Evening star., 1938-12-31
"It's Mutiny!"

From the moment when Lord Ho-
ratio pulled up outside the Purple
House he realized that there was
change in the atmosphere of the
place. There were guards in the
guardroom of number is and two
in the doorway, but instead of sa-
luting smartly, they stared at him
in besotted manner and saluted
belatedly. He decided to go into
number II. AS he fumbled with
his latch key, Comdr. Hoggin came
swiftly along the pavement and en-
tered the house on his heels. "All
sorts of things have happened"
said Hoggin. ''It's-it's mutiny."
Where's Smike?" asked the Boss.
"He's in number 16. He'll come
if he can"
Lord Horatio led the way to
ground-foor parlor. Tell me every
thing. I've seen the papers. How
did that fellow get loose?"
Il couldn't prevent it. I"
"How did it happen? Never
mind T.. How did that little beast
jump Jul JldC1Ol III: 11OW ulu 1lc
get the press he did?"
There's a gang It's an orga-
nized mutiny, mlord. Smike report
ed on that Camborne Square fiat,
didn't he? His business to do so.
He's the Intelligence Officer, not
me. That rich American fellow is
in it, Steenhold, and Rogers, that
big fellow, who runs Boy Scout box
ing clubs in Pimlico and White
chapel, and there's Bodisham-I
never trusted Bodisham-I told you
and lot of them. Some new
men. Some men who've come back.
Ci-devants. They're all over num-
ber 16 waiting for you"
Have they been in here?"
How could they? It's kept
locked"
Good. What about Frobisher?"
Not of Grievance.
"Wavering about. I always said
that chap was too tall to keep stiff.
The way he let them hustle him on
his platfrom-"
What did you do?"
What could I do? control speak
ers. I don't control the boys. And
he was in command. You put him
in command"
Bohun scoWled at the faint note
OF grievance in Hoggin's tone. "Wait
here for moment" he said. I
shall go right in there and-handle
them"
He went up to his bedroom. There
he brushed his hair and stood for
a time in front of a cheval glass.
assembling his personality to the
full. His reflection was satisfactory.
He felt stimulated. He liked his tall
sinister presence rising to an occa-
sion
Eyes, my boy, I'll show you how
to handle things" he said to an
imaginary Rud, and with the habit
ual rectitude of a born commander
of men, he went downstairs again.
rejoined Hoggin and led the way
into No. 16 He walked through
the door of communication and up
to his study past the first-foor
room in which, as he was actually
aware, 'Rud, Bodisham and the
others awaited him. "Get me Smike,"
he said to Hoggin.
He found Mrs. Crumb standing
over a young man who was picking
up copies of "The Heart and Soul
of Great Leader" from a tumbled
heap upon the floor and piling them
back on the table. He vanished at
a gesture.
WELL" said Bohun. "Has any,
thing happened?"
Il don't know what's happening
downstairs, but"
"Yes?"
Took No Notice Of Her.
THAT dreadful little Whittlelow
man suddenly came in just now
took no more notice of me than a
dog-and" Cher voice fell to an
awe-stricken Whisper went and
sat down in your chair. Just sat
down."
Did you say anything to him?"
Il said you might not be pleased
70 see him there. I said it quietly.
Like that. I said, Lord Hora-
tio-'"
And what did he say?"
He turned and made a most un-
pleasant face at me. He Is ugly.
But he hadn't a word to say for