Evening star., 1921-09-18

blow on the head sent him reeling
to the floor. He heard a half-scream
uttered by the woman. struggle IN
which the wonlan's voice was muftied
and a mans voice muttered as the
two fought in the narrow hallway
Once or twice a foot struck him. An
overturning chair struck against his
arm as 1t fell.
Morley Smith drew himself along
| the floor He had a vague impression
that the button that would switch on
the light must be just inside the door.
/ He raised his hand and felt along the
wall and found the button. Then he
stood upright with his back to the
hall was flooded with light. The
woman. suddenly released, uttered
short laugh and wiped her mouth where
la small scratch bled. and Morley
into the muzzle of short, heavy re-
volver in the hand of the man.
eff you move one muscle you are
dead" said the man.
Morley Smiths first thought was
"a eambler!" for the mans face had
that waxy whiteness of the man who
sits all night in the smoke-vitiated
air of cardroom: The face was mar,
sauared at the temples. The man was
rather we'll dressed.
The woman. like a woman who has
been through a struggle and who
admits herself beaten and is ready to
forget the whole affair, leaned
against the opposite wall.
Now, then, you said the man,
what are you doing here? Spit it
out quick: I've no time to waste. And
keep your hands where they are"
A divine audacity sursed through
indeed. the kind Of adventure he had
lonsed for. The revolver interested
him. but it did not frighten him; it
| added piquancy to the affair; lin; He
Fellow fellow being without excellent rea-
sons for doing SO. He was thrilled;
elated. The wits he seldom used
seemed spufred to frolicsome liveli-
"My dear chap" he said. "the boot
is on the other foot May / ask what
you are doing in my house"
don't fall for that sort OF talk; H.. This MS
| Il il was Morley Smiths house. He's
YOU hold your mouth" said the
man called Ed II want to Know Know
| bout this. You let him in. what
did you let him in for?'
Morley Smith raised his hand.
* + +
.tN-OW, l say. old chappie'" he re-
~ monstrated. 81 call that bit
! X,
his own house? I call it going bit
| strong when a strange chap tells
man his wife. can't let him into his
own house"
~"Oha' cried the woman sharply
That's a lie! That's he, Ed! l
never saw this man in-my life! Never!
1 tried to get you away from here,
Ed. You know that. I hoped you
| would skip when I let him in:
yes. you did," scoffed the man
"5oa ,, thought he was a eop-tha' $
"Ed. L swear to heaven I didn't
think he was a cop!" the woman ex-
! claimed.
! Morley Smith shook his head sadly;
Anna" he said; looking sta straifn! ea15
me what all this means after this
t out now. Jove. no! NY wife call
ing a stranger chap BY his first name
VIII what? I sayT he cried suddenly. as
| if seeing great light Hes your
"Oh. don't! the woman begged.
| Don't you see you are getting me
are doing it for. but you're making It
bad for me. Tell him the truth!
Tell him you never saw me before.
MY name is not Anna. Tell him you
! don't know what my name is"
Cut it!' said Ed harshly. stop
tipping him off! I'll get at the truth
of this myself"
"1'm not going to raise bally row.
you Know" said Morley Smith plac-
| idly, but I'm entitled to some ex-
pla1ation, what? mans wife, you
know! Pm not going to rag you.
Anna. My fault II I've been a bit
easy going with you. my girl. A
chap ought to hold a bit of rein on
his wife. what? Tell the chappie to
| toddle about his business, old dear,
and we'll talk 1t all out together and
make friends"
$50 that's it," snarled the man
Ed. Anna. are you? And stfinging
me with that stun about your name
being Darcis de We're"
"jove, now, did she!" cried Morley
Smith. "The name she played under