Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-03-10
SATURDAY. -. MARCH 10. 1906.


got cold"
I'm the house library You just go
in and get it, We always do that at
home. Youn find it on the lower
shelf. to the right as you enter the
door"
II was half after four when James
having taken final look at his hands
and nails. proceeded 10 