Part 26 (2/2)

We followed as ere directed through an open door There was aat a wall ed over his collar I would have known that neck aht of it I made a half-turn to bolt back It was too late, for the door had closed behind us and there were two armed sentries beside it

Thehope that I ht bluff it out, for I was in different clothes and had shaved rapple without your adversary getting to know you

He went very pale, then recollected hirin

'So,' he said, 'the little Dutch or saying anything I shut my teeth and waited

'And you, Herr Blenkiron? I never liked the look of you You babbled too uess your personal dislikes haven't got anything to do with the matter,' said Blenkiron, calmly 'If you're the boss here, I'll thank you to cast your eye over these passports, for we can't stand waiting for ever'

This fairly angered him 'I'll teach you manners,' he cried, and took a step forward to reach for Blenkiron's shoulder-the game he had twice played with me

Blenkiron never took his hands from his coat pockets 'Keep your distance,' he drawled in a new voice 'I've got you covered, and I'll make a hole in your bullet head if you lay a hand ona bell and fell to s An orderly appeared to whom he spoke in Turkish, and presently a file of soldiers entered the rooentlemen,' he said 'We can conduct our conversation more pleasantly without pistols'

It was idle to resist We surrendered our ars over a chair, rested his chin on the back and looked at ame is up, you know,' he said 'These fools of Turkish police said the Dutchmen were dead, but I had the happier inspiration I believed the good God had spared theras reminded me of a little trick you once played me on the Schwandorf road But I didn't think to find this plue,' and he sineers and their servant bound for Mesopotaood lie; but if I had been in Constantinople it would have had a short life Rasta and his friends are no concern of mine You can trick them as you please But you have attempted to win the confidence of a certain lady, and her interests are ive By God,' he cried, his voice growing shrill with passion, 'by the tiraves eep that they ever bore you!'

It was Blenkiron who spoke His voice was as level as the chairus corease

'I don't take no stock in high-falutin' If you're trying to scareman You're like the sweep that stuck in the chi for your job I reckon you've a talent for ro to play any ugly games on me I'd like you to know that I'm an American citizen, and pretty well considered in my own country and in yours, and you'll sweat blood for it later That's a fair warning, Colonel Stumm'

I don't knohat Stumm's plans were, but that speech of Blenkiron's put into his mind just the needed ah, but he hadn't properly connected Blenkiron with us, and was afraid either to hit out at all three, or to let Blenkiron go It was lucky for us that the American had cut such a dash in the Fatherland

'There is no hurry,' he said blandly 'We shall have long happy hours together I' to take you all home with me, for I am a hospitable soul You will be safer with hty It lets things in, and it ave an order, and ere marched out, each with a soldier at his elbow The three of us were bundled into the back seat of the car, while two ot up behind on the baggage rack, and one sat beside Stumm's chauffeur Packed like sardines we moved into the bleak streets, above which the stars twinkled in ribbons of sky

Hussin had disappeared froood fellow, but he had no call to mix himself up in our troubles

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Sparrows on the Housetops

'I've often regretted,' said Blenkiron, 'that ot no answer, for I was feeling the walls for so in the nature of a

'For I reckon,' he went on, 'that it wants a good old-fashi+oned copper-bottoainst all aveto the point of rude violence, and so far I've succeeded But now you coed citizen into an aboriginal hty indelicate I reckon the nextstunt'

'No ed if I'll chuck up the sponge Sandy's soot a hefty crowd at his heels'

I simply could not feel the despair which by every law of couns had intoxicated h yards of wood and stone separated us from the upper air