The Washington herald., 1914-10-04
,oopsrishs in4s

who had Just left the booking Office at
covent Garden Theater and was pass
ing under the portico, turned around at
the words, indifferehtly curious.
A man had touched him upon the arm
and stood BY his side now. patiently
waiting for reply. The more Brooke
looked at him, the less he liked his ap-
pearance.
"You have the advantage of me"
Brooke remarked.
aMy name wouldn't interest you. :.
the man continued hurriedly, When
l saw You coming out of the. booking
Office at the theater there ] made up
my mind to speak to you. You take
an interest IN queer things and places,
don't youS@
ITO certain extent do-and queer
people, Brooke assented.
The man moved trihe nearer.
'I could tell you something" he said,
eff had chance, Will you come to
my. room tonight, any time after nine
No. "a Hender Street. off Long Acre
straight up the stairs? There's my name
chalked on the door-Rohinson.P
"I think" Brooke remarked thoughts
fully, ethat IL any exchange of hospital
tiles is to take place between US, I worid
rather be host. You can come and see
me, if you like, at my rooms-No,. 10
Peter street-between seven and eight
3: this evening"
1T wouldn't be any good" the man
replied. what l want to tell you ]
can only tell you in my room. dare
not come up to the West End, either.
Brooke scratched his chin thought
fully for a moment. s....
"PH come" Brooke promised.
-s At nine o'clock he walked eastward,
turned into Long Acre, and discovered
Hender street without any particular
!. difficulty. No. I6 consisted of an auto
. mobile showroom on the ground floor
which was now closed. -.
Z, An ;apen door by the side led him
. 10 a flight of stairs, at the top oi
!. which, as he had been advised, he found
the word Robinson" written in white
chalk upon an uninviting-looIing pane
from which most of the paint seemed
to have been scraped of.
, He had scarcely knocked before the
: door was opened from inside. The lit
tie man who had accosted him in the
street was standing there. He almost
dragged Brooke in, stood for a mo-
ment listening. then closed the door.
Brooke stood looking around hin
with some curiosity. The room wa!
barely furnished, lit by one common
lamp, close to which, upon an uncov-
cred deal table, was a worn and bat
tered typewriter. Seated before it wa:
a girl.
She turned her head at his approach
and looked at him. She was very pale
but there were about her appearance
contradictions which puzzled Brooke
She wore a crimson serge dress, which
gave her a general impression of taw.
driness. Her hands were weli-shapet
and white, however; her hair neatly
arranged.
ITS my sister," the man explained
She gets little typing sometimes, a:
you see. One of the Offices sends he
some work"
And wha, DO you do for a living ?
Brooke inquired.
The man hesitated.
Anything" he replied, a little de
family. 1--we been in prison thre'
times. I expect I shall be in agair
before long. Sit down, sir, if yol
will"
Brooke looked at the one wooder
chair and shook his head
You've nothing to be afraid Of" tn,
man declared. with the first note of re
sentiment in his tone. :;
Possibly not" Brooke agreed
watching the girl "You brought m,
here, though, and 1 want to know wha
for"
The little man cleared his throat
KS the house next do1," he said
ITS locked up in front-bolts and bar
across the window. The back entrancl
is locked, too. It's been empty TO
months. The Miller Automobile Com
pauy had it and failed"
2"Weli?" Brooke remarked. 81 saw
that It was empty-dust all over tn
windows; What about it,"
' 'Step this way moment, sir"
Brooke obeyed the summons. Th
man was standing close to the wall b,
the side of the fireplace.
He removed a picture, cut out from
some illustrated paper, which had beer
pinned upon the wall. From the spo
which it had covered he took out
brick, thrust his arm in, and pulle,
out two more. He laid them softl
upon the floor. All the time be wa
almost holding his breath.
"Stoop down and looki"
Brooke obeyed him. There was on
more brick apparently still remaining