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Show A double as I would have appeared o'clock tomorrow morning,. I said " after a life devoted to chicanery and quietly. When I was alone in my room 1 lit petty malpractice, culminating, with a cigar and tried to puzzle out the advancing confidence, in large and fraud. I measured up situation. But the more I racked my . brains the more perplexing it became. the man with a single glance. 1 could understand the main feature "Thore, hut for the grace of God and (Tie honor of my father, site my- )f Welsknopf 's conspiracy; the substitution of the dress coats. self!" I muttered. Very , For I knew that similar types mean likely Dimltrleff had worn the coat similar souls, and was not I, too, en- which had been "planted" upon him. gaged In reading and practicing upon In place of his own. But how could men? With lesser ideals I would he have been so foolish as to have left the document behind him? have become a second Welsknopf. And, save as a method of Insult, For, of course; this man was the Austrian government's un- the meaning o? the pot of grease, to official agent and spy., We wo.were which the little spy had alluded, waa virtually engaged in the same profes- absolutely' unintelligible. sion. The one chance of solving the mysI felt that in defeating Welsknopf I tery, and, at the same time, of aiding was defeating my baser nature. Dimltrleff, lay In the possibility of the I turned my gaze away, fearful of Hotel Meta valet calling upqn me with attracting the attention of my double, the suit In the morning. 1 remembered and at that moment Mademoiselle Ce- that It had been the spy's intention to This leste and Dimltrleff entered the box call on Welsknopf at Agram. made It just possible that the spy, asopposite. Every pair of opera glasses In the suming his mission to be completed, f house was at once turned upon the fa- would not come into touch with mous singer. It was just like the In time to permit of a revision rash old Dimltrleff Ia had known to of the plans already made. have come In public to the opera That they bad been made with conbouse, where he must have been rec- siderable attention to detail, and were, ognized by a score of people. therefore, difficult to readjust In time, . I saw my double fix his glasses upwas clear from the single incident of on the pair. I felt sure that some the pot of tar. Dimltrleff's exit from trick was In preparation. And I re- the opera house, and the very line of solved te watch every action of Dimlt-rlef- f hla flight, must have been telephoned and the singer with the utmost to the man who waa in readiness with care, t ft the compound. Perhaps there were Mademoiselle Several of the confederates with pots Dimltrleff removed Celeste's cloak, sat down beside her, of tar, along different routes, waiting and pulled his waistcoat down. They for Dimltrleff. looked at each other and smiled I bad discarded every possible soluA white thread was hanging from tion in turn before I went to bed. the lower part of Dimltrieffs waistI was awakened the next morning coat over his black trousers. Woman- by a ring at my telephone. The hotel like, Mademoiselle Celeste plucked at manager called to me that the valet it till It came away In her hands; then was below, waiting to attend on me. she rolled It Into a tiny ball and Then I flung on my dressing gown, flicked it into the stalls beneath. and the valet from the Mets, entering The first act was nearly ended after a discreet knock, doubtless saw when, above the music and the Bing- before him the man whose appearance ing, 1 beard a smothered outcry come had been described to him by the litfrom the direction of Dlmltrleffa box. tle spy. . The curtain rolled down, the lights "The suit, mein herr," be said apolowent up, and Dimltrleff, in the box op- getically, placing the greasy garments posite, was raving like a lunatic as ho across the back of a chair. Scoured though they evidently had been they represented the dreadful havoc of what had come fresh from the tailor's shop on the preceding morning. I handed the man two English sovereigns and dismissed him. ' When he had gone, I set about my examination of the greasy garments. I was still engaged upon this interesting work when the telephone bell rang once more. "Ilerr Ivanoff has just gone up to your room, mein herr, explained the clerk. "He was. in a hurry, and said he had an appointment with you." "Quite