Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-06-19

alone.'
flush! Keep calm" / whispered
"You are mistaken. / shall be with
you. l am no more afraid than you
Then tomorrow" l had to say it, his
eyes had famed up so dangerously
and of course all our hopes were based
upon what we might CLEAN from this
Mareschi. So far we were all in the
dark as to the names and number of
the plotters on this side. at is just
the plan we must consider now to get
a way in and keep it," 1 waited, on
the chance that he might know some.
thing of the real Arboretti's scheme,
but he only hung on my words with
that mad, puzzling intentness. l was
treading the edge of a deep pit. ut is
not to be Thursday, and so my best
and safest plan falls to the ground.
On that day he attends reception at
an embassy and returns to the hotel in
time for Another pause. No, it
seemed fairly clear that the final ar
rangements had been intrusted to that
deep Arboretti. "Well, here is our sec
ond and only alternative idea. Provid-
ed the rajah sleeps at his hotel to-
morrow night, it cannot fail. Tomor-
row there will be cases of game, wine
and other things carried in at the rear
OF the building. Mareschi, bend your
head" And l whispered clever no.
ton that had been agreed upon days
before, so designed that he and his
| confederates could be arrested quietly
on the very scene of the contemplated
crime.
"Yes, yes"' He simply nodded and
was on his feet again. 81 care not so
long as | succeed. You have all this
ready? Then / meet you-where"
Here was staggerer. What could l
answer offhand? Beyond the establish
ment of his own identity had ferreted
out absolutely nothing of value. Where
was he staying and with whom? A
minute to think! got it by calling for
the bills, settled both and led the way
outside. / could simply risk another
throw of the bait
at must not fall whispered. "Sup-
pose l come back with you and talk it
over with the others"
'The others?" He stared vaguely.
mo; each may work for himself.
shall spend my night preparing the
bombs and-and," with something near
a choke, writing to all those | left
over there-little Nina and the others.
/ want to be alone. AT o'clock /
shall meet you just here. and you will
have the cab ready"
He put a hand to his forehead and
fairly walked away from me. Hurry
back to the Yard with my report or fol-
low him on the chance Of learning
what he wanted before daylight? Fol-
low him! He had struck along a quiet
street leading farther west Off went.
He was turning corner. hung back
second or so, took a run, peered
round and almost dashed my face into
the wax white one with the black beard.
Something or other in his brain had
made him halt and look back Before
he could properly realize or shape any
suspicion | had spun him round with
an excited whisper:
"That way-quick! We were seen.
Tomorrow nightp
And off sprang in another direction. |
Phew! Another blunder like that, and |
might scare him irAo prematurely at |
tempting what he was here to carry |
out.
No: there was no real danger! When |
left the Yard late that night, every |
possible strand of the web had been
drawn in, and his highness was as safe
here as he had ever been at home and |
perhaps more so. 1t now only remain
ed to arrest the plotters with all the
proof possible. communicate with the
police and deal with the
organization in such manner as
well. as would effectually turn the eyes
Of the extreme section away from Brit
ain for many year to come.
.
The memorable day dawned. Seven
o'clock came around at last. By half
past. still as Arboretti, l had reached
the rendezvous and stood waiting for
A four wheeler lowered
,lose at hand. The driver was a detect.
We, plain clothes Inspector was boxed
n under the seat in case of emergency.
md two men were watching in readi-
less. one to carry the word and one to
'ollow wherever we went. The mine
vas undermined In every direction.
Eight o'clock! There was Marescbi
'ounding the corner. Putting ut his
eternal cigarette, he walked firmly up.
leadly calm-almost smiling.
Good! But where is-it? l whis-
'ered. 1T" was always their word.
"Close BY" he said. staring round.
Don't think | was afraid. l was only
areful. We will step back for it and
eturn here for the cabS This wayv'
That was unexpected. but it matter
q nothing. might lead to something
'ood. We should be closely followed in
ny case. Not another word passed be-
ween us. but as we went managed to
cribble on my linen cuff, "Have house
earched moment we leave it." We
1ere going toward Soho. as expected,
nd barely ten minutes had elapsed
Vhen our man stopped. looked up and ,
own. and whispered. Here 1t is" :
ust had time to flick away the cuff as ,
e turned his key. Next minute | was 1
him I'D q dark, narrow STAIR