Evening star., 1921-06-19

against the walls Yet his guide went
with quick assurance to the rear
door. which he opened with another
key. Black proceeded along the
teRce S TO the corner.
at rustling among the rubbish A
thin piece Of Tagging had ope-td at
his feet as IL hinged like trap-door.
leaving visible the top of flight of
rough wooden steps.
black stepped down and Garth fol-
lowed. The steps led diagonally un-
der the angle Of the fence. Others
rose into the corner of the adjacent
yard II this was their destination. it
was neither to one side nor directly
oehind the empty house used as an
/ entrance. Garth marveled at the
simplicity of the contrivance.
; While Black carefully lowered the
flag on the other side Garth glanced
| around They stood in the kitchen
! shed of a house which, OF course,
| faced the next street.
Garth saw Black press an electric
button Almost at once the door
| opened crack, but no gleam of light
| came through. Black muttered some
thing unintelligible to Garth and led
! him into darkness. Yet in spite of it
he was sure it was a woman who had
admitted them
| This way" Black said.
| Garth followed. scarcely breathing.
! Where would he fnd Nora? How
would he find her?
| A door opened ahead, and at last
there was a light-a subdued. brown
light. unhealthy suggestive Of a mel
ancholy repoSe.
Garth turned sharply, to inspect the
woman who had followed him in. He
drew back. He controlled his gasp OF
| relief and gratitude, for it was Nora
1 n ha
| them and who stood now on the
threshold of the hall
His astonishment had held him
longer than was discreet. He turned
at sound to md his conductor gone.
He knew what that portended. He
cursed his carelessness.
Nora took his arm.
What are you doing here" she
whispered tensely. Go before it's too
late. l knew they suspected trouble
tonight, but never dreamed Of your
getting in here alone. Go-the way
TO be caught in the yard" he
exit first"
foot of the stairs Nora caught his arm
again.
"Where are you going?"
"Up there" he answered. Il haven't
the ghost Of q show in this suffocat-
Ing basement. They'll look for me
here first.
He climbed the stairs. She followed
"Jim." she breathed. ITS hopeless.
They'll never let you out"
He turned at the head Of the stairs.
A repellant ot}ors not to be classified,
crept into hts nostrils. made him
want to cough Heavy prple hangings
were draped across two doorways.
Tell me the layout" he whispered.
"ouick! The yard isn't the only get
away?"
The head one keeps the keys. For
Gods sake. Jim, try to get out Of this
house before it's too late
He pointed to one OF the draped
doorways. It was at the end Of the
hall. but the hall appeared to him
too short.
She shook her head.
"Only leads to the front of the
, house That's planted. of course-a
boarding-house. I tell you that doors
locked"
'Then how can I get to front win
dowT
"You can't, jim"
He tried to plan.
Then how am l.
thick. brown air in lazy motion. It
came from nearby room. 1t ap-
preached. Garth glanced at the pur-
pie hangings, expecting them to part
on one who would discipline without
mercy his presumption.
Jim! They've got you, and If they
see me with you" -
She spread her arms.
They know you're a detective. Your
only hope is that they shouldn't sus-
pect me, and I can't lose all I've done,
Hit me: Jim' Jim"
"Trust me-" she begged. "and we've
chance. They mustn't doubt me.
Hit me. Jim. Take hold Of me: Clap
your hand oyer my mouth: Quick"
right, but he couldn't, all at once,
bring himself to obey.
cUDDENLY Nora screamed. She
flung upon him tigerishly.
"Jim!" she whispered. "Now!
The contact swept him with Bit
ter, distorted content He had to force
himself to grasp her shoulders. and to
| bend them back. Her hand rose.
Scarcely understanding her intention,
he saw her strike herself sharply
across the face. An ugly. reddish
"You coward, Jim!"
The curtains were wider, but al
ways. as he forced her back, he COM
bated the desire to draw her closer
+; instead, to heal with his lips the
scar with which his precipitancy had
mark ed her.
She cried out again. He glanced at
the curtains. He let her 60, staring
with a sense Of loathing at a yellow,
wrinkled face, which protruded from
the purple, and permitted him to see,
glistening above 1t, a braid of hair,
serpent-like and perilous.
The 1eering face was withdrawn.