Evening star., 1917-10-07
A DISC OF LIGHT.

picious, suspicious of every one and OF
everything; yet, as / entered the bank
/ found myself wondering where had
seen tina. dignif1ed. gray-haired ngure
before.
My business transacted 1 came out
again by the side entrance when opens
on the little courtway, for this branch
of the London County and Provincial
Bank occupies corner site.
A ragged urchin, who was apparently
waiting for me. handed me note writ
ten upon a half sheet OF paper and,
doubling II it was really intended for
me- I unfoided It and read the follow
ing:
'sMr. Cavanagh. take the keys OF the
case containing the holy slipper to your
hotel this evening without ..4assAs.- fa,i
who gave you this. boy?" asked.
sharply
"A foreign gentleman, sir. very dark
like an Indian.
Where Is hep
He went OF in a cab. sir. after he
give me the note"
/ handed the boy a sixpence and slow
ly pursued my way. An idea was form
ing in my mind to trap the enemy by
seeming acquiescence. l wondered If
my movements were watched at that
moment. Since II was more than prob
able I returned to the bank. entered
and made some trivial inquiry Of
cashier. and then came out agatn and
walked on as far as the Report once.
I had not been in the Office more than
five minutes before / received tele-
gram from Inspector Bristol. 1t had
been handed in at Soho. and the meg
sage was an odd one:
Cavanagh. Report. London.
Plot afoot to steal keys. Get them
from bank and Join me II O'Clock at
Astoria. Have planned trap.
This was very mysterious. In view of
the note SO recently received by me,
but I concluded that Bristol had hit
upon a similar plan to that which was
unnecessarily hazardous. though. ac-
tually to withdraw the keys from their
place Of safety.
Ponderine deeply upon the perplexi-
afterward found myself at the bank.
With the manager ! descended to the
strong room and the safe was unlocked
which contained the much sought for
keys Of the case at the Antiquarian Mu-
scum.
There are the keys quite safe-and
by the way, this IL my second visit
here this morning. Mr.. Cavanagh," said
the ager, with whom ! was upon
rather intimate terms "a foreign lady
who has recently become customer
OF the bank deposited some valuable
Jewels here this morning-less than an
hour ago. In fact"
working rapidly. "The lady who came
ladyT"
Yes" was the reply. Did you notice
her. then"
nodded and said no more. For in
truth had no more to say had good
reason to respect the uncanny powers
OF Hassan of Aleppo. but I doubted II
even his omntscfence could tell him
the strong room) whether when ]
emerged had the keys. or whether my
visit and seeming acceptance Of his orr
fuge.
That the hashishin had some means
OF communicating with mo At the AZ.
toria was evident from the contents OF
the note which had received, and as
walked In the direction of the hotel my
mind was filled with all sorts Of mis-.
givings.
When I reached the Astoria, Bristol
had not arrived. lighted a cigarette
ana sat down in the lounge to await his
coming PRESENTLY boy approached.
handing me message which had been
taken down from the telephone by the
clerk 1t was as follows:
Tell Mr. Cavanagh. who Is waiting In
to his chambers and say that i win 1oin
him there in twenty minutes.
INSPECTOR BRISTOL
Again I doubted the wisdom, Of Brfs.
tors plan. Had not ned to the Astoria
70 esSdpo from the dangerous solitude
Of my roomsf That he was laying some
trap for the hashishin was suficientIy
evident and while ! could not Justly
suspect him Of making . pawn Of me I
was quite unable TO and any other ex-
PLANTATION Of this latest move.
was torn between conflicting doubts.
glanced at my watch. Yes. There was
Just time for me to revisit the bank be-
fore joining Bristol At my chambers!
hesitated. After all. In what possible
way could 1t jeopardize his plans for
me merely to pretend to bring the keys?
Hang y al1g' said. and Jumped to