Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-19

ment the door was flung open to admit
Miss Myrtle. Mr.: Pollock and Molly X They hey
lock with only a tweed coat over his night
shirt, that his bare and remarkably
furry legs showed, lanky and long:
Another binding ray of the searchlight
swept the room. showing up the little
group vividly and bewildering the new
corners still further. At the CLEAN Of the
confused by the effects of her sleeping
draught, gave a loud scream. IT'S the
Germans. the Germans she cried Mr..
Pollock. save me ~ and flung herself upon
his unresponsive chest
Don't be a fool. woman" cried Mr..
Pollock, franticaliy. and he switched on
he made would have drawn all eyes under
less strenuous conditions: as it was his
absurdity passed unnoticed as Mollys
white-wrappered, hlue-ribboned loneliness.
As fer Miss Myrtle, in a crimson flannel
dressing gown and woolly slippers. she
was a delight True British indignation
n: having been disturbed in his nights
rest glowed in Mr.. Polocks face.
Sheer hysteria showed in Miss Myrtle's
face; but Molly was set and pale like
mask In that white flash from the
searchlight she had seen Chris, looking so
much gTaver than usual, and in his dress
ing gown and slippers, as though he had
been taken from his bedroom. surrounded
by soldiers. 1t leaped to her brain that
Chris was a spy after all and that these
men had come for him. A mental illu-
mination. truer than that of the search
liS III ny NllOSc cream Suc idu itdptu
to such an untrue conclusion, swept her
mind at the me instant. There comes
10 every one once or twice in a life d
moment of absolute clarity such as this.
when all values suddenly assume a new
scale. which yet is recognized at once
as the true one
This is what had happened to Molly
now. She saw that, as Chris had told
her. idea the most important
thing in life. only instead of being an
impersonal idea as his was, hers was
based on her feeling for him. The men
tai obsession of her life for the next
few years would be her attitude toward
Chris That this should be so was a
tremendous advance on her previous
preoccupation as to his attitude toward
her. She saw that it was more satisfy
ing to love than to be loved. and that.
no matter what Chris had done. her hor-
ror at the action would be drowned in
her love for him. even though it pois-
oned its waters.
All this swept into Molly's life as
swiftly as the searchlight. though it
stayed behind when that had passed
and was to remain even when she found
she had been mistaken in her premises.
So when Mr.. Pollock switched the lights
up she said nothing. only gazed at
Chris
wen. now. what's all this about?"
fused Mr.. Pollock. the ]. P. in him
rising superior to his costume. San
derson. what the DEVILS the natter"
and he advanced toward Charles, who
stood pale and mute.
stand back" ordered Brent sharply.
There was a moments absolute petri-
faction. during which Mr.. Pollock
Stared at Chris with mingled rage and
incredulity.
stand hack. indeed" he clustered
Il shall do nothing of the kind. I'm
tice of the peace. must insist. ="
I'm afraid you will have to stand
back. sir" replied Brent politely. but
with a certain enjoyment which he
would moi a n hun M
TO feel: We have just been capturing
a spy"
a spy" Miss Myrtles reedy pipe
and Mr.. Pollock's boom came out stimuli
Molly said nothing. but relief fared
into her eyes.
"Pennicuik; you're here. thank good
will kindly EXPLAIN"
Fire ahead, Pennicuik," agreed
Brent. reverting to his nonchalant man
gratitude poured on him by his fellow
boarders would be harder to bear than
its lowest ebb had been.
It's quite true what Mr.. Brent says"
began Pennicuik- He had seen the d.
rection of Mollys gaze and knew that
for her he himself practically did not
exist. But even if there had been any
rivalry possible his natural generosity
would still have given Brent all the
credit possible. ITS entirely thanks
to him" he went on. that we've cap
tured the spy ana that We are not all
dead tonight"
What on earth are you talking about.
sir 1t sounds the most preposterous
rubbish. Why doesn't Mr.. Sanderson
answer me-"
Because he's the spy" explained
Pennicuik You see that box"-point-
ing TO IT as it still stood on the table
IF you look inside you will find it's
an Internal machine timed to explode
when you were all safely asleep"
This was making things seem almost
too real. and even Miss Myrtle was too
Mortified to scream. Mr.. Pollock turned
his bewildered face-for all his con-
victions. including that most sacred
one. his belief in his own Judgment. had
been upset-toward Sanderson.
is this true?" he asked him almost
in a whisper.
You heard them say So" replied
Charles. Internationally. Under the
circumstances II would be futile for
me to deny that ! have been working
for my fatherland. ! have lost that
is all. The fatherland will find other
servants"
At that moment the boom-boom Of
heavy firing came again from the sea
report after report. TO the tune of half
a dozen or so. Poor old Miss Myrtle
terrified almost entirely out of what