The Washington times., 1921-10-23

and. In addition 20 our repeaters.
We each carried q Browning. q
fissk, and q powerful electric torch
with the exception OF Blenkin-
sopp and Doodle. who. In their
official capacity. would not take
rifles.
Il had been arranged that either
the former at the front or the lat
Ter at the back was to give the
signal to fire. according 10 the door
from which the exit was made
II any. That was almost the most
anxious part of the whole business.
did not for an instant believe
that my theory. now accepted with
out reservation by the others, could
be wrong; but, II the line OF action
should fall out otherwise. II might
land US in greater complications
and deeper difficulties than ever.
Jevons was left In charge OF the
house with orders to close up and
see everything quiet. to lock the
library door after our departure.
and to be generally prepared for
anything or everything-and, II
necessary, to keep up the illusion
that we were all In consultation
behind the locked library door.
At all costs he was to avert sus-
picion; and Burgess and ! knew
that we could trust his discretion.
"All readyf" asked Blenkinsopp
quietly. as the hall clock chimed
a quarter to nine.
We all answered In the affirma-
tive. -,
EVERY one understand his part?"
he went on, cor has any one any
question to ask! No more talk
ing after this"
We all nodded. There were no
aAll right" he said. "Now we
will start"
And will not deny that a keen
thrill OF anticipation went
through me as we silently made
our way through the long library
window in single file.
Manders, Wellingham and Yer
Joyce, under the guidance OF
Hedges, were to make their way
through the woods to the back en-
trance, and to take cover among
the trees jdst inside the garden
near the little slip gate. Then
Hedges was to work his way round
the outside of the garden and join
US in the front.
Blenkinsopp, Burgess and were
to take a wider sweep through the
woods and come out In front.
where Burgess and Hedges were TO
take cover under the wall by the
gap, facing the front door at an
angle. with the moon full on the
intervening ground.
Blenkinsopp and ! were to take
up our position under the shadow
of the last tree OF the drive. imme.
dfately facing the old iron-studded
oak door Of the Dover House.
shall never forget that long sill
ent walk through the oppressive
blackness of the woods, but II was
Infinitely less trying than the long
er and even more silent, motion.
less wait after we had once all
taken up our allotted positions;
and 1t was a great relief, before
ten o'clock, to zee Hedges crawl
through the gap and disappear un-
der the shadow Of the wall, where
we knew Burgess to be awaiting
him.
I do not think I ever remember
a clearer or more lovely night out
wardly than this foul Walpurgis
Nacht. with all the elemental and
superphysical forces OF evil out TO
revel in their great annual orgy OF
release The moon was now full
and gave wonderful white light;
and the atmosphere was as clear
as crystal.
It was indeed hard to believe
that there was evil IN the world
and, above all, such evil.
And so the time dragged on, each
minute an hour. so II seemed, and
the hour aeons. ] could hear
Blenkinsopp breathing deeply by
my side during these interminable
minutes that grew into first one
hour and then another, and ex-
pect that was doing the same
myself
It was a relief when I felt his
hand on my arm and he showed
me the dial of his luminous watch.
indicating half.past eleven. and 7
nodded. And then my thoughts
again turned to the youngsters on
the far side Of the grim old house,
almost forbidding in the cold light,
as though II had assumed q sinister
aspect with its unconscious infec.
ton; and wondered how they
were lasting out through the strain
OF the silent ordeal. .
Then my thoughts reverted to
the house itself. its history and its
architectural beauty, and II seemed
a strange, unnatural almost hor.
rtble thought to think that within
an hour or two-in all probability
Bows Au.WOOll|