South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-09-28
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE WATT
ING ROOM WHEN ALLEN
DRAKE ARRIVED At
LAST


ever when the inquistive guard had
gone on his way. There had been "A
certain protection in his presence.
alarming though his questions had
been. But knew J ought to be glad
ne was gone. Ills eye were entirely
too curious 10 make it safe for him
TO witness the coming meeting be-
tween myself and Allen Drake.
That is if there was to be any
meeting. / occupied myself in spe-
culating as 10 Nj brakes probable
course after he had seen me off on
the train, if, as / suspected. he had
meant me 10 read in his casual re-
marks an order 10 wait on the ia
macia platform until he came.
He would. of course. first have to
rid himself of the company of Grace
Draper Upon the speed with which
he accomplished that would DEPEND
the manner of his trip 10 Jamaica.
If it took too long ne would have
10 get the next express out. almost
fun hour away But if he man
aged TO elude her within few
minutes OF my departure / felt sure
that ne would commander a taxi
cab, If, indeed, he didn't have ma
chine of his own in readiness. and
motor 10 Jamaica at top speed.
What I should do if ne didn't come
upon the next express or sooner /
did not know. 1 would hardly dare
10 stay i'm the waiting room after
the next Marvin train, after my ex-
PLANTATION to the inquisitive guard.
"QuiCk-IntO the Booth"
1t seemed interminable hours that
/ put in going over the problem
while my fingers were knitting two,
purling two. but, alas. making a
hopeless bungle of the counting.
When at last my purgatory ended
with the entrance into the waiting
room of Mr.. Drake looking as cool
and unhurried as if he were out for
a moonlight stroll, my trembling
fingers were powerless TO hold the
knitting. and the bail, needles and
helmet, fell to the floor, a hope
leSSly tangled mass, as l rose.
Mr.. Drake bent and gathered up
the knitting deliberately. But to my
surprise, as he did so, / heard his
voice in tense whisper:
quick. Get into the telephone
booth and pretend TO be telephOning.
Take everything with you"
His words We're like an electric
batter galvanizing me into action
Snatching the knitting from his out
stretched hand l crammed il into
katherine's knitting bag, and with
it and my own travelling bag in my
hands fairly sprang into the tele-
phone booth.
Mr.. Drake must have closed the
door behind me- AS I heard il shut
L turned TO the telephone, after de
posting my bags upon the floor.
took dowp the receiver. and with the
other hand held the transmitter
down so that central should see no
flash of that number on her distant
switchboard.
Whose Is That Voice?
Then ] ventured 10 turn my eyes
toward the glass upper half of the
telephone booth door To my sur
prise it was blocked by Mr.. brakes
stalwart shoulders 40 one from
the outside could have discovered my
identity so efectually did he conceal
me. Indeed. / imagine that TO the
casual glance the telephone booth
appeared TO be empty.
discovered something else. also.
After Mr. Drake had closed the door
he must have pushed it open again
ever so slightly. At any rate, though
] could neither see OF be seen. /
could hear the sounds from outside.
Even his breathing, calm. unhurried.
like himself. was audible TO me.
But l hadn't long 10 wait for other
sounds Footsteps came down the
platform outside the windows. then
rounding the corner entered the door
near which Mr. Drake was standing.
/ tried TO tell myself that they were
no different from the ordinary mas
ouline footsteps. but there seemed a
sort of stealthiness about them that
struck terror 20 my soul. They
stopped as they came inside the
door. and then | heard a voice, in
all its intonations an American voice
and Yet 10 me unaccounta sug-
gestive of alien gutturals.
Gould YOU tell me how soon the
Hampstead train will be i'm"
Where had l heard that voice be
fore The words were commonplace
enough. but l felt that I must cry
cut at the menace my imagination
was reading into the suave tones.
Mr.. brakes answer was warmly
courteous
sorry. but haven't the the
slightest idea" ne said I'm wait
ing myself for the oyster Bay train.
..That pulls i'm here IN half an hour.
The other man didn't reply for q
moment. When he spoke there was
3. note of enthusiasm i'm his voice.
Wonderful night isn't it?' he
asked.
Yes. indeed" Nr. Drake replied.
and then there was another silence
Il believe / would better tele-
phone." the newcomer said next in
an onhaud manner. IF l may pass
YOU. please.
sorry" returned Mr.. Drake i'm an
tone. "but my wife is using
the booth now. and ] have most
urgent message 20 send as soon as
she has finished. But there is a booth
upon that outside platform over
there