Evening star., 1917-10-14

of tennis shoes Carneta already was
suitably shod.
The grounds proved even more exten-
sive than j had anticipated. We pressed
on, lodging low-creeping branches and
keeping our arms up to guard our races
from outshoots of thorn bushes. Our
progress necessarily was slow, but even
so, quite long time seemed to have
elapsed ere we came in sight of the
house.
Wait here" Carneta directed Il am
going to pass all around the house, and
l will rejoin YOU"
l could see her but dimly. and she
moved OF as silent as an Indian deer
stalker. leaving me alone there crouch
ing at the extreme edge of the thicket
That zest for the nocturnal operation
which Temporarily had thrilled me sue
cumbed now to loneliness. With keen
anxiety I awaited the return of my
more experienced accompiice.
When upon the right l heard n faint
rustling, l started and grasped the re-
volver in my pocket.
voice. Keep just inside the bushes and
come this way. There is something
want to show YOU"
The various profuse growths rendered
concealment simple enough-if indeed
any other concealment were necessary
than that which the strangely black
night afforded. Just within the evil
smelling thicket we made a half cir
cult of the building and stopped.
Look" whispered Carneta.
She pointed to small square win
dow so low-set that l assumed it to be
that of a cellar, and heavily cross
barred.
From It. cut upon a tangled patch OF
vegetation. shone a dull red light.
There's no other light in the place.
my companion whispered. For Gods
sake what can it be?'
My mind supplied no explanation. The
red light meant something.
Evidently the commencing of operations
before all lights were out was irregu-
lar; for Carneta said slowly:
I'VE must wait and watch the light.
There was formerly moat around the
Gate House; that must be the window
Of dungeon.
For close upon an hour we stood
watching the red window. No sound of
bird. beast or man disturbed our vigil;
in fact it would appear that the very
insects Stunned the neighborhood of
Hassan of Aleppo But the red light still
shone out.
1--WE must risk it," said Carneta. stead
lily. There are French windows open
ing on the veranda. Ten yards further
around. the bushes come right up to the
wall Of the house. Wen go that way and
around by the other wing to the veran-
da.''
Any action was preferable to the nerve
sapping delay. and with a determination
to shoot. and shoot to kill. any who op-
posed our entrance, | passed through the
bushes and, with Carneta. rounded the
southern corner of that silent house and
slipped quietly on the veranda.
Kneeling. Carneta opened the KNAPP
sack My eyes were growing accustomed
to the darkness, and l was Just able to
see her deft hands at work upon the
I think l had never wit
messed more amazing spectacle than
that of this cultured girl manipulating
the tools of the housebreaker with her
slim white fingers.
Suddenly she turned and clutched my
arm.
The windows are not fastened" she
4 strange courage came to me-per-
haps that of desperation. For. ignoring
the ominous circumstances, pushed open
the nearest window and stepped into the
room beyond. and Carneta entered close
behind me. silent in her rubber-soled
shoes.
For one thrilling moment we stood
Then came the white beam
from the electric lamp to cut through
the surrounding blackness.
The room was totally unfurniShed!
Not a. sound broke the stiffness Of the
Gate House. Out into the corridor we
went. noiselessly. 1t was stripped. un-
Three doors we passed. two upon the
left and one upon the right. We tried
them all. All were unfastened and the
rooms into which they opened were
bare and deserted. Then we came upon
4 short, descending stair. at its foot a
massive oaken door.
Carneta glided down. noiseless as a
ghost, and to one of the blackened
panels applied an ingenious little in
strument which she carried in her
knapsack. 1t was not unlike a stetho-
scope; and as I watched her listening.
by means of this arrangement, for any
sound beyond the oaken door. reflect
ID how almost every advance made by
science places q new tool in the hands
II the criminal.