The Washington times., 1916-01-23

grudged even the few moments OF
Mary'H happy little speech If thanks.
and when the final curtain fell he
leaped up with a sigh of relief and
hurried out, anxious TO avoid Daniels
and escape the talk in the Office that
nc knew was inevitable
At the corridor leading to the narrow
o9or which opened behind the scenes
ne hesitated moment but the sight
Of Langdon and Mrs Page Just passinc
through decided him. and with q NUT
and sought the limousine where Shale
sat waiting.
husy, t eli u FdSotdk FSst S5tef sot f. s saaIs siSsb
then up onto the fire escape. Say, its
wonder that fool hotel hasn't been
stripped by a dip long before this there
isn't 2 window that you can't reach in
We'll, take care you don't get run
IN for thief yourself" said Pollock
, harshly. Then swinging about, he
caught Shale's wrist In viselike grip.
You know the Window" he snapped
Don't make monkey of yourself and
get in any other. And remember this
iaI, nn send ySu up. by heaven. if you in
your Job. Do you get meT
Il got you the first time" answered
Shale coolly, though his mouth was
ugly. Since when do you have to put
Pollock moved uneasily and drew one
hand across his forehead. I'm not
taking any chances" he muttered. and
lighting a cigar settled back in the
corner of the luxurious motor. Neither
Of them spoke or moved till the ear
drew up in front OF the hig hotel
The moment 1t stopped Shale slipped
out and hurried down the street, but
Pollock, pushing his way through the
gayly. clad throng that filed the lobby
at this after-theater hour, went direct
to the elevator, his fingers closed
tightly around that key in his pocket
Once in the suite engaged for him by
Shale he threw off his coat and hat
and ordering a whisky-and-soda, drank
II almost at a draught. Then he began
restless pacing up and down th'
floor, trying to estimate Just how lona
It would be before the banquet party
would reach the private dining-room
With the door OF his sitting-room par.
TALLY open he could watch the entrance
carried him more than once out into the
corridor from which he could look down
at the brilliant lobby below.
At last after what seemed TO him
hours OF waiting he saw a group OF the
players arrive, and a few moments later
the other members OF the supper party
passed his door. There remained only
Mary and Daniels still TO come.
Trembling with excitement, he pour
ed himself another drink of whisky,
gave swift glance out of the window
to where. Shale hovered on the fire.
escape, then took up his post close
TO the door Almost Immediately no
heard the hum OF the elevator and
then Mary's voice.
ooh, come on. Phil" she was saying,
Il shan,t stay very long: anyway"
by all means come along" echoed
Daniels, with assumed cordiality.
You'll be a welcome guest"
Pollock could see them now for
they had passed his hiding place, and
h. gs=-n. rn N..A
said firmly:
mo, thanks--I won't come in. It's
supper for you, Mary, and for your
company-and l feel little out OF
place Don't get too tired, thouRh--
and I'll call up tomorrow"
Call me. indeed. / should say you
would" bantered Mary. you'll come
out tO the hotel and read all the press
notices with me" a flush of pride
was on her cheeks.
"All right" laughed Langdon
that's a promise" And with a hnal
V ord he turned back and came slowly
down the corridor which echoed now
to the sound Of the tumultuous wel-
Bless her" whispered LanRdon 10
himself. Put she ought to be home
instead of there. l hope none OF them
drink too much. That thought SEEM
tated as II regretting his refusal tu
go in with her, finally making his way
down to the lobby and settling him
self in a chair from where he could
look up at the door of the banquet
ROOM
Walters were hurrying in and out and
Langdon could catch glimpses of the
gay table with Mary, flushed and eX-
laughter and the little bursts of ap-
plause. Once when a hurryinE waiter
left the door wide he saw Mary on her
feet protesting against the urgent hands
hat 60 Naaa 1E IL.
pagne upon her.
With an exclamation OF anger Lang
don leaped to his feet, then sank back
again. He couldn't interfere-not nov
at any rate. He could, however, guess
that they were urging her to drink a
toast to the play, and he hoped that
thar meant that Mary was soon to
leave. While he was impatientlv hop
ing that this was true. a hell boy. who
a moment or two before had gone into
the banquet room. came out followed
bY Mary herself.
With a throb of glad relief Lang
jumped up and hurried up the sha.
stairs to The corridor to meet him,
10 his surprise she was not in sight,
only the bellbov was coming leisu
along the hall. 1t seemed curious
Mary could disappear so suddenly
Forgetting discretion. he caught
boy by the shoulder.
Where did the young lad Eo?''
demanded harshly, and at the tone
SlNIllCu wy ~ AhTt~N 60 - N-~pSNNih
blow.
"Wots that to your" he retorted I'M
pertinently. she's gone where she WAS
expected, that's whore she's gone"
well, wherever II is take me there
quick" snapped LanGdon. IF you
want authority for It 20 downstairs
and tell Barney that Mr.. Philip Lang
don wants you to take him there"
At the maine the boy gave a quick.
choked cry, and with mufrled II
thought it wasn't any funny joke leo
the way rapidly back down the cor
ridor.
Almost simultaneously the door OF
the banquet room opened and Daniels
face, strained and uneasy. peered into
tine hall Seeing Langdon, he hurried
toward him and was but few Teei
away when the boy paused abruptly
and pointed to the door of Pollock's
suite.
shes in there" he muttered, ana
scuttled of. But not far for even as
langdOn's hand was on the knob there
came a woman's scream and the loud
report OF a revolver echoing high ABOVE
the clamorous gayety OF voices ana
orchestra. There was an instant's ter
ritied silence, and then the waves or
humanity came surging down the cor
ridOr, headed by the hotel authorities.
But Langdon and Daniels were aIreauy
across the threshold of the room where
lay the dead body of David Pollock ana
haafda the nnpnnarIoua form, -