Evening star., 1928-01-20

ohu u luSHlHN ulSapHolI1lulSHI' 1 SHAi
take up a hobby. Isn't a hobby thu
first sign Of accepted spinsterhood--
sketching or fine needle work oI
something like that" shall prob
| ably"
LlSten.' Miss Brown interrupted
sitting upright with n start.
| Ii was past = O'clock. and the
little street had been deserted ever
since the closing time Of the public
house at the corner. The silence
outside. however, was suddenly almos,
fearsomely broken.
From somewhere in the direction
of Curzon street came a confused
| clamor of Voices-Noices Shrill and
yet raucouS. voices which somehow
| or other reminded the two girls
listening now side by side at the
window. Of "A pack of wild animals
| in full cry--and in the nearer dis.
tance. along the pavement. closer
at every moment, came the stun
bling footsteps ot man running.
Miss Brown shivcred. She had a
| momentairy accession or weakness.
Surely the tragedy of the morning
had been sufficient.
"Pu: out the light, Frances" she
whispered.
Frances shook her head. What
! impulse possessed her she never
knew, then or at any future time.
She touched the spring which re-
| leased the blind and stood at the
window. and almost as she did so,
! the tall form came stumbling by,
paused at the unexpected flash of
! light which streamed out across the
| pavement and stared in. Miss
| Browns little cry vas half of terror,
| half of frank amaz"ment.
| II was Paul who stood there. sup
| porting himself with his left hand
against the wall. his dinner coat
buttoned up to the throat. one side
OF his face covered with blood.
hatless, and with glare in his
eyes almost of savagery. He stood
swayinS n little on his feet. speech
less. The clamor of voices behind
seemed 10 grow nearer. His pur-
suers, whoever they might be, were
evidently turning into the allev.
Miss Brown tapped at the window
and threw it open few inches.
Wait a moment" she called out.
Il shall let you in"
please not" he cried. They are
all desperate. | am off.
Frances was out OF the room In
fash. She unfastened the latch and
opened the green painted front door
Paul was already on his way down
the street. She summoned him i'm
periously.
Come hack. Mr.. Paul-at once!"
Don't be an IDIOT" Frances in
sisted, stamping her foot. Quickly:
Quickly, or / shall come out and
fetch you"
Il didn't mean" he began, turning
around-'I had no idea"
She caught him by the coat and
dragged him in just as two or
three men appeared through the
opening of the entry. In 1. moment
she had the door closed and chained.
She looked at him in horror as she
half pushed. half supported him into
the room.
Heavens. what has happened 10
you?" she exclaimed
He staggered into Il chair and
drew one or two long breaihs.
Frances, who had been a nurse dur
ing the war. saw that he was on the
point Of faintin-. She held her cup
o: hot tea to his lips.
Il ought not" he faltered
Then lie broke of and said some
thing In Russian. The footsteps
came to pause outside. There was
a confused murmur OF voices. Miss
Brown, who had already fastened
the window. turned out the lights.
The electric bell pealed through the
silence OF the house. followed by a
clamorous knocking at the door.
Frances. who was bending over Paul.
looked up inquiringly.
There's no one else in the house"
Miss Brown whispered. Mrs. Nor
ton went down TO Brighton today for
the week end. and the two men who
share the rooms above went away
this afternoon for three days"
What are you going 10 do?"
Frances asked.
Miss Brown opened the drawer of
her little dressing table and took out
her revolver with Its five chambers
still loaded. Then she considered
for a moment.
they'll rush I'm. II / open this win
dow they'll do the same thing, IL we
ring up the police we may find it's
Mr. Paul we're getting into trouble" ="
"If | stamp on the floor. ring up
Marlborough street police station"
Miss Brown entoined.
Che stole out Of the room. ran
lightly up the stairs, entered the va
cant apartment above and threw
open the window. Below. FIVE mrh
were standing. She saw them only
indsiinctly in the light from the
distant street lamp. bot they Oh.
yiously had no kinship with the ordi-
nary order OF midnight mara uders.
Three of them were in evening
dress. and one Of them. whose finger
Was still pressing the bell. seemed to
her, with his pointed black beard
and sallow compile Xion. vaguely
familiar. Hes WAS wearing "A silk
hat and "A long coat with an astrakan
collar turned up. Al the sound of
the opening II The window he raised
his head. and Miss Brown immedi-
stely recognized him. II was Mail
akoN.
What do you WANT" Miss Brown
den1a n6ed
II want The man whom yon let into
this house just now" Mas the prompt
rcply.
WHY"
There w8s u confused murmur Of
voices. The faces ~ all FIVE men were
upturned. aud Miss Brown was
thankful for the obscuriiy In which
she stood
Hes murdered n man ia Charges
street" Maiskoff declared
You're not the police" Miss Brown
reJolned.
One " the men. who was swinging
! 3 short heavy Eiick, pushed lis way
Int" the middle Of the pavement.
Look here" he called out. the
police can deal with this later on.
We want that man ana we're going
! ~ have him. were coming through
your window down here II you don't
open ihe dooT'
( Miss Brown leaned q little fdrther
osjt lnio the night Hnd they 80 "
I v hat she was holding IN her right