Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-19

M the elevator stop. She was
WI pushed forward. The scarf
4 Il covering her eyes was of thin
enough texture to enable her
to see that she was now in a lighted
place, whereas hitherto she had moved
in darkness. Details were hazy. She
had walked out into the gardens and
had determined to go as far as the old
sundial. Then-something had hap
pened.
She had passed the detective on duty
at the gate in the tall hedge and had
gone down the steps. She could not
recall now If he would have been able
: to see her from where he was posted.
But something about the garden
had been different: it had had an un-
familiar appearance.
Then the unrememberable hap
The scarf was united by some one
who stood behind her. A faint sound
told her that the elevator door had been
closed. The elevator descended.
But Nine. CZerna did not look around.
Sne stood staring, staring, at the
woman seated before her-sole occu-
pant of the white-domed room. which
seemingly possessed neither doors nor
windows. Through the eye Sits in a
black half mask this woman watched
her fxedly.
Nine, Czerna's composure was Won
derful. But one who has known the
hell of the Devils Island and been an
active but unwilling member of the
Zones is not entirely as others.
The masked woman spoke.
Zone Officer IA" she said coIdlv.
you were found to be a traitor to us
almost exactly one year ago tonight.
The zones may work slowly but they
cast their nets wide. Your removal
from the rolls has been in the orders
since last September"
Madame made no reply, and:
THE raid on old headquarters, New
YORK, the calm voice went on re-
n1orsely, and the arrest of a number
of valuable officers was your work. Re
Gently, again, you all but ruined our
plans. Have you anything to say?"
Nothing"
The word sounded hollowly, mock
hgiy, in the silence of the domed
what I'm asking YOU" said Ned w
Regain us this Either Immediately be-
fore or Immediately after Mime. Czerna
passed you did you hear or see any,
thing unusual in the cardinals gar
DEM"
Nothing, chief" the man replied
earnestly.
"a while ago" Burke broke in, "as
we were out there, we thought we heard
funny noise down by the far end, near
the sundial.''
Stevens of Ned w. Regan's Agency.
the man who had been on duty at the
north end of the garden when Nine.
CZerna had gone down, looked from
face to face. At last he looked at Regain,
and:
There's no query about me, chief"
ne asked quietly. lis there?"
None at ALL Roscoe replied. But
we're all as puzzled as you"
Good enough" said Stevens 81 only
wanted to know"
Thing is" Stopford broke in, "that
you an the bloke at the other end
Cumper-are our only hopes!"
Bumpers right enough" Stevens in
terjected.
mo doubt" stopford agreed. But
between the pair Of you somebody has
faded into thin air!"
There was a brief interval. Then:
That's true enough, sir" Stevens ad-
fnitted. II can't deny it."
An idea occurs to me-" said Roscoe.
From where you were standing, Stew
ems. could you see right along to the
other end of the garden?"
No, commander! Because, you see,
wasn't standing. I was sitting on the
bench just this side of the gate-with
my back to the garden"
"Ah!" Roscoe murmured. Then:
"Regan," he said, "call Cumper again"
Regain stood up and went to the door
Opening it:
"Cumper" he shouted
A moment later Cumper came in.
He was as Sanguine in type as his con-
frere, Stevens, was saturnine.
Yes, chief"
Something has occurred to me,
Cumper," Roscoe went on. You have
reported that you saw nothing of Nine.
Czerna in the sunken garden. Did you
mean that you didn't see her come out
or didn't see her 60 imp"
Il didn't see her go in or come out"
was the prompt reply. MY job was
the orchard I had my back to the
garden"
"Gadl" Stopford cried. cts gettin'