The Ozark spectator., 1916-08-11

"ihS "aS u SidSS VeranOa, ana CDrO4En the glass l saw the face of an elderly gentleman meekly watching me-
 l stalked over the border of coarse hill gravel and entered the open ve- randa door.
 Within was a pleasant room, glass on one side and on the other a mass of books. More books showed in an iu- her room. On the floor, instead of tables, stood cases such as you see in a museum filled with coins and queer stone implements. There was a knee- hole desk in the middle, and seated at 1t, with some papers and open volumes before him, was the benevolent old gentleman. His face was round and shiny, like Mir. Pickwick's, big glasses l stuck on the end of his nose, and the top of his head was as bright and bare as glass hottie.
 He never moved when entered, but raised his placid eyebrows and waited on me to speak. It was not an easy job, with about five minutes to spare, to tell stranger | who l was and what I wanted and tt | win his aid I did not attempt 1t | There was something about the eye of the man before me-something sc | keen and knowledgeable-that I could | not find Il word. I simply stared at | him and stuttered.
 ''You seem in hurry, my friend" hs said slowly.
 nodded toward the glass. It gave a prospect across the moor through gap in the plantation and revealed certain figures half mile off struggling through the heather
 "Ah, l see," he said and took up pair of feldglasses. through which hs patiently scrutinized the figures.
 "A fugitive from justice, eh? Well. we'll go into the matter at our leisure Meantime object to my privacy being broken in upon by the clumsy rural po- licemen. Go into my study and you will see two doors facing you. Take the one on the left and close 1t behind you. You will be perfectly safe. Don't leave until send for you"
 And this extraordinary man took up his pen again.
 did as 1 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 a click like :, the door of safe. Once again I had {. found an unexpected sanctuary. d. {, though l could not tell for how long
 All the same, l was not comfortable There was something about the old { gentleman which puzzled and rather | terrified me. He had been too eas, and ready. almost as If he had expect : ed me. And his eyes had been horrib 1, intelligent. .
 No sound came to me in that dar. {, place. !
 For all 1 knew the police might b.. , searching the house. and if they did . they would want to know what was , behind this door, I tried to possess : my soul in patience and to forget how , hungry l was. Then I took a more . cheerful view. But I was fearful tha, , I was about to undergo some unusual : experience.
 The old gentleman could scarcely re , A'SS a'S o a'iSuir anu \ iCii No AC>ch structing my breakfast Bacon and eggs would content me, but wanted the better part of a fitch of bacon and half q hundred eggs. And then. while my mouth was watering in an. ticipation, there was click, and the door stood open. It was an invitation to leave the room.
 emerged into the sunlight to find the master of the house sitting in a deep armchair in the room he called his study and regarding me with curl. ous eyes.
 Have they gone?" asked.
 They have gone. l convinced them that you had crossed the hill do not choose that the police should come be. tween me and one whom am delight ed to honor, This is lucky morning for you, Richard Hannay. You see that your disguise is not complete"
 As he spoke his eyelids seemed to trembe and to fall little over his keen gray eyes. In n flash the phrase of Scudder's came back to me when he had described the man he most dreaded in the world. He had said that he could hood his eyes like . hawk"
 Then I saw that 1 had walked straight into the enemy's headquarters. My first impulse was to throttle the old rutiian and make for the open air, He seemed to anticipate my intention. for he smiled gently and nodded to the door behind me. turned and saw two mcnservants who had me covered with pistols.
 He knew my name, but he had nev- CT seen me before. And us the refec- ton darted across my mind I saw a slender chance. determined to brazen it out to the end.
 "l don't know what you mean," 1 said roughly. And who are you call. ing Richard Hannayf My names Ainslie."
 "So?" he said, still smiling. But, of coursa vOu hava others We won't