Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-11

haps with a mental reservation that
under certain conditions breaking
oath with such a man as this would
not be serious crime. We hurried
out of the street side by side, and
were presently in a busy thorough
fare. but in a part of the city knew
nothing about. Here the bully hailed
passing taxi into which he hurried
me after telling the man to go to
the Rue de Rivoli.
"Ah, that was very good" he said,
spreading himself. Before we ar
rive at the Rue de Rivoli deliver
you to a friend of mine. He looks
after you until I come tonight No.
1t is not my friend with the knife,
but this one is very important-as
important as am. You will do we'll
not to annoy him."
He was silent for the rest OF the
journey. Now his one desire seemed
to be to get rid of me. Presently he
spoke to the driver, and from the
cafe before which we stopped a man
came to the door Of the taxi.
= 'All good SO far sail the bully to
him. Here is your prisoner. Shoot
him IL he Is troublesome"
"Oh. that won't be necessary. I'm
sure" laughed the other. Mr.. Yates
will credit me with wishing him no
HARM
Settle that between you" said the
bully. and drove away. I did not hear
where the driver was told to go.
My new jailer was q verv different
type of man, gentleman. and an
Englishman. ~2.
II propose taking you to a small no..
tel where am staying" he said. "A
bath might suit you, something to eat.
l am hungry, too. You are later than
expected. do not want to play the
role of policeman. although for the
time being that is the work thrust on
me. May take it you will trust me
and not cause trouble? Our friend
will join US later"
Friend" l exclaimed. do you re-
fer to the fellow who has gone off in
that taxi?"
well, neither he nor I are quite as
+. bad as some you have been In touch
with during the last few hours. are
we?"
There are degrees in everything"
"Of course" he laughed, "and don't
mind telling you that this friend and
are playing little game Of our own
which. among other things, necessi-
tates keeping you alive and kicking.
Now how about that bath and food?'
Right. 4 will give no trouble until
altar hovo dioouuoad tho yart0nR
degrees in scoundrelism," replied.
Even as l said it ! thought it was
rather weak to make such a promise,
but there was something attractive in
this fellow, and it is my disposition to
like to see the end of an adventure.
Besides, there was Screed to think of.
Somehow or other his plans must have
gone wrong. and he had left me in the
lurch. A gang within a gang had got
hold of me now and. being on my
guard, l was no longer such an easy
victim to deal with. BY going to the
end of the adventure I might find out
far more than Jeremy Screed thought
there was to discover. and this would
be a great score. Not muck harm
could happen to me in hotel.
1t was a small but well appointed
hotel. The bath was good, the food
excellent and the wine had come from
q frst- class cellar. Ny companion,
who was known by the name Of Grant
was entertaining. but not a word OF
explanation did get out of him. He
fenced some of my questions: others
he refused point-blank to answer
until his friend came. He said he
was not yet thoroughly acquainted
with the whole business. and to speak
prematurely might spoil everything.
In the afternoon. while we were
smoking in a small lounge, deserted
for the moment except for ourselves.
waiter brought my companion q
card.
ooh, yes. bring him In. Do you
know him by chance. Mr.. Yates?'
And he threw the card on the little
table.
"Screed!'
"A London detective, I believe" he
said, with a smile. MY word, you
have got your chance to give me
away"
His GOODNESS had something sub
lime in 1t. hut I had no time to an