Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-13
CONTINUED from Yesterdays Star
INSTALLMENT XXX.
ONG after the others had LEI

r ONG after the others had left
Dighton lay back on the pillows
thinking, with the bright sun
IL light throwing squares of yellow
light on a green carpet and the
distant hum of traffic drifting up to
him from the Via VENT Settembre.
Lunch was brought in presently by
slim day nurse, who measured out
some medicine in a glass and straight
ened his bed before leaving. 1t was an
invalid's lunch, moist and singularly
unattractive to a man in Dighton's
state of mind. He accepted it, how
ever, without comment.
The atmosphere of the place was
getting on his nerves. A vague sug-
gestion of disinfectant hung every
where, of supercleanliness. He was
profoundly glad that the nurses shoes
squeaked: that, and the occasional
ringing of some other patients bell,
were the only noises that Jared upon
the depressing silence of the home
itself. It was in well ordered places
like these that babies were born, he
reflected. Surgeons came here. with
implements in unobtrusive little hand
bags. and removed appendices; physi-
clans f1ourished their stethoscopes,
nurses their clinical thermometers. He
could imagine it an ideal refuge for
those who were seeking quiet and rest.
Dighton, as it happened, had no desire
for either He wanted to be up and
doing, to snatch Greta from the
clutches of the formidable three and to
take part in that final assault on ALL
borgs house.
The thought of Greta at the mercy
of the Lizard brought on paroXySm of
impotent fury. The entire universe
seemed to have entered into conspir-
acy against him: Greta had been
spirited away almost under his eyes
and they were keeping him from going
to her assistance. He was incensed
with Marney for having brought him
there, with Taverner for not giving the
instructions to the matron that would
have set him free. They spoke of him
as crock, back number-and he had
headed a counter attack in Flanders
when suffering from far more serious
injuries than he had now! The whole
thing was ridiculous
A plan began forming itself in his
brain, a reckless, eXtravagant scheme
that commended itself more and more
to him as he considered it. A grim
smile lowered on his lips. He would
show Ahlborg whose was the best secret
service! The Lizard, Marney and Tav-
erner were all very well in their way,
but this final scene was one which
would be settled by the bigger men
himself and Ahlborg. whose extra inch
or two in height and greater girth
made him pass for giant.
For a full half hour he stared at
distempered wall, bordering the thing
until every phase of the proposed VEN
ture stood out in his mind with all
the vividness of a series of stereoscopic
views. The sheer impudence of the
scheme staggered him. It was as If
some other person had thought of it
and impaired it to himself. 1t was by
no means water-tight Embarked upon
half -heartedly, it would be doomed to
instant failure, but daring and determi-
nation might pull it through.
by heaven" he muttered aloud,
"Ill do it, if it kills me!'
He must get out of that home-an
absurdly easy thing when compared
with the bigger issues, and yet when
faced with the problem of slipping into
his clothes and along the passage to
the outer door, it assumed tremendous
proportions.
He was still debating this when the
nurse returned WIJtl Tie NEWS IildI a
lady was in the drawing room, asking
to see him. Miss Leckie was out, it
appeared, and the visitor refused to go
away.
Dighton frowned.
Does she give any name?" he de-
manded.
None whatever; but she insists that
her business with you is urgent"
He was conscious Of wild, impos-
sible hope
rs she English?"
She shook her head.
"Oh, no, Mr.. Dighton. She is an
italian lady"
What does she look like? Is she
pretty?"
The nurse smiled
Every, I should say. You have had
two visitors already today, you know,
and feel sure Miss Leckie-"
Show her in" said Dighton.
The girl hesitated for some seconds
at the door. shrugged her shoulders
and complied.
Mafalda PaSquali came suddenly in.
She paused between the doorway and
the bed, then dropped on her knees
by his side in an agony of tears.
This was as unexpected as it was