Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-22

room for n moment, not trusting him
self to speak. What n damn fool you
are" he said at last. First the Mar
conf, then the pigeon and now the plans
Who is it? Who the devil is it
1T Is Prent." Fritz repeated stolidly.
IT am sure. Mr.. Pollock. he Is 4 strong
man and heavy. but I do not think he
could have leaped on my back like that.
Any way. here is de handkerchief. and
he pulled large red and green bandan-
ma still knotted, from his pocket.
Followed little silence. during which
Brent rightly guessed that charles must
be examining the handkerchief. Brents
shoulders shook a little with a silent
laugh, for the handkerchief. as he well
knew when he had used 1t, was not his
at ALL but the one Mr.. Pollock had
dropped during his indignant exit The
idea to use 1t had come to Christopher
in one of those flashes to which he al
ways trusted
We'll. there's no mark on It," Charles
said at last; might belong to anybody.
PahI it smells of scent; scent and to-
bacco."
Mr. Prent, he use scent" cried Fritz
eagerly. II see polite Of eau-de-cologne
on his dressing table"
This nsn't eau-de-cologne. Well, l
must find out You had better be getting
on with the dinner now, Fritz. Clear
out
way into the hall. Molly was still play
ing storuily and took no notice of him.
She was dressed simply in a little pale
pink gown with blue sash. and the pal
Tor which had been hers all day had
given place 70 a bright flush on her
cheeks. Brent thought he had never
seen her so triumphantly pretty and so
childfshly young.
wonderful black and gold gown. seemed
suddenly old and faded to his eyes Tn
conscious of this-indeed, aware of look
ing her best-Miriam came across the
hall and under cover of the music spoke
eagerly, but very low. to Brent.
We'll. anything fresh?" she asked.
Nothing in particular" replied Brent.
beginning to move slowly In the dtrec-
ton of the sitting room with her Il
think everything's fairly clear now. We
have got to prevent 'em burning the
house down tonight and we've got to
get our signals through to the cruisers
that's all
IT'S horrible said Miriam. IT
shouldn't have thought human beings
could have planned TO do such n dreadful
thing It's flendish."
Brent shrugged his shoulders. They're
logical enough" he said: its all war.
1T seems to me were taking too
great chance. Kit" went on Miriam
whats going to happen TO the others?
Suppose they do manage TO fire the
house: there's Miss Myrtle. Mr. Pol
lock-MoIly'
my dear girl. don't 1 know It? The
fact that I know it and remain calm
ought to show You how sure L am OF
success. If ! We're to give the show
away now and have the whole bally lot
arrested we miss nabbing our friend
Uzz. to say nothing of perhaps letting
a lot of other people get warned of
the failure too soon, 50 that they can
slip away"
IAN right. Kit, but I've got nerves
somehow. What do you want me to
do
81 want you to appear to go to bed
Sfya n r
had happened. And them
Here the door of the sitting room
opened and Charles came toward them
would you believe it, continued
story. 'he actually went three IN no
trumps"
what is this tragic tale. Mr.. Brent?"
asked Charles.
ITS about an idiot who went three
in no trumps without spade in his
hand. Can you imagine anything more
chastity"
Are you going to have rubber to-
n,eht?" asked Charles. turning and
strolling back into the sitting room
with them.
NO: Mrs. Lee has challenged me to
a game of smoker after dinner. We've
got a pair of gloves on it
Have a cigaretteo" asked Charles:
that is II Mrs Lee doesn't object.
And he held out his case toward Brent
no. thanks; I'm piper.
care youo What sort or TOBACCO 90
you smoker"
Miriam, to whom all this CONVERSE
ton was so much Greek, watched the
two with puzzled eyes. It was obvious
to her that Charles was trying to fnd
out omething, but what. she could not
tell. .
II have rather special mixture"
replied Brent, casually: "a little to-
bacconist makes 1t up for me-.
'sOi IT'S scented, isn't IT." asked
Charles.
Scented No. don't think so. I'm
sure 1t isn't" and Brent pulled out his
pouch and shifted at It.