The Washington times., 1918-12-31
CHAPTER HI.
Miss Mary PrenderEast Risks Her
ReputatiOn.

pass from one to the other without
going into the corridor at all.
Schmalz had retired this way, GO
ing from. my room through the
bathroom to his own room. In the
excitement Of the moment forgot
all about this, else 1 should NOT
have omitted such an elementary
precaution as slipping the bolt OF
the door communicating between
my room and the bathroom.
As 1 stepped out into the corri-
dor, with the crash OF that heavy
body still ringing in my ears, ]
thought caught the sound of a
light step in the bathroom; the next
moment / heard a door open and
then Q loud exclamation OF horror
in the room i had just left.
The corridor was dim and DESERT
ed. The place seemed uninhabited.
No boots stood outside the rooms.
and open doors, one after the other,
were sufficient indication that the
apartments they led to were un-
didn't pause TO reason or TO
plan. On hearing that long drawn
out cry OF horror, dashed blindly
down the corridor at top speed,
followed it round to the right. and
then, catching sight OF a small stair
case, rushed up IL three steps at q
time. AS reached the top I heard
q loud cry somewhere on the floor
below. Then q door banged. there
was the sound OF running feet
ana silence
found myself on the next floor
in a corridor. similar to the one
had just left. Like IL. Il was desc
late and dimIy lit. Like Il. 1t show
ed room after room silent and
empty. Agitated as was. the con-
trast with the bright and busy
vestibule and the throng OF uni
formed servants below was SO
marked that IT struck me with
convincing force. Even the hotels.
IL seemed, were part and parcel OF
the great German publicity blum
which 1 had noted in my reading
Of the German papers at RotIer-
dam
had no plan In my head. only q
wild desire to put as much dis
tance as possible between me and
that ape-room in the room below.
So. after pausing q moment TO
AAnAcn anu oA@N gACoNHF a eN1A NCN cA@
again. Suddenly . door down the
corridor, not ten PAGES away from
me, opened and . woman came out
stopped dead in my headlong
course, but IL was too late, and /
found myself confronting her.
She was young and very beautiful
with masses of thick brown hair
clustering round a very white fore
Il
all in white, with an ermine wrap.
Even Is I looked at her / knew
her and she knew me.
Monica" I whispered
why! DesnondT" she said.
A regular hubbub echoed from be-
low. Voices were crying out, doors
were banging, there was the sound
of feet
The girl was speaking. saying in
her low and pleasant voice phrases
that were vague to me about her
surprise, her delight at seeing me.
But / did not listen to her. 1 was
straininE my ears toward that
volume Of chaotic noises which
came swelling up from below.
Monica" 1 interrupted swiftly.
have you any place to hide me?
This place Is dangerous for me.
I must get away. II you
can't save me, don't stay here. but
get away yourself as fast as you
can. They're after me, and n they
catch you with me it will be bad
for your
without a word the girl turned
round to the room she had just left.
She beckoned to me. then knocked
and went in. I followed her. II was
big, pleasant bedroom, elegantly
furnished with soft carpet and silk
hangings. and know not what,
with shaded lights and flowers in
profusion. Sitting up in bed was a
stout, placid-Iooking woman in a
pink silk kimono with her hair CO.
quettishly braided in two short
pigtails which hung down on either
side OF her face.
Monica closed the door softly be-
hind her.
why, Monica!" she exclaimed in
horror-and her speech was that Of
the United States-"what on
earth - 9"
Not a word, Mary. but let me
explain. ."
But for lands sake. Monica ."
Mary. want you to help. e ."
But say. child, a man in my
bedroom at this time o.
night. ."
"oh. shucks. Mary! let me talk"
The distress OF the woman in bed
was so comic that ! could scarcely
help laughing. She had dragged
the bedclothes up till only her eyes
could be seen. Her piGtails bob
bed about in her emotion.
Now, Mary dear. listen here
You're a friend OF mine. This is
Desmond okewood. another. a very
old and dear friend Of mine. too.
Well. you know, Mary. this isn't a
healthy country these times for an
English officer. That's what Des-
mond here is. ] didn't know he was
in Germany. ! don't know a thing
about him except what he's told me.
and that he's in danger and
wants me to help him.
II met him outside and brought
him right in here, as ] know you
would want me to. wouldn't you,
dear?"
The laSy poked her nose over the
top Of the bed clothes.
present the gentleman properly,
Monica" she said severely.
Captain Okewood Miss
Mary Prendergast." aaid Monica.
The lady's head. pigtails and all,
now appeared. She appeared to be
somewhat mollihed.
TO TIE CONTINUED TOMORROW
Copyright, 1913. MeBFIdsD
(QgpyTfght. 1919. Public Ledger Cal