The Dolores star., 1923-11-16
After that Tommy was forced to

ever, soon faded before the troubles
OF the present. And of these, the most
| immediate and pressing was that Of
| hunger. Tommy had a healthy and
| vigorous appetite. He regretfulIy rec
ognized the fact that he would not
make a success of hunger strike.
lie prowled almlessly about his
prison. Once or twice he discarded
dignity, and pounded on the door. But
nobody answered the summons.
Finally bright idea flashed across
| his brain. Conrad was undoubtedly
the tenant of the house. The Others
with the possible exception of the
| bearded German, merely used 1t as a
rendezvous. Therefore, why not wait
In ambush for Conrad behind the door.
and when he entered bring down a
chair, or one Of the decrepit pictures,
smartly onto his head. One would,
| of course, be careful not to hit too
| hard. And then-and then, simply
walk out. If he met anyone on the
way down. we'll Tommy frightened
at the thought Of an encounter with
his fists. Such an affair was infinitely
more in his line than the verbal en-
counter of this afternoon. Intoxicated
by his plan, Tommy gently unlocked
the picture Of the Devil and Faust,
and settled himself in position. His
hopes were high. The plan seemed
to him simple but excellent.
Time went on, but Conrad did not
appear. Night and day were the
same in this prison room, but Tom
| my's wrist-watch, which enjoyed a
certain degree of accuracy, Informed
| him that 1t was nine o'clock in the
evening. Tommy reflected gloomlly
that IL supper did not arrive soon II
would be a question of waiting for
breakfast. At ten o'clock hope de-
serted him, and he flung himself onto
the bed to seek consolation in sleep.
In five minutes his woes were for
gotten.
The sound Of the key turning in
the lock awoke him from his slum-
bers. Not belonging to the type of
hero who Is famous for awaking in
full possession Of his faculties. Tommy
merely blinked at the ceiling and won
dered vaguely where he was. Then
he remembered.
The door swung open. Too late,
Tommy remembered his scheme of
| obliterating the unprepossessing Con-
rad. moment later he was glad that
he had, for 1t was not Conrad who
entered, but a girl. She carried a
tray which she set down on the table
In the feeble light of the gas burner
| Tommy blinked at her. He decided
at once that she was one of the most
beautiful girls he had ever seen.
There was wild-rose quality about
her face. Her eyes, set wide apart,
were hazel, golden hazel that again
recalled a memory Of sunbeams.
A dellrlous thought shot through
Tommy's mind.
"Are you Jane Finn?' he asked
breathlessly.
The girl shook her head wonder.
lngly.
my name is Annette, monsieur"
She spoke in soft, broken English.
"Oh!" said Tommy, rather taken
aback. "Francaise" he hazarded.
"OuI, monsieur. Monsieur parls
francaise?"
mot for any length Of time" said
Tommy. whats that? Breakfastr
The girl nodded. Tommy dropped
off the bed and came and inspected
the contents of the tray. 1t consisted
of loaf. some margarine, and a jug
of coffee.
"The living is not equal to the Ritz
he observed with sigh. But for
what we are at last about to receive
the Lord has made me truly thank
full. Amen"
He drew up chair, and the cir.
turned away to the door.
"Wait Sec" cried Tommy. "Thers
are lots of things want to ask you,
Annette. What are you doing in this
house?"
"I do the service, monsieur"
81 see," said Tommy. you know
what asked you just now. Have you
ever heard that name?"
81 have heard people speak of Jane
Finn, think"
"You don't know where she isy'
Annette shook her head.
"She's not In this house, for In
stance?'
"Oh, no. monsieur. must go now
they will be waiting for me-"
She hurried out. The key turned In
the lock.
81 wonder who they are" unused
Tommy, as he continued to make in
roads on the loaf. "With n hit of
luck, that girl might help me to get
out of here. She doesn't look like one
of the gang"
At one o'clock Annette reappeared
with another tray. but this time Con-
rad accompanied her.
(To BE CoNTINUED.)