right," 1 answered, and I could not resist a chuckle. For I had solved the mystery In Its entirety. The dress coat and lta accompanying garments were hidden under the soft cover when Dimltrleff entered. It was a very different Dimltrleff. The man seemed utterly broken. Hia face was haggard from the effects of a sleepless night, his eyes bloodshot, and his hands trembled dreadfully as he essayed to close the door. He succeeded In accomplishing this itet after two failures; then he came forward and suddenly flung himself upon his knees before me. "Herr Welsknopf, have mercy upon me!" he stammered. "I came because I thought you might be willing to make some bargain, having given me commanding a view of the stairs, and waited. Picking up a copy of the day's Tageblatt, I leafned from it that Mademoiselle Celeste was not to sing In "La Somnambula" that night. There was a new understudy of Freschettls, whose voice was supposed to be wonderful, and she was ' to make her debut, 1 felt sure, as I read this that Item, Mademoiselle Celeste and DimltrieS would go to the opera. It seemed clear enough that Dlmtt-rlewould put on the substituted dress coat, and that, after ' he had gone out again, the theft would be effected. ' Yet It seemed wholly Improbable that he would forget to put the document Into the pocket of the coat he wore, and the plot was darker to me than ever. Five oclock struck! and as I strolled out into the hall I saw Dimltrleff enter by the front door. Even after the lapse of years 1 could not he mistaken In Dimltrleff. The boyish figure had grown stout, the little, jaunty, upturned mustaches had become gray. Dimltrleff was lined and care-wor- n but this was Dimltrleff. I had known him too well to be mistaken. N Forgetting everything In my pleasure, I stepped to his side. "Nicholas! I exclaimed. , And memories of the old days In Berlin, surging over me, choked my voice. I saw his face through a filmy mist, and I could say no more. You dont remember me? I managed to add, as I saw him staring at me, while his hand remained limp at his side. "Quite well enough!" he answered, and his face was an angry red. "I know you as well as I want to, Louis Welsknopf, and 1 recognized your spy ' inra mo private papers of an Englishman who for a time was an unofficial diplomat in the most secret service of the British Government! ' i by W. O. Chapman.) "It waa Mademoiselle Celeste of The lata Lord Salisbury once did me the honor to allude to me as the course," continued the little man. We got hold of her correspondence. cleverest minister In Europe. had begged her to return to Cynlo that he was, he would, 1 beSofia, but, since she found the Bulgalieve, have overlooked my IndiscretDut he died three rian climate unendurable, Dlmitrloff ion at Madrid. months before that episode, to which has come to Vienna on the eve of war to her. The queen's I have no Intention of alluding further. to say good-bIt Is an axiom that a British represen- opposition made Bulgaria Impossible tative must have a flawless record, for Mademoiselle Celeste, you know. DimitriefT! DimltrieS! Suddenly 1 nd a score of years as an attache at nearly every European capital In turn bethought myself of a young military officer of Bulgarian birth, a fellow atdid not save me. Naturally 1 was embittered, and my tache with me at Berlin, a man whom four years of retirement were the I had known very well Indeed when lonellnest I had ever spent. When I Prince Alexander and Stambuloff were petitioned Sir Edward Grey for rein- the storm center of Europe during the statement, even in some minor post, I turbulent period of the eighties. I had followed the careers of most had little hope that he would listen to me. When, therefore, he sent for of my former friends through the I knew that Nicholas me to Downing street you can judge newspapers. DlmitrleS had risen high in his proof my elation. But his first words daBbed my hopes fession of arms, and that a Nicholas DimltrieS was now war minister of completely. the belligerent little state that was M. X , what you ask Is impossi ble," be said. "I do not think you the chief partner in the newly formed were culpable in that Spanish mat- Balkan league against Turkey. The ter. But you were Indiscreet enough thought that this might be my old to make reinstatement In the regular friend silenced all my scruples about listening further. diplomatic service impossible. I was not surprised that