Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-03-23
Observation-Disclosures
ofJdne Smith By ,1r ri. ~. rs,r~e..s
CONTINUED from Yesterdays Starr

Mr.. Ember's look was terrifying,
but Jane was not terrified AS she
dropped the receiver something hap
pened to her which she did not under
stand. Within the last half-hou she
had felt an extremity of fear and sud-
den anguish. violent relief, and again
intensest fear and suspense. From
this moment none of these things
came near her. She moved anon e
them, but they did not touch her at
all. The thing was like a play in
which she had her part duly written
and rehearsed. There was no sense
OF responsibility, only a stage upon
which she must play her part, and
she knew her part very we'll She did
not have to think, or plan or contrive.
She knew what to do, and how and
when to do it. From the moment
that she dropped the receiver at the
telephone she never faltered for an
instant.
Ember looked at her with eyes
which saw every telltale stain upon
her dress and hands. The something
in his gaze which should have been
frightening became intensified.
Lady Heritage wants YOU in the
study" he said.
Jane knew very well that he said the
study because the study was next to
the door in the paneling. If she
refused to go, he would stun her or
shoot her here. She did not refuse,
and walked down the corridor by his
side in silence. They crossed the
hall, and Ember kept between her
and the stairs Jane walked meekly
beside him with downcast eyes until
he passed ahead of her to open the
study door. In that moment she
turned on her heel. sprang for the
stairs and raced up them, running
as she had never run in her life.
Ember would not risk shooting her
in the hall-she felt sure of that
but he was after her like a flash, and
she had very little start. She reach
ed for the newell at the top and jump
ed the last three steps, with Ember
about two yards behind. Then down the
corridor with a rush and into her
room, and the door banged and lock-
ed "a he reached 1t.
Jane wasted no time. She thought
that Ember would hesitate to break
down the door until he had at least
tried promises and threats, but she
was taking no chances. She heard
him speaking as she opened the cup
board door and locked herself inside
1t. His voice was only a murmur as
she heaved up the trapdoor in the
floor and climbed carefully down the
ladder upon which Henry had stood
that night which seemed like weeks
and weeks ago. The catch in the wall
at the bottom was a simple handle
like the one behind the paneling
She emerged into the garden room,
opened the window, dropped out of
1t, and ran quickly and lightly along
the terrace, keeping close to the wall
of the house.
Ember talked through the door for
five minutes. His remarks ranged
from persuasive promises to threats,
which lost nothing from being de-
lfvered in a chilly whisper. At the
end of the five minutes he put his
shoulder against the lock and broke
it. He found an empty room and
a locked cupboard. When he had
broken the cupboard door and dis
covered nothing more exciting than
Renata's schoolgirl wardrobe. he went
to the open window and stared in
credulously at the drop to the terrace.
Jane had turned the corner of the
house and was out of sight.
Ember came downstairs with the
knowledge that he must complete his
business quickly If he meant to bring
it to any conclusion other than
disaster.
He went straight to the library and
rang up the Withstead exchange
The young lady who was tele-
phoning just now, did she get the
number she wanted? She did?
Would you. kindly tell me which
1t WASP"
There was pause and then the
Information came: Sir Julian lie
Mesurier, There was certainly no
time to be lost Molloy and his
daughter both traitors, both spies,
both in Government pay! Molloy
should be reckoned with by now and
some day, without fail, he would
reckon with Renata.
He came into the hall and released
the spring of the hidden door AS the
panel turned under his hand he heard
the purr of a motor coming nearer
1t drew up. The bell changed. Mr..
Ember stepped into the darkness and
closed the panel behind him.