Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-20

that ninepence- half-penny in my
trousers pocket He pointed to the win
dow-the great, uncurtained window in
the full light of which I sat.
Go over there" he ordered. Fol
low the road back to London. Tell me
is you see anything"
1 obeyed him and looked searchingly
along that soggy, ill-made, muddy
thoroughfare, stretching across the
marshes bordered by the threadbare
hsdges and yawning dykes, to where a
| lowering mass of mingled mist and
| smoke hung over the approaches to the
city: ,, =,
I reported. cit is empty"
He glanced at an electric clock upon
the table and frowned. Then he lifted
from its stand one of the telephone re-
ceiverS by which he was surrounded and
spoke into it so softly that I failed 70
hear word he said. Again he turned
toward me.
Your eyes appear to be strong" he
remarked. How far can you follow the
road Backward"
past the station told him, past
what seems to be sewerage farm, across
wooden bridge to what might be a
main road beyound."
Look again." ne enjoined. Watch"
There ensued brief silence-a silence
of perhaps three Misunderstanding which
no sign of human life appeared upon
the miserable plain across which
looked. At last, at the far end of the
road, there was speck. I scrutn1zed
it narrowly.
There is a vehicle-a motor car
coming" I announced.
Describe it to me-"
I waited until it came nearer. 1t
was being driven at great speed, rock
i,,rr cid To cd he
sending up little fountains of water
from the holes across which it sped. I
turned my head.
1T is a very big carr should say a
Rolls-Royce It is being driven ap-
parently by a chauffeur. There IS
another man inside, and think girl"
My new employer-already felt that
I was in his seYvice-nodded shortly.
Come here" he directed. Turn
around. Look at that wall
He pointed to a strip Of oak paneling.
not far from the door, and before my
eyes, without any visible agency It
parted and slid gently open. Aftervard
I knew that he had touched button
under his desk.
Go i'll there" he ordered. "YoT: can
listen to all that is said by means of
the instrument standing on a bracket
upon your right-hand side. There IS
a lookout hole there, too. If I should
strike the desk with the fat of my hand
twice, need help. The door will open
by means of a button underneath the
bracket"
II understand" assured him.
moved toward the recess. AS I
was crossing the Threshold he called
after me.
with the fiat Of my hand twice."
he repeated, but do not be disappointed
if nothing happens, Henry Owston.
Others have been before you, and waited
in vain. run my risks as does every
man who has enemies, but never yet,
poor cripple though am, have had TO
call for help. Tonight. however-it may
be different. It depends in what spirit
my visitor comes Take your
place, please Adjust the microphone to
your ears. You can open the door,
If I give the signal, by pres
sing the button just below the in
Strument."
After which instructions, he dismissed
me with little wave Of the hand, and
I passed into my hiding place.
1 found my temporary refuge larger
than I had expected, with some sort Of
ventilation from overhead and lit by an
electric bulb that flashed out with the
closing of the door. fitted the micro
phone to my head, and established my
self in a not uncomfortable chair before
the spy hole. Then suddenly received
an unexpected shock.
Exactly opposite the opening through
which I had entered there flashed,
through chink in the wall, thin line
Of light. Noiselessly the panels rolled
back and a woman stood framed In the
aperture woman whom I judged at
arst, notwithstanding the youthfulness
Of her figure, to be elderly. Then. as she
lowered her head little. saw that
what had taken for gray hair was
in reality very beautiful shade of
blonde, fine as silk, and
ylimmering almost to gold as she
stopped to enter the closet and stood
Tor a moment under the electric bulb.
She held up her finger, and I checked
ny first exclamation of surprise.
Pay attention, please, to what I
nave to say. and answer me in as low
/ tone as possible" she begged.
But who are you?" I inquired.
II will explain directly. Put on your
again. and listen for the
opening of the door. Your mission,
which I suppose is to guard Martin
1ews, does not commence until then"
CONTINUED In Tomorrows Star.5