Evening star., 1917-10-21

lost my good name! 1 mean 1t, Be
lieve me, I've handled some shady
propositions in the past, but I did It
right in the sunlight! Up to the time
went out for that damned slipper I
could have had lunch with any detec-
tive from Broadway to the Strand;
What now? I'm wanted! Enough
said"
scarce an inch of it-into tho empty
CRATE.
I'm an Aunt Sally for any man to
shie at" he resumed bitterly. my place
henceforth is IN the dark. Right. I've
finished; the books closed. From the
time / quit England--if / can quit-Tm
on the straight I've promised-Car-
meta. and-I mean to keep my word.
See here"
Dexter turned to me.
You'll want to know how l es-
capped from the cursed death-trap at
Hassan's house in Kent? TIL tell you.
l was never in 1t! l was hiding and
waiting my chance. You know what
was left to guard the slipper while the
Sheikh-rot him!-was away looking
after arrangements for getting his
mob out of the country"
/ nodded.
You fell into the trap-you and
Carneta. BY God! I didn't know till
It was all over, But two minutes
later I was inside that place-and
three minutes later I was away with
the slipper! Oh. it wasn't duplicate:
1t was the goods! What then? Car
meta had had sickening of the busi-
ness and she just invited me to say
yes or no. I said yes; and I'm a
straight man onward"
Then what were you doing on the
train with the slipper" asked Hilton,
suddenly.
II was going to Liverpool, sir.'
snapped the Sombrero Man. turning on
ypn n
aboard the Mauretania and then make
terms for my lifel What happened
I slipped out at Birmingham for a.
drink-grip in hand! I put it down
beside me and MI Cavanagh. here, all
in a hustle, must have rushed in be-
hind me, snatched whisky and
snatched my grip and started for H.
Il knew from the weight of the grip
it wasn't mine" said Dexter and [
was the most surprised guy In Great
Britain and Ireland when l found
whose it was! l opened 1t, of course.
And right on top was q waistcoat and
right in the first pocket was tele-
gram Here it is
He passed it to me. 1t was that
which | had received from Hilton.
had packed the suit which had been
wearing that morning. and must pre-
viously have thrust the telegram into
the waistcoat pocket.
"Providence!' Dexter assured me.
10 see Hassan of Aleppo join the tram
for H, l was too late, though. But
l chartered a taxi out on Corporation
street and invited the man to race the
local, He couldn't do ii, but we got
here in time for the fireworksi Mr..
Cavanagh. there are anything from
six TO ten hashishin watching this
house,
Il know it,
They're bareheaded; and in the dark
1, 10 1aiV
human. They're armed with those damn
ed tubes, too. I'd give thousand dollars
if L had ito know their mechan-
ism. Well, gentlemen. deeds speak.
on my way to Liverpool, and safety"
You're here to try to make up for
the past a bit!' said soft. musical
voice. Mr.. Cavanagh's life is in dam
ger"
Carneta entered the room.
Tell them she said quietly, what
must be done"
Now" raped Dexter. in his strident
voice." putting aside all questions of
justice and right-twe're not police
men) what do we want-you and ]. MIR.
Cavanagh?
II can't think clearly about any
thing" l said, duly. Explain your
self
Very well. Inspector Bristol, c. l.
D.. would want me and Hassan arrest
ed. l don't want that, What | want
is peace: / want TO be able to sleep in
comfort: / want To know I'm not likely
to be murdered on the next corner!
Same with you?"
'Yes-yes."
How can we manage it? One way
would be to kill Hassan of Aleppo; but
he wants lot of killing-I've tried I,
Moreover. directly we'd done it, an
other sheik-ak-j -jebal would be noni-
mated and he'd carry on the bloody
work. We'd be worse off than ever
Right, We've got to connive at letting
the hloodstained fanatic escape. and
we've got 10 give up the slipper"
I'll do that with all my heart"
Sure! Hut you and l have both got
little scores up against Hassan. which
it's not in human nature to forget I've
got il worked out that there's only one
way. 1t may nearly choke US to have
to do ii, III allow. I'm working on the
Moslem character. Mr.. Hilton, make
up fre in the CRATE, here.
Hilton stared, not comprehending.