Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-26

of@a gray December afternoon it would
have been difficult enough to read, but
to- all other disadvantages was added
the drive Of wind and sleet. Her old
coat Vas already saturated. 1t had been
wet before she had walked a mile;
thu brim of her black velvet hat
6rDoped soggily.
She put the paper back into her
pocket and looked a little fearfully al
square. The forbidding house, with its
dingy stone front and blank, express
sionless windows, might hide interiors
of comfort and luxury, but there was
little promise in the outward appear
Rnce.
What would be the end of this essay,
she wondered, with calmnsSS which
seemed strange, even to herself. Would
it go with the others and end in dis
missal or, what was worse, an engage
ment on terms unSpoken but none the
less clearly understood?
Portman square was empty OF pc
destrians. Down one side of the open
space the great red buses rumbled
and closed taxis and cars sped past
at intervals. Drawing long sigh, she
walked up the two steps and looked
for the bell. There was none. The door
was innocent of knocker-She tapped
gently with her knuckles.
who is there?"
The voice seemed to come from the
! hide stone doorposts.
miss Bedford" she said. "I have
IN appointment with Mr.. Malpas.
There was pause and then as the
door opened slowly:
Come upStairs-the room on the
sirst landing" said the voice.
IL frNrr rrysa
che wall. The hall was empty, One
. yellow globe supplied the illumination.
While she was looking around the
door closed again, by no obvious agency.
For a second she was seized with a
sudden and unaccountable fear. She
sought the handle Of the door; there
was none. The black, heavy portal
was closed upon her irrevocably.
Audrey's hands were trembling; cold
and fear combined to break her cour-
age-cold and fear and hunger, for she
had taken nothing that day but a
piece of bread and the remains of
coffee left over from the previous night.
!. She looked around the hall. OF furni-
ture there was none except an old
chair against the wall. The marble
floor was thick with dust, the diScol-
ored walls innocent of pictures or hang
tngs.
With an effort she controlled her
/ shaking limbs and walked up the stone
ktairs. On the second landing was a
/ polished rosewood door-the only in
terror door she had seen-and after a
pause to summon the reserves of her
courage she knocked.
as that Miss Bedford?"
This time the voice came from over
her head. Looking up, she saw Sec
ond grating in the recessed doorway.
1t was placed so that any visitor
knocking would stand Immediately un-
derneath.
"Yes," she answered, holding her
anxiety in check
Instantly the rosewood door swung
open and she passed into "a broad,
well-Iit hall. Facing her was a second
door, ajar.
"Come in, please"
This time the voice spoke from the
room; it was less distinct.
She hesitated, her heart humping
painfully. The room seemed to be in
darkness save for one faint reflection.
Pushing open the door, she walked In.
It was a large room, about 80 feet
In width and almost twice the length
The walls. so completely draped by vel
vet curtains that it was impossible Va
tell where the windows were hidden,
ran I'D into gloom; the visitor must
guess where the black ceiling began
and the walls ended. Under her feet
was rich, deep carpet, into which her
hating feet sank as she took three
steps, stopped and looked, open-eyed
j In the far corner of the room man
sat at a desk, on which green shaded
lamp afforded the only illumination the
gloomy chamber possessed.
A strangely revolving figure. His head
was narrow and bald his yellow face
innocent of hair, was puckered in .
thousand wrinkles and seams: the nose
was big and pendulous. His long
pointed chin moved all the time as
though he were talking to himself.
"Sit in that chair" he said hollowly
The chair she saw when her eyes
grew accustomed to the darkness; i
stood behind a small table, and slowly
and painfully she sat down.
IT have sent for you to make YOU
fortune" he said in his mumbling voice
.~Many people have sat in that chail
hnd have gone away rich"
In the green light that fell athwar
his face from the lamp shade he looked
some hideous imagining of Chimes
artist She shuddered and gaZed stead
fly past him.
ION the table-look!" he said.
He must have pressed some buttor
on the table, for instantly she foune
herself sitting, the focus of a powerful
yellow light that fell from bell-shapet
shade above and threw circle of brigh
radiance on the floor around her. Anc
then she saw on the table THU
package of money.
take It'll" he said.
After seconds hesitation sh
stretched out her hand and took tn
notes, shivering from head to foot
The light above was slowly dimming
Presently it faded altogether and sh
sat in the darkness. her hands Tin
consciously gripping the wealth tina
had come to her. And a key-she d!'
not realize that until he referred to tn
fact.
Audrey Bedford. That is you
Same?"
She made no reply.
Three weeks ago you were release
from prison, where you served a sen
tence OF year, or nine months of
year, for being accessory TO a robbery?
Yes" said the girl quietly. Il Shout
have told you that in any event.
have invariably told that when I hav
applied for work"
innocent, of course?" he asked.
There was no smile on his expression
less face and she could not judg
whether his tone was ironical or no
She guessed it was.
Yes, I was innocent" she sal
evenly.
Faxed charge-a frame-up, Ell? E
Ton had it all fixed for you. You kne
n