Evening star., 1921-05-27
THE AVENCER
By Z. PHILLIPS OPPENHEIM
A Tale of Political Intrig que and Private
Revenge.
by Brown 4 Co

WIN L II was HedTlS u U Cioth
I was going to turn in when I heard
the jingling of hanson bell down
below. i looked out of the window
and saw the cab standing in the
street. Almost at the same time l
heard footsteps outside. I went to the
door of my flat and came face to face
with the girl descending from the floor
above
AT 3 o'clock in the morning." the
| colonel interrupted.
Wrayson nodded.
j she was white and shaking all
! over" he continued rapidly. she
sked me for brandy and l gave 1t to
; her; she asked me to see her out OF
the place. and 1 did So When l
opened the door to let her out and we
/ saw the man leaning back in the cab
| she moaned softly to herself l said
something about his being asleep or
| drunk-'or dead. she whispered in
my ear. and then she rushed away
from me. She turned into the Albert
road and disappeared almost at once.
| I could not have followed her if l
would. ] had just began to realize
that something was wrong with the
! man in the cab
This is allo" the colonel asked.
1T is ALL" Wrayson answered.
You do not know her name. or why
she was here? You have not seen her
Since?"
Wrayson shook his head.
II know absolutely nothing" he
said. beyond what I have told you"
The colonel struck match and rellt
his cigar.
"I should like to understand" he
mention of her in your evidence"
Wrayson laughed oddly
Il should like to understand that
myself. he declared. il can only re,
woman and I was fool"
I'm plain English" the colonel said,
you did it to shield herr"
Yes" Wrayson answered.
The colonel nodded thoughtfully.
Well" he said. you were in a diff
crate choice. 1 tell you frankly that
l expected to hear worse things. Do
you believe that she committed the
MURDER
NO, Wrayson answered. Il do
not
You believe that she may be as.
sociated with-the person who did?"
Il cannot tell" Wrayson declared.
I'm any case" the colonel continued.
you seem to have been the only per-
wise or not to omit all mention of her
in your evidence-well. we won't dis
cuss that. The best of US have gone
on the wrong side of the hedge for a
to do it, What 1 can't quite UNDER
stand, old chap. is why you have
worked yourself up into such a shock
ing state. You don't stand any
chance of being hanged, that I can
see.'
Wrayson laughed a little shame
facedly.
ITO tell you the TRUTH" he said. 81
am beginning to feel ashamed of my
self i think it was the sense Of
being spied upon. and being alone-in
this room-which got a bit on my
naryas fool different man since
you came down."
The colonel nodded cheerfully
That's all right" he declared. THE
next thing To
his sentence. A few feet away from
him the telephone bell was wringing.
Wrayson rose to his feet and took the
receiver into his hand.
"Hullo!" he said.
The voice which answered him was
dropped the instrument. He recog-
nized it at once.
rs that Mr.. Herbert Wrayson?" 1t
asked
Yes" wrayson answered. Who
II am the person who spoke to you
a few nights ago." was the answer.
Never mind my name for the present.
1 wish to arrange a meeting-ior
of business-to discuss with you"
"Anywhere-at any time" Wrayson
answered. almost fiercely. You can
not be as anxious to see me as l am
to know who you are"
The voice changed little in its in
tonation. A note of mockery had
stolen into it.
You flatter me-" it said. II trust
that our meeting will be mutually
agreeable. You must excuse my COM
ing to Battersea, as 1 understand that
your fat is subjected to a most incon-
venient surveillance. May call at
the office Of your paper. at. say. II
o'clock tomorrow"
Yes" wrayson answered. You
know where it is?''
Certainly, 1 shall be there. A MI
Bentham will ask for you. Good
night
Wrayson's unknown friend had
pung off. He replaced the receiver
and turned to the colonel.
DO you know who that was?" he
asked eagerly.
II can guess" the colonel answered.
Tomorrow at IL o'clock" Wrayson
declared. Il shall know who killed
Morris Barnes"
Continued in Tomorrow's Star)