Evening star., 1917-10-14
THE POOL OF DEATH.

into her hands and was shaken with
sobs. 1t was more than l could bear,
unmoved. 1 forgot the shady past. for
got that she was the associate Of n
daring felon. and could only realize
that she was a weeping woman, who
had appealed to my pity and had asked
my aid.
stood up and stared out of the win
dow; for l experienced a not unnatural
embarrassment. Without looking at
her I said:
Don't be afraid to tell me your trou-
bles. / don't say / should go out Of
my way TO be kind to Mr. Dexter. but I
have no wish whatever TO be instru-
mental in" I hesitated-"in making
you responsible for mis- misdeeds. II
you can tell me where to find Hassan
OF Aleppo. I wont even ask you where
Dexter is--'
God help me. 1 don't know where
he is
There was real. poignant anguish in
her cry. | turned and confronted her.
Her lashes were all wet with tears.
What, has he disappeared?"
She nodded, fought with her emotion
2 moment and went on. unsteadiiy:
II want you to help me find him. for
in finding him we shall find Hassan."
How so?'
Her gaze avoided me now
"Mr. Cavanagh, he had staked every
thing upon securing the slipper-and
the hashishin we're too clever for him.
His hand-those eastern fiends cut off
his hand, Put he would not give in.
He made another bid-and lost again.
1t left him almost pennless."
She spoke of Earl DexterA. felonious
plans as another woman might have
spoken of her husbands unwise in
vestments, 1t was fantastic hearing
that confession of the Sombrero Mans
beautiful partner, and l counted the
interview one of the strangest I had
ever known
"The thing is accursed" she said. 81
begged him. implored him. to abandon
we were watched by those ghastly yell
low men. But it VAS all in vain. He
knew. had known for a long time.
where Hassan Of Aleppo was hiding"
And | reflected that the best man at
New Scotland Yard had failed to pick
up the slightest clew!
"The hashshin. of whom that dread
ful man is leader, are rich. or have
supporters who are rich. The plan
was to make them pay for the slipper"
My God: It was playing with fire"
She sat silent while. Emotion
threatened to get the upper hand.
Then:
Two days ago." she almost whis-
pered. he set QUITO get the
slinner?"
ITO steal i.?"
to steal it,
From Hassan of Aleppo?"
I could scarcely believe that any man,
singln-handed. could have had the
hardihood to attempt such a thing.
From Hassan. yesi'
I faced her, amazed, incredu'ous.
''Yes?" / urged. as gently as I could,
for she was shaking pitifully.
He never came back
The words were SPOKEN almost in a
whisper. She clenched her hands and
leaped from the chair. lighting down
her grief. but with such stark horror
in her beautiful eyes that from my
very soul / longed to be able to help
her.
MIR. Cavanagh" (she had cour-
age. this bev lid ring accomplice of
cracksman.) 81 know the house he
understand what have sufrered-since
then. thousand times I have been
on the point Of going to the police.
confessing all kno and leading them
to that house! O God! II only he is
alive. this shall be his last crooked
deal-and mine! 1 dared not go to the
police for his safe! I waited and
watched and hoped through two such
nights and days then l ven
tured. I should have gone mad IL I
good cause to hate. to detest. me. but
I remembered that you had q great
grievance against Hassan. 1 remem
bered. too. that you were the kind of
mana woman can come to-"
In brief l said. what do you pro-
pose?"
II propose that we endeavor to OBJ
tain admittance to the house of Hassan
Of Aleppo-secretly. Of course-and all
I ask Of you in return for revealing
the secret Of its situation is"
That I let Dexter 60 free?"
Almost inaudibly she Whispered. '1f
he lives"
Surely no stranger proposition ever