The Washington times., 1919-05-29

staIrse'
The woman dropped her hand On
the bAnisters. heavily. set foot on
the hrst stair. then slowly mount
ed as though her little feet In their
dainty evening slippers were
weighted with ball and chain.
Use Dumont followed her. opened
a door in the passage. motioned her
to enter. It was a bedroom that
the electric light revealed. The
woman entered and stood By the
bed as though stupened.
Locked Safely In ChambeR.
'T'lf keep my word TO you said
Use Dumont. when Il becomes
too late for you to do as any nils
chief, I'll return and let you go"
And she stepped back across the
threshold and locked the door on
the outside.
As she did so. Nceland and SEN
gound came swiftly up the stairs.
and she beckoned them 70 follow.
gathered the skirts OF her evening
gown into one hand. and ran up the
stairs ahead OF them to the nfth
floor.
In the dim light Neeland saw
that the top floor was merely =
vast attic full OF debris from the
cafe on the ground flooF-iron
tables which required mending or
repainting, iron chairs, great Jars
OF artificial stone with dead bay
trees standing in them, parts OF
rusty stoves and Kitchen ranges,
broken cutlery in boxes. cracked
table china and heavier kitchen
crockery in tubs which once had
held flowers.
The only windows gave on q
court Through their dirty paHes
already the graH-iight OF that
early Sunday morning GlimIacred.
revealing the contents OF the
shadowy places and the position Of
an iron ladder hooked to two rings
under the scuttle overhead.
Use Dumont laid her finger on
her lips. conjuring silence. then
clutching her silken skirts, she
started up the iron lauder. reach
cd the top. and, exerting all her
strength. lifted the hinged scuttlo
leading TO the leads outside.
Instantly somebody challenged
her in u cultural voice She stood
there a few moments in whispered
conversation. then. from outside.
somebody lowered the scuttIe cover;
the girl locked il, descended the
iron ladder backwards. and came
swiftly across 10 where Neeland
and Sengoun were standing, pistols
lifted.
Avenue oR Esrape Blocked.
They're guarding the root she
whispered. two men, II Is hope
less. that way"
'The, proper way" said Sengoun
calmly, us for us'to SHOOT our way
out OF thiBHss =.
The girl turned on him in apas-
sion:' es-.f
DO suppose I care.what hap
pens to your" she said ''If there
were no one else to considsr you
might da as you pleased. for all u
concerns me-"
Sengouh redeemed:
BE SILENT you treacherous' Ilttls
cat.' he yetorted. do you imagtns
your riffraR are going to hold me
here when I'm ready to DEPART Mel
A free Cossack, BAH
Don't talk that way, Sengoun,'
said Neeland SHARPLY. we Owe
these pistols TO her"
"Oh," muttered Sengoun, shooting
a menacing glance at her. 81 didn't
understand that" Then his scowl
softened and sudden laugh cleared
his face.
'I'm sorry, MaGemoiselle," he said
You're quite welcome TO your low
opinion OF me. But il anyone should
ask me. I'd say that don't under
stand what IS happening to US. And
after a while I'll become angry and
20 downstairs for information
They know nothing about you IN
the sale de- jeu.p she said, ~but on
the floor. below they're waiting to
kill you"
Neeland. astonished. asked her
WI ether the American gamblers IN
the salon where SengOun had bean
playing were ignorant OF what-w1s
going on in the house
What Americana" she demand
ed. incredulously. do you mean
weisheIm?"
Didn't you know there were
Americans employed in the sale de-
jeu?" asked Neeland. surprised.
NO. 1 have not been in this
house for a year until I came
tonight. This place Is maintained
by the Turkish government
She flashed a glance at SengoUn-
you're welcome to the informa-
ton now" she added eontempeu-
ously. And then. to NeelAnds
There was, believe. some tax
in New York about adding one or
two Americans to the personnel
but I opposed it"
They're here" said Neeland
dryIy.
"Yes. There's q man called DoA
Curfoot-"
''Who?"
And suddenly, for the hrst tina
Neeland remembered that she had
been the wife OF one OF the men
below.
"Brandes and Stull are thu
others" he said. mechanically.
The girl stared at him as though
she did not comprehend, and she
passed one hand slowly across her
forehead and eyes.
Eddie Brandes? Here? Ana
Stuu? CurfoOt? Hero In thta
house"
in the salon below
"They can't bep' she protested
in an odd. colorless voice They
were bought soul and body BY thA
British Secret Service"
All three stood staring at one an
other; the girl flushed, eiencheA
her hand. then let it drop BY her
side as though utterly overcome
"All this espionage" cried Sens
goun, furiously. 1t makes me
s;cI- 7 tet1 ,yo,tf yrhera avapxyh.,a,z