Evening star., 1922-06-04

what shall say to him."
Pretend that you regret having
treated him with indifference. HUI
NOR him. Tell him anything in order
to gain time and remove jealousy re-
garding you. 1t is that which is
dangerous. You, will know how to
treat him. Make pretense. but at the
same time be discreed while you humor
him.
You'll be nearby, won't you?" she
begged of me.
1 promised, and later she left to
join her aunt at a lunch party she
was giving at the Ritz. Her mother
and father were both away in Scot
land. They had gone north on the
previous day, she had told me.
Just before o'clock passed
through Spring Gardens into the Mall.
there was an absence of lights owing
to a fear Of air raids.
AS 1 approached the steps which
led up from the park to the Duke
Of York's monument / saw the lean
figure Of a man lurking in the
shadow. / could distinguish that he
wore a dark overcpat and soft felt
hat 1t was evidently Louis Le-
vigne, known in the underworld Of
Paris as THE Nightingale"-the elu-
sive criminal for whom the police of
Europe were in active search before
the war.
drew back into the shadow and
watched. He stood motionless as a
statue until female figure in black
came cautiously down the unlit steps.
and suddenly he confronted her.
Then l saw 1t was Ida Duffield.
I The pair stood for a moment talk
ing. and then together they strolled
slowly in the direction of Bucking.
ham Palace. Presently 1 crossed
the road and followed them alta re-
spectacle distance. But 1 could hear
him speaking volubly in French in a
high pitched voice, though l could
not distinguish what the fellow said.
Only now and then the terrorized girl
replied to him.
1 could discern In the gloom that
he was gesticulating violently. Then
suddenly they crossed the road oppo-
site St. James Palace and walked
in the direction of the Victoria
Memorial. where stood a single well
shaded lamp to guide the vehicular
traffic coming from Buckingham
Palace road.
4-x
A T this point I hurried on and con-
L trived to pass the pair as they
were in the zone of faint light, for
wanted to reassure the girl of my
presence. AS went by l glanced
swiftly and with curiosity into the
face of one Of the most notorious
criminals of modern times. l saw
that he was a darkhaired. swarthy
fellow. decidedly handsome. though
of a hungarian gypsy. AS for an in
stant my gaze fell upon him 1 saw
that his big eyes were black and
searching. and that his little black
moustache was we'll trained Truly,
he was of that type of low-born
| lover which we have seen upon the
stage for two generations.
Yes, he was a handsome fellow,
without doubt.
As passed overheard words
words of passionate affection pro-
nounced with that curious accent
which is so essentially of the Mont
martre. And she. a lady moving in
on. listening to him without reply.
knew she had seen me, so I went
forward and aEetn effaced myself
A few minutes later it began to
rain heavily, and apparently at her
suggestion they turned abruptly to
the right, and. passing Buckingham
Palace. continued along Constitution
Hill toward Hyde Park corner.
At a respectable distance followed
At last they halted. He was
speaking loudly, but whether in ap-
peal or threat l could not decide
Not daring to pass again lest his
alert eyes should discern that he was
he was a hunted mani also halted.
They stood in very dark spot. and
as they receded 1 lost sight of them
Presently. however, from the point of
vantage that 1 had taken up, l saw
them emerge from the shadows, and.
walking quickly through the now
pelting rain. they gained Park lane
and went on to Deanery street, where
Ida opened the front door very softly
with her latchkey.
She admitted him to her fathers
house In secret! why?s
x
T SAW the door close noiselessly
after the pair. / had told her to
humor him. and apparently she had
acceded to his suggestion that, he
knowing her father and mother to
be away, they should seek shelter
from the rain.
This action puzzled me consider
ably. stood at the corner of Deanery
street for nearly an hour, until at
last saw the front door reopen and
the fellow skunk noiselessly out. In
| an instant he looked up and down
and then hurried in my direction,
brushing past me in the darkness as
he turned the corner.
Ny first impulse was to ring at the
door and inquire for Miss Ida. But 1
hesitated. I would go on to my room
and ring her up on the telephone
This did.
well, saw you,' told her ten
| minutes later. What has happened" -
"A lot," was her reply. rs it too
late for me to come and see you?"
Not at ALL" I answered. "I shall
MI