Evening star., 1917-10-21

said. They're after US! They're on the
other side of the lane. there!'
With that he dropped Imply into Hill
tons arms!
He was dragged in to the drive-and
something whizxed over our heads and
went aputtering into the gravel away
up toward the house. The last to enter
was the man who had come in the cab.
As he barred the gate behind him he
suddenly reached out through the bars
and saw a revolver in his hand.
Once-twice-thrice- fred into the
blackness of the lane.
Take that, you swine!" he shouted
Take that!''
AS quickly as we could. bearing the
insensible man. we hurried back to the
door. On the step the woman was wait
binding flash Of lightning came as we
mounted the step-and looked into
the violet eyes of Carneta. / turned and
stared at the man behind me.
1t was Earl Dexter.
Three of the mysterious missiles fell
amongst us. but miraculously no one
was struck. Amid the mighty booming g
of the thunder we re-entered the house
and got the door barred. In the hall
we laid down the unconscious man and
stood a strangely met company, peer
ing at one another in the dim moon
light.
We've got to bury the hatchet. Mr..
Gavanagh!" said Dexter. IT'S case
You your bag" and he pointed to the
brown grip on the floor
my bag" I cried. my bag is up
stairs in my room."
Wrong. sirl" raped the sombrero
Man. They are alike as two peas in
a pod. I'll grant you. but the bag you
snatched off the platform at New street
was mine! That's what I'm after;
ought to be on the way to Liverpool
That's what Hassan's afteE!"
hnf fo bn hDsr ,.s,1r 49,.
hoarsely.
The slipper of the Prophet. sir" was
the reply.
felt dazed-as a man must feel who
has Just heard the death sentence pro-
nounced upon him. Hilton seemed to
have become incapable Of speech OF
action: and in silence we stood watch
ing Carneta tending the unconscious
man. She forced brandy from flask
between his teeth. Presently she
looked up.
will you please get me bowl OF
water and sponge?" she said quietly
Soar departed without word. and nc
one spoke until he returned, bringing
the sponge and the water; when the
girl set to work in a businesslike way
to cleanse a wound which showed upon
the mans head.
She good nurse is Carneta." said
Dexter coolly. She was the only doc
tor l had through this" indica tin g
his MANNED wrist. IF you viii fetch
my bag down. there's some lint in it,
] hesitated.
You needn't worry" said Dexter
as well be hung for sheep as a lamb
You've handled the bag and I'm moi
asking you to do any more"
went UP to my room and lifted the
grip from the chair upon which | hat
put it. His bag and mine were OF
identical appearance and both new. II
fact. had bought mine only that morn.
aSt
AS L picked up the bag the lightning
hashed again; and from the window
could see the orchard as clearly as bS
sunlight. At the further end near the
the house.
1 went downstairs carrying the fata
bag and reJoined the group In the hall
He will have to be got to bed.
said Carneta, referring to the wound.
ed man, "he will probably remain un-
conscious for a long time"
Accordingly We took the patient intc
one of the few furnished bedrooms and
having put him to bed left him in
care of the beautiful nurse When we
four men met again downstairs amaze.
ment had rendered the whole scene un.
real to me. Soar stood Just within the
open door, not knowing whether to &c
or remain. but Hilton motioned to him
to stay. Earl Dexter bit off the enc
of cigar and stood with his left elbow
resting on the mantelpiece
His gaunt face looked gaunter thar
ever. but the daredevil gray eyes still
nursed that humorous light in their
depths.
Mr.. Cavanagh." he said, we're
brothers. And If you'll consider a min
ute you'll see that I'm not lying when
l say I'm on the straight, now, and foi
always
l made no reply; I could think of
none
I'm a crook" he resumed: "or
was up to while ago. There's war
rant out for me-the first that ever
bore my name. I've sailed near the
wind often enough. but it was des-
peration that got me into hot water
about that
He jerked his cigar in the direction
of his grip, which lay. now. on the rug
at his feet.
Il lost a useful right hand" he wen,
on-"and ! lost every cent ] had. II
was a dead rotten speculatfon-for ]