The Washington times., 1918-08-13
The WOlvesof New York
A STORY OF LOVE AND MYSTERY
Basil Discovers Illness of Gypsy Girl
Was Feigned to Lure Him Into
Hands of Foes.


ion. He replied quickly, bending
over her, and looking askance at
Basil over his shoulder.
A sense Of uneasiness came upon
the young man It occurred to him
suddenly that this girl was not
really Ill. She was accustomed to
simulate frances. and could easily
have done % for the purpose Of in
weighing him into the gypsy en-
campment. But why should they
wish him iIl7 Then he remembered.
that Paul Harold's unprepossessing
servant, had dealings with these
gypsies, even II he were not one Of
them himself, and that the old but
Ter, West, Ssd told him that Paul
had passed down lie road in the
company Of q dark. rough-looking
fellow.
what IL be had bsen tracked by
Paul, at the instigation OF Harold
Borradale, who must hate him after
what he had seen and heard. that
afternoon7 What IL Paul had real
tied that he, Basil. was intent on
following the carriage to the sta
ton and had plotted this scheme in
order TO balk the project7 In that
case, something may have happened
70 Esther before the station was
reached-the carriage may have
been turned Observation-Disclosures
he had been prevented from helping
the woman he loved.
But after a moment he told him
self that these fears were absurd.
He was excited, overweight by the
events of the day. and afraid OF
shadows Then-th that girls eyes had
affected him so strangely. It. was
as IL she knew him, and almost as II
he had known her at some forgot
ten period Of his life or in another
existence perhaps. It was impos-
sible that he could really ever have
met her before. for she appeared
hardly older than seventeen or
eighteen, and he could remember
all the events OF his life for as
many years as that
She was sitting up on the bed
now talking to the gypsy man, SO
Basil prepared to take his Depart
ure. At that moment, however,
slight sound, q footstep probably,
caused him to glance through the
little window of the room. Two
men were standing just outside
he could see their faces by the
lickering light Of the FIRE burning
close by-and in one of them he
recognised Paul FuFthermore, Paul
held a long. unsheathed knife in his
hand. and he was showing IL to his
companion with chuckiing laugh,
the echo of which penetrated. to
BasiPs ears. All the rest of the
gypsies had withdrawn from the
neighborhood Of Zara's van. which
had been placed at some little dis
tance from the others. There were
but those two men without, and
they were wellington what?
No doubt they were, waiting for
him. The entrance to- Zara'g van
was turned from the road, and on
descending from Il one was practi-
esIIy in the wood A sudden blow
struck at an unsuspicious man
nothing was more easy. But was u
possible that Harold Borradaie
could be responsible for this? Basil
could hardly credit it Robbery.
pure and simple. was more likely
To be the reason. "a cut-throat
Iot',-old West had described them
90. The scheme must have origt-
mated with Paul, who knew Bash
was q doctor.
But II was no time to, weave
hypotheses. Thoughts had Mashed
rapidly through Basirs brain, and
he had not in any way betrayed his
anxiety. He even smiled in re-
sponse to the Eypsy's assurance
that his niece was quite recovered
'.She say she know not why she
faint" said the man She think
she send herself to sleep without
intention. She have the glass by
her side-she lift II to see herself
and in a minute she faint away.
Souite So" said Basil. Accident
ally she Induced hypnosis. It is quite
possible. But must warn you to
exercise care in the future. THIS
health OF your niece may be under
mined by these constant trances.
He was talking for the sake OF
gaining time. He continued to DO
go, hardly knowing what he SAID
He had formed no plan Of defense
Il was very difficult to devise one.
Probably he would be seized, as soon
as he emerged from the van, seized
in all likelihood from behind. How
did he know that the burly ruff
fian to whom he was now talking
was not armed in the same manner
as Paul, who was waiting outside
the door? Certainly he must allow
the Hungarian to precede him-yet'
even then, they would be- three to
one when II came to the attack.
and a call from one or the other OF
them would bring assistance in
plenty. And he himself was wholly
unarmed. Surely he was in danger.
81 thank you. sir, for what you
DO" said the man, +'but now I not
delay you longer. You ind your
bicycle outside-I show you the
way"
There came q low call from with
out-it was like the fragment Of a
gypsy song. ---..
Certainly" returned Basil. az
en- glad to have been OF any assist
ance to you. And I am glad that
there was nothing serious the mat
ter with the young lady" He turned
his eyes to Zera, who was still sit
ting on the bed, her red skirt and
the bright ribbons In her bodice
forming q picturesque patch of
color against the white background.
Basil noticed how scrupulousIy
clean was everything in the little
room. and at any other time he
would have mGrveled that It should
be 50.
Again their eyes met, hers now
full OF animation and luster. Again
that RtranRa sensation sfaIe over
Basil, the feeling OF sub-conscious
knowledge OF events outside his life.
She smilAd, parting those full red