Evening star., 1927-09-16
LADY SLIPPER
By Ella WiStey HaileS
Author Of mysterious SWEETHEART"

! scene of the discovery of the wooder
leg!
Christopher stood irresolute. tt
obey this call meant the possible los;
of the first steamer through the
canal, and Anne might think he wa:
not coming and be lost to him again
| Yet to disobey it might mean ever
more serious complications, and after
struggle with himself he gave in to
reason and turning his footsteps wen
swiftly toward the Holmes residence
approaching from the rear entrance
an alley or lane, much overgrowl
with tropical vegetation Here HI
paused, taking care to conceal him
self in the underground, and HI
was not a moment too soon, fol
the sound of horses feet arose
came nearer, and from the back gate
| of the Holmes place two horseba OK
| riders emerged, man and a woman
and rode rapidly away.
The faces Of these two riders were
not easily distinguishable at his dis
! tanCe, but the woman was small anG
in general bearing suggested the
stewardess Sonia, and Chris, knowing
that she must have taken shelter with
the Holmes people, was convinced
sian enemy.
Yet. even should she prove to be
that person, what could Christopher
Dahlgren do about it? He was not an
intelligence officer hunting aliens! He
was a harmless citizen, seeking his
lady love. Sonia and her scheme
meant little to him unless-unless
they involved Anne. Should he take
time to report the woman's departure
to headquarters, and were they not
in all probability aware of it?
The riders had gone out of sight
when he emerged from his hiding
place, uncertain as to his next move
loath to lose a minute in going after
Anne, yet hesitating, thinking, won.
dering, when suddenly his meditations
were brought to a swift conclusion by
the sound of horses feet at the end
of the lane, and the figure of the girl
who had come to him at the hotel
came into sight, leading saddled
horse, and beckoning him to hurry.
"Well?" he questioned, running to
her, "who sent you, what does this
mean?"
"Meestair kellee tell me to watch
and tell you when the woman goes
away, he think she go after girl, you
know"
But where have they gone? How
can 1 follow?'
"Shhh"' the Banana Baby replied
you get on horse, follow me, but
wait. tell you now! There is only a
bad path from here to Gatun, no road
so they must go on horse. / show
you road, you go on so they not see,
but when you come to road
get Meestair Caree to send car there
for you. I go now and tell to people
Meestair kellee say should help you
If you go to follow M Meestair Kellee
he know me, always l help him, l
know Meestair Holmes, much, much
bad man.
But how did you find all this out?"
Christopher could still not convince
himself that he should take up the
trail of these people, particularly as
he had received such implicit direc.
tions from Winston himself, and then
and only then did Christopher have an
inspiration! Suppose that Winston
had not written that note to him at
all, suppose it was decoy, like the
other notes, cleverly forged!
The girl was speaking again, in an
swer to his question.
Long time I am employed by
Meestair Holmes! Meestair Kellee
he make me go there. I see lady
come from ship, see lady burn much
last night. 1 know lady go away to.
day, Meestair Kellee ne go in night,
he say tell you when lady goes away
Meestair, you go now, I see Meestaii
Kellee and tell him everything, he
come help you I know, only now go
Meestair Caree he send you car tc
road I know"
Her words, together with the sin
certify of her manner, convinced Chris
topher. and without further delay he
mounted the horse and followed her
lead through the town, keeping a
suitable distance behind her, and com.
ing at last to the outskirts where
the girl gave him detailed directions
and bid him godspeed.
Road much narrow and rough,
over mountains, very hard to ride.
but go slow. I think they not hurry,
I hear them laugh much because get
away from ship so easy, too. Very
hot to ride, think they go slow, not
worry, cannot lose path if keep
straight on where horses have gone
before"
Christopher saw ner TURN DdCk WIN
regret, but time was passing and
activities of the day had begun. The
girl must not arouse suspicion by be-
ing absent from her work at the
Holmes residence, and now that he
was safely on the road he did not
need her further guidance
1t was indeed a rough and difficult
road, mountain trail, winding in and
out of that wild country bordering on
the Canal. christopher had heard
that the highway from Colon to
Gatun had not vet been cOmpleted