The Washington times., 1916-01-22
CONTINUED from Yesterday

TT was this sudden iarring that awak
oned Mary from l1or nan in the 'ieeD
III chair. with the dull. halfuuiet
gaze of person just reused from
sleep. the old woman rubbed her eyes
and looked about In tho same room.
hut a far distant corner, she heard the
soft rustic of a womans skirt. Then
the clink of glass AGAINST metal.
Completely hidden by the high
backed chair she listened irtentlH.
Not that she wanted to play the spy.
but rather because she wished to con-
ceal the fact that she had been nap
ping. The pronounced stiffness. broken
only by strange hut almost inaudiblc
sounds, got on her nerves.
She twisted quietly in the chair un-
til she was CrouchinC on her knees on
the seat of it. facing the back. Cau-
tiously she raised her body until her
eyes were jist above the edge. What
she saw made her forget her own pre-
dicament.
over in a half-lit corner was n large
square pedestal hCldng a bronze stat
uettc. Standing 30 that its shadow half
concealed her, was the daring Woman
in Black. her right hand lifted 80 that
the feeble light from the hanging lamp
Red Circle.
Mary lodged dow behind the chair
top as the woman slowly turned her
head. After a few seconds the sound
of liquid dripping into glass made her
anxious to look again.
Inc woman was holding small
sponge in her lett hand She squeezed
il dry into a glass hdIt fun OF Water
SmllIng whImsicaIly to herself sne
rubbed the back of her right hand
with Ine dampened sponge. Inc Reo
Circle disappeared.
Greatness with excitement Mary
strained her eyes to catch every move
She saw the woman take up the glass
deliberately spill the IQuld on the moor
and gather a brush. tiny box OF Watsi
color paints, and the sponge from the
peucStai. I.eaNIag me SIusS Mnrre 4
was she opened false pocket IN th'
SKIRT OF her gown, dropped the severa
articles into 1t, and quietly lett ln'
loom.
Mary waited until she was reason
ably sure the woman would not return
then lett her chair. Hurrying over I"
the statue she picked up the glass ant
examined il. There was no mark ~
1t except the rlng that the colore'
water had left. At the foot OF tn
pedestal was the large. damp spot
Sary bent to feel il with the palm o
ner hand; to make sure the Whol
lnIns wasn't strange cream.
When she found her way back to IN
Dali room II was nearly deserted
Wandering aoout looking for Mrs
Travis and June. she came face to rae
with a young man who was sayln
goodnight to one of the hotel guess
Nv ny, Mary" exclaimed the man |
great surprise. "W here have yo
been? Miss Travis was looking ali owe
for You. When she couldn't find yo
she decided you had gone home Wlthou
her knowing IT. She and Mrs. lraYi
have left. I'm gong that way. lie
me tax" YOU home III M. car.
"Oh. Mr.. Pcarson,' sIar'mcrrd III
old woman. 'lon't YOU bother. O.
walk. I've Eccu WailInL in on OF I'll
Httle rooms. l ddn't know it vas :
late"
",iet your things. now H. con
manded sternly. "lou'rc coming Wit
about it. You slrrnt walk that d.:
tancc.
When he nut her down at the cottal
"Eon't wax, Miss TRAVIS IL she
sleepin=;, Mary. 'Th" poor girls ha
thcre-moStl1 with that Gran n ma
Mrs. Travis said she was going
make her sleep until noon t"morr1w.
oh I wouldn't think of waking hc
Mr.. Pearson" The old woman w
horritieI at the thouLht. "Tve hronr
Miss June un from II tal,y and knJ
nov she needs sleco->ou know. :
lively people need II lot of It. dol
iced II. I never did. SNNehCw. Thai
YOU for bringing ne home. 1t was '"
nice OF you. Ny. ] ears"m-rrt ulem W
always were a nice h"N--eren from
little tot :.
Mary ricked her way Ip the soft
Cnrrcted steps as nd"oiilv as rO'
graduate Ra'fIcs. When, she reach
hcr own rCum Sh" lNCHth"d sigh
relief and started to undrcss in
dark. her mind hhsv With this Iu"'
ost. latest phase of the Red Circle my
terry.
The noNt morning a. il'M Iuna ?
out on the perch aud claIpeG hel hal
over Marys eyes lust as The n'Is" W
finishing her happy daily reiuSa OF I
death cOlun.m-hI the Morning Slar.
Guess" she commended.
ITS my lamb" said Mary. conn
r Gently. trying to smooth h"r ruff
front hair.
"Aren't you slv old LADY, Snea
irg home hours ard hours ahead
mo. last night? didn't dar" 9" r'
your room whom | came IN, Tor II
N,'.'i - IN -
"I wasn't there. pet Mary told n
Il di6ut cave the ho'd until ~
YOU DID"
What"
gIa around.