Evening star., 1938-12-29

SAp o1A tAlc jeW SAlO spun Nun OH
the platform"
you might" agreed Rogers. "But
you had too much sense. The boss
knew that"
"Yees. What can report to Lord
Horatio I don't know. It's hard to
phrase it. don't want to be hard
on one Of his friends"
Better to understate than over
state" counseled Bodisham. "You
might claim you discovered him."
T"ie tall young man seemed to be
recovering his self confidence. I'm
some ways anyhow, that chap is an
acquisition, you know. He can
spout -"
Rud surveyed the groups in the
room for while, as If he consented
to their existence, but meant to keep
his eye on them. Then, with his
hands behind his back in the man.
ner of a pensive Napoleon and say
ing nothing to any one, he left Irwell
and Chiffan at the window, walked
past them all and upstairs to the
room Of his two interviews with
Lord Horatio.
1t was, as he expected, empty. He
walked round the great ornamental
unbusinesslike desk. seated himself
In the much too ample chair of his
lordship, took up the large paper
knife and tapped thoughtfully with
1t as he meditated. This time he
remembered most of his speech. He
thought 1t was an extremely good
speech for the occasion.
Cardinal Slogan.
I am the common man." he re-
peated. It had leapt to his mind
out Of nothingness. It could be
made q cardinal slogan.
Another part of his mind was
busy upon quite different line. He
was wondering whether he would
keep on Mrs Crumb.
II she could see him now! Shed
topple over backward.
He was still smiling quietly at that
thought when the door opened and
Chiffan and Bodisham came in.
Well" said Bodisham. Here you
are in the lions den."
For time," said Rud. won't
you sit down? There's a chair be-
hind that table where his stenogra-
pher sits, and II you shove that pile
of pamphlets off the table-they're
no beastly good anyhow-"The Heart
and Soul Of Great Leader'-Lord !
Shove 'em of and thereu be the
table to sit on, too.
Don't lift them off. Let 'em drop
in a heap there. The next moves
with him."
Il suppose he's booming and gar
Cling that old speech of his about
now." said Bodisham. "Or maybe a
little later. He'll get his first idea
OF what has happened here tomor-
row when he opens the morning
paper"
And then the great purple car
Will turn its mighty lanterns Lon
downward" said Chiffan. Were well
started. There's no going back. I
suppose that tall fellow. what's his
name-?"
"Frobisher."
Won't have telephoned?"
Lack of Inventiveness.
That's all right" said Bodisham.
He wouldn't know what to tele-
phone. but anyhow Rogers and
Steenhold are in charge of him. He's
amenable. He has grievance. He's
half with us in a perplexed way al
ready. They're all stale here. Things
have got into a kind of routine
through sheer lack of inventiveness.
Here we are and here In effect we
have to stick. There's no way on,
but onward-as you said last week.
We can do practically what we like
here-until Horny comes back. Then
the fat will be in the fire. Then
the real f1areup will begin. Pres
emily when most of the boys have
gone home and there's nobody down.
stairs but Longshanks and the
guards on duty you and I will look
the number II over. It has its points
OF interest. It's queer
In fact" said Bodisham, after q
short interval, "it's very queer =
And then: very"
He seemed to be thinking very
hard about Rud. He seemed to have
some sort of uncertainty about Rud
There ARE some locked DOORS
said Bodisham. Il happen As
matter of fact, I was put in con-
troll here for time last September
and I have duplicate keys. had
them made. always had my doubts
OF Horny. About that underhune
Jaw Of his and those eyes too close
together. I made some discoveries
and then I waxed the key. I don't
think you quite realize yet what he
is. You will see. You think he's
an Ass. He's an Ass all right but
he's something more than that
In some way he's a dangerous Ass
We've got to be prepared
We've got to know the animal we
hunt or we may have some nasty
surprises. want you to see."
tcopyriRht, 1888. by the North American
Newspaper Alliance, Inc.)
Tomorrow: Lord Bohun's tor
ture chambers and night
mares