Evening star., 1927-10-21
THE BLACK JOKER
BY ISABEL OSTRANDER.

more difficult to slip away from un
detected than private residence, pu'
| when they had left the yachts launch
at the clubhouse wharf and proceeded
to the smart little town car awaiting
them. she took Mrs. kerr's hand In
both her own.
"Oh, you have been so good to me
when you are not even sure OF my
identity" she murmured; the WORDS
choked in her throat. You thought
was a traitor and yet you didn't de-
! sert me"'
"Why, Janet dear, I hoped that was
| forgottenr Mrs. Kerr looked into her
eyes reproachfully. 'Of course ]
don't think anything of the sort!
know you are Richard Danes daugh'
ter and when--when he comes to us
l shall tell him how splendid you have
been through it ALL
She had faltered, Even her hard.
ened effrontery had baked at the lie
Janet could almost have smiled. but
instead she asked with every appear
ance of innocent curiosity:
What would happen to a real
traitor, if one should ever be discov'
cred in the ranks of the Black Joker?"
Mrs. Kerr started.
Good heavens, child, what ques-
tion. The-the organization is so
huge and far-reaching that they could
never escape, be sure of that! / fancy
that they would simply drop out of
sight and not he heard of again.
She had framed her words as deli
cately as possible, but Janet caught
their significance and remarked:
ITS a comfort to know that, isn't
it? Just think what might have hap
pened to me if you hadn't come along
on Saturday! The other's-Norman s
people--might have taken me again
and this time I'm afraid l should
have disappeared as possible traitor
among you would do"
Don't speak of it. dear, and try
not to think of it'' Mrs. Kerr patted
her arm. "It didn't happen and we
are almost home"
If either Of them had looked through
the window at the back they would
have observed a taxi behind them
not a remarkable occurrence in a
crowded city, and the taxi was quite
an ordinary. shabby affair. However,
by a curious coincidence it had fol-
lowed the same route as they had
from the stand before the entrance to
the yacht club grounds and 1t carried
a single fare. a woman plainly dressed
whose only distinguishing points were
the masses Of pale gold hair beneath
her veiled hat and her tall, magnifi.
Gently formed figure.
But both Mrs. Kerr and her guest
were oblivious to it. Janet had
clasped her hands and sighed with
every evidence of anticipatory happi-
ness.
LET me see; this is Tuesday. and
daddy sailed from Liverpool Satur-
day. I don't know what ship he took
passage on, but he should be here to-
morrow. shouldn't he? How can we
get word to him, Angler" She added
woman beside her smiled in approval.
''Do you suppose we could pick him
up by wireless?"
Mrs. Kerr started again, slightly.
81 don't know. but we will try" she
responded with an effort to welcome
the suggestion that was palpable.
Here we are at last. You are safe
at home now. Janet dear, and more
than welcome"
The car had turned in at broad
passageway opening into huge
square court with towering walls of
gray stone on all four sides and dis.
may seized upon the girl. Those great
wrought-iron gates through which
they had passed could be closed in an
instant at the mere touch of bell;
the palatial apartment building was a
veritable prison!
The taxicab had drawn. up for a
moment across the opening of the
gateway and the woman inside bent
cautiously forward. watching through