Evening star., 1918-04-14

Inns had been put on point duty
q at Blackfriars bridge that monn-
in,. + or Collins was young. good-look-
ing, and knew it. Nature had gifted him
with a susceptible heart and fond eye
for the beauties of femininty. So whel
he looked round and saw the woman
threading her way through the maze OF
vehicles at Dead Mans Corner" with
her skirt held up just enough to show
two twinkling little feet in French shoes
and over them a graceful. wiliowy
figure, and over that an enchanting. ii
rather too highly tinted face, with al
mond eyes and fun of shining hair
under the screen of a big Partisan hat
that did for him on the spot
He saw at glance that she was
Erench-exceedingly French-and he pre-
lerred English beauty. as a rule. But
French or English. beauty is beauty. and
here undeniably swas a perfect type. sc
he unhesitatingly sprang to her assist
ance and piloted her safely to the curb
reveling in her voluble thanks and ting
Hing as she clung tinidly but rather firmly
to him.
''Sair. / have to give you much graft
tude.'' she said in a pretty. wistful sort
of way, as they stepped on to the pave
his sleeve. looked up at him. and shyly
drooped her head. as if overcome with
confusion and surprise at the youth and
good looks of him. fAh. it is nowhere
In the world but Londres one finds these
delicate attentions. these splendid ser
geants de VILE" She added. with sort
Of sigh. "You are wonnerful, you are
mos wonnerful, you Anglais poliss. Sair.
am a stranger; know not re ways Of
this city Of amazement and If monsieur
the Abbey OF the Vest'minster@"
Before p. C. Collins could tell her
that If that was her destination she
was a good deal out of her latitude.
indeed. even before she concluded what
she was saying. over the rumble Of the
traffic there rose a thin. shrill. piping
sound. which to ears trained to its
call possessed a startling significance.
1t was the shrilling of police
whistle far of down the embankment.
poirt." exclaimed Collins, all alert at
once. Excuse me. mum. See you
presently Something's up. One Of
my mates is a-signaling me-"
Mates. monsieur? Mates? Signal
ing? 1 shall not understand the words.
But yes. vat shall that mean-eh?'
Good Lord. don't bother me now!
I'll mem, wait bit. That's the call
George. There he is now. coming head
on. the hound. and running like the
windr
For of a suddensthrough a break In
the traffic. a scudding figure had sprung
into sight 1t was the figure of a man
In a gray frock coat and a shining
topper" a well groomed. we'll set-up
man. with small. turned-up mustache
and hair Of a peculiar reddish shade.
As he swung into sight the distant
distance voices sent up cries of Head
him on" stop that man" etc; then
those on the pavement near to the
fugitive took up the cry. Joined in pur-
suit. and in twinklinF what. with
cabmen. trammen. draymen and Pc
destrians all shouting. there was hub
bub enough for hades.
"a swell pickpocket, I'll lay my life,'
commented Collins. as he squared him
self for an encounter and made ready
to leap on the man when he came
within gripping distance. Here! get
cut Of the way. madmazel1y. Business
before pleasure. And. besides. you're
Here. chaufreur"-this to the driver Of
Q. big. black motor car which swept
round the angle Of tho bridge at that
moment and made as though to scud
down the embankment into the thick
Of the chase-"pull that thing up sharp!
Stop where you are! Dead still! At
! once. at once. do you hear? We don't
want you getting in the way. Now.
then'-nodding his head in the direc-
n,
you bounder; I'm ready for you"
And. as IL he really heard that invita-
tion and rcolly were eager to accept 1t,
the red-hc--ed man did come on with
q vengeance. And all the time ''madma-
selly," unheeding Collins advice, stood
calmly and silently waiting.
Onward came the runner. with the
whole roaring pack In his wake dodg-
Ing in and out among the vehicles
flooring" people who got in his way
scudding. lodging, leaping. like a fox
hard pressed by the hounds until. all
OF moment. he spied a break in the
traffic. leaped through 1t, and-then
there was mischief. For Collins sprans
at him like a cat, gripped shoulders
and had him tight and fast.
Got you, you ass!" snapped he. with
o short. crisp. self-satisfied laugh
None of your blessed squirming now
Keep still, You'll get out of your coffin
you bounder. as soon as out of my grip
Got you. got you! Do you understond?' p
wind out of him.
"Of course / do" said the captive gay.
ly: 'ft's part Of the program that yor
+. should get me. Only. for heavens sake
don't spoil the film by remaining in,
active. you goatr Struggle with me
handle me roughly, throw me about
Make 1t look real; make 1t look a,
though l actually did get away from
you. not as though you let me. Yol
chaps behind there, don't get in the
way of the camera-it's in one of those
cabs Now. then, Bobby, don't be wood
en-! Struggle. struggle, you goat, ant
save the hlm.'
Save the what?" gasped Collins
"Here! Good Lord. Do you mean te
saw
sTtruggle-struggle- cu
IN the man impatiently. Cant yo,
grasp the situation? It's put-uI
thing: the taking of a kinematograpf
hihl. living picture. for the Alhambrs
tonight! Heavens above. Marguerite
didn't you tell him?"
Mon. nom There was not re time
You come so quick. / could not. AND
he-ah, le bon Dieu!--he gif me NJ
chance. Omcair. / beg. entreat of you
make 1t real! Struggle. tight. keep or
- constant move. Zerew-somethinf
tfukled on the pavement with the un,
mtstakabfs sound Of gold-"zere, mon
.eaeur. Serv . re half-sovereign to pay
fer 70 trouble. only. for re lof of good
ness, do not pick 1t up while the instru.
Fnent. Fe camera. he Is going. 1t IL ..
klnemstosr.ph. and you would spoi
The chop-fezien cry that Collins CAV.
ethe pursuDg crowd.
Strngg struggled! Don't you hear
.YQn tdio11 broke in the red-headet
aAs ro tA6ly. .You are being devil.