Evening star., 1925-09-30
The Hidden" Hall

pardon for answering you
IL like that" she almost
i sobbed when she had got
back her breath. 1T isn't
Mysteries. It's only-oh, il YOU knew
how quaint you look in those clothes
and with that black stuff over your
face. Exactly like a respectable
scarecrow in a potato field. They
never have any faces, you know, and
they always wear tlappy hats ana
dug out coats like yours.
But there | won't laugh any
more. I'll listen to what you've got
to say, and If you don't mind, III
listen sitting down tHer knees
trembled a little. though her voice
was steady)
Her impudence took the enemy by
surprise At the word "scarcrow he
made a quick movement of anger,
and Pan thought he wound strike ner;
but after an instant's hesitation he
changed his mind. Il can make you
regret your impertinenCe II L choose.
he exclaimed, still in French. Yet the
girl guessed 1t was all he coulu 90 10
control his voice.
"Of course" she said in different
tone You're master here. You can
do whatever you choose-eXcept con-
troll what I'm TO do"
II have not told you yet what /
wish you to do" the Masquer re-
minded the girl, so amazed by her
manner that mechanically he altered
his own.
You told me in your letter." said
Pan. seating herself III the more COM
Portable of the two old chairs.
you disregarded my WiSheS-my
advice-expressed in that letter. Your
answer consisted Of the one word,
NO"
TT did. And 1t will consist of the
same old word again If your wishes
are the same"
Perhaps not-when l explain to
sou are obstinate"
81 suppose you'll threaten to feed
mo to those beastly fishes with their
bulgy eyes and nasty, receding pro-
files, You can't do worse than that,
anyhow. And you may keep your
threat before I consent to ruin Raw
don Wells. I'll try hard to disagree
with the disgusting creatures.
II make no threats, the man re
torted II shall simply tell you what
will happen
Do said Pan. But while you're
telling me things. won't you tell how
sou got me out of my cell and brought
me here? Oh, and by the way, 1
should rather like to know where
here Is.
You shall have both those explana-
tions, If you decide TO be sensible" p"
was the reply.
You seem to want everything for
nothing" exclaimed Pan. "Suppos-
ing. even, that l gave you written
statement of all / know about-my
brother. Capt. Haste's wife-what
guarantee would / have that YOU
would set me free. unharmed? The
way you are got up you look capable
Of tearing out my tongue and cutting
off my fingers so l could neither
speak nor write. once you'd finished
with me-the way people kept their
promises and freed their prisoners in
the Middle Ages. You'd better be
more diplomatic. Make a concession
or two. to begin with. If you want to
win my confidence. Tell me about
the prison-and tell me where I am"
man. After all. to tell you what
you ask can do no harm to me or
any one-whatever becomes Of you,
mademoiselle.
THE affair of-rescuing you from
your cell was easy for me. l had
the wardress and her policeman hus-
band in my pocket. That made the
letter business easy. too. And as for
this place-can you not guess?"
Its at Hidden Hall Courtr' Pan
dora sasped, on a sudden inspiration.
"Of course! Where else should 1t
be? You are in the hidden hall It.
self"
But" she stammered. "Don-Sir
RawdoIi-told me once, when 1 asked
II there were hidden hall, that there
was nothing hidden at all. It was
only one of the family names in old
days-'Hidden.' Surely. he ought to
know. But. If he had known. he
wouldn't have fibbed to me-
''Sir Rawdon ought to know, but
the fact is that he doesn't" said the
Masquer "The secret was lost to
the family for many years-ever
since the days of the last Hiddens or