Evening star., 1919-02-23
Valentine WnSt Secret A AUant By Percy James

sage TO make sure MS ~ utSh Ntu tot
leave the room. He was thorough,
this man. leaving nothing to chance.
He had found his methods pay in the
business and social world. He had
amassed wealth enough to give nm
power here and on the continent, and
he had become a persona grata III So
ciety,
At FIVE minutes to the hour he
Knocked at the door of the small
room.
"Ah, 1t is time" the Neapolitan
called out, and then opened the door.
Il am ready and eager. 1t is pity
there are still so many hours to wait.
See, | have not marked your table nor
spoiled anything, anywhere. | am
careful If you found anything you
might take ii 10 a clever chemist and
learn my secret That would not be
good for me"
There was no light IN the hall The
Jew had an electric torch which he
switched Off be fore opening the front
door. a dozen Yards down the street
they found a taxi, and the Jew, who
wore a huttoned-up great-coat and
soft hat we'll drawn down over his
face. gave the driver directions in a
low tone after the Neapolitan had got
in. The latter seemed interested In
nothing hut the careful handling of
his suit case Had his precious lug
gage been less absorbing he might
have noticed that the driver of the
taxi was the same man who had
looked at him over the steerin wheel
of car in Charng Cross station yard
that afternon.
The Jew WAS very careful rot to
touch the suit case with his foot. and
was not inclined to talk With such
luggage the journey was not Il com
Bile one, and a Jolt over an un-
evenness in The roadway made him
nervous.
the narrow turning off Farrindon
street.
I'VE walk from here" said the Jew.
Good. | follow YOU out. + must be
careful with This hui the driver must
not notice. Some one might question
him afterward.'
The Jew led the way along a mar
row lane and down alleys between
warehouses; printers works and the
like, and stopped at small door
which he opened with a key aud
carefully locked again when they had
entered
we reach the empty strand house
this way and it is Il way of escape
afterward he explained flashing the
electric torch. This is part of Il
Warehouse belonging to a friend
Take note of this room. In it some
of Us viii be waiting tomorrow when
you come down. The Strand viii be
i'm confusion, but we shall walk out
quietly at the back"
1T is excellent" said the Nea-
politan,
You cannot miss the way" said
the Jew Follow me, YOU will see
how easy ii is"
They climbed TO the top of the
building and through n small door
passed on to a fiat roof protected
by coping. Across a skeleton iron
bridge over some Lower roofs they
I.,t
Arranged in case OF fire" said the
jew. I'VE are now on the roof OF
the empty house. We can look over
this low coping into the Strand. Over
this YOU will drop your weapons to-
morrow"
''lt will be very easy" said the Nea-
politan. eNcitedly II shall know the
exact moment | look over see the
carriages. then unseen, toss down
my little playthings and away to
meet you.'
'Exactly.' said the Jew This door
opens into the top foor of the empty
house, 1t is shelter for the night
Tor YOU. No one will disturb you.
You can snatch a few hours sleep"
.Ah' mat is good. 1t will pass the
time DO you stay here. too"
NO. IN the room have shown you.
one or Two of our friends will come
presently, They are making sure
that no word of the plot has got
"pfoau. Ihey VIII report and wait
with me for the end Tf all is satis-
Factory no one win visit you. if any
thing has gone wrong you will be
warned"
hope nothing will go wrong
was the answer. Il want to hear the
explosions and the excitement in the
street. like 1t was when | did bust
ness in Moscow once. IL was harder
TO get away then than it will be this
'lihe. wrong Nothing can go wrong"
think not. but you were warned
remember"
"Of your West. What do YOU call
him-Valentine' West? I tell YOU. my
tfiend, he is just Il fool. He discovers
nothing dificut, only the things any
one could find out. | know all about
your Valentine West with his glass In
the. eye. ] have more fear OF some
policemen i'll the street below having
ears long enough to hear us talking.
NOW l go to my little hotel through
thls door. and | sleep until the good
sun wakes me. All, no, / forgot the
sun does not shine here as in my Italy.
1t only becomes daylight in London.
ban! what country But | shall
wake, have no fear l shall wake
The Jew left him, not as "A man
whose work was accomplished but as
one who had yet something vital to
arrange He was not really afraid
that the plot might he discovered. II
was true that two of his accomplicee
We're busy making sure that nothing
had leaked out, but he did not fear