Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-20


overwhelmed me. Joseph pattee
l. me on the shoulder in unexpected!
human fashion.
Go and make your peace with
Beatrice. If you can. Leopold will show
you the way"
Leopold piloted me across the hail.
You needn't hurry he whispered
as he indicated the door. he won't
turn in until or O'Clock in the morn
ing, and he and I have great deal
to talk about. I'll take you back tc
town in my car-let you know as soor
Gs In ready"
1 turned tho handle of the door and
entered. Beatrice was seated by the
fire. She looked up startled at my
coming I fancied that she had been
crying.
Beatrice, am the clumsiest beast!'
exclaimed bending over her.
Her eyes told me that I was for
you are" she admitted, but you
are rather a dear!''
We talked until the fire was nearly
burnt out, and then we sat. silent for
a time. Finally Beatrice said, with a
half-scared little laugh:
Henry, what time do you suppose II
is? You don't think Mr.. Leopold's for
gotten about us. do you?"
I glanced at my watch. 1t was past
2 o'clock. 1 opened the door and looked
out. The whole place was in dark
ness.
Beatrice ventured fearfully, You
don't suppose he's gone to Breezely?"
She looked at me, terrified. Then
she rang a bell. Its echo resounded
through the house. Very soon the but
Ter made his appearance.
Mr.. Leopold was to have taken Maj.
OWStOn back to London with him,
Beatrice explained. II am afraid he
must have forgotten al about it."
Il am sure he did. miss" the man
replied. Mr.. Leopold left with Sir
Bruce soon after IL o'clock"
We looked at each other in fear.
Harding. is there another car in the
garage" Beatrice asked.
The man shook his head.
How does one get away from here?''
inquired. How far is the railway
station, or any place where one can
hire a carr"
The railway stations two and a
half miles away, sir" he confided, and
never heard of any night trains. The
only thing 1 can think of is for you to
walk to the main road and try to get
a lift to Fulchley. One of the garages
might be open there"
Cant we telephone?" Beatrice sug-
gested.
Most unfortunate, miss" the man
regretted. Sir Bruce was trying to
telephone himself, 1t is because he
failed to get the exchange that he
thought it best to go up to town. The
instrument is evidently out of order"
Beatrice's mind was swiftly made up.
Wait for me five minutes" she
begged. Wen do as Harding sug-
gesJS-get onto the main road"
She was downstairs in a few mo-
ments and We started of. In less than
10 minutes after We had reached the
main road an empty van on its way to
London picked us up. We descended
at the first garage at Finchley and
hired car and driver. BY the time
We reached the Tilbury road the coun-
try began to disclose itself in a gray,
streaky light.
AS we drew near Martin Hews' home
Beatrice gripped my arm suddenly.
The carl" she exclaimed. There
IN the shadow of the house. Joseph is
here!"
You can get into the house?"
asked.
She nodded.
Through the servants quarters
Ninclin and have keys-no one else"
We were within a few feet Of the
library when we stopped short. She
horror. We could hear little tremulous
cries, each one linked with a sob.
Il can't stand this" cried. "Come!"
We heard a cracking sound and a
gliding voice-Joseph's- a hoarse
laugh, and again the cry. pushed open
the door, and stood there, absolutely
without power of movement. It was
q sight so extraordinary that the utter
loathsomeness of it only really gripped
me- afterward. Joseph, with a whip
in his hand, stood in the middle Of an
open space. and hobbling round in a
circle was an object 1 scarcely recog-
niZed. Then 1t all came to me. I
saw and I understood.
Martin Hews, his wig torn off. as
bald as man could be, his clothes dis
arranged. was numbering round in gro
tesque little jumps, while Joseph crack
ed his whip. His body was just as we
had always seen it, but beneath were
the most distorted, strange little less,
about foot and half in length. Mar
tin Hews was monstrosity. While we
hesitated upon the threshold, he stag
gered and fell. Joseph Knocked him.
up. my brave little mani" he shout
ed. up. and around the course! Up
you get!"
Crack went the whip again. Martin
Hews. his body writhing in pain, made
O pitiful effort to struggle to his feet.
"Minchin" he Sobbed out
Then I saw for the first time that
Minchin was also there, lounging in a
chair, smoking a pipe-an interested
ard applauding spectator. He put his
hoo oil