The Yale expositor., 1916-11-02

The Merriment at the Grove
figure, for all its height, was strangely
stoopshouldered, moving with a dig
nifty of step which went well with the
voluminous drapery in which it was
clad. And Manley watched closely as
this stately Arabian chieftain, bowling
gravely to Golden, reached out two UNI
gloved hands to greet the two hands
which his host extended to him. About
these hands he saw at glance, there
could be nothing doubtful.
But Manley had little time to give
further thought TO the scene, for at
that moment he became aware of the
TACT that Da Espares had slipped away
TO another part Of the house-and dur
| ing that night, Manley had determined
he would keep an eye on his enigmati-
cal foreign friend But instead OF
| following Ia Espares, on discovering
him stepping quietly into the deserted
library. the alert-eyed young secretary
promptly retreated to the quarter
where the receiver of his dictaphone
was concealed. There, on placing this
watch-case receiver to his ear, Manley
had the satisfaction of catching the
faint nun of voices. Much of that
guarded talk taking place in the Ii
brary Manley could not overhear. But
he caught enough to arouse his curl
osity.
Then the plan has worked?" asked
the anxious voice of Da Espares.
Without a hitch" answered the
other voice. THE Orders have been
cut through and the bomb placed!'
"And the clock fuse adjusted?"
Eyes"
But what was 1t set for"
For the stroke of twelve!" an
swered the unknown voice. "By that
time the crowd will be at the table,
eating!"
But how" asked the anxious voice
of Da Espares, could we get Legar
inside?"
The sound OF triumphantly quiet
laugh came over the little instrument.
"Legar is already here!" announced
the other.
Hush! Not so loud" warned Da
Espares And from that point on it
was only broken phrases that trickled
into the hidden listeners ear.
Game as an Arab chief . .
Nicchia the Dago acrobat on his back
yes. under cloak d. could hold
out both hands =. and never even
suspected. being watched d.
can't afford to lose this time!"
Again came the sound of the quietly
triumphant laugh. And it was De Els
pares' voice that sounded clearly the
next moment
But how did he work that bridge
fall?"
'1ong dive came up under q
lumber schooner's stern and hung to
rudder chain down with tide
an hour later e. swan ashore
launch to Oyster Joe's!"
Manley did not wait for more. Mid
night, he knew, was already too peril
ously close for half measures. By the
time he reached the upper floor, IN
fact, he found Enoch Golden already
heading the grand march to the great
table running almost the full length Of
} the huge room opening of the conserv
atory. The next moment he saw De
Espares himself step hurriedly, ye'
; smilingly to the side of Margery Gold
+ en- and take their places in that gayly
colored line that rippled with laughter
I and movement as the orchestra once
, more struck up. Then, remembering
what he had overheard about mysteri
} ously weakened Orders and planted
r bombs, Manley likewise remembered
8 the newly installed vault and the fac
3 that Legar's final object was the pos
!, session of a certain paper which tina
vault held. And he slipped out through
3 the dooI, and on through the empt!
!. conservatory, frantically wondering
J, Just what his first move to avert tina
{ impending catastrophe should be.
The figure which interviewed in tina
n crisis, however, was a much more pic
@ turesque one than the slight figure or
e young private secretary in somewha
o dishevele6 evening clothes. For whei
l. the merriment about the great crowd
r ed table was at its height an unez
/. pected and urinvited guest strobe Il
y through the wide door and confronte
g the company there assembled. Thi
e figure wore a duststained motor Goa
l. and cap. But the most conspicuou
feature of his attire was the yelloN
n mask which covered his face. Equal
a conspicuous was the huge blue-bal
2 relied revolver which he firmly held 4
l. his right hand. This weapon, in fac
D glinted menacingly in the strong ligh
n as the strangers left hand was sue
q denly lifted for silence.
10 Ladies and gentlemen" he pre-
q claimed IN q clear voice, this intrl
e sion. fear, may shock you. But 20