Show the hilll felsl dollar MY stul am y 9 by MAC GRATH from mcener its trio photo dragna of the sarno name by the Thais houser copyright 1811 by macgrath Mac Orath CHAPTER A packet of papers jim said nothing at first about tits ills ALd venture to jones jonea whom lie ho met half hair an hour later was it necessary to keep that in attle wis fille ft tle letter ho asked wh 0 wo no said jones would it havo given our affairs a gerlous turn it it had fallen into allett alien ti ands decidedly answered anaw erod jones it would nican mean night flight for tho the black hundred or a long time under tinder cover it if our friend binone learned that russia wik was now taking inking an all active interest tit in tho the doings of tho the black hundred and eventually all our work would have to bo be dono done over again acra look a bit mussed up tip any happened asked tho the keen eyed butler nothing much I 1 made a cigarette out of the letter and smoked it ones chuckled 1 I seo sea that you isiace had an adventure of 0 some sort but it can wait it can because I 1 want you to pack oft off to washington washington yes yea I 1 want you to interview those hose officials who are most familiar with the extradition laws lawa A now new kinait kink 1 what I 1 wish to team learn la Is this can 01 man formerly undesirable take out naturalization papers and hold to the protection of the united states gov emment eminent that is to say eay a vaen menaced aced by siberia Bl borla becomes an amerlean american citizen ila he is abducted and carried back to russia could lie he took look to this government gov emment tor for protection that ta Is what I 1 want you to find fand out that will be ba easy when shall I 1 fl tort As an soon abon as you can pack your wap always packed replied tile the reporter you see im eternally hither and yon at a moments notice sol ao 1 I always have an extra grip packed for quick travel the russian agent wants brains and the countess coun tesa and tonight rm ln going to try to point them out to jhom tint it would satisfy me more than anything I 1 know to eliminate this precious trio in russian fashion its thorough and once accomplished goodday good day ito the dlack Black hundred in am otlea erica the organization in russia ats still atilt some political significance but acut on this side of the water it Is merely an aggregation of merciless thugs ill take the flaat train out but you TOU will tell florence Floren Sil rely fand and take care of your own heels you tou were watched at the hotel 1 I know it but the watcher could learn nothing heart as a name will suggest nothing to tile tho fool who ol towed me besides we both know knew that he was trying to peek through the keyhole that hotel you know atilt retains the old fashioned keyholes Il to keep the maids in good humor f suppose laughed jim well I 1 must be on my way to make that flyer dyer the two shook hands and jim hurried off the butler watched him till lie he disappeared down the subway lies ilas a good lad lie he murmured and a brave lad and money Is only on an incident in human affairs after all ill be a good angel and let the two be happy since they love each other and have proved it in a thousand ways meanwhile the russian agent settled down before his writing portfolio and once or twice as he wrote lie he thought tic he heard a sound outside the door no fo doubt this butler of hargreaves had bad been watched and followed by and by lie he rose drew tits his revolver and tiptoed to the door obliquely so that the watcher outside might not become aware of his approach swiftly he swung back theodoor the tho door and the member of the black hundred stumbled into the room almost instantly the russian caught him by the collar and held beld him up tip what were you doing outside my door the ruan man did not answer ile he was trying to collect tits his thoughts OA A spy of some sort eh ch im a detect detective lie said the man finally thinking ho he saw his way clear and what did you expect to loarn learn hy by looking through tits the keyhole of my door laughed show me your badge of aut authority bority the man fumbled in his upper pocket hoping against hope that the of the revolver would waver youre an all ordinary thief declared the lie russian and en ell such I 1 shall sta aty hand you over to tile the hotel authorities unless you tell me exactly pho tio and what you are the raan man remained dumb lie he hung the lie devil and the deep sea f he be told the truth the organization crould noon boon learn the truth it if lie he kept be would be lodged in jail per fj in for he a say sav cry police record presently hla his nerva gave way in face of tho the steady eye and hand and lio lie confessed the why and wherefore he had sought the keyhole or of Ser vans room we are after tills butler where ever lie he goes wo we follow well youve wasted your time my man all I 1 am liere here for or is to take over some property mr air hargreave left in france for anic sale I 1 know nothing about your private feuds now get out hut but keep keel out of my way I 1 am not a peaceful trian man the spy tumbled out as lie ho had tumbled in by an act of gravity and was alono alone ho spent two days in comparative idleness then things began to wake up tip for a long time