The Ozark spectator., 1916-09-01
toned.


 Then he gave them it. He told them whose house it was and what his or ders were and simply froze them On the doorstep. could see it all from my alcove, and it was better than any play.
 I hadn't waited long till there came another ring at the bell The butler made no bones about admitting this new visitor
 While he was taking off his coat l saw who it was You couldn't open . newspaper or a magazine without soo- Ing that face-the gray beard cut like Il spade. the firm, fighting mouth. the blunt. square nose and the keen, blue eyes. 1 recognized the first sea lord. the man. they say. that made the new British navy.
 He passed my alcove and was ush- cred into room at the back of the ball As the door opened l could hear the sound of low voices. It shut. and I was left again alone.
 For twenty minutes sat there, won dering what was to do next l was still perfectly convinced that l was wanted. but when or how l had no no ton. I kept looking at my watch, and as the time crept on to half past 10 began to think that the conference must soon end.
 In a quarter of an hour Rover should be speeding along the road to Ports mouth.
 Then heard bell ring, and the but Ter appeared The door of the back room opened, and the first sea lord came out He walked past me, and in passing he glanced in my direction, and for second we looked each other in the face
 Only for a second. but 1t was enough to make my heart jump. l had never seen the great man before, and he had never seen me. But in that fraction of time something sprang into his eyes. and that something was recognition, You can't mistake it.
 It is a flicker. a spark of light, min ute shade of difference. which means y. involuntarily, for in a moment 1t died, and he passed on. In a maze of wild fancies 1 heard the street door close behind him 1
 1 picked up the telephone book and looked up the number of his house. We were connected at once. and heard servants voice
 'ls his lordship at homer I asked.
 His lordship returned ten minutes ago." said the voice and has gone to bed. He is not very well tonight. Win you leave a message. sirT
 l rang off and sat down numbly in a chair. My part in this business was not yet ended It had been a close shave, but had been in time.
 Not q moment could be lost, so l marched boldly to the door of that back room and entered without knock ing Five surprised faces looked up from a round table. There were Sir Walter and Drew, the war minister whom l knew from his photographs; there was a slim, elderly man, who was probably Whitaker, the admiral ty official, and there was General Win stanley. conspicuous from the long scar on his forehead. Lastly there was short, stout man with an iron gray mustache and bushy eyebrows. who had stopped in the middle ef 6 ssn. tence.
 Sir Walters face showed surprise and annoyance.
 This is Mir Hannay, of whom l have spoken to you" he said apologet- ically to the company. Pm afraid, Hannay, this visit Is i'll timed. '' '4'l
 l was getting, back my coolness That remains to be seen, sir" said, but think 1t may be in the nick of time For Gods sake, gentlemen. tell who went out q minute agor.
 Lord Alloa," Sir Walter said. red. dening with anger
 Tt was not!' l cried. Tt was his living image, but 1t was not Lord Al loa. it was some one who recognized me-some one l have seen in the last month. He had scarcely left the door step when l rang up Lord Alloa's house and was told that he had come in ten minutes before and had gone to bed"
 "Who-who"- some one stamnered
 'The Black Stone" 1 cried, and l sat down ill the chair so recently va. cated and looked around at i've badly scared gentlemen.