Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-28

connected the fugitive visits of Dick
Shannon with the change OF conditions.
They turned into the less congested
area of Hanover Square. She had had
no intention of going to Hanover
Square and was, in fact, on her way to
an oxford street store, but she surren-
dered her will to his in this small mat
ter without exactly realizing why.
IT am going to talk to you like
Dutch uncle" he said, slowing his pace.
you're not a Mason; neither am I.
But Masons have condolences and keep
one another's secrets and talk ON the
square with the greatest frankneSs."
There was laughter in the eyes that
she turned to his.
"And from knowledge that I have ac-
uuired, in a place that shall be name
less" she said, policemen are artful!
And under the guise Of loving kind
She saw the flush come to his face
and the droop Of his brows.
I'm awfully sorry; I didn't really
mean to be rude. Go on, be candid
I'll be recklessly truthful, but you
mustn't ask me anything about Dora.
and you really must not raise the ques-
ton of that unfortunate queens jew
elry:' - - ,. ,,,. .,.,.
She was silent for moment.
"She isn't exactly my sister. but
was under the impression that she
was" she said.
He stroked his chin thoughtfully.
Anyway, it stands to her credit that
she's looking after you now"
The girls soft laughter answered
him.
do you mean to say that she isn't?"
He stopped and frowned down at her.
Dora and are no longer on speak
ing terms" she said, land very natu-
rally. It isn't good for Dora that she
should be on speaking terms with a
woman of my low antecedents. Serl-
ously. Capt. Shannon, do not wish 10
.peak about Dora"
what are you doing?" he asked
bluntly.
Il was walking up to Daffridges. only
I was arrested and taken"
Tell me seriously. what work are you
ioing?"
She hesitated
II don't know. except copying letters
for very unpleasant looking old gentle
man, and being paid at extravagant
rates for my services"
In spite of the flippancy of her tone
he detected the doubt In her voice, and
knew that behind her pose Of light
heartedness she was worried.
Hanover square isn't the quietest
place in the world" he said. "Ill drive
you to the park and well have a real
heart-to-heart talk"
He looked around for taxicab. There
was one crawling behind him, and the
drivers face was strangely familiar.
20 Lord! I'd forgotten you," he
gasped.
4 hadn't forgotten you'll" said the
taximan grinly. Where do you want
to go?"
In the desert of Hyde Park they found
two dry chairs and desirable solitude.
II want first to hear about this I'M
pleasant-looking gentleman" said Dick.
and Audrey gave him brief and vivid
narrative Of her experience with Mr..
Malpas.
II suppose you'll think it was despite
able In me to use the money at all; but
when a girl is very hungry and very
cold she has neither the time nor the
inclination to sit down. and work out
problems Of abstract morality. GER
tainly had no intention of breaking any
body's heart, but didn't examine my
duties too closely until I was comfort
ably installed in the Palace Hotel, with
and q lot of other things that would
be complete mysteries to you II men
toned them! 1t was not until the next
morning that my conscience became
awfully busy. had written the night
before to Mr.. Malpas. telling him my
new address, and I was halfway
through a second letter in the morning,
explaining that, while I was ready and
willing to render any service, however
mental. I had discovered that heart
breaking was not among my accom-
plishments, when note came from
him. 1t didn't look like note; 1t was
a bulky envelope containing about ten
penciled letters, which he asked me to
copy and return to him."
What kind Of letters?" asked Dick
curiously.
They were mostly notes declining in
vitations to dinners and other social
functions. which had evidently come
merely signed the letters with his ini-
tial. He said they could be written on
the hotel note paper, and that they
must not be typewriter"
Dick Shannon was very thoughtful.
Il don't like 1t very much" he said
at last
do you know him?"
IT know of him. In fact, the other
day was having long talk about him
with some - friends. What Is your
salary?"
She shook her head.
THAT we haven't mentioned. He gave
me this lump sum. told me to report
next week, and since then I've done
nothing but copy the documents which
come to me every morning by the first
post. Today the letters were longer.
I had to make copy of correspondence
between the governor of Bermuda and
the British colonial office. This time
the document was printed-it had evil
IDENTIFY been torn from an official blue
book. What am to do, Mr.. Shannon"
I'm hanged if know" he said. puz-
Tled. "One thing you must not do. and
that is, 60 alone to that queer house
next Saturday. or whatever is the day
of your appointment. You must let me
know the exact hour and will be watt
ing in Portman square, and when the
door opens for you it will be easy for
me to slip in" And then, noticing her
alarm, he smiled. "I'll remain in the
hall within shouting distance, so you
need have no qualmS that I'm using you
for my vile police purposes. We haven't
anything against Mr.. Malpas, except
that he is mysterious And. in spite of
all that has been written to the con-
trary, the police hate mysteries. BY the
way, were any of the letters you wrote
addressed to Mr.. Lacy Marshalt?"
She shook her head.
THAT is the African millionaire isn't
it? He lives next door. The taxi driver
told me-"