the leathor leather box across which was inscribed stanley Ilar hargreave greave lay in fit peace undisturbed A busy spider had woven a trap across tho the handle to the quaint lock lack the box was still badly stained from its ita immersion in the salt water at a a certain time it was quietly withdrawn from its hiding place it was stealthily opened A hand reached in and when it withdrew a packet of papers was also withdrawn the box was waa again locked and lowered and presently the spider returned to find that lla its cunning trap had been totally destroyed with the infinite patience of tits his kind lie he began the weaving of another trap perhaps this would be more successful than its predecessor later genrl received a telephone call lie he was informed that tits his burp purpose ose in america would be realized by his bla presence at such and such a box that night at the opera further information could not be given over the telephone seemed well satisfied lie ile dressed carefully that evening called up tip tho the office clerk and inquired if tits his box tickets for the opera lad had arrived ile he wita was informed that they had instantly the spy epy who had dared to linger about tho the hotel overhearing this conversation determined to notify bragne at once and ut at the same time norton in disguise determined not to lose sight of this man whom lie he had act himself to watch the spy left by one entrance and jim by another jim had learned what he desired that the russian agent would be followed to the opera and that it was going to be difficult to hand tho the documents to him the bile spy entered a drug store and tele jm jim waited outside when i the man came out lie he strolled up the street and entered the nearest saloon jims work was done it was braines Dr Br alnes lieutenant however who took the news to bragne we have succeeded good said braille lie he will go to the opera ile he will have a box doubtless they have arranged to deliver the papers there and the next thing to Is to get the number of tits his box this braille had no difficulty in doing so all A it was stealthily ripened fixed ile he calls and registers from paris ill show the fool that he has tic no to deal with alth this time and what are these documents asked olga ali ah what wo we are so anxious to find out some papers are going to be exchanged between this russian spy and jones or his ag agata Ints that these papers concern us vitally I 1 am certain that Is why hy I 1 am ain going to get them it if there has to be a murder at the opera tonight norton has been to washington lie he was sen coming out of the russian embassy from the j secretaries of state and war and a dozen other ofil offices ces ive got to find out just what all tills this means it means that the time has haa como come for us to fly said olga wo we have tailed failed I 1 have warned ou we have still plenty of money left it Is time we refolded folded our tents tenta and stole away quietly I 1 tell you I 1 feel it 1 in my bones that there Is a pit before us somewhere and it if you force issues we ve shall all fall into it the white feather my dear there is altogether somo soma difference between the white feather and earn com ulon mon sense caution 1 I shall never give up you are ara treo free to pack up and go it if you wish As AB for me im going to fight this out to tho the bitter end and take ray my word for it the end will w ill bo be bitter well weil oh I 1 shall stay you know that my future Is bound up tip in n yours in the old days my advice generally appealed to you as sound and when you followed it you were successful from tho the first I 1 advised you not to Ilar greave see what has happened enough of tills this chatter ive got to die somo some time it will bo be with my face to ward this nian man I 1 hate ato with all my soul you trust to mo me ill pull out of this all all rl right lit you just fix yourself up tip stunningly for the opera tonight and 1 leave the rest real to me olga shrugged site she vati vad something of a fatalist this inan of hers had suddenly gone mad and one did not reason with mad people what shall I 1 wear site asked calmly emeralds your good luck stones you will go to the box before I 1 do ive got to spend some time at the curb to bo be sure that this borvan chap arrives and it Is quite possible that our friend jones will come later if not jones then norton I 1 was a tool not to shoot him when I 1 had the chance ch atice we could have covered it up without tile the least difficulty hut but I 1 needed the information about that paper with norton going to washington and jones conferring with thi this s belvan Servi in ive got to strike quick it concerns us that hat im certain perk up weve lots of cards in oun es yet ila he at the opera at eight thirty pay no attention to any one wait for me remember I 1 shant write or send any phone messages mes sagen ile be wary of any trap like that to get you outside now im off jones approached florence immediately after dinner 1 I havo have important business in the city tonight under no circumstances leave the th house ehouse I 1 shall probably be followed and our enemies will have heed of you far more tonight than at any previous time I 1 shall not send se nd you phone or written message you have