Part 8 (1/2)

'I suppose you're going to give me up after all, and I call it a damned dirty trick My God, I wish I had never seen that cursed motor-car!

Here's the ns on the table

He opened his eyes a little 'Oh no, I shall not give you up My friends and I will have a little private settlement with you, that is all You know a little too much, Mr Hannay You are a clever actor, but not quite clever enough'

He spoke with assurance, but I could see the dawning of a doubt in his ,' I cried 'Everything's against me

I haven't had a bit of luck since I came on shore at Leith What's the har up some money he finds in a bust-up motor-car? That's all I done, and for that I've been chivvied for two days by those blasted bobbies over those blasted hills I tell you I'm fair sick of it You can do what you like, old boy! Ned Ainslie's got no fight left in hi

'Will you oblige uv'nor,' I said in a real beggar's whine 'I've not had a bite to eat for two days Give me a mouthful of food, and then you'll hear God's truth'

I nalled to one of the lass of beer, and I wolfed the--or rather, like Ned Ainslie, for I was keeping up my character In the middle of my meal he spoke suddenly to me in German, but I turned on him a face as blank as a stone wall

Then I told hiel shi+p at Leith a week ago, and was town I had run short of cash--I hinted vaguely at a spree--and I was pretty well onthrough, had seen a bigin the burn I had poked about to see what had happened, and had found three sovereigns lying on the seat and one on the floor There was nobody there or any sign of an owner, so I had pocketed the cash But soe a sovereign in a baker's shop, the woman had cried on the police, and a little later, when I ashi+ng ot away by leaving my coat and waistcoat behind me

'They can have the ood it's done me Those perishers are all down on a poor uv'nor, that had found the quids, nobody would have troubled you'

'You're a good liar, Hannay,' he said

I flew into a rage 'Stop fooling, damn you! I tell you my name's Ainslie, and I never heard of anyone called Hannay in my born days

I'd sooner have the police than you with your Hannays and yourpardon, I don't rub, and I'll thank you to let o now the coast's clear'

It was obvious that he was badly puzzled You see he had never seen me, and raphs, if he had got one of them I was pretty sular trao If you are what you say you are, you will soon have a chance of clearing yourself If you are what I believe you are, I do not think you will see the lighta bell, and a third servant appeared from the veranda

'I want the Lanchester in five minutes,' he said 'There will be three to luncheon'

Then he looked steadily at me, and that was the hardest ordeal of all

There was sonant, unearthly, and ht eyes of a snake I had a strong impulse to throw myself on his mercy and offer to join his side, and if you consider the way I felt about the whole thing you will see that that impulse must have been purely physical, the weakness of a brain ed to stick it out and even to grin

'You'll know uv'nor,' I said

'Karl,' he spoke in German to one of the men in the doorway, 'you will put this fellow in the storeroom till I return, and you will be answerable to '

I was marched out of the room with a pistol at each ear

The storeroom was a damp chamber in what had been the old farmhouse

There was no carpet on the uneven floor, and nothing to sit down on but a school form It was black as pitch, for the ere heavily shuttered Ithat the walls were lined with boxes and barrels and sacks of some heavy stuff The whole place saolers turned the key in the door, and I could hear theuard outside