The age-herald., 1901-11-03
.oA s25!i} IIl UllG Secret Service.

I have been for some years attached to the Secret Service Departure 1t and my chief honors me with his confluence to a marked degree. may say that have done my utmost to deserve it, and fortune has favored me on several occa- sions.
 In private life I am known as Mrs. Du- maresq, the widow of an officer in the army and I live very quietly in pretty villa at Chislehurst In what l may call my official capacity, neither my name or my other personal detail matters; l be- come a human machine, devoting all my powers of mind and body to the service of the government One life is entirey separate from the other. That am young, of good appearance, and speak two or three languages perfectly, have found very useful factors in my difficult and dangerous, but fascinating, career.
 I had been resting for two or three weeks when I received summons 10 town.
 E, q have sent for you." Sir Edward be- gan. because I am little uneasy, not to give you any definite instructions have received warnings from Paris and Berlin that trouble is brewing, and I can not localize 1t in any way It Is unsatis- factory to try and fight an unknown dan ger; not to speak of the risk. I am ig- norant from which quarter it will come or what form it will take" < And the person who Is working the trouble" I said, Ifs he unknown to you too?'
 7 ..Nr. t4 |. tba ,atorious Anorcbiat Ta. rah Schlich
 "Ohl I said a little blankly, for I knew that this man was as willy as a serpent, with the advantage of possessing an in- nocent and prepossessing ext terior. There was no sign without of the daredevil spirit within, which knew neither fear nor pity. A man of such soft, persuasive speech and manner as to deceive even his enemies Time after time he had slipped through the coils just as they were tight ening round him.
 Yes" Sir Edward said with a slight smile, answering my unspoken thoughts. t'not an adversary to be despised, I ad- mit.,- By-the-bye, have you ever seen himT'
 "No," I replied though he is familiar enough to me by report"
 He unlocked one of the numerous draw CTS in his writing table and took out a photograph.
 ] That is the man." he said, handing me the card.
 He looks very German" I remarked after a moments consideration, noting the fair beard and light, spectacled eyes, hfhe smiling, rather sleepy looking face, and the broad, athletic shoulders.
 He is German, on one side, at least; his mother, I believe, was English. He speaks both languages like native and altogether has had the upbringing of a rxy11fO fOh aolF I'm ha mol dangerous"
 Where is he now?" I asked. Do you know?'
 'rrhe last information I had was that he was living out Shirley way. But with such a man his ostensible place of abode means nothing; the danger is most likely to come from the very opposite quarter"
 "IIe is not far from me, then" said musingly. T think I had better return home, and start operations from there l am less likely to be suspected sup pose you wish me to watch MT. Schlich and find out what he is plottingT 4 Exactly" he said. "He will not be flo much on bis guard with a lady. You 1nay succeed where man would certain Iy fall. I am 50 completely in the dark 8hat l can give you no help, I am afraid. sl cain only say-suspect everything and risk. nothing. The newspapers, especially the Radical rags, with their sickly ten dernes5 for criminals, are source Of inconvenience to us, but I will see you through any little difficulty that may arise" a
 I was in the habit of riding on horse back a good deal, and tfat same evening l had my mare, Black Bess, brought round, and started off on an exploring ex- pedition.
 It was an ideal night for a ride. It would be light till o'clock. A little rain had fallen earlier in the day, just suffi- cient to lay the dust. and to freshen up the hedges. The pungent smell of the woods was waited to me now and again, and in the distance Shirley Common lay glowing like a purple cloud, for the heather was in bloom. My mare danced under me, feeling the intoxication of the summer night as I did. She was more sympathetic than many human beings. We had been so much together that she seemed to understand my moods and identified herself with them I had called her Black Bess" because with her beau ty and fieetness, she was worthy to be the namesake of Dick Turpin's famous mare.
 I was bent on discovering MT. Schlichs place of abode so I halted presently at A little country inn, where I was on friendly terms with the landlady. asked for a galss of lemonade. which she brought me out herself, and we chatted together a little while. was just about to put cautious question when she fore stalled me.
 eDid you hear of the sad accident to- day. ma aam?" she asked with an air of importance. Happening so close to us l can't get it out of my mind Why, if