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Show ' : table of polished mahogany, upon which rested a reading lamp. The glow of thla lamp Illuminated the forms and faces of a group of serious se-rious faced men two seated, the others oth-ers standing. In the golden light, with the dim background of shelves, surmounted here and there by a vase or a classic buHt, the group Impressed Orme like a stately painting a tab lenu distinguished by solemn dignity. "We are to remain here and keep very quiet." whispered the girl. Orme nodded. Ills eyes were fixed on the face of a man who sat at the table, a pen poised In his hand. Those strung, straight features the eyes, with their look of sympathetic comprehension, com-prehension, so like the girl's the Hps. eloquent In their calmness surely this whs her father. Put Orme's heart beat faster, for the face of this man, framed In its wnvy hair, was familiar. Where had he seen this man? That they had never met, ho felt certain, unless, imlei'd, they had shaken hands In u casual and forgotten introduction. Or was he led Into a feeling of recognition rec-ognition by the undoubted resemblance resem-blance of father to daughter? No, it could not be that; and yet this man, or his picture ah! The recognition came to Orme in a flash. This wus the magnetic face that wns now so often appearing in the press the face of the great, the revered, the able statesman upon whom rested so great n part of the burden of the country's coun-try's welfare. No wonder that Orme recognized it, for it was the fuce of the secretary of state! And the girl was his daughter. Orme was amazed to think how he had failed to piece the facts together. The rumors. of Important international negotiations; the sudden but not serious se-rious illness of the secretary; his tem- tlie sceae which his action had made I possible all for the sake of a girl. And when the last pen stroke had been completed and the seated men raised their eyes and looked at each other looked at each other with the responsible glance of men who have made history at that moment the girl whispered to Orme: "Come," and silently si-lently he followed her back to the room In which he had llrst awaited her. "Oh, (Jlrl," he whispered, as she turned and faced him, "Oh, Ctrl. 1 am so glad!" Khe smiled. "I'lease wait for a moment." mo-ment." When she had disappeared he re pictured the scene they had Just witnessed. wit-nessed. With all Its absence of pomp, it hud left with him an Impression that could never be effaced. Again the girl appeared In the doorway, door-way, and leaning (in her nrin was her father. Orme stepped forward. The secretary smiled and extended his hand. "Mr. Orme," he ..aid, "we owe you much. My daughter ha-t told me something of -your experiences. You may be sure that 1 had no notion, when this nffalr began, that she would have to envelop herself and others In so much myslery, but now that all has ended well, 1 can only be thankful." He seated himself. "You v.111 excuse me; I am not quite strong yet, though, as I might say, very convalescent." The girl was leaning on the back of her father's chair. "Tell father the story, won't you, please'.'" she asked. So Orme quickly narrated the series of events that began with his stroll along Slate street the afternoon of the day before. "It doesn't sound true, does It?" he concluded. "Hut the marked live-dollar bill will ..... .11. .... rurwi-rwi vm"r? atn as a possible ally. There were reasons why It seemed Inadvisable to turn to Franco, for an arrangement there would Involve the recognition of Itussian Interests. Therefore, wa sought an alliance with (iermnny. "The (ierman ambassador and myself my-self drafted a treaty last month, with the proviso that It must be signed within a certain period which, as you know, will expire within a few minutes. min-utes. My Illness followed, unci with It (he necessity of coming to our home, here. I had expected to return to Washington last week, but as Doctor Allison forbade me to travel for a while longer, I had the drafts of tho treaty sent on, and urged tho (ierman ambassador to pay pie a long deferred visit. He and his suite have been here several days, in mufti. "Nov,, Mr. Orme, this treaty concerns con-cerns two Important relations -a Just balance of power 111 the Piiclllc and a Just arrangement by which the countries coun-tries of South America can be made! to live up to their obligations. I cannot can-not go Into details, and It will be some mouths before the trcuty will be made public but Japan must not dominate our l'aclllc trade routes, and the Monroe Mon-roe doctrine must be uppliccl In such a manner that It will not shelter evil doers. You understand now why Al cntrnute and the Japanese minister were working together." "It Is quite (bar," said Orme. "1 don't wish you to tell mo any more than Is advisable, but the Japanese minister said thai. If the new treaty should lapse, the (iViniaii government would not renew It." "Very true," sihl the secretary. "The Cermnn Ambassador Is pleased with the treatv. After It bad been drafted, however, and after his homo government had ngrccd to the terms, Japan brought pressure to bear 111 Cermany. Tin result of this Japanese Japa-nese effort which contained a counter proposition for the Isolation of Kussiii was that the (ierman government weakened not to the point of disavowing disa-vowing the arrangement with us, but In the event of a redrafting of the treaty, to the adoption of a less favorable fa-vorable basis of negotiations, or, possibly, pos-sibly, even to the Interposition of such obstacles aa would make a treaty lui possible. You can see how essential these papers were to us. There win not lime to provide Dow copies, for the lost drafts carried certain seals and necessary signatures which could not bo duplicated on short notice." "Did tho German ambassador know of the loss?" Orme was encouraged to ask questions by the secretary's obvious desire to explain as fully aa he could. "No one knew of It, Mr. Orme, excepting ex-cepting my daughter and myself that is, 110 one besides the South Americans Ameri-cans and tin; Japanese. It seemed wise to say nothing. There were no secret scvlce men at hand, and even If there had been, I doubt If thry would have acted as efiicleiilly ax you have acted. The police, I know, would have bungled, and, above all else, pub licit)' nail to be avoid' d. "As things have turned out, I am glad that l'orltol set his burglar on us whe.i be did; otherwise Maku would have gnl the treaty at the last moment. Alcatrat.te's desire to secure se-cure a diplomatic advantage over the Japanese was r' ally the saving of us " The secretary paused. Ills face lighted up with a rare smile. "Above everything clue, Mr. Orme, I thank you." lie nros and rang for a servant. "And now," he continued, "I know you will excuse me if I return to my guests. My daughter will bring you In presently, so that we may have the pleasure of making you acquainted with them. And. of course, you will remain with in till tomorrow" lie smiled again uud went slowly from the room on the arm of the servant Orme turned to the girl. Iler face wa rosy and her eyes were fixed on the arm of her chair, "Girl, dear," he said, "I can hardly believe that It Is all true." She did not answer, and while he ga.'-d at her, surprised at her si lenee, failing to understand her sudden sud-den embarrassment, Ilessle Walling ham appeared lu the doorway and stood hesitant. "Am I still n'ot wanted?" said Pes-sle, Pes-sle, roguery In her vol- e. "Sure, ye'll Dud me a faithful servant. I mind me own business and asks no questions" ques-tions" The girl rushed over to her friend "till. !fSle." the cried, with a little lit-tle laugh "Oh, lassie, won't you please come In and and " Oime began to understand. "And wait for us a little longer," be broke in. Masterfully he led the girl out through the doorway to the ball. !t ssie Wallilighn 111 looked after their retreating figures. "Well, I never!" she exclaimed. (THi: FAD) U 8YNOP8IS. At the expense of a soiled hat Robert rni saves from arrest a girl In a black louring car who has caused a traffle Jam 011 Ktale street. tl buya a new bat and Is gien In change) a five dollar bill with: Kcmcmher the person you pay (his to. written en It A second time be helps the I. idy In the black rr, and learns that In Tom and Hi-asla Walllnsham they have mutual friends, but gains no further bint of her Identity. Senor l'orltol of Booth America and pe-nnr Alcatrante. minister from the same country, and some Japs try to get possession pos-session of the bill. Two of the hitler overpower over-power Orme and en-ct a forcible exchange ex-change of the marked bill for another. Orme tlnds thu girl of the black car waiting for him. She also wants the bill. Orme tells bis story. Kim recognise one of (he Japs us her father's butler. Maku. A second Inscription on the bill Is the kev to the hiding place of Important papers pa-pers cel. .a (10m her father urine and the "Hill" start out In the black ear In inst of the papers In the university grenncls III Kvausiou the hiding place is located Maku and (mother Jap tire there. Orme fells Maku and Hi" other Jap es-r es-r 11 pes. Orme- tlnds In Maku's poc ket a folded slip of paper, lie takes the girl, whose name Is silll unknown to him. to the home of a friend In Kvanstnn. Ke-tiiridng Ke-tiiridng to the university grounds Orme gets In ennversallun with a guard at the life. Having stiillou. Tiny lear 11 motor boat In trouble In the darkness on the lake. Tbev fl1 the crippled boat. I" It hi-., ttie Ja-p with the papers and "Girl." Hie Jumps Into Orme's boat; but the Jap e ludes pursuit. 01 no' finds mi the palter be took from Maku the address. "Illl N. I'lirker SI reel " It'' goes there 11 lid tlllds Aiima. teacher of Jlu lllsu. Is on the third II. .or lie culls on Alia, eliilrvovanl. on the fourth Ihecir. descends bv the nre. isci ps and imiri als himself under a table Pi Arlnia's room. Alcatrante. I'orited and the .lip minister enter. Orme tlnds the p:iicr.i in a drawer, under Ihe table and si'hstlliites mining prosper I uses for them, lie barns that the pap.-rs are of Interna-llonal Interna-llonal lieportnne-e with a time limit for sli-natiires of that night midnight. The K11I.HI li utlori Is iliscovi i.il Tin. girl icp-pe icp-pe nrs and leaves niraln afte r being told thai the American has the papem. I nine ntti'irpls to get iiwiiv. Is discovered and ei upon bv Arlma an l Maku. lb- i-bnb-s them and Is hidden In 11 e Inset bv the clairvoyant. Orme escape's during a fennci- given bv Alia On the Hdenlk I s ereoiinleis Alcfi'ranle Orme go. s lo fl'id Tom 'alllm-'baoi. Alcairatitc b oms c' and tries to net the papers. ! mrlng tbe exeiicm' lit caused bv one rf Alca-tr.inle's Alca-tr.inle's tricks to del. iv Orme. tl hiiic-r sers the u'l l ami fo'lows le r b:n k to Wiillliigliaio's onice. lie and the -'hl are locked !n a giant specimen refrigerator bv Alc-alriinte. Thev confess the'lr love nnd when tbev had almost nba ndoevil hope of escape Oim breaks the th. rmome ler colls ami Attracts the attention of a late-going chrk. Thev are liberated. Alcatrante Is on write li, Thev get awav In a li'red motor ear to Kvanstnn. The chauffeur turns out to be Maku. llee runs tl'em to a quiet Spot where they tne-l't anothe-r molor. Orme prele-nds to conceal th papers unde r the se nt, but elrops them In the rond. orme fights Arlma. Maku and two other Jiips. A policeman Intervenes. The girl drives sway In one ear wllh what Orme deceives her Into thinking are the real papers. Afitna finds the real papers, eludes the police -man ami drives away In another ear orme unnoticed, climbs In be hind, thredtle'H the Jap, recovers the stolen pr pe rs ami goes to Arraelale. Kessle Wal-llne-hain Introduces him to the club members mem-bers and the Japanese minister. The latter licenses Orme of theft. Hes-sle Hes-sle vouches for him and they leave for the home of "ej'rl" where- he places the papers In her hands CHAPTER XIX. A Saved Situation, lie waited Impatiently for her return. re-turn. Ilessle, he knew, might be In one of the rooms Just across the hall, but. though Pessie was a trump, he did not go to look for her. The girl might come back at any moment and be did not wish to miss one Instant of her presence. Again he considered the miracle of ler appearance In his life, nnd he rejoiced re-joiced that, from the first, he had ben able to be of service to her. Those loving, trusting words that she had Just spoken how they glowed In his heart! She had known that he would succeed! He could only think that the secret tele graphy of his love had sent her messages of confidence. And yet he did not even know her name. The house w as Just such a one I as he might have Imagined to be her j home beautiful, with the air of a ! longer family tradition than Is com-"lonly com-"lonly found in the middle west tin-btrusivo tin-btrusivo but complete. And the fur-nlshlng.-i of the room In which be was j!. i.;!::g were In qe!"t but perfect .. i e La a '.'.' 'e n-.ar h.ai I.ty a bock. Mechanically he picked It up. It opened at the fly leaf Homethlnvr as written there her nnme, per-saps. per-saps. lie closed the cover without read-ng read-ng the Inscription, conscious only of 1 line of writing in a feminine hand .hat might be ber'a or another's. No, 3e could wait. The name did not nutter. She was his, ami that was hough. Near the book lay an empty en-ct-elope, addressed to he averted bis eyes. He found himself wondering whether wheth-er Poritol was silll kneeling in the field, and whether Maku was still running, run-ning, and win tln r the Japanese minister min-ister was si 111 tellins; charming stories yn the porch at Arrudale. And presently, whe-n tiie came at; un, her fae e radiant, and said soft-j soft-j ly. "You have done a great thing, my i dear" when she said that, he could only look and look and t!.:.iik heaven lor hia ble sseclne-ss. "Where were the papers when you fooled nie into leaving you?" she s-sc d "Arlma bad them. It's cj'iite a storv, Ijlrl. dear." "The n, wait a litt'e while." she Inter-ruit'd, Inter-ruit'd, "we have permission to sc.. :he pa pers s neil." She ltd Mm through the adjoining ee-'tit ai d to the curtained doorway of V l:t,r"Ty I'-tiK, alcoved. shelved with h k?. and furn shed wllh heavy leath-r leath-r rl uirs 'n the center was a Urge "Tell Father the Story, Won't You, Pleaae?" She Asked. pornry retirement from Washington to Chicago, lo be near his favorite phyic'jn for weeks the papers had be. n f ' of these l:ic Metits. ..! n t'ot::ii A n . I ins a .d Japanese Jap-anese combined to hinder the signing of mysterious papers, he should have realized that the matter was not of private, but of public Importance. Hut the true significance of the events Into which he had been draw n had es-enped es-enped his logical mind. It had never occurred to hlni that sue h a aerie of plots, frequent though they might be In continental Kurope, could ever be attempted In a country like the United .States. And then, he had actually thought of little besides the girl and he r needs. He glanced at her now, but her gaxe was fixed on the scene before them. The brightne-ss of her eyes and her quit k ned breatbing told him how Intense In-tense was her Interest. Across the table from the secretary of state sat a younger man. His bre ast glittered Willi dee orations, atiel l is bearing and a pe arar.ee had oil the stiffness of the highborn Teuton. of the nun who stood behind the two seated figures, some were young, some were old. but all were welgfej with the gravity of a great moment. Orme infe rred that the y were sec re-tarn re-tarn s sihI attat be s. And now pens strati bed on paper. The secretary of state and the lim-man lim-man ambassador fur Orme knew that it in ust be he were signing d' u-tnenta. u-tnenta. apparently In duplicate, for they exchanged papers after signing and repeated the action. So these I were the papers which at the last I hour Orme bad restored; and this always be evidence of Its truth," said Ihe girl; and then, with n suggestion of adorable shyness, "We must go ami redeem that bill fomellme." The secretary was pondering Ho had listened with manifest Interest, Interrupting now and then with question ques-tion that helped to bring out salient points. At the report of the conversation conversa-tion between Alcatrante and the Japanese Ja-panese concerning the commissions on ships, he had leaned forward with especial attention. And now, icfte-r a few moments of thought, he said: "The Japanese minister we can handle. han-dle. As for Alcatrante, I must see to It that he is recalled - and l'orltol." "Poor little Mr. Poritol!" exciamed (he girl. "Do you think he Is still kneeling in that field?" "Possibly," said Orme, smiling "We will look to see- when we go to redeem the bill " "1 think. Mr. Orme." said the secretary, secre-tary, "that I may fairly g;ve you a little lit-tle clean r insight Intel the Importance of the papers whic h you ri se iieel for us. You have seen s'niie-s of the rumors ru-mors of negotiations with some lor-elgn lor-elgn power?" "Yes," said Ori-.e "Put, perhaps yeju have imr known of the secret but aggressive policy which Jspun has lately adopted toward to-ward us The exthatiiiee of frie-ndly notes a few years ago mlgiit as will not have occurred. If we bad done nothing to chetk the telnieniiea n the Ps'lfic, we sbotiU have been at war within another year. Only a complete com-plete unileis'anding and de finite agree, ment with some strong nation tould prevent hostilities. The Anglo. Japanese Jap-anese alliance ti. initiated Great llrlt- |
