The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-06-05

we'll go into the matter at our leisure Meantime I object to my privacy being broken in upon by the clumsy rural po- hcemen. Go into my study and you will see two doors facing you. Take the one on the left and close it behind you. You will be perfectly safe Don't leave until send for you"
 And this extraordinary man took up his pen again.
 I did as was bid and found myself in little dark chamber which smelled of chemicals and was lit only by tiny window high up in the wall. The door had swung behind me with click like the door of q safe. Once again had found an unexpected sanctuary, al- though I could not tell for how long,
 All the same, was not comfortable. There was something about the old gentleman which puzzled and rather terrified me. He had been too easy and ready almost as if he had expect ed me. And his eyes had been horribly intelligent
 No sound came to me in that dark place.
 1 For all I knew the police might be i searching the house, and if they did they would Gcnt to know what was 1 behind this door. I tried to possess my soul in patience and to forget how 1 hungry I was. Then I took more 1 cheerful view. But I was fearful that I was about to undergo some unusual experience.
 The old gentleman could scarcely re- l fuse me a meal, and I fell to recon structing my breakfast. Bacon and eggs would content me, but I wanted
 the better part of fitch of bacon and half hundred eggs. And then, l while my mouth was watering in an | ticipation, there was a click, and the l door stood open. It was an invitation l to leave the room.
 l I emerged into the sunlight to find 1 the master of the house sitting in a
 deep armchair in the room he called
 his study and regarding me with curi- 1 ous eyes.
 t'Have they gone?' asked.
 "They have gone I convinced them 1 that you had crossed the hill do not 1 choose that the police should come be- tween me and one whom am delight
 ed to honor. This is a lucky morning for you, Richard Hannay. You see that your disguise is not complete"
 As he spoke his eyelids seemed to l trembIe and to fall a little over his keen gray eyes. In a flash the phrase l of Scudder's came back to me when
 he had described the man he most l dreaded in the world. He had said
 that he Ecould hood his eyes like a l hawk
 Then I saw that I had walked
 straight into the enemy's headquarters. l My first impulse was to throttle the old ruf1an and make for the open air He seemed to anticipate my intention, 1 for he smiled gently and nodded to the l door behind me. I turned and saw | with pistols.
 He knew my name, but he had nev- CT seen me before. And as the redec-
 tion darted across my mind I saw a slender chance. I determined to brazen l 1t out to the end.
 s'I don't know what you mean," I 1 said roughly. And who are you call ing Richard Hannay? My names 1 AinsIie.''
 "so?' he said, still smiling. ..But, of course, you have others; We won't 1 quarrel about name" 1 was pulling myself together now, and I reflected that my garb, lacking
 coat and waistcoat and collar, would,
 at any rate, not betray me. I put on
 my surliest face and shrugged my 1 shoulders.
 ssI suppose you're going to give me l ! I wish I had never seen that cursed motorcarI Here's the money, and be - to your' And I flung sovereigns on the table.
 l He opened his eyes little. "Oh, no, 1 I shall not give you up! My friends and will lave little private settle ment with you; that is all. You know little too much, MT. Hannay. You 1 are a clever actor, but not quite clever l enough"
 l He spoke with assurance, but could | see the dawning of some doubt in his 1 mind.
 "For Gods sake stop jawing! l l cried "Everything's against me.
 haven't had a bit of luck since I came
 on shore at Leith. Whats the harm
 in a poor devil with an empty stomach 1 picking up some money he finds in
 bust up motorcar? That's all done,
 and for that I've been chivvied for two days by those blasted hobbies over
 those blasted hills. I tell you, I'm fair
 sick of it. You can do what you like
 old boy! Ned Ainslie's got no fight
 left in him.
 I could see that the doubt was gain 1 ing.
 'sWiI you oblige me with the story
 of your recent doings?'' he asked.
 'f can t, guy nor, So1o III real
 beggar's whine. "I've not had a bite
 to eat for two days. Give me a mouth full of food, and then you'll hear Gods
 truthv
 must have showed my hunger in my face, for he signa1ed to one of the men in the doorway. A bit Of cold pie was brought and a glass of beer, and I wolfed them down like a pig,
 or rather, like Ned Ainslie, for l was keeping up my character. In, the middle of my meal he spoke
 suddenly to me in German, but turn ed on him q face as blank as stone : wall I was steeled to carry the de { SoaDfaoY fO finish