Evening star., 1941-09-30

OF the game. AS soon eS we are
certain his death will have no un-
pleasant aftermath we can dispose
Of him.
"Your lordship -" Warburton
broke the silence he had main
tanned. He sensed that they would
be leaving the cell soon, and he
must inform Vance that his daugh-
ter was also a prisoner in this
stronghold Your lordship, I may
deserve any fate meted out to me,
but the girl who accompanied me
is guiltless of any conspiracy against
you. She only came to London to
search for her long-absent father.
I beg of you set Mistress Molly
free as soon as possible"
At first it seemed that the allusion
had been lost upon Sir Arthur. The
blind man remained as motionless
as ever. And then Warburton noted
that one of his hands had dropped
TO his sword and had frightened
about the hilt until the knuckles
showed white.
so her name is Molly" Winston
smiled. Il thank you for the in
formation. Warburton, but I cannot
grant your request. She is the
cutest little baggage have seen in
years"
Sir Arthur laughed. you were
ever a great hand with the ladies,
George" said he.
A hint of vain glory crept into the
voice of the marquis. Il could tell
you some great stories about the
women have known"
Warburton Wonders.
II would like to hear them some
time" said the man with the dead
eyes. They should prove interest
ing"
"a man after my own heart"
smiled Winston, then added curl
ously: But I cannot quite place
you, Sir Arthur. I cannot recall
seeing you on any of my ships"
I'VE met many years ago." ex-
planned Vance. And I was not
blind then. One cannot expect your
lordship to remember everyone who
sailed with him on his numerous
cruises"
You would like to sail again?
That great rogue, Arthur Vance!
The blind swordsman I always
considered you a myth, and yet
Montjoie tells me you bested him
in an encounter. I find that hard
to believe, for Bartho is no mean
fencer."
Perhaps" ventured Vance, your
lordship will permit me to show
you something of my skill"
That you shall" agreed Winston.
"and this very night, as soon as we
drink toast to the partnership OF
Black George and Arthur Vance.
Let us 90. still have to attend
to the matter of getting Berthe out
Of England"
The marquis linked his arm IA
miliarly with that of the blind man
and led the way out OF the room.
The door changed shut, and the pris-
oners were alone once more.
What, wondered Warburton, did
Sir Arthur propose to do now? He
had come to kill Black George, but
he knew now that his daughter was
the prisoner of his mortal enemy.
Would that circumstance have any
effect on his plans OF vengeance?
Could Vance, for all his marvellous
faculties. capture the manor single
handed without endangering Molly's
life? If only he could get out of this
dungeon!
A Sudden Hope.
The door-hopeless, without ak or
instrument of some sort. The win
dow-true. he had tried that already,
but 1t seemed the most likely way to
freedom.
He glanced aloft. BY this time
dusk had fallen; the cell, Ill lighted
even at midday, was already in
gloom. The window was rectangle
framing bit of the evening sky.
Yet the blue of twilight possessed a
rose tint that might have been at
tributed to the setting sun were 1t
not that the window faced the east.
Your shoulder. Furness," said
warburton, bent upon investigating
the phenomenon. The explanation
proved quite simple. The glow was
occasioned by the dying embers of
the fire built beneath the great iron
kettle by the butchers he had seen
earlier The yard was now deserted.
The only movement was the thin
spiral of steam rising from the half
filled caldron.
AS he lowered himself to the floor.
his eye caught the scurrying figure
of a rat which, emboldened by the
semi darkness, had crept out to the
center of the room.