Evening star., 1924-04-02
Continued from Yesterdays Starr

The girl disappeared down a corri-
dor and Hextall walked into the
study and turned up the light of the
amp which burned on center table.
t'or an instant he had a vision of
paquita summoned into that room to
meet the searching glanceS of strange
r1en and to hear that she was charged
With
"That's got to be stopped, some
Low!' he muttered with 4 shudder.
THAT mustn't be!'
\ light footstep in the doorway
heralded the entrance of Nurse Pal
User, cool, collected. She looked at
him in evident surprise.
Miss Tress was just going To bed.
Or. Hextall," she said. ITS the time
YOU EXed-10 o'clock
Il know know" answered Hex
tall, glancing at a clock on the man
ceIpiece. But | particularly "lSh to
see her. Just ask her to come to me
for a moment And will you come
back with her, nurse? l want You to
do something for me"
When Nurse Palliscr had left the
room HeXtaIl glanced at his reflection
N the glass. He was feeling nervous
and unStrung and he saw with great
distaste that he looked pale and anA-
ious. :.
he muttered. "Now's the time
He turned suddenly to see Paquita
coming in, with Nurse PalliSer'S tall
figure behind her. And to his great
still fully attired, and not in the
dressing gown in which he had feared
10 find her That was good-EoW
there would be no difHculty-he
would hurry her into a wrap, get her
out Of the fiat, round the nearest cor
ner. and away. But tirst-Nurse Pal
User.
a minute" he said, nodding cheer
T0.<r y. ~
just want TO speak to your nurse.
And he passed Paquita and motioned
Nurse ralliser back into the hall.
Look here. nurse" he said. speaking
want you 10 do something for me,
You know my houst-round the cor
ner, in Wimpole street? VIII You go
there and ask my .parlor maid TO
opens out of my dressing room!
Eou II see in the lcft-hand recess by
me fireplace a small safe let into the
vail. Here's the key of it. Inside the
safe, in the righthand drawer, you'll
see q small case with brass plate
bearing my Initials on it-orinS II TO
me. If it shouldn't be there. just
hunt about the safe for il.
Nurse Pallise~ took the key with
out remark and Immediately turned
70 the door Of the hall.
your number is-wkat. DR.. Hex
tail:" she asked.
~lA -lllGt-t y, ANS" 81 tC ElS-N ID l -
still affecting unconceru. There's the
r.atc on the door. Allow me"
He opened the door Of the flat for
her. stood aside 70 let her pass out
closed it on her. Then he drew a
deep breath and strode straight back
TO the study So far, things We're 60
ing well--tha small case which he
had sent Nurse Pall;ser to fetch was
at that very moment in his ovcrcoat
pocket: therefore, she would spend
come time hunting FOR il. She would.
1T any rate, be away from the flax for
:: quarter Of an hour. and in that
Paquita stared at him with sur
urised and questioning eyes as he re-
turned to the room and closed the
door behind him.
Something is the matter She
said. Il see it-saW it as soon AZ
came 10 YOU What
Hextall went straight up TO her
:nd took both ber hands.
"Listeu." he said This isn't the
time for taikinE-we'Ee got to act.
Something has happened-Ill tell you
what some other time. lust now |
want YOU 10 DO exactly what ask.
VIII YOU
He was still holding Paquita' ;
hands and in his eaErrncSS and *
cItemeUt he uncnaSciUusly drew her
toward him. and Paquta began to
trenblc and shrink rs she came
nearer.
Yes she whispered. "of course,
But-what"?"
Il want vou-iastantIy. Inind!--to
Hut on q cloak-something warm