Evening star., 1917-09-09

proach. but ignored all save my own
fixed purpose.
You must listen to what I have to
say" 1 whispered. III you decline. 1
shall have no alternative but to call In
the detective who holds warrant Tor
your arresti"
You have already made me the OBJ
ject of much undesirable attention"
she replied scornfully. You are talk
ing nonsense. as you must be aware
unless you are insane. But II your OBJ
ject be to force your acquaintance upon
me, your methods are novel. and. un-
der the circumstances. effective Come.
sir. you may talk to me-for three min
utes.'
Her sudden change of front was be-
wildering. She entered the lift and L
followed her. AS We ascended. side by
side, / found 1t impossible to believe
that this dainty white figure was that
of an associate of the Hashishan. that
of creature of the terrible Hassan of
Aleppo. Yet that she was the same
girl who. few days after my return
from the east, had shown herself con-
versant with the plans Of the murder
accent on that occasion clearly had
been assumed. with what object
could not imagine. Then. as we quilted
the lift, and entered a cozy lounge, my
companion seated herself upon Ches-
terf1eld. signing to me to sit beside her
Now, SIR she said softly. explain
yourself"
Then you persist In pretending
that we have not met before?"
There Is no occasion for pretense."
she replied lightly; and I found my
self comparing her voice with her fig
ure. her figure with her face. and vain
ly endeavoring to compute her age
This fencing is useless
1T is quite useless! Come, I know
London. and I know Paris, Vienna
Petersburg. Budapest. Therefore
know mankind, You thought l was
pretty. l suppose? L may be; others
you would like to make my acquaint-
ance without troubling about the usual
formalities? You adopted a singularly
brutal method of achieving your OBJ
ject, but I love such iusolence in a man
Therefore l forgive you. What have
you to say to me?'
l perceived that l had to deal with
bold adventures, with a consummate
actress, who, finding herself in a dan
gerous situation. had adopted this dar-
ing line of defense. and now by her
personal charm sought to lure me from
my purpose
Unfortunately" 1 said. with slow
emphasis, you are protected by my
promise, made on the occasion of our
previous meeting. But murder has been
done, so that honor scarcely demands 3
that 1 respect my promise further
She raised her eyebrows slightly.
surely that depends upon the quail
ity Of the honor" she said.
L believe you to be a member of a
murderouS organization and unless
you can convince me that l am wrong
l shall act accordingly"
Please do not be so cruel" she
whispered. "as to drag me into a
matter with which. truly. L have no
concern. Believe me. YOU are utterly
mistaken Wait one moment and I
VIII prove it,
move to detain her. quilted the
room. But the door scarcely had
closed before I was afoot. The cor
ridor beyond was empty I ran on.
the lift had Just. descended. \ dark
man, whom | recognized as the hotel
detective. stood near the closed gate.
Quick" | said Il am Cayanagh
of the Report. Did you see lady
ENTER the Iift?'
Il did. Mr. Cavanagh." he answered
Is she staying here?
She is not. l have never seen her
before
The girl with the violet eyes had
escaped with all her secrets with her,
You see said Bristol. the Hash
ishin must know that the safe wont
remain here. unopened. much longer.
They viii probably make another at
tempt tonight"
1t seems likely" replied. and was
silent.
Outside the open windows whis
pered the shrubbery. as soft breeze
stole through the bushes. Beyond the
moon made play i'll the elm avenue.
From the old chapel hard by. the
sweet-toned bell proclaimed midnight.
Our vigil was begun. In this room
it was that Prof. Deeping had met
death at the hands of the murderous
Easterns here it was that Marden and
West had mysteriously been struck
down the night before.
Tonight was every whit as hot. and
Bristol and | had the windows wide
open. My companion was seated
where the detective, Marden. had sat
in a chair near the westerly window.
and ! lay back in the armchair that
had been occupied by West. The
room was on the ground floor and
had windows on the west and on the