Evening star., 1921-05-24
his seat with his head resting upon
his folded arms. He was either tired

his seat with his head resting upon
his folded arms. He was either tired
out or asleep. The attitude Of the
horse was one OF extreme and wea-
ried detection. .Wrayson was on the
point of closing the window when he
became aware for the first time thai
the cab had an occupant. He could
see the figure Of a man leaning back
in one corner. he could even dlstin-
guish a whitegloved hand resting
upon the apron. The figure was not
unlike the figure Of Barnes, and
Barnes. as he happened to remember.
always wore white gloves in the even
ing. Barnes it probably was, waiting
for what? Wrayson closed the win
dow little impatiently, and turned
back into the room
Barnes and his friends can go to
the devil" he muttered. II am off to
bed
He took a couple Of steps across
The fear was upon him again. He
felt his heart almost stop beating.
cold shiver shook his whole frame.
He was standing facing his half-open
door. and outside on the stone steps
he heard the soft. even football Of
Of a woman's gown.
He was not conscious Of any move
ment. but when she reached the land
ing he was standing there on the
InEeSnOIC, VIII lne sou nd1O VI III
from behind shining on TO his white.
fierceiy questioning face. She came
toward him without speech, and her
veil was lowered SO that ne could
only imperfectly see her face, but she
walked as one newly recovered from
illness. with trembling footsteps. and
with one hand always upon the ban
listers. When she reached the corner
she stopped and seemed about to COL
lapse. She spoke to him. and her
voice had lost all its quality. 1t sound
ed harsh and unreal.
why are you-spying on me-" she
asked.
Il am not spying" he answered. II
have been asleep-and woke up sud
denly"
Give me-some brandy" she beg
She stood upon the, threshold and
dank from the wine glass which he
rad filled. When she gave it back to
him. he noticed that her fingers were
steady.
will you come downstairs and let
me out?" she asked. ~ have look ked
down and it is all dark on the ground
floor. / am not sure that l know my
way
He hesitated, but only for a mo-
ment. Side by side they walked down
four flights Of steps in unbrOken si-
lence. He asked no question. she at
tempted no explanation. Only when
he opened the door and she saw the
waiting hanson she very nearly col
lapsed. For a moment she clung to
him.
moaned. 'where can ! hide
Whoever IL is" Wrayson answer
ed. with his eyes fixed upon the han
som, he is either drunk or asleep"
"Or dead" she whispered in his ear.
Go and see!"
Then, before Wrayson could recov-
er from the shock Of her words. she
was gone. fitting down the unlit side
steps. His eyes followed her mechan-
ically. Then. when she had turned
the corner. he crossed the pavement
toward the cab. Even now he could
see little Of the figure in the corner.
for his silk hat was drawn down over
| his eyes.
rs that you. Barnes?" he asked.
! There came not the slightest re-
| sponse. Then for the first time the
hideous meaning of those farewell
| brain. Had she meant it? Had she
\ known or guessed? He leaned for
! ward and touched the white-gloved
/ hand. He raised it and let go. 1t
| ped back and confronted the cabman.
who was rubbing his eyes.
| There's something wrong with
| your fare. cabby," he said.
| The cabDy raised the trap door.
hooked down. and descended heavily
| on to the pavement.
We'll. I'm blowed:" he said. Here.
| wake up. guvnor
| There was no response. The cabby
threw open the apron Of the cab and
gently shook the recumbent figure.
| II can't wait ere all night for my
| fare" he exclaimed. Wake up, God
! luv u.s." he broke Off
| He stepped hastily back on to the
pavement and began tuggins at one
of his lamps.
Push his hat back. sir" he said.
| Lets ave look at i'm"
| Wrayson stood UPON the step OF
the cab and lifted the silk hat from
the head of The recumbcnt figure
Then he sprang back quickly with {.
little exclamation OF horror. The lamJ
was shining full now upon the man:
face, livid and white. upon his staring
but sightiess eyes. upon something
around his neck. a fragment of Silkcr
| cord. drawn so tightly tina the ficsl
| seemed to hang over and almost con.
ceal il.
: "Throttled. by God" the cabmar r
exclaimed. I'm Off to the police sta
| ton"
He clambered up 20 his seat. ant
| without another word struck his
horse with the whip. The cab drove
off and disappeared. Wrayson turned
slowly round. and, closing the door OF
| the f1atS. mounted with leaden feet tC
| the fourth story.
He entered his own rooms anc
| walked without hesitation to the win
dow. which was still open. The fresl
air WAS almost a necessity. for he fell
/ himself being slowly Stided. His