s she had left it.

Carlo greeted her with his old extravagant demonstrations of affection
and delight, and when she looked searchingly into her mother's face
she was met with a beaming smile. There was no trace of the ordeal she
had faced alone, and Hansie's anxious heart gave a throb of relief.

She was soon in full possession of the details of the adventure, and
it appeared that the "raid" had been made in the early hours of the
19th (Jan.), Sunday morning.

It had been raining heavily all night, and the torrents were still
coming down drenchingly when Mrs. van Warmelo was aroused by a knock
at her bedroom window and "Gentleman Jim's" voice, with all the drawl
gone, calling out anxiously, "Missis, come, the police want you!"

Mrs. van Warmelo dressed hurriedly, and on opening the front door was
met by an officer, who informed her that he had been ordered by the
Commissioner of Police to search her house.

Armed soldiers were standing about, guarding the different entrances.

Mrs. van Warmelo led the way, and the officer went through the house
with her alone, glancing under beds, opening wardrobes and moving
screens in his search "for men," as he said in reply to her
questions.

"I am surprised that you should have been sent to search my house for
_men_," she said, with righteous indignation.

"I was surprised to see _your_ name on the black list, Mrs. van
Warmelo," he answered.

She watched him in puzzled silence.

Evidently he knew her, or her name. Quite evidently he was no
Englishman--only a South African could pronounce her name like that.

When they reached the passage leading to the kitchen the officer
suddenly started at the sight of Flippie's form lying curled up in
deep sleep. He bent over him, pulled his blanket down cautiously, and
said below his breath, "Oh, a boy!"

The house having been thoroughly searched, he turned to Mrs. van
Warmelo and, courteously thanking her for having allowed him to do so,
asked permission to go through the out-buildings, which was instantly
granted. There was no one, of course, and the military, if they had
expected to make any sensational discoveries that morning, were
grievously disappointed.

* * * * *

"Well, I am glad it is over, mamma," Hansie said when the story came
to an end.

"It is better to have the house searched _in vain_, than not to have
it searched at all, when one is on the black list. Perhaps the
surveillanc