Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1905-08-09

OF tne clevereSt, most aStute and IN
genious scoundrelsin the world.
With such thoughts crowding in on
him, and with a sense Of insecurity and
mystery surrounding the whole busi-
ness, it is not surprising that the young
attache was ssilent and pIepossessed
at dinner, though he did his level best
to appear cheerful and at ease.
Immediately the ladies had with
drawn Malvern at once sought his
room, locked the door, and feverishly
perused the book of poems. which he
had put into his pocket, and searched
for further revelations:
BE careful he spelled out again ana
again; and scattered about the pages
were other dotted words, which. when
deciphered, read: You are being
watched. Be on your guard against
the two"
That was all; but it was enough to
quicken his pulses, and set him throb-
bling with excitement
Was Vera acquainted with his forth
coming visit to England with the dis
patches? That was question he asked
himself repeatedly, but found no salts
factory solution. Well he had received
warning. and hoped to profit by 1t.
He would start on his mission without
an instant's delay. For greater security
he placed the dispatches, firmly fas-
tened, under his shirt.
Without waiting to change into
tweeds. he put on an overcoat and a
| cap.
| He chartered closed cab,. and so as
not to excite any suspicion, told the
| driver to proceed slowly to an outlying
suburb, whence he intended to entrain
for Calais. He had been driving for
about three-Quarters of an hour, when
the sound of a sharp but distinct teuf!
teuf! caught his ear, and set him all
agog.
Were these Russians-''the two" to.
whom Vera's cipher had evidently re-
ferred-in pursuit? The motor rapidly
approached, and was evidently whirring
along at terrific speed. AS security
against possible accident the driver
stopped well to the left Of the road and
watched for the motor to pass. In an
other moment the motor was on them,
and whether by accident or design NAL
vern could never determine, but just
as the car whizzed past, the back left
wheel caught the right front wheel of
the carriage. There was sharp wrench
and jerk, and the front of the cab was
complete wreck.
Needless of the drivers cries and
curses, Malvern sprang out, flung him
| his fare, and started to run after the
motor at tOpmost speed. for he thought
he had caught glimpse of huddled
female form in the car as it flashed by;
and he also fancied he recognized both
the Russians He ran on until almost
exhausted, following the trail of the car
on the muddy road as best he could, un-
til the wheel marks turned off into a
narrow drive which terminated in a,
small house.
He cautiously entered the drive,
stepped quietly on the grass, then made
for soSle bushes, and, pushing them
aside, stood, half concealed, looking at
the only lighted window to be seen. The
front door was left open. The car had
been left near the gate for sudden emer-
gency. AS he looked at the lighted win
dow he suddenly became aware that a
woman was peering out into the dark
ness, and that the woman was Vera.
IvanOvitch.
Cautiously he stepped from his place
of cOncealment and endeavored to at
tract the attention of Vera At last she
both saw and recognized him. Quietly
she opened the window and let down
rope made from a couple of rugs
which she had securely fastened inside.
Then, with desperate pluck, the brave
girl swung over the sill, caught on to the
rugs, and scrambled down to Malvern,
who caught her as she fell the last few
feet
Quick" she whispered. THE carl"
She half dragged him to the motor,
into which they both leaped. 1t was
the work of moment to start it, but
no sooner had Malvern done so than two
men-the Russians-ran out of the
house. Two bullets whizzed harmless
ly past the car, and in another moment
Malvern and his precious charge were
tearing back toward Paris, safe from
pursuit. The young attache safely de-
livered the dispatches.
! And that's how it was that Malvern
got promoted in the diplomatic service
and married Vera Ivanovitch
Vera had known that the two Rus
slams were in the secretservice and were
watching the young attache. 1t was she
who had endeavored to warn Malvern
with her secret cipher, and SO had prac-
tically saved the situation. On pretense
of driving her home after the dinner,
| they had kidnapped her in order to make
her reveal anything she might know Of
the young attaches movements, for they
suspected that she was in league with
| Malvern.
They intended keeping her a prisoner
in the house, under the strict surveil-
lance of two female custodians, until
her father had offered a sum of money