Evening star., 1917-10-14

bon across the verdant carpet moved
an insect shape. speedily.
1t was a car, and l watched it with
vague interest. At a point where a
dense coppice spread down to the road
way and lane crossed west to east
the car became invisible. Then ! saw
1t again nearer to US and nearer TO the
Gate House. Finally it disappeared
among the trees.
I turned to Carneta. She. too. had
been watching.
''Mr. Isaacs," she cried; and her voice
was less musical than usual. His
chauffeur. who learned his business in
Cairo. is probably the only one of his
servants who remains in England.
what" l began-and said no more.
Where the road upon which we stood
wound down into the valley and lost
itself amid the trees surrounding the
Gate House the car suddenly appeared
again. and began to mount the slope
toward US.
Heavens" whispered Carneta. He
may have seen us-with glasses. Quick.
Let us walk back until the hilltop con-
cealS us. then we must hide some
where.''
I shared her excitement. Without q
moments hesitation we both turned
and retraced our steps. Twenty PAGES
brought us to q spot where stack OF
mangelwurzels stood at the roadside.
We ran around into the field and
crouched where we could peer out on
the road without ourselves being seen.
Nor had We taken up this position a
moment too soon.
Topping the slope came lightweight
electric. driven by man who, in his
spruce uniform. might have passed at a
glance for very dusky European. The
car had Limousine back, and as the
chauffeur slowed down, out from the
open windows. right and left, peered
the solitary occupant.
He had the cast of countenance which
Is associated with the best type Of Jew.
with clear-cut. .aouiline features wholly
was patriarchal and he wore a gold
trimmed pincenez and q glossy silk hat.
I scarcely breathed until the car was
past; and, beside me, my companion,
crouchinG to the ground. was trembling
wildly. Fifty yards toward the village,
Mr.. Isaacs evidently directed the man
to return.
The car was put about and flashed
past US at high speed down into the
valley: ! held out my hand to Carmeta
and she rose. pale, but with blazing
eyes. and picked up her camera case.
IF he had detected us everything
would have been lost" she whispered.
Not everything" l replied grimly-
had held in my hand while those eagle
eyes had been seeking US. IF he had
made sign to show that he had seen
u.s. in fact, II he had once offered a snfe
mark by leaning from the car, l should
have shot him dead without hesitation"
1--WE must not show ourselves again.
but wait for dusk. He must have seen
us. then. on the hilltop. but hope with
out recognizing us. He has the sight
and instincts of yulture."
l nodded. slipping the revolver into
my pocket; but | wondered II I should
not have been better advised to have
risked n shot at the moment that l had
recognized Mr.. Isaacs" for Hassan of
Aleppo.
From sunset to dusk l lurked about
the neighborhood of the Gate House
with my beautiful accomplice--watch-
ing and waiting: man bound upon
stranger business, ] dare swear, than
any other in the county OF Kent that
night.
When finally we made our way along
the narrow footpath skirting the west
Of the grounds, the night was silent
most strangely silent
We have little to fear" said my COM
panion. speaking in hushed and quiv-
ering voice. "The whole of the party
left England some days ago."
Are you sure?
Certain. We learned that before Earl
made his attempt. Hassan remains, for
some reason; Hassan and one other
the one who drives the car"
But the slipper"
eff Hassan remains. SO does the slip
per"
From the knapsnck she took out an
electric pocket lamp.
There is n gap in the hedge some
where here!" she said See if you can
find 1t. l dare not show the light too
long"
Out shone the white beam, and mo-
mentarily fell upon a black hole in the
thickest hedge. The light disappeared.
and as I extended my hand to Carneta
she grasped it and climbed up beside
me.
Put on your rubber Shoes" she d.
rected. Leave the others here"
There in the darkness, I did as she
for I was provided with . pair