Page:Biggers and Ritchie - Inside the Lines.djvu/268

 ribbon belt she wore and brought out the silver cigarette case. This she passed to him with a swift gesture.

"Almer, the Hotel Splendide man, gave me this to-day at parade, urging that I deliver it to you." She was speaking hurriedly. "By a miracle—the strangest circumstance in the world—I learned the message this cigarette case was to carry to you. Oh, no, innocently enough on my part—it came by a chance I must not take the time to explain."

"A message from—Almer to me?" Woodhouse could not conceal the start her words gave him. He took a step toward her eagerly.

"Yes, a message. You must have it to protect yourself. The message was this:

"Informer has denounced you and Louisa to"

Her voice died in her throat. Over Captain Woodhouse's shoulder she saw a door open. General Crandall and a short fat man in officer's uniform entered the library.