Dimltrleff The word "regular seemed unusual enough to rekindle my hopes slightly. had succumbed to the fascination of He saw that I had understood that Mademoiselle Celeste, a woman of there was something more to be said, Russian birth, who had recently made aid, taking me confidentially by the a tour of the Balkan principalities. So DimltrieS bad rushed oS to arm, he asked me to be seated. Vienna upon the eve of war, to see "You can serve the government her, carrying important papers with he "and this in said, way. greatly," There are great events pending. We him. How like DimltrieS of old days! are skirting the edge 6f the greatest 1 remembered a certain escapade out of which I had once helped him, his conflagration since Napoleon's day. You know what was behind the scenes protestations of eternal gratitude, and a very warm feeling toward the man in 1909, when Austria annexed Bosnia; also In 1911, when Germany chal- whom I had not 6een for so many me. lenged France by sending the Panther years swept over "He is staying at the Hotel Metz, to Agadir. "Theres a war spirit abroad. It's, under the name of IvanoS," the little like some evil thing which civilization man continued. "The tailor has seen has downed, rising up to down civili- him, and feels confident that he can duzation. This new spirit Is an artifi- plicate the dress coat The grease is cial thing. It is an organized thing. arranged for, and the hotel valet has been Instructed that you will buy the Somebody is at the back of it, manudiscarded coat" exfacturing It, inciting it with the "How do you know for certain that penditure of unlimited money, for has those papers?" I asked, trying he 1 reasons of own. concrete his very to conceal my loathing for the little want you to use your ability and spy. down. in him knowledge running "Our agent sat In the same compartFind out who he is and what his purwith him during the entire jourment Is. "Will of pose you accept the post from Sofia to Vienna. Now, our ney ambassador-at-larg- e to Europe?" he man observed that DimltrieS conended, with that charming smile which is said to be the secret of nine-tent- stantly put his hand to his pocket during the journey, as if to satisfy himof his success. self that the papers were there. UnI accepted the mission. And that he Is carrying them In his doubtedly was how I found myself in Vienna, the pocket." gossip capital of Europe. 1 had not I tried, to keep my face Impassive. been there for a number of years. I In my day diplomacy, subtle though felt sore, however, that the key to It be on occasion, never resortmight the situation lay here, where every- ed to the substitution of dress coats. body comes, sooner or later, and ev- However, It seemed to me Incredible erything that is being done In other that DimltrieS would leave the papers, capitals comes to a correct focus. which were evidently so valuable. In I meant to steep myself In the po- the wrong pocket litical atmosphere, to get a grasp upTho little man leaned forward and on those contemporary events which spoke immediately Into my ear. are never recorded In the newspapers, "The alternative plan of attacking before beginning my investigations. 1 DimltrieS was considered," he said, knew how much turns upon the rela- "but It was felt to be impossible. tions between a king and his consort, Apart from the certainty that Dimlta crown prince and his father; an am- rieS la armed, one cannot assault a bassadors Indiscretion, a dignitarys minister of a foreign state In the religious conversation, or a club wait- streets of Vienna, even though he Is ers memory of a conversation over traveling incognito. the port "No. You are quite right," I anI was on my way to the Diplomats swered. club, at Koenigstrasse, of which I had "We sounded Mademoiselle Celeste alwrays remained an honorary mem- without her knowledge, but we found ber. that she could not be Influenced, beAs I passed through the district of ing a fellow Slav. However, If she government offices 1 fancied that I shares the pyschological nature of saw one or two persons watching me women, she will do everything that Is rather closely. necessary without the least suspicion Presently 1 saw before me the two that she Is aiding us. Do you stay Corinthian pillars that flank the en- long at Vienna, mein herr? It was trance to the Diplomats' club. ray intention to go to Agram, and 1 As I made my way Into the nearly should have started at noon, had not empty smoking room and took a chair word reached me that you were in the at the end of the room farthest from capital." the door, 1 saw the club members re"I cannot tell you," I answered. garding me furtively. "My plans are well, Indefinite. Then, one by one, they rose up and "Of course," answered the spy, wnt out unostentatiously, and yet smiling. And where shall the dress with a certain appearance of concert- coat be brought tomorrow morning?" ed action. 