Evening star., 1913-11-02


couch "Oh Phidor, we're lost"
But he caught her by the shoulder and hurried her
out into the hall. "Up the ladder quick! It's only
chance. There's window in the gable and trels
| saw it awhile ago. You must go that way when get
her inside Well meet at Hauterive. Leave the rest
to mel
AND she went up he returned to the living room,
removed the most obvious traces of Herrnias
presence and the trapdoor slid down into its
place dropped into the nearest armchair fegning sum
ber He heard Olgas footsteps as she prowled round
the house. and deluded himself for moment with the
thought that she had gone on, when he suddenly saw
her poking at the shutters, which She finally pressed
open with the butt end OF her shotgun, filling the
with sunlight and revealing the PROSTATE Markham,
who started up in disnay that needed little stimulation.
"Good morning, Philidor, said she quite pleasantly
"Did you sleep wello What suggard you are! Be.
hold the ant! Learn her ways and do likewise
He and through the window offered her his hand
But she waved him off with the point OF her gum
"Not fast, my young frend!" she cried, her eyes
meanwhile swiftly searching the room. You're
poacher. Will you surrender"
,"By all means-at discretion you'll please not
keep pointing that plaguey thing"
She raised tiny silver object suspended round her
neck by a silver chain Don't you know that it's my
duty my host whistle for the keepers to and
take you before the magistrateo'
"Of course. Whistle away"
@But I'm not going to- at least not yet. l want to
talk to you first. I'm coming inf you will give me
your permission.
@Charmedi' he said witlr7 gaiety he was far from
feeling, and opened the door with fine flourish. Its
always easy to be hospitable at somebody else's
pense, he said.
She entered without ceremony. gun in hand her
under lowered lids shifting indoleny yet missing moth
ing-the pack on the foor the tumbled COUCH and
Markham's familiar pipe.
"Quite handsome, I'd say. The Count always had
eye for the picturesque.
She made the round of the lower floor carelessly OBJ
servant of its arrangement; while Markham followed
her. his ears straining for the sounds of Hernas
cape
"Are your friends coming here? he asked.
Olga poked the muzzle of her gun into cupboard
"Not unless | whistle for them Monsieur she said
slowly. "Thesre below me to the left We have
rendezvous at the lower lodge. Lucky isn't it?'
Markhams eye lit hopefully. i am, it seems COM
pletely at your mercy" he laughed.
HE preceded her into the living room and in doing SO
= failed to note the brief pause she made beside the
stair to the loft the steps of which, and the floor
beneath them, plainly to be seen, a number of
small particles of mud, broken and dried Nor did he
the quick smile of triumph replace the puzzled look
with which she had pursued her investigations. She
followed him in and with sigh of content dropped into
chair by the fireplace crossing her knees and elsurey
lighting cigarette.
"Enfn," she laughed. "Here again, thou and
I-Monsiem le bhilosobhe"
He shrugged. "At your pleasure he replied.
She examined his face a moment before she went on.
And then softly, "Why did you away from me last
night? You did, you know Phidor, you wouldn't
be here
He hesitated a moment. II afraid you'd insist
my joining your house party
She cast glance round the and laughed. at
seems that you We already done So
"Er-a mistake | was going to camp in the woods;
but nm tO he Of IN
latched. So | walked in-and here am