The Washington herald., 1914-10-04

Ito make out any word. Then there
was silence, broken almost immediate
Iiy BY the sound of several voices
speaking in unison. Brooke listened
with more interest. The same. thing
/ happened several times. Then again
there was silence. Brooke stepped
away from the wall.
'sNhat on earth is it all sbouts" he
asked.
The man Robinson shook his head
Il know nothing he said, and his
voice sounded weak and faint
! 1T is certainly curious" he admitted.
'eWhat do you think about it, young
llady7"
@A1l that think of it" she said, is
that it is safer in this world, and IN
this little corner of London. to mind
ones own business. That is what
tell my brother"
i ,aCan one live by minding ones own
business7" Robinson exclaimed ex-
citedly.
what is your proposition?" Brooke
inquired.
. mot much of a one, anyway. There's
a mystery there. and you're lover OF
mysteries. I've disclosed it to you, as
much as know of or dare know. Help
yourself and pay me. 1t ought to be
worth a ten-pound note to you"
do you propose to assist me in any
further steps l might take toward the
elucidation of this AFFAIR."" Brooke ask
ed euriously.
The man began to shake as though
he had an ague.
Not for my lifel" he declared. 4
"What about your room here?
'Your last visit" Robinson insisted
feverishly. I'm not going to be con-
nected with anything that happens. Do
you hear7 tell you l won't be- /
just want a ten-pound note from you,
and out you go and forget you've ever
seen me. And if you want excitement
, my Godl you'll have value for your
money! 81.
Brooke shook his head.
"You are little mistaken as to my
vocation and tastes" he explained.
you mean you won't do anythingr
Nothing at all, thank you" Brooke
replied, taking up his hat 'If you will
accept sovereign as loan or gift or
whatever you like to call il, it is yours,
with pleasure"
The man was obviously disappoint-
ed. He accepted the sovereign, how
ever, with eagerness.
MY advice to you would be-"
Brooke concluded, as he prepared to
depart, TO give information to the po-
flee as to anything that may be going
on in the next house"
Robinson said nothing, but his face
seemed to grow tense.
> q may have to" he muttered. I'm
up against it l want money. After
: all, ones life isn't worth much if one
starves. Go down quietly, please"
Brooke strolled back down Hender
street into Long Acre and returned to
his rooms Once or twice he paused as
though to look into shop window, but
: he was not able on that night to verify
absolutely his suspicious.
Yet from the moment he left the lit
tie house in Hender street he had the
impression that he was being followed.
The same idea came to him once or
twice during the next few days. He
had always the uncomfortable sense
that he was under surveillance.
! He thought little more of his visit.
1t was not until the third day, when he
picked up the morning paper and read
4 that man named Robinson had been
found dead on the Embanlment. within
dozen PAGES of Scotland Yard, that
: he felt any real interest in the matter.
s Late that afternoon Brooke found
+ Ehis. way once more to the house in
E Hender street. He passed along the
t passage, climbed the stairs, and knock
ed at the door. The girls tired voice
bzde him enter. She did not rise from
/ her ses. She simply glanced around
$ as he entered. He noticed with a little
E thrill of horror that she was still wear
r ing the crimson-colored gown.
: what do you want?" she demand
ed.
v as this true that have read in the
E papers about your brother?" he IN
quired gravely.
at is true" she answered. What of
e itf"
, Brooke was little staggered. Her
utter lifelessness of tone and manner
n was incredible.
q "Win you kindly tell me why you
t have Gomez" she asked.
81 have come" he explained, 'be-
d cause l want to know what you think
y about your brothers death"
$ "If it interests you to know the
truth" she said, ''he was murdered on
his way to give information at Scot
e land Yard about the next house"
: Her matter-of-fact words, delivered