your revolver shoot any strange man mail who enters well make inquiries after we are near the end whispered florence very near the end and I 1 shall see my father jones jonea bent hla his head it if we succeed there thera la Is danger thinking ot of her lover there is always danger when I 1 leave leava this boute so be good the butter butler added with a smile and jim ile he has proved that he can take care of himself tell him to be very careful ill eo co so ao but it will not be necessary and with this jones set forth upon what he considered the culminating adventure the usual brilliant crowd began to pour into tile the opera braine took tits his stand by the entrance ile he waited a long time but his patience was rewarded A limousine drove up and out of the door came his man mail who looked about with casual interest lie he dismissed the limousine which wheeled slowly around the corner where it could be conveniently parked then entered the opera braille hurried around to the limousine the lights save zose ose demanded by traffic regulator s were out the chauffeur was huddled in his seat my aly man said eald braille would you like to make some money ilow how much listlessly the voice was muffled twenty good night air fifty good night and good morning morn 1 A hundred hund redl now youve got me interested what kind of a joy ride do you want no joy ride listen briefly the conspirator oui outlined lined tits hla needs and finally the chauffeur chauff vur nodded five twenties were pressed into his hand and lie ho curled up in his seat again ent entered ered his box in the box next to his sat a handsomely gowned young woman lie he throw threw her an idle gla glance tice which was repaid in kind h ind L later ater braille came in and sat down beside olga everything looks like plain sailing ho he whispered olga shrugged dhru aged slightly sligh ti V during the intermission between the first and second acts took tile the rear chair of his box near the curtains braille watching with the eyes of a lynx suddenly observed the cur bains stirring A hand was thrust through in that hand was a packet of papers with seeming indifference readied reached backhand back and took the papers stowing them away in pocket braille rose at the beginning of the i second act where urn ara you going asked olga olg nervously to see otto A bold attempt was made to rob while tit in the box but the timely arrival of jim frustrated this plan so braille was forced to rely on the chauffeur of the limousine As farkars Farr ars last thrilling note died away draino and olga rose ile bo careful and come to the apart menta just as soon boon as you can ill bo be careful bragne declared easily you can watch tile the play if you wish when entered the limousine he vas quietly but forcibly for ciLly seized belted by two men who had been lying in wait for him duo due to tile the apparent treachery ot at the chauffeur fought val bantly for till all that be know knew what ittu end of this exploit was going to bo be one of the men succeeded in gettins the documents from Ser vans pocket done my boyl cried the victor give him a crack on the tha coco coca and well beat it just a minute gentlemen said a voice from the seat dt at the side of the chauffeur ill take those pa papers kaperst and the owner of the voice backed by a cold sinister looking automatic reached in and confiscated the spoils of war and I 1 make arty any attempt to slip blip out by the side door thanks my friend said shaking himself free from his captors dont mention it said norton amiably we thought something allm this bould happen keep perfectly n I 1 bragne and his accomplice plan cap ture of quiet you chaps drive on chauffeur drive ayes yea my lord to what particular police station shall I 1 head this omni bus the nearest jones the very nearest you can think of some day when im rich ill hire you for my chaut chauffeur but for the present I 1 shall ex hect at least a box of Parta gaa out of that hand hundred ed jones buckled luc chuckled kled ill buy you a box out of my own pocket that hundred goes to charity here we aral are out with you said jim to his prisoners he shouldered them into the police station to the captains desk this demanded the captain holdup men said jim entered this mans car and tried to rob him uh huhl huh an whore you jim showed his badge and card oho hey there I 1 mean youl you said the captain leveling a finger at otto lift up that hat lift it up sure its fountain pen otto well well an weve been lookin for you for ten months on the last forgery case mr air norton my thanks take om cm below sergeant be here to make the complaint in th mornin sir air he be added to it it Is necessary it may be against ottos ottoa pal I 1 dont know him very well and jones and norton and trooped out of the station at last jones jonea and the reporter entered a cheap restaurant and ordered coffee and toast youre a wonderful man jones even it II you are an englishman said bald jim as lie he called for the check english what makes you think I 1 am Eli english glish asked jones with a curious glitter tit in hla his eyes ill tell you on the night we put the rollers under braille and compa company ity jane janaq stared long and intently at his young partner what did he really know TO HR BE 1 13 |