Evening star., 1919-02-23


busy boarding up windows for pro
lection. These preparations were
made an excuse by thousands Of pco-
pie for lettering, and In places where
the decorations were conspicuous the
crowd was dense and the traffic con
gested II was so outside the gates Of
Charing Cross station. and the yard
was full Of motors and taxis awaiting
The arrival of the afternoon continen-
tai train.
A stolid looking chauffeur, leaning
over his steering wheel watched the
exits of the station as people began to
pour out and his interest was pres
emily attracted by man who de-
tached himself from the crowd and
came to a standstiil at the edge OF
the curb. He was "A foreigner, quick
and alert in his movements, and he
carried an old suitcase stuck all over
with foreign hotel labels. For mo-
fnent he seemed appalled, at the sud
den roar of London, then he put down
The case carefully, took off his black
slouch hat and tucked it under his
arm while he mopped his face and
head with an enormous coloTed hand
kerchief. He was evidently suffering
from the heat and dirt of long
journey.
He glanced at the stolid chauffeur,
who almost imm mediately had to back
his car little to make room for
closed motor which slid silently up to
the curb.
"Ah, it is you. them the man ex-'
claimed in broken English "You
wait, that is good"
He put on his hat, picked up the
suitcase and quickly got into the mo-
tor, which Immediately moved toward
the gates. The stolid chauffeur
watched 1T thread its way through
the crowd outside, toward St Martins
Church, and then became Interested in
The people issuing from the station
exits
The car went along the top of Ira
falgar Square and by Pail Mall; to
mOrrow's procession was not coming
this way and the roads were fairly
clear The occupant leaned back in
The corner, his luggage on the back IN
side him and seemed oblivious to the
fact that he looked wholly out of
place in such luxuriously appointed
car, and indeed took little interest in
his surroundings. His mind appeared
absorbed by other matters.
The car stopped in Hill street before
the red door of a large white house
with window boxes, perhaps the most
attractive house in the street. The
occupant of the car did not move un-
TIL the chauffeur got down and opened
the door "
rs this 1t? I did not know. 1t is
my first visit he said, but he, was
Iimm ediately alert, and gripping his
suitcase. ran up the dozen steps TO
the door and rang the bell.
He had to ring again before the door
was opened by man who was evil
IDENTIFY not servant, although the for
eigner did not seem to appreciate the
fact. The door was open and he at.
feluOtHd 10 enter
MOT so fast, my friend" said the
man. laying a powerful hand on his
shoulder.
IT'S IL mistake ! make"
THAT depends--Whom do you WANT"
~ do not know who i want"
whats your name?'
THAT is easy. 1t is Number Thir
teen.
The man, showed no surprise but let
him enter and closed the door.
You can leave your luggage in the
hall here and come with me-"
I Il think not. | take it with me. l
never leave it anywhere
"As you please"
+. Number Thirteen glanced around the
hall and up the wide stairs as he fol-
lowed his guide. This was home of
luxury and immense wealth, but the
foreigner was not in the least over
swed by it, He looked even more out
of place here than he had done in
the car, but was not conscious of his
deficiencies.
The room into which he was taken
was a library. Handsomely bound
books lined the walls, a thick pile car
pet. deadened the football. easy chairs
Invited reverie, and there was a
double door to keep out all disturbing
sounds. The four men in the room.
however, were very wide awake ansa
Alert, and they turned sharply to stare
ct the visitor.
His guide closed the door, seated
himself at an inlaid writing table with
silver appointments, and pointed out
a chair to the visitor. He was a Jew.
pronounced in type, yet handsome and
masterful. He was evidently chief in
this gathering, and the visitor, appre-
ciating the fact. shifted his seat
little so that he might directly face
him. He placed the suitcase on the
floor between his feet, and was not
disconnected by the keen looks fixed
on him. He did not attempt to make
himself more presentable by nicking
off obvious dust or by smoothing
down his ruffied hair
81 make no mistake, eh? You are
waiting for me?'
The man at the writing table leaned
forward.
"You have come from Milan?'
You may say SO, and 1T is so far
true. but / seldom come direct from
enywhere," was the careful answer.
you are not a Milanese."
"Does II matter? ] am sent to YOU
j am No. 13. that is all. ] have lived