Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-23

I
| IL that Dora had her story to
| 1t was the story of an injured wife,
| who had been obliged to fly from the
country because of her husbands bru-
| tally leaving behind her the miniature
of her child.
II don't mind confessing to you that
we have secured the miniature, Au-
drey," said Dora in an outburst of
| frankness. II don't think we were
strictly legal In our actionS-in fact,
Martin bribed the servant in Sir
Johns house to bring it to us. He
guessed we have 1t and has had us
watched day and night, and any at
tempt we make, either through the
positive are sure he has notified the
likely to lead to failure. A friend Of
this poor dear Lady Nilligan is COM
ing to London tonight, and we have
arranged to meet him at the station
and hand him the miniature. Now the
question is, Audrey, will you be a dar-
ling and take it to him? Nobody
knows you: the sleuth hounds will not
modest you; and you can render this
poor woman a great service. Person.
ally think there's a little too much
sentimentality about it, for don't see
why one miniature should be more valu-
able than another But evidently this
demented lady thinks 1t Is"
But what an extraordinary story"
said Audrey, frowning. Couldn't you
send one of your servants? Or couldn't
he come here?"
II tell you the house is watched"
said Dora, never the most patient Of in
.dividuals. IF you don't want to do
t."
"of course I'll do It," laughed
Audrey.
There is only one point want to
make" her sister interpoSed, land it Is
this: If by any chance this comes out,
want you to promise me that our
name shall not come into 1t. want
you to swear by our dead mother"
THAT is unnecessary" said Audrey,
little coldly. II will promise-that
is enough"
Dora took her in her arms and kissed
her.
"You are really a darling" she said,
land you've grown so awfully pretty.
I must find nice man for you."
1t was on the tip of Audrey's tongue
to suggest that her sister might very
well try some other ground of search
than that which produced the pallid
instructive dislike.
"Of course I'll take it, my dear" she
said. 1T seems such a little thing to
do. And If meet the grumpy husband,
why, I'll just talk to him firmly"
Apparently Dora's feasts were of
movable kind. for, although Audrey had
her dinner in her room, the party of
which her sister had spoken did not
materlalize. At half-past Dora came
up for her. carrying in her hand a
small oblong package, tied and heavily
sealed.
Nov remember, you do not know
me, you have never been to sos Curzon
street in your life" She repeated the
admonition and described in detail the
mysterious Pierre. when you see him,
you will go UP to him and say, This Is
for madan1'-that and nothing more !"
She repeated the instructions and
made the girl recite them after her.
Audrey was at first amused, then q
little bored.
make about so small thing. but you
have succeeded in arousing that con-
spirator feeling!"
With the package secure in an inside
pocket Of her coat, she went out into
the direction of Park lane. She had
hardly disappeared before Martin Elton
came out. Keeping her in sight, he
watched her board bus and, hailing a
taxicab, followed.
To Audrey the adventure was mildly
exciting. She knew neither of the par
ties of this family quarrel, and found
1t difficult even to speculate upon their
Identity. They were probably two very
plain, uninteresting people. Family
quarrels usually we're. But she was
glad of the opportunity of earning her
board and keep, and it relieved her OF
q sense Of obligation, for which she
was grateful.
The bus put her down opposite Char
ing Cross station, and, crossing the con-
gested road, she hurried through the
courtyard into the station building.
There were hundreds of people in the
big approach; the night mail was be-
ginning to fill. and passengers and
their friends stood in groups .,efore the
barriers. She looked for a considerable
time before she saw Pierre, a snort,
stocky man with square. fiaxen beard,
who seemed to be wholly absorbed in
the animated spectacle. Moving to the