The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-01-14

! give his friend the slip, hurry down. re-
| trieve them and make his escape. When
! the loss was known some suspicion must
rest on him; he would perhaps have to
| 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 ultimate
triumph and safe from immediate detec-
ton as he stood of the pavement paying
the cabman when hard gripped his arm
and a voice in his ear whispered, You
thief
Though his nerves were good Pronge
was powerless 10 repress a start. He
turned to find Harold Rising facing him
with a smile or his face, bit the spy's
sang frod had momentarily deserted him
What do you mean" he stammere1
quite out OF countsnsnce.
There, your face batrays YOU" shout
ed Rising Il appeal 20 Feiiowes."
But you speak riddles: what is the
joker" Pronge strove desperately to
guess what Rising was speaking OF.
You bolted from the tub with my
cigar case" explained his tormentor.
IOuf bAS1i SeiSS- i nave f4DL SC( 1t.
Haven't you? Feel in your right-hand
pocket
Pronge obeyed mechanically: There was
a cigar case in his overcoat pocket How
ever did il come there? Then all at once
the truth flashed upon him. He was
wearing Rising's overcoat; the club wait
er who he'd helped him on with his coat
had made mistake. The two coats were
of similar cut anC material, made by the
same tailor and owing to the resemblance
in build and height of the two men the
difference of at had been so trifing he
had never noticed the servants error.
1T is your coat l am wearing, "ha
gasped
Exactly" laughed Rising; land I'm
wearing yours" He whipped it off as he
spoke. They are as like as two peas.
and the stupid fellow at the club mixed
them up" Now wen exchange if you
please
Exchange, and the stolen designs for
the gun worth a. small fortune TO him
lying in a pocket Of the coat he was him
self wearing. Was there ever SO lucklass
mischance. Pronge stood hopelessly
trapped In the full glare OF the street
lamps with Cecil Felowes Chis suspicious
confirmed by ProDges obvious embarrass-
menD watching him with jealous eyes.
the simple action Of withdrawing the
plans ere he Invested himself of the over
coat meant his instant detection and ar
rest
Come, exchange is no robbery" quoted
Rising, I'm cold, man; off with my
coat"
There was absolutely no help for it:
Pronge Obeyed and Rising, receiving it.
first politely helped the renchman into
mis- own overcoat. Then he donned the
one Pronge had dotted, and the substitu-
ton was complete.
Has Monsieur Pronge any property Of
his own in the coat he was wearing?''
asked Cecil, dryly, at this juncture.
Pronge hesitated a moment. thea saw
from his former friends manner that the
game was up. He turned and fled.
why, what's come over the fellow"
cried Rising in innocent astonishment
"Huilo. there is something Of his in this
pocket. Look here, Plans, etc, Of new
field gun -
The French government is now using |
the services of Monsieur Pronge In an
other European capital. He is a violent /
anglohobe. with q special prejudice /
against English tailors.-New York Com |
mercial Advertiser.