Page:Arthur Stringer - The Door of Dread.djvu/87

 "Then quick!" prompted the other as he thrust a long manila envelope into Sadie's hand. She noticed, considerably to her disappointment, that it was sealed.

"Then you gaze the other way, son, until I stow it down in me lisle-thread safe," Sadie requested, turning her face so that he might not see the sudden flash of triumph which she was unable to hide. For she had every reason to believe that she had the plans of the secret submarine in her possession.

"Quick!" repeated the man watching the door.

There was a rustle of drapery, the snap of an elastic and a little sigh of relief. Then the two conspirators stood facing each other again.

"What's next?" inquired the young woman.

"These people won't imagine I've given you those papers," explained the man. "So they won't try to stop you, once you start for the street."

"Oh, I ain't hungerin' to linger round a drum like this, b'lieve me!"

"Then wait here a minute or two until I come back," whispered the moist-browed man. "For the sooner you can beat it the better."

Sadie watched him as he tiptoed to the door, as he stood listening there, as he cautiously turned the