Evening star., 1941-03-28

He had been worried when the
chauffeur returned without her.
"Yes, Walker, I know him.
Thanks for the tea
But the housekeeper still fingered,
her gaze darting here and there,
her manner fraught with vague
foreboding.
Its no marvel prince would
like you. miss" she said unexpect-
edly. You're by way of being more
of beauty each day. More like
her"
Brinda looked up from her tea in
perpleXity.
"Her?"
"Her that goes in and out" whis-
pered the housekeeper. The dark
haired lady"
In spite of herself, strange, eerie
shiver ran down Brinda's spine.
But I don't know what you're
talking about, Walker. What dark
haired lady?"
Her with the queer veil," said
the housekeeper. Like a bandage
over her eyes, it is" Then, as
Brinda's face only expressed further
bewilderment, You mean you've
never seen her?"
Again, Brinda experienced a weird
tingling along her backbone. Could
it be that the responsibility of tend
ing the home of Britain's intelli-
gence chief had added the house.
keepers brain? But no, Walker
looked as stelid and unimaginative
as ever. Only her eyes, rheumy and
restless, continued to search the
room. Following them, Brinda real
lied with a start that Walker was
peering intently at the jewel cabinet
Too intently.
Walker Urges Caution.
Brinda arose.
walker she said decisively,
you're tired. You'd better 90 to
bed" Mentally, she decided to put
a lock on her door the next day.
Very good, miss" The house.
keeper picked up the tea things and
turned toward the door, Il didn't
mean to speak wrong. I always try
to mind my business. But" and
there was no mistaking the concern
in her voice this time-"do be care
full, miss. Your uncle wouldn't want
you to end up like that Mata Hari.
Her that got shot by the French for
being a spy" The door closed be-
hind her.
UGH" Brinda shivered. Yes.
there could be no doubt-the atmos-
phere of the house was affecting
the housekeeper. Too much tragedy
and violence-Kenley's murder, the
stabbing of Sir John, the blood
stained trunk and its horrible con-
tentS-no wonder Walkers simple
mind was reeling!
Yet, as Brinda's gaze wandered
back to the jewel cabinet. 1t seemed
to her for an icy moment that she,
too, saw a dark-haired, graceful
woman, with some kind of strange
veil over her eyes, kneeling before
1t. Then she realized that she was
not looking at the jewel cabinet. but
at its reflection in the pier glass.
and that the illusion was caused by
some trick of drapery and her own
flesh.
I'm worse than Walker!" she
murmered with smile.
Brinda's Dream.
Despite which, when she drifted
of to sleep, 1t was to dream a
strange. disturbing and endless
dream in which were curiousIy in
termingled Dick, Walker, Lord
Mountwyn. VaSlav and a strangely
beautiful woman with blue-black
hair and dark, golden skin and a
mysterious, tender smile But a
bandsge hid the dream creations
eyes, and when Brinda sought to
lift it, she found only deep, deep
pools that somehow she knew were
pools of tears.
On the afternoon after the bomb
ing or Dicks laboratory, Prince Vas
Law sat at the gold inlaid desk in
his private study moving ivory
pieces on chessboard of ebony and
Circassian walnut. There was a dis
Greet knock on the door, and a SER
want admitted the chauffeur who
had been charged with driving
Brinda home.
Vaslav looked up. his dark eyes
cold and hard.
You did not obey my instruc-
tlons. Mueller E. :. Why?"
The place was dangerous" the
man said sullenly. Il did what 1
thought was best"
Valslav studied him a moment
broodingly.
What ails you? Are you a cow
ard?'
The Chauffeur Too Frank.
The chauffeur flushed.
mo more than you," he said, with |
studied inSOlenre "p,It r door INV.