Evening star., 1918-08-18
kSTY ARROW
Anna Katharine Green

with such utter destruction. Her
story might free him from all sus-
picion or 1t might actually determine
his guilt. Therefore her story must
be had, and at once--if possible. this
very night. N
But he must wait--waat for the
coming 6f the superintendent. He
was determined not to let this woman
out of his sight; SO. drawing up
chair. he settled down within View
of her active figure. from which all
rigidity had vanished In the interest
she was rapidly developing In her
work. II he could have seen her
have been glad. There seemed to be
a veil between him and It, haxy
indistinctness which he found 1t dif-
ficult to understand: but, remember
ing that he was looking through two
windows and on q long diagonal. ne
accepted this slight drawback with
equanimity and was about to indulge
In the comfort of cigar when he
saw the scene he still held In view
change. and change vividly. to the
excitAtion Of q fresh interest and
still more careful watch.
clos from some place quite out Of
sight, and In passing her BY, had
slipped q note into her hand. The
Frenchwoman had taken IT. but In
way indicating shock. The ease
form and surety to all. her move:
ments was gone In an instant. and
from the furtive way in which she
sought to read the communication
thus handed her Mr.. Gryce saw that
his own powers would soon pc taxed
to keep him even with situation
changing thus from moment to mo-
ment under his eve q.
What did that note contain, and
who could have taken advantage OF
the arrival of some late-comer to
slip 1t into her hand? Mr. Gryce
ton, and watched with ever-increas-
ing anxiety to see what effect these
unknown words would have upon
their recipient when her opportunity
came for reading them.
startling one-of that he was
had she taken in their import than
she cast hurried look about her and
left her place without fuss or furry,
but with an air of quiet determine
tion which Mr.. Gryce felt confident
covered a resolution which nothing
could balk.
She had not only left her bench.
but seemingly. was in the act of
leaving the building. This. of course.
1t was for him to prevent. and he
rose to do so. 1t might be interesting
to wait and watch her hurrying figure
threading it's way to the locker room
through the double row of girls on
the opposite side of the court: but
there were reasons why he wished to
reach that aforementioned room be-
fore she did; reasons which seemed
gocd enough to send him here with
out any further delay. If he could
but discover her hat among the many
he had seen hanging on pegs In one
of the corners. how easy it would be
for him to hold her back till he could
make her listen to the few words
which must be said before he could
allow her to leave the building.
Quick of eye. IL not of step. he had
run in review the varying headgear
depending from those isolated pegs,
before he had half-circled the lock-
ers. But hers he did not see. Could
she have been given locker on this
and. approaching closer. he looked
again. The hat was there, but living
on the floor. Somebody had knocked
1t down; perhaps the late conner who
had given her the letter.
Greatly gratifled by the advantage
he now indisputably held over her.
the door through which she must in
another minute emerge.
She did not come.
He waited and waited, and still she
did not come. At last. driven by
impatience. he ventured to open the
door he had previously hesitated to
touch and took quick look in. Girls.
girls! nothing but girls! No Nine.
Duclos anywhere.
Something must have happened to
interrupt her escape. Either she had
been caught in the attempt by tho
superintendent or by some one else
of equal authority. This, IL bad for
her. was also bad for him, as quiet
hold-up in the manner he had planned
was certainly better than the public
one which must now follow.
Sorry for her and sorry for him
self. Mr.. Bryce returned to the office
Just as the superintendent entered
from the opposite door. He thought
the latter looked a liftle queer. and
in an instant he learned why.
"Was the woman you wanted a
staid. elderly person, apparently a
foreigner"
"Yes-of French birth, am told".
"Well, ] guess you were all right
in distrusting her. She's gone-took
a notion that night work didn't agree
with her and left without so much
as a by your leave! She must have
smelt you out in some uncanny way.
Too bad She bade fair to be just
the woman we wanted for very nice
part of the work"
"Do you mean she's really out of
the building--that you didn't stop
her"
II didn't know what she was up
to till she was gone. i