Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-21


bluer than at that moment. She grip.
ped the sides OF her chair. She felt
her heart almost stop beating and then
pound away until she became actually
breathless. lie was looking at her in.
tently. but without the slightest soften.
ing In the hard lines about his face.
"A secretary" he explained, lis
neither one thing nor the other. You
know now more than any one else out
side this building what my life Is like
and the nature OF my work. There are
times when / need help. / want to
explain TO you. If you will listen care
fully, why l think 1t worth while to
devote my life to my Job. and l want
to ask you whether you are willing to
take your share now and then OF the
risks to be something more than a
mere tipping secretary--to be actually
one OF my organization?
What you would In fact become ia
a secret service agent of the NYO de.
partment Of the home office. with an
utilization across the way at Scotland
Yard"
Miss Brown swayed a little in her
chair. She felt an insane desire to
laugh. What a fool she had been. Try
as he would. she found speech impos'
sible. Dessiter. however. continued.
Il want you to feel in your own
mind that the works worth while" he
said impressively. "Patriotism's rather
AT discount since the war. Every
one worked themselves up into a fever
then, and now there's perfectly natu-
raj reaction TO the whole thing.
I've got the home office to listen TO
me. hence this department of mine.
with a staff of over 200. not more than
half dozen of whom you will probably
ever see. I'm in il up to the neck, and
I've got a great pull. The bluff OF my
death has been entirely successful.
They were afraid OF Dessiter. IheE
don't care a damn about John
Clyde -. (. =,
'Now,-are you going to work with
me. Miss Brown. body and soul? Lis
ten before you answer. You will draw
your $500 a year. and there will he
grants, liberal allowances. pension
afterward even II we are disbanded IN
six months. hut therell never be any
honors, mind. You'll never be made
Dame of the Empire. even II you
save the country. No one VIII ever
have heard of your name or know
what your work is.
She smiled.
AS though should care about such
things" she said. Besides. don't
know ] looked everywhere for your
obituary notices"
"A proof OF our power over the
press" he remarked. The home Office
is still a little difficult. but nothing
like what it used to be. and Scotland
Yard has an entirely new code"
DO you think" Miss Brown ven
tured. that there will ever be serious
trouble?"
Dessiter shrugged his shoulders.
II don't see n bloody revolution. but
a revolution OF some sort Is what were
out to fight against Are YOU with
me, Miss Brown"
She was her usual composed self
now. She looked up at him and smiled.
absolutely" she assured him. III
do all / can. I'm not very clever. but
I can be trusted
He came and sat upon the edge of
her table. His fingers were playing
with his cigarette case. In the mo-
mentary pause she found herself study
ing him. He was wearing country
clothes OF gray tweed. inclined 10 he
but well cut and becoming TO
his long. 1.-THE figure. The lines of his
face seemed to her to have become
little deeper even during the last few
days, but his eyes were bright. and
there was a certain indefinable viSor.
mental as well as physical. which
seemed 10 radiate from him.
Miss Brown" he said, II never
fatter. You have the gifts / need.
You have no nerves: in your quiet way
you are shrewd; you are not easily led
away from course OF action upon
which you have decided. and there is
a great deal OF force behind that Sd
date life OF yours. l know. I'm II
Judge az men and women. I've had
To be. for there are times you have to
trust. times when a mistake would cost
you your life. It's agreed then.
We work together
II shall be very proud" she assured
him.
ued, walking up and down the room
you are my typist. just as nominally
am one Of the UNDERGRADUATES at
the home Office. Actually / am the
chief OF XYO, and you will be my
trusted helper as well AZ my secretary
u. Now, let me explain your first
job. 1t isn't pleasant. but there's no
risk"
Here In London?''
NO: down AT Camberley. BY the
bye. you will have To catch the 1916
train from Waterloo"
Miss Brown glanced at the clock.
II must leave here In 20 minutes"
He nodded and took up some pa pers
from his desk.
Here are your instructions. You
Will book tn Chamberiey. take cah
and drive 10 this address: Lady Han.
merton, the Monk. Merton road. Cam.
heriey.' Lady Hannerton has applied
10 the principal agency in the West
End for secretary, BY arrangement
with the manageress you are 10 offer
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