The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-22

Tier eyes ana Humphrey met. one ha0 seen his glance sweep everything table, the chair, the things in her hands. Her lips were nearly white, but she spoke with bold voice.
 Must you go? I was just setting place for you.'
 As he replied with polite disclaimer, he saw Anton flash glance of approval of her quickness. It hurt him. They were plotting right enough-concealing some thing. It was odious that two such fine creatures should be concerned in some piece of dirty work.
 He found himself out in the right once more, Anton beside him, and assured him courteously that he was well able to get home if directed
 "No,s eontradcted Anton, bluntly. "You cannot, unless l put you on the road.'
 ''You live long way from your work,n said Humphrey pleasantly, when they had gone some way in silence.
 "Houses are scarce,' was the curt reply.
 How long have you been enrolled in the guard?"
 About twelve months.'
 Waiting neither for thanks nor leave taking, he swung on his heel and was off. Humphrey walked on with every appearance of purpose until he was out of sight Then he stopped, turned back, and ran as fast as the nature of the ground permitted, back to the belt of fir trees which sheltered the upward path upon the side not bounded by the torrent.
 He remembered the exact point at which Anton had stopped and whistled. On re- flection he felt sure that somewhere near the spot the path was joined by another track, leading more directly up from the lake shore.
 By that path the expected guest should come-and if, as was likely, he had already passed then Narley meant to lie in wait in the woods all night if need be- that he might see him as he came back again.
 All was very still as he reached this par ticulart point; and he ventured to scramble down upon the path itself, to see if he could find footprints. Just as he did so, he heard sound-a faint whistling, quickly he real lzed that the tune was the same which he had heard from Anton, and that the per former was ascending rapidly toward the place where he now stood
 He bolted up into the cover of the wood as fast and as silently as he could. This was astonishing luck. Something had proba-. biy detained the conspirator, who must be nearly an hour late at his appointment.
 The whistling grew nearer and clearer In very few minutes man came out upon the path; a man who moved with a delft quietness, and with astonishing ease, con cl hat ta The light was dim, but as he emerged from the small track which he had been ascend ing, up to one which ran beside the tor rent, the beam of light from the cottage window fell upon his face and, as he was without hat, one could see that he was youngish, and that he wore a small dark mustache. He appeared to be in evening dress; and Humphreys mind 'leaped to it's conclusion.
 The waiter.
 Varley felt for his torch, which was in his pocket Armed with this, he let himself down once more upon the pathway, and. stepping to the ground, studied carefully the footprints, which showed clearly upon the deposits of damp soil which lay over most of the rocky surface.
 All the boots which had made the ascent that night bore the imprint of the Red Swan.
 The detective felt that his debut had not been without interest.
 
 The day which preceded the moonlight picnic was breathlessly hot. It seemed as though the heat must break in thunder, but still the sky remained cloudless, and the far end of the lake shimmered in purple