Evening star., 1919-03-02

BY the way, do you chance to have
found glove--a 1adys long glove?'
"A gentleman has just given me
this, sir"
That's the one. Thanks very
West looked at his watch made a
rapid calculation and strolied back
into the rooms. He caught sight of
the general in the distance talking
to Lord Hanson, and then he ran into
Morrison.
"Im off soon. Are you going to
the club? We might go together
Sorry. but ] am off now-F Fleet
street way. Social article. you know.
Fleet street gets busy when the rest
of the world is thinking of going to
bed"
An hour later when Sir Charles
remarked in the club that Valentine
West was a Journalist, he caused a
roar OF laughter West had never
done days work in his life either
with pen or with any other imple-
eral impression was that Sir Charles
had had his leg badly pulled.
west got his hat and coat from
the cloakroom He was walking, he
told the servant at the door. lie
crossed the road to the ratings of
the garden in the center of the square
paused there, and was Immediately
Joined by man in a bowler hat and
ulster
The man listened while West
talked.
You quite understand BE sure you
operate on the right car"
"Tbere shall be no mistake, Mr..
west West walked leisureJy out
of the square and found his own car
at the corner of an adjacent street
we get move on, Amos" he
said to the chauffeur, "and it's not
in the direction of bed yet. Grove
road, Kensington. The appointment
is for ] o'clock. Find the road; I'll
find the house.
Amos Free never spoke unless he
was absolutely obliged, and then he
was usually monosyllabc. Now he
nodded. looked at the clock fixed in
front of him, and regulated his pace
accordingly. He had no idea where
Grove road was, and at the Horns,
kensington, he was obliged to pull
up and ask n policeman. They We're
probably the first words he had
spoken that day.
Grove road proved long and dark,
with semt-detached houses fronted by
strips Of garden on either side. Pos
sibly 1t had seen better days. The
houses were large enough to suggest
IL. out palings were rather dilapidated
now. gates hung awry, and there was
a plentiful crop of ITO Be Let"
boards.
Il am going 10 No. AZ, Amos said
West, getting out at the end of the
road. Get UP bit closer to the
house when / am in. and If ] whistle
get desperate. 1t will be time"
A dim light shone through the semi
circle of frosted glass over the door
of No. AZ; no other light was visible,
and the houses on either side APP
peared to be empty A moss grown
path led to the door. and the strip of
garden had been allowed to look after
itself. There was no knocker. only a
bell push. West pushed twice before
there was a sound of shuffiing feet
and the door opened. An elderly slat-
ternly woman looked out and without
waiting to be questioned. stood aside
to let him enter. Evidently she ex-
pected a visitor. She led the way
down the passage to the back, opened
door and showed him into a room
tawdrily furnished, with most ap-
palling wallpaper, and one gas let
burning in a three branch handelier
The woman closed the door and left
him without a word.
Valentine West was prepared for
anything, or imagined he was, but he
had not expected to be admitted so
easily. 1t made him cautious. He
looked quickly about him and listened
for sounds in the lrouse The room
was one OF two between which heavy