Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-05

moment. then rose 10 his feet. He was
feeling little sick. The room had an
odd trick of swaying, but he held onto
the wall and listened.
The footsteps were close at hand now,
more and more distinct, yet with break
every now and then, as though the new
conner were pausing to listen. Benskin
pushed open the door and felt for the
switch OF the hall light. which the land
lady had turned out He failed at first,
however. TO find it.
Who's *there?" he demanded
The footsteps stepped. The little
stairway was 50 near that he could
hear the quick breathing of some one
only yard or two away.
Who's there?" he repeated. What
do you WANT"
For a moment there was silence, no
attempt at any sort Of reply, Then the
/ mysterious intruder seemed TO turn
away in rapid flight. Benskin heard
/ the flying footsteps-the footsteps now
/ Of one in breathless haste--and the
swirl Of a skirt. Then, by the half
/ light from the room he had just left
/ the door Of which he opened more
completely, he caught glimpse OF the
/ dim. vague shape of woman In dark
| clothes. A rush Of cold air came ur
{
/ door At that moment he found the
/ switch--too late The hall was empty
J There was no sign Of the furtive visitor
/ The iandiady returned in triumph
/ She hustled into her own room and
came out with the bottle Of brandy she
! had purchased still under her arm, two
glasses and sipnon of soda.
My. can do with this" she ex-
claimed. as she helped herself.
! Benskin followed suit
Tell me-" he asked. did you meet
a woman In the street just outside"
/ Not soul" she assured him
There amt many about either. It's
cruel night
Some one has been in during youi
! absence. She climbed the stairs on tip
/ toe-a woman IL was. She would have
/ come in here. but / called out.
/ The landlady shook her head You're
wandering little" she warned him
/ not unsympatheticslly THAT was e
! fair blow you got"
/ I'm not 50 bad as that. he pro.
tested Had this poor fellow any lady
+ friend who used 20 visit him?"
There's been a woman here once 81
! twice" the landlady replied She :
never stayed more than 2 few minutes
! though | caught a glimpse OF mel
+ f8ItII7 = ttNa@h- aS|@'ffh '<'"S ''tA' 'f-+F
in black
How long has he been with you?'
Benskin inquired.
"Five weeks paid weekly In sd
vance, she c0nnded Name of Oeofg'
Mulliqar been = groom. he said. anf
looking fOr a lob A squea my looking
piece Of goods. hut ! never had any
lining against him
some one else had. Eenskin OBJ
served 49,. -,
been worth doing N the woman RUM
mated. taking another long guip Q
brandy Never seemed to nave I'M
price Of Scotch on him .,..
"Whaf about that them" Benskir
asked pointing towards the mhntei
The uomans eyes grew bigger ant
bigger Fiimsiesl Bank notes. 6oof
uns. too"
gsuskin counted them and hiittonet
them un IN his pocket "One hundred
poIndg," he said That's prett'
good sum for him 10 have had =
pretty good sum for the man who nun
dered him to have left behind.
why he's owing me couple 81 quit
iiUn for meals, and nit besides 10
wood and coal, said the woman
your probably get your money
then Henskin observed dryiy I'm
going 10 take this fer the present, bu
everything owing viii be paid
lie turned toward the door tn
woman enivefed
You're not going 10 leave me ~
here aiGnei" she gesped
4 am not he answered am ga
ing ~ fetch policeman. who Will re
main Oh duty all night Early IN ia