Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-11-22
COPYRIGHT. 1918. By the Public Ledger Compdny
Copyright bv Robcrt ". Mcbride co.
CHAPTER XII (Continued)

~
n Voices were crying out doors were bang
Ing, there was the sound of feet.
The girl was speaking, saying in her l"w
and pleasant voice phrases that were vague
10 me about her surprise, her delight at
seeing me But | did not listen to her. !
vas strainIng my ears toward that volume
Of chaotic noises which came swelling up
from below
Monica" :" I interrupted swiftly. have
you any place to hide me? This place Is
dangerous for me - 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 II they catch you with nre II
will be bad for you !"
without a word the girl turned round to
the room she had just left She beckoned
TO me- then knocked and went In. fol-
lowed her. II big pleasant bedroom.
elegantly furnished with Il soft carpet and
Hilk hangings, and I know not what. with
shaded lights and flowers In profusion. Sit
ting up in bed was a stout. placld-looklhg
woman IN pink silk lIimono with her mar
coquetishy braided in two short pigtaiIs
which hung down on either side OF her face.
Monica closed the door softly behind her.
why Monica :" she exclaimed In horror
and her speech was that OF the IhI'eu
States-"what on earth I" ."
Not a word Mary, but let me explain
But for lands sake, Monica
Mary, I want you to help
But, say. child, man .. in my bed
room - 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 pgtails boboed
about in her emotion.
"Now, Mary dear, listen here. You're
friend OF mine. This Is Desmond Okewood'
another a very old and dear friend OF mine,
too Well you know, Mary, this isn't
healthy country these times for An English
officer That's what Desmond here Is
didn't know he was In Germany dont
know a thing about him except wrat he's
told me and that's that he's in danger ana
wants me to help him.
"1 met him outside and brought him right
In here. as I know you would want me- TO-
wouldn't you, dear?"
The lady poked her nose over the top OF
the bedclothes 49,
Present the gentleman properly, Monica
she said severely.
Captain Okewood - Miss Mary Prem
dergast," said Monica.
The ady's head, pigtais and all, now ap-
peared She appeared to be somewhat Toll'-
fed
IL can't say I approve Of your way Of doing
things Monica" she observed, bu- less
severely than before. "and I cant thirk what
an English officer wants in my bedroom at
ten minutes of two in the morning but If
those Deutschers want to find him, perhaps
I can understand ~
Here she smiled affectionat4ly on the
beautiful girl at my side.
"Ah! Mary. you're a dear replied Mon
lea IL knew you'd help us. Why. British
officer in Germany isnt 1t too thrill
ng?"
She turned to me.
But. Des" she said "what do you want
me to do?'
knew I could rust Monica and I re-
solved would truIt her friend, too. she
looked a white " oman all right And II she
was a friend Moncas her heart would be
in the right place Francis and had known
Monica ail our lives almost. Her father had
lived for years = indeed to the day of his
death ''' in London as the prime pal Euro
pean representative of big American finan-
cial house. They had lived next door to us in
London, and Francis and had known Monica
from the days when she pretty Kid
in short skirts until she had made her debut
| and the American ambassadress had present
| ed her at Buckingham Palace. At various
| stages of our lives. both Francis and l hao
| been in love with her. believe, but my lite
| in the army had kept me much abroad, st
Francis had seen most OF her and had pceh
the hardest hit.
Then the father died and Monica went
travelling abroad in great state, as behts a
young heiress. with prodiglously respectaole
American chaperone and n rctinue OF retaners
/ never knew the rights of the case between
her and Francis. but at one of the German
embassies Abroad think In Nienna-she
met the young Count Rachwitz, head of one
Of the great Silesian noble houses and mar
ried him.
had supposed that the German mans
habtual attitude Of mind towards women
mad not suited the girls Independent spirit
on hearing that Monica. few years after
her marriage had left her husband and gone
10 live in America. had not seen her since
she left London, and. though we wrote To
one another at intervals. I had not heard
from her since the war started and had NJ