Evening star., 1928-01-20

hand. They all scrambled back into
the roadway.
"The first one who comes near
the window" she warned them. Il
shall shoot. whoever II is. My friend
below is ringing up Marlborough
street at the present moment. IL YOU
say the man below Is murderer, the
police can have him. It seems to me
from the state he's in that its you
they'll want"
There was momentary silence.
Then they nil began to talk to one
another. and though not a single
word was intelligible to Miss Brown,
she was conscious of an atmosphere
OF hlasphemy. They drew gradually
farther away and lights began to flash
out from the houses opposite. AS
soon as they had turned the corner.
Miss Brown descended the stairs to
find Paul. now fully conscious, sitting
up with his back to the wall.
They've gone" she announced.
II was significant Of her that she
asked for explanation. Paul. how
ever, promptly provided II.
Il am very sorry indeed" he be-
gan, lawfully sorry. You see, went
nome from the Cosmopolitan with
some friends who live near here.
stayed with them all the time and
then when | left them just near the
door Of a house opened and out came
Bretskopf, the man l spoke to you
about the man who has been the
evil genius Of my family
Il had warned Bretskopf that If he
stayed ~ hours in England he rsked
his life. met him face to face. He
had been drinkingt lie was wear
inG-actually wearing-as he stepped
out on the pavement the black pearls
he stole from my grandmother's
house, and as | saw him there-I re-
memhered the rest. | took him by
the collar. had malacca cane
and beat him. beat him every
where. They came rushing out from
the house-his friends. Two or three
OF them tried to rescue him. They
couldn't. He was mine.
When | had finished with him. |
threw him into the gutter. Then
they all came for me and one of them
hit me from behind. There were
others streaming out of the house
SIX or seven of them-they'd been
having debauCh there. l suppose
so l ran. | didn't mean to come to
you. | never thought of it at all. ]
turned down the entry TO put them
of the scent. and then / passed your
window"
Miss Brown. very practical. was
thinking hard.
DO YOU think you killed him?"
she asked
No" Paul answered. Il am afraid
not. Two of them carried him back
into the house. He was groaning.
but he was alive. No. | did not kill
him. | broke his arm. | think, and
perhaps his leg. but ! do not think
that he is dead | had not time"
lie began To humble incoherently.
Frances fetched water and towels and
together the two girls bound up his
wounds. He had fallen into a semi
comatuse state. half asleep and half
unconscious.
Perhaps you'll tell me now" Fran.
ces demanded, when they had placed
II pillow under his head exactly
what YOU are going to do about thus
young man."
we are going To sleep in our
dressing gowns" Miss Brown suc-
gested, and he can stay where he
Is There is nothing else for il, We
can't turn him out into the streets.
Il should think not. indeed | Won
der If he's quite comfortable"
Frances rested her hand gently
upon his forehead. adjusted BAN
dage and moved the pillow a little.
Reassured by his regular breathing.
she presently slipped off the remain
der of hcr clothes and wrapped her
self in her dressing gown, an eX-
ample which Miss Brown. after a mo-
ment's hesitation and with more cir
followed
once more they turned out the
light. Paul. stretched at full length.
seemed huge. almost colossal. In the
gloom of the room.
Continued In Tomorrows starr