The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-30

believed to be Russian and French, as
you are no doubt aware; and that
impression is very much to our adj
vantage In certain transactions past,
present, and-I was ON the point of
adding come; but mademoiselle
assures us that, in the affair OF the
present moment, she is serving us
positively for the last time. In fact.
If the affair goes safely thru she will
be married and retire into private life
from the political as well as the
theatrical stage
by Jove!" calculated Noel. And
again j should have liked to- see the
marry! But only II this affair goes
thru ?"
If it doesn't go thru I'm afraid
that will be the. end of things gen
orally for poor Mademoiselle de New
ers and for her fiance. It is: an ex-
Itraordinary complication - romantic
and sensational In the extreme. But
that only concerns US indirectly.
| When you meet her, if she chooses
to take. you into her confidence con-
corning certain private affairs which
are so strangely mixed up with the
| gravest political issues, she is at per-
4 feet liberty to do SO. I will only say
now, however that if you wish to do
Madcmoiselle de Nevers service Of
| incalcElable value-a service for
which she should be grateful all her
| life you will do your best to put
| into her hands tonight at the Elysee
Palace hotel q small packet which !
now entrust to you. Should 1t by any
misaGventure be lost, probably Made
moiselle de Nevers would kill herself
(the foreign secretary said this in a
calm tone as If it were the most ordi-
nary thing in the world). "Altogeth-
l 4,> r to i,,oy,
Mr.. Brent, that you will need to guard
| the packet as if it were your own
life"
life" Noel answered, gravely. "Yet
it sounds simple enough. TO cross
over to France, travel on to Paris, and
deliver a parcel to a friend at the
Elysee Palace hotel"
1 "Then it sounds simpler than it is, .
4 said Lord Reekworth. "In fact, moth
ing could we'll be more difficult. The
contents of this envelope only reached
me last night, when it was at once
| shown to the prime minister. This
morning received CIPHER telegram
from Mademoiselle de Nevers warning
me that a certain Count Ipanoff of the
Russian embassy in Paris, whom she
lately refused to marry, suspects that
something is on foot. She does no.
know how much he guesses or wha,
action he may have taken, but one
! thing is sure-every boat and every
train between London and Paris will
be watched even more closely thar
usual. A known agent of our govern
ment would certainly not get thru
i Now, I don't need to charge you that
this business must be mentioned to no
one-no one at all-and YOU will be-
gin to understand why I was anxious
l to pat hold of x1rl,o he
the right man. yet would not necessar-
I lily be regarded with suspicion. AS for
me, l took every means to escape OBJ
seryation when I left home half an
!. hour ago. I think I succeeded; but
one can't be sure. Sir Gordon's door
may very likely be under espionage
now"
| 1--WE can satisfy ourselves as tc
that said my uncle. Gone can look
out thru these curtains without being
| seen. have one or two peep-h holes
which have proved rather convenient
at times"
i didn't STIR tho I heard the pushing
back Of a chair; for L knew that to &c
to the window facing the square they
need not come near the book screen
There is aifellow out there Uncle
Gordon announced a moment later
Hes talking toisa cabman, and may
be- an d ordinary tout But there's
i something curiously alert about him
for that sort of person, and twice since
! I've been at the window he's glanced
this way What do you make Of him
Reckworth ?''
Il make this of him." exclaimed the
foreign secretary That I'm pretty
sure (tho he's disguised now that
hes French spy who used to hang
about our embassy when was an at
tache in Paris. I never forget a face
That settles it, Brent" said Uncle
Gordon. We'll have to smuggle you
out somehow, or the fats in the fire
Luckily. you came before Lord Reck-
worth, and If he was followed here
you haven't yet been seen. So far, SC
good. Do you mind sacrificing your
mustache ?'' n
mot in such good cause" re.
turned Noel, laughing.
Then think I've hit upon the trick
by which we shall dodge the French
hornets and get off without a sting
You must leave this house in the ltv-
cry of a footman,s and so by devious
ways you get back to your own place
and change. It's only quarter pas
nine now. You have plenty Of time tt
catch the II o'clock train at Charing.
cross
I dared wait for no more. Swiftly
and quietly I darted to the door, softly
opened it, shut it again, and hac
passed the landing on the stairs before
heard their voices in the hall.
Already I had made up my min6
what to say to Margot. 1t was as i
they had played into my hands.
(To be continued Monday
nn@-4 1oorr