
claimed, eagerly.
mot a thing slfe answered. Il have
had dinner at a restaurant. / have dined,
actually dined, Ambrose. Think of it, 1
have seen clean linen, flowers and silver.
I have eaten warm, well cooked food.
have even tasted champagne"
The joy died out of his face. Once
more he was haggard with whom ~
been?"
with no one of my own choice she
answered. Il met him face to face and
you were not there. 1 was obliged to
listen to him. 1t was the Englishman.
we escaped only last night
Il know the dwarf said. "Hannaway
his name was. God knows where he
came from. He is well again, then. He
was not badly hurt
No" she answered, che Is quite re-
covered
''You went to dinner with him?" he ex-
claimed, his voice trembling. why did
you do that? Where did you go? Why
dlo you not keep MIN TALKING Until i
came?"
1T was no USE" she answered. 1--WE
could not have escaped from him. 1t was
best to let him talk
You told him anything?" Drake asked.
Nothing! she answered.
How much does he know?'
She shook her head thoughtfuly. He
is one Of those silent persons she said,
who say little, who ask questions and
whose face never changes. How much he
knows I could not tell
Did he come home with your Drake
demanded. docs he know where we
live?"
HE knows nothing" she answered.
Tell me-" Drake asked, 'what If we
fail also in London?'
must find him. He is here somewhere.
1 know it. We are in the same city. In
time we must come face to face. Then
he shall know what 1t Is to hear words
of truth. He shall hear what a woman,
even though she be only girl, thinks
Of traitor"
1T is great city this he said.
thoughtfully. I'VE may search day by
day, month by month, even year by year.
and the one person for whom we look
may escape us"
I'VE must take our chance the girl
answered, doggedly. He must be found.
in time we shall find him. l am sure of
It,"
tered, "you and Chicot and 1. The pen
MES come hardly all the time, and the
piano is wearing badly. The man told
me today that 1 should have to pay for
two fresh notes. 1t is the damp and the
rain that do it. What a country it is,
Christine!'
She saw the CLEAN in his eyes. and she
answered him almost roughly. 'Oh, 1
KNOW she said. You are longing for
the sunshine, for the smell of flowers,
tEa win dc ,r,ly
that 1, too. miss them? 1t is a hideous
country this, but we have not ourselves
to think of. Remember the man whose
life is worse even than ours who waits.
who has nothing else to do but wait and
hope"
TT shall be as you say Drake an
swered. 1--WE will stay, If you will have
it So
"Stay we must the girl answered, pas
sionately. 1T Is not of my choice, it is
not asmatter of will. We are here. We
must remain here
There was tap at the door. The
child who carried up Christine's break
fast entered. She held in her hand a
twisted scrap of paper.
"A gent left this ere for you" ashe ex-
planned.
Christine unfolded the note with curl
Gus fingers. For me?" she repeated. "A
gentleman left it for me?''
Drake came softly nearer, with darken-
ing face. The child, who saw prospects
of trouble, fingered. Christine read the
few lines scrawled across a half sheet
of paper and her eyes flashed.
Look, Ambrose she cried. See! 1t
is message from the skies this Read"
II cannot read" he muttered. MY
eyes are DIM
She read it to him:
BE at Victoria station when the II
o'clock train leaves for the continent to-
morrow Watch the passengers"
There was no signature. nothing on the
paper by which they could tell from
whom it had come. Christine's eyes We're
on fire with excitement.
Tomorrow" she cried. 1.-THE IL o'clock
train at Victoria!