Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-12-26
EXCHANGE NO ROBBERY.
Secret Service Story.
BY CHARLES d. LESLIE.

swore under his breath, but his annoy
ance at having to leave the house with
Cecil instead of alone changed to
alarm as he quickly discerned his com.
panion suspected him Of espionage.
His acuteness was not at fault. Cecil
was no fool, and before he had been
five seconds back in his study some.
thing very near the truth had occurred
to him. BY what strange concatena.
ton of events was It that the French
man had been left alone for fully FIVE
minutes in his fathers study with the
desk open and war secrets almost ex-
posed to view? Even were his suspic-
ions wrong his friend had been guilty
Of vulgar prying; he had left him
standing over the fire and returned to
find him standing close to his fathers
writing desk. On the spur Of the mo-
ment Cecil determined not to let Mon.
sieur Pronge out of his sight until he
had decided how to act.
The two men drove to the dance,
Pronge exerting himself to the utmost
to Danish suspicion from Cecil's heart.
Before they alighted the spy had de-
cided on his plan Of campaign. He
dared not remove the precious paper
from his overcoat pocket while Cecil
was with him; he would yield coat and
hat to the attendant in the cloakroom
and enter the ballroom, then give his
friend the slip, hurry down. retrieve
them, and make his escape. When the
loss was known some suspicion must
rest on him; he would perhaps have II
leave London, but the French Govern
ment would amply reward him for his
success in so promptly and completely
fulfilling their desires.
He felt, Therefore, assured of ulti-
mate triumph and safe from immediate
detection as he stood on the pavement
paying the cabman, when hand
gripped his arm and voice In his ear
whispered, "You thiefp'
Though his nerves were good Pronge
was powerless to repress start. He
turned to ind Harold Rising facing
him with a smile on his face, but the
spy's sang froid had momentarily de-
serted him.
"What do you mean?" he stammered,
quite out of countenance.
There! Your face betrays you"
shouted Rising. II appeal to Eel.
loves"
But you speak riddles. What is
the joker" Pronge strove desperately
to guess what Rising was talking of.
"You bolted from the club with my
cigar case" explained HE tormentor.
"Your cigar case? l have not got
it."
Haven't you? Feel in your right
hand pocket"
Pronge obeyed mechanically. There
was cigar case in his overcoat pocket.
However did it get there? Then all at
once the truth flashed upon him. He
was wearing Rising's overcoat; the club
waiter had helped him on with his
coat ana made a mistake. And Rising
was wearing his The two coats were
of similar cut and material, made by
the same tailor. and owing to the re-
semblance in build and height Of the
two men the difference Of At had been
SO trlfing. he had never noticed the
servants error.
ut is your coat I am wearing" he
| gasped.
Exactly" laughed Rising. "and I'm
wearing yours" He whipped 1t of as
he spoke. "They are as like az two
peas. and the stupid fellow at the club
mixed them up. Now we'll exchange
II you please"
Exchange! and the stolen designs for
the gun worth small fortune to him
lying in a pocket of the coat he was
himself wearing. Was there ever 80
luckless mischance! Pronge stood
hopelessly trapped. In the full glare
Of the street lamps with Cecil Fellowea
(his suspicious confirmed by Pronge'a
obvious EMBARRASSMENT watching him
with jealous eyes, the simple action
Of withdrawing the plans ere he d.
vested himself Of the overcoat meant
his instant detection and arrest.
"Come, exchange IL no robbery
quoted Rising. I'm sold. man; OF
| WIFI NY coat.
There was absolutely no help for 1t
Pronge obeyed. and Rising, receiving
it. first politely helped the Frenchmar
into his own 0vercoat. Then he donnef
the one Pronge had doffed, and thu
substitution was complete.
"Has Monsieur Pronge any property
Of his own in the coat he was wear
ingT asked Cecil dryly at this juno
ture.
Pronge hesitated a moment, thel
saw from his former friends manne
that the game was up. He turned ant
fed.
"Why, what's come over the fellow 2
cried Rising in innocent astonishmeht
"Hullo. there is something Of his ii
this pocket. Look here, plans, etc.. o
new field gum"
The French Government is now ua
ing the services of Monsieur Prong
in another European capital. He 1
violent anglophobe, with 4 specia
prejudice against English tailors.-
+. New York Commercial Advertiser.
. American Msde Dolls.
There is big factory in the Unite
, States now-in New Jersey-whic
makes dolls, very perfect and endul
| nhln nunn nf shan< ~<oo1 Thnw NJ