1 gave the fellow my address at the All except one man, who, as the last Hotel Ramlllles. I also gave him my to loave passed through the door, got own name, which he undoubtedly conup and came quickly toward me. I sidered a nom de plume, for his smiles perceived a little, wizened fellow, and winks became so outrageously faWithout a trace of that hall mark of miliar that 1 left him. breeding which Id my day had been But I wondered who 1 was supposed the primary qualification for admis- to be as 1 strolled up the Koenigsion to the Diplomats' club. He took strasse. the empty chair nearest me, drew It That the Austrian government had up close, and, leaning toward me, urgent need of certain documents visld in a low tone and with a mix- tal to Bulgaria 1 had no doubt That ture of familiarity and ingratiating the diplomats of the dual monarchy deference: had resorted to a particularly shabby Wo are assured beyond doubt that trick to obtain them was evident Of DimltrieS has those papers in bis course, the little spy was a Pocket." But those other men In the I said nothing. I have always been club u good listener, and the little man I could never enter the Diplomats' ecmeo pregnant with mysterious rev- club again. The atmosphere there olutions. was Intolerable. If the new diploWe know why he left Sofia on macy was represented by the type Thursday night, and why be is In of man who seemed to predominate Vienna. ' pursued the little man. "it there, I would prefer to associate with vaa not a matter of trying to raise commercial travelers. hat loan." 1 made my way toward the Hotel There waa something so smug and Mets, with the object of warning sinister about the man that 1 checked Dimltrleff. ft? impulse to suggest that ho might The hotel clerk informed me that have made a mistake in my identity. Herr Ivanoff was out. He had gone 1 felt that 1 wu about to learn things out early that morning. He could uhlch it was necessary tor ma to not say when he would return. 1 found a eat In the reading room tuow. (Copyright, 15. y low-grad- , ff Wles-knop- , ( . f, , Weis-knop- , in the train. And then, with a curt nod, he stepped Into the elevator. 1 went out into the street and paced the sidewalk. I felt dismayed and hurt, but I could not be angry with Dimltrleff. . I had never in my life been addressed as Welsknopf before, and it began to dawn on me that It must be in the capacity of Welsknopf . " "Unices You Return Me My Papere . I Shall Blow My Brains Out In Your Presencel" that I had engaged the conversation of the spy, and also the attention of those who stared at me In the street on my way to the club. What was to Ije done now? That question was solved in a moment, for, as, 1 turned, half Irresolute, I saw Dlmltrleffs stout figure emerge from the door of the Hotel Mets and enter a waiting taxicab. 1 hailed a cab that was crawling by. "Follow that taxi! 1 said to the driver, and got in. Five minutes .later the two cabs drew up in front of the opera house. Dimltrleff descended, and, watching from where 1 sat, 1 saw him go to the box office. It was not until he had reentered his cab and driven away that I made my descent "1 want a seat near my friend's "The gentleman who box," I said. has just purchased one." "That is Mademoiselle Celestes box," answered the ticket agent, looking at me with an amused expression. "There are no vacant seats anywhere near." "In which row Is mademoiselle?" I asked. "The dress circle, mein herr. It Is the herr dlrektor'e private box, but no doubt your friend and Mademoiselle CeleBte will occupy It alone. It is not posslblo to secure a seat here "Give me a seat In the dress circle, Immediately opposite, then," I said. 1 surveyed the audience from my seat In the crowded dress circle that evening. The opera house was packed; the crowd was eager, as only a Vienna audience can be, to hear and pass Its verdict upon the understudy. It was about five minutes before eight, the hour appointed for the raising of the curtain, when 1 dropped my program, with an exclamation of surprise which It was wholly beyond my power to - resist. Seated In the centet of the dress circle, but about three rows farther bac I saw my doufcU tried to free himself from mademoiselles restraining hands. 1 looked at the face of my double. Louis Welsknopf was sitting back in his chair, watching the episode with supreme satisfaction. I made my way quickly to the aisle. Looking back as I neared the exit, 1 saw that Mademoiselle Celeste now occupied the box alone. The opera glasses were leveled upon her In batteries, and I guessed what her mortification must be, for all her apparent unconcern. Quickly as 1 walked, I waa not quick enough to catch Dimltrleff In the foyer. Aa I entered it, 1 caught a glimpse of his stout figure dashing wildly for the street Apparently too frantlo to think of taking a taxicab, he tore through the crowds, and 1 pur sued him. , I presumed that Dimltrleff had already missed the papers; 1 guessed that Mademoiselle Celeste's complicity, whatever it had been, had been an Innocent one. Tagging after the fugitive, now fifty yards In the rear, now alghtlng and again losing him, I ran, till suddenly an unexpected Incident ended the chase. For a man In a laborers clothes, carrying a huge pot filled with a greasy compound of tar, collided briskly with Dimitrleff, and in an instant the Bub garian was staggering off the curb, halt drowned lu the filthy mixture. Before he could recover himself the workman had taken to h'.s heela, and, while Dimltrleff was wiping the stuff from his eyes, 1 was at hla side. He looked up and recognized me. So wild waa his rage that he could say nothing articulate, but stood glaring and stammering, while 1, recovering my breath, and too wise to make myself known at the moment, hastily wrote my hotel and room number upon a card and thruBt It In Dimltrieffs hand. 1 shall be at your disposal at nine to perfection by merely glancing at his figure, and doubtless the suit case had been opened on ths train and your dress coat fully examined as to cut and lining. But you ought to have looked at the pockets before putting ' " your document Inside. "It 1b an axiom of mathematics that an addition of probabilities does not produce an improbability, and everything that transpired was in accordance with this law, and based upon an Intimate knowledge of human nature. It was probable that you would not perceive the little thread which hung down from the interior pocket of your coat at least, until it revealed itself against your black trousers, when you sat down In the opera box. "It was probable, even then, that Mademoiselle Celeste would observe It before you did. It was probable that she would pluck It away. Any woman would do that. "When the thread was pulled, the elastlo bottom of the coat pocket came open and the papers dropped Into the lining. When the thread was pulled ' away from the material the pocket went back Into position again. "When your coat was ruined by the ' tar It became obvious that, instead of packing It in your suit case, you would leave it tor the hotel valet. Thus everything is explained. And so Bulgaria goes to war next week and smashes the Turk, whereas, had tha paper been lost, the Turk would smash her, and Austria would profit by ths breaking down of the Balkan league, which now bars her march south to ' the sea." Yes," said Dimltrleff briskly. "II is characteristic of Austria to attempt by fraud what she would never dars to attempt by force of arms." "Some day she will resort to arms Dont doubt that," I answered. "B ready, Nicholas. And now ' a question. What In the world has happened to the Diplomats' club? 1 went Into out " old quarters on the Koenigstrasse What!" shouted Dimltrleff. "Why, my dear boy, the Diplomats' club has been on the Rlngstrasse tor flfteeo years at least. The old quarters arc occupied by the Ticker club Interna tlonal speculators and shady hangers on. That's where Louis Welsknopl hangs out Welsknopf of the syndicate." What syndicate?" I Inquired. "A new amalgamation of great Interests, formed to unify the world's landed Interests, wheat fields, and mines; to gain possession of all tbs wealth of the world and guard It against confiscation. They're In power In several countries now, and they are convinced that the future lies with the Teuton, and are backing Germany and Austria for all they are worth." "So that explains why Welsknopf is In league with the government!" 1 mused. 'Tve been out of diplomacy ao long that Ive got everything to learn over again. But Im beginning to see daylight now. And, incidentally, I have accomplished the main part of my mission. Theyre plunging for war, Nicholas!" , Within two years," answered Dimitrleff.- "Before the Triple Alliance treaties expire in 1915, and not before the Kiel canal has been deepened, In 1914. That's why we are going to settle up with Turkey first. Here cornea my train. Youll be In Sofia some day? Au revolr, and a million thanks to ' - you." I watched the train bear him away with mingled grief and gladness: your card last night." grief for the parting, gladness that 1 , "Nicholas!" I began, feeling the could still remain a member of the same choking In my throat Gossips' club. "You know how much this means to me!" Dimltrleff resumed. "I will do anything for you If you will return MADE THEM ALL STAND UP me the papers. 1 will not ask whether you have had copies made. 1 will Particular Appeal That Induced Malt Passengers to Yield Their 8ata advance your interests In Sofia, do to Woman With Mission. anything except betray my country. If you will preserve to me the semFor once youth and good looks were ' blance of my honor." nowhere. Middle age was triumphant Dimltrleff rose from his knees, and, with a dramatic gesture, pulled an The victor was hatless and the carried army revolver from hla coat pocket a large market basket The car waa "Unless you return me my papers I ao crowded that she had difficulty In shall blow my brains out In your pres- pushing in with her basket, but she finally managed It. Moreover, ehe ence!" he shouted wildly. I took the weapon from h!s hand found apace to balance it on the back as simply aa one would disarm a of a seat Then ahe looked out at the station clock. That gave her a child. "In that event" 1 answered, "you fright "Half-pas- t five, ahe said. "Good will blow out the brains of the stupidest, simplest finest and most for- gracious! And I've got to have Jims getful donkeyhead that ever came out aupper ready at 6:30." One corner of the basket was par of Bulgaria." Unconsciously I was off Into a little neBt. and into tttloned into Slav the falling tongue. "For the twentieth time, Nicholas, hast thou no that nest she tossed her green beans memory for old friends from Berllh as she strung them. Before halt a dozen beans had left her fingers every from America?" Dlmltrieffknew my voice. He stared man within seeing and hearing disat me, and slowly memory came strug- tance waa on hla feet begging her to gling back. Then, rising, he leaped at take hie place. me and flung hla arms about my neck, men, shabby men, were and a violent smack on either cheek for the moment on a level. To them It indicated that recollection waa com- mattered not In the least that good looks had to stand, but that a woman plete. "Thou, who hast got me out of more who wished to have her husband's aupfcrapea than my own brother!" he per ready on time should have to cried, holding me at arms length. "It stand In a car while preparing a park la thou!" he shouted. "After a quar- of It was unthinkable. ter of a century! God forgive me for Fine Combination. thinking thee whom I did! Now 1 shall blow out my brains In earnest "What makes you think Dauber will succeed aa a painter?" Ah, "He haa the soul of an artist and Ills expression saddened. The vola tile Slav remembered the greater is- the perseverance of a book agent," sue, which he had forgotten. "Thou dost not know" he began. Suburban Life, "I fear my mint bod Isn't getting "Tush, Nicholas!" I answered, raising tho sofa cover. "Here are your enough shade." "Aak that fat policeman to stand plans for the Bulgarian armys war near It while be gabs with the cook." mobilization." ; "The acheme, as 1 understand it now, waa a very ingenious one, Nich8ummar Resort Nota. Hotel Clerk The guest In No. 205 olas," 1 said, as we paced the railway station arm in arm. "Let It warn you ays he had a nightmare last night never again to pit your Slav unsusplcl-ouanea- s Proprietor Well, charge it on his against the craftiest group In bill ten dollars for livery. Judge. Europe. "You are not to blame for having Llneoleum and oil cbtfc can oe thorput on the eubitltuted dress coat, for oughly cleaned with it(,ermilk after there are tailors who can fit any man they have been war-- i with water. Well-dresse- d but" |