Evening star., 1927-04-26

shoulder as I was going out Of the
lodge"
THE Proud Sons OF Ragousa? ?"
gasped Bill
Got it first time. The fellow that
tapped me was an old shipmate of
mine, a chap that got five years in
Singapore for knitting the mate of a
ship he was sailing with. He told me
they picked him up in the East India
dock road when he was down and
out"
Bill turned and beckoned Bullott to
him.
Listen to this" he said. "Our
friend is telling me little story about
the Proud Sons that will make your
ears Prick
II haven't given you the story yet.
You've only got the beginning Of it, :"
the dilapidated Tinker made haste to
assure them.
wait" said Bill. and told his
friend what had already passed be-
tween them.
shoulder--this old shipmate of yours
what did he want you to do?"
IL didn't know it was him, to tell
you the truth. He had one of those
bedgowns on. But he told me to wait
for him outside, and we went off to
the White Hart to have a drink and
he spilled the rest of the yarn. He
said they'd picked him up in the East
India dock road, down and out took
him up to the lodge and made him a
nlember-the Limehouse Lodge, No.
well. 1 don't know what the number
is, anyway it was Limehouse. The
biggest lodge in London. After that
they made him into the twenty-third
degree. That's what 1 am--the TWEEN
ty-third degree" he said impressively.
You'd never guess it, would you?
But | am; can go down to any of
these Ragousa fellows and make 'em
do what like--in sense! l couldn't
putting 'em out. I know that be-
cause I've tried. But it's one of the
swell lodges"
You're a member of the twenty
third degree, and that star"
'Ah! That star" said the other.
with grinning triumph! That's what
I'm going to tell you about. What's
going to be done in July--the 29th Of
July? Do you know what / am?" He
pointed to himself. I'm second en-.
gine room guard. It's worth ten thou
sand quid to me. You wouldn't be-
lieve it--ten thousand quid, and
haven't got the price of doss."
I'm that case," said Bill, 1T doesn't
seem that it's worth while your telling
the story for a few paltry pounds
The man shook his head vigorously.
Ten thousand wouldn't buy my
neck: love myself too much. Besides,
how do you know they're not going to
double.cross me? 1t would be the
easiest thing in the world. / know
something better. You slip me 500 Of
the brightest and best and I'll give
, YOU a story thatll make your hair
stand on end and all your newspaper
readers go blue with fright. You think
] am bluffing, but I'm not. It's the
bird in the hand / want, and I've been
| following you about London all day
! trying to get word with you, though
| didn't know this gentleman was a
busy, or maybe l wouldn't have come
| up and talked to you now. / can get
ship next week for the River Plate,
and with 500 in my pocket could
| have q peach Of time in Buenos
Aires. Do get the money!"
| Bill thought a while quickly.
II can't give you the money myself,
bat I'll speak to my editor" he said.
| "Will you come to my house tonight
a. o'clock?"
| The man accepted the offer eagerly.
| Make 1t TO-" he said. "I've got to
meet my friend at 8. And have the
money ready--this is q sensationl And
say--why ship flour to America? And
canned meat to America, and rifles
and booze-openly? That's funny,
amt it? So longp'
And with no other word Of explana.
| ton he slouched off.
Toby couldn't have been more mys.
terious," said Inspector Bullott.
| n Y II
Inspector Bullott knew much more
about the Proud Sons of Regousa than
| Bill Holbrook imagined. It was not
for amusement that he had spent half