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the organ began to play 〃O How I Hate To Get Up in the Morning〃 and the
ever…delightful Mr。 and Mrs。 Drew appeared on the screen in one of their
domestic comedies。 Lovers of the movies may well date a new screen
era from the day those whimsical pantomimers set their wholesome and
humane talent at the service of the arc light and the lens。 Aubrey felt a
serene and intimate pleasure in watching them from a seat beside Titania。
He knew that the breakfast table scene shadowed before them was only a
makeshift section of lath propped up in some barnlike motion picture
studio； yet his rocketing fancy imagined it as some arcadian suburb where
he and Titania； by a jugglery of benign fate； were bungalowed together。
Young men have a pioneering imagination： it is doubtful whether any
young Orlando ever found himself side by side with Rosalind without
dreaming himself wedded to her。 If men die a thousand deaths before this
mortal coil is shuffled； even so surely do youths contract a thousand
marriages before they go to the City Hall for a license。
Aubrey remembered the opera glasses； which were still in his pocket；
and brought them out。 The trio amused themselves by watching Sidney
Drew's face through the magnifying lenses。 They were disappointed in the
result； however； as the pictures； when so enlarged； revealed all the cobweb
of fine cracks on the film。 Mr。 Drew's nose； the most amusing feature
known to the movies； lost its quaintness when so augmented。
〃Why；〃 cried Titania； 〃it makes his lovely nose look like the map of
Florida。〃
〃How on earth did you happen to have these in your pocket？〃 asked
Mrs。 Mifflin； returning the glasses。
Aubrey was hard pressed for a prompt and reasonable fib； but
advertising men are resourceful。
〃Oh；〃 he said； 〃I sometimes carry them with me at night to study the
advertising sky…signs。 I'm a little short sighted。 You see； it's part of my
business to study the technique of the electric signs。〃
After some current event pictures the programme prepared to repeat
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itself； and they went out。 〃Will you come in and have some cocoa with
us？〃 said Helen as they reached the door of the bookshop。 Aubrey was
eager enough to accept； but feared to overplay his hand。 〃I'm sorry；〃 he
said； 〃but I think I'd better not。 I've got some work to do to…night。 Perhaps
I can drop in on Monday when Mr。 Mifflin's away； and put coal on the
furnace for you； or something of that sort？〃
Mrs。 Mifflin laughed。 〃Surely！〃 she said。 〃You're welcome any
time。〃 The door closed behind them； and Aubrey fell into a profound
melancholy。 Deprived of the heavenly rhetoric of her eye； Gissing Street
seemed flat and dull。
It was still earlynot quite ten o'clockand it occurred to Aubrey that
if he was going to patrol the neighbourhood he had better fix its details in
his head。 Hazlitt； the next street below the bookshop； proved to be a
quiet little byway； cheerfully lit with modest dwellings。 A few paces
down Hazlitt Street a narrow cobbled alley ran through to Wordsworth
Avenue； passing between the back yards of Gissing Street and Whittier
Street。 The alley was totally dark； but by counting off the correct number
of houses Aubrey identified the rear entrance of the bookshop。 He tried the
yard gate cautiously； and found it unlocked。 Glancing in he could see a
light in the kitchen window and assumed that the cocoa was being brewed。
Then a window glowed upstairs； and he was thrilled to see Titania shining
in the lamplight。 She moved to the window and pulled down the blind。
For a moment he saw her head and shoulders silhouetted against the
curtain； then the light went out。
Aubrey stood briefly in sentimental thought。 If he only had a couple
of blankets； he mused； he could camp out here in Roger's back yard all
night。 Surely no harm could come to the girl while he kept watch
beneath her casement！ The idea was just fantastic enough to appeal to
him。 Then； as he stood in the open gateway； he heard distant footfalls
coming down the alley； and a grumble of voices。 Perhaps two policemen
on their rounds； he thought： it would be awkward to be surprised
skulking about back doors at this time of night。 He slipped inside the gate
and closed it gently behind him； taking the precaution to slip the bolt。
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THE HAUNTED BOOKSHOP
The footsteps came nearer； stumbling down the uneven cobbles in the
darkness。 He stood still against the back fence。 To his amazement the
men halted outside Mifflin's gate； and he heard the latch quietly lifted。
〃It's no use；〃 said a voice〃the gate is locked。 We must find some
other way； my friend。〃
Aubrey tingled to hear the rolling； throaty 〃r〃 in the last word。 There
was no mistakingthis was the voice of his 〃friend and wellwisher〃 over
the telephone。
The other said something in German in a hoarse whisper。 Having
studied that language in college； Aubrey caught only two words Thur
and Schlussel； which he knew meant door and key。
〃Very well；〃 said the first voice。 〃That will be all right； but we must
act to…night。 The damned thing must be finished to…morrow。 Your idiotic
stupidity〃
Again followed some gargling in German； in a rapid undertone too
fluent for Aubrey's grasp。 The latch of the alley gate clicked once more；
and his hand was on his revolver； but in a moment the two had passed on
down the alley。
The young advertising agent stood against the fence in silent horror；
his heart bumping heavily。 His hands were clammy； his feet seemed to
have grown larger and taken root。 What damnable complot was this？ A
sultry wave of anger passed over him。 This bland； slick； talkative
bookseller； was he arranging some blackmailing scheme to kidnap the girl
and wring blood…money out of her father？ And in league with Germans；
too； the scoundrel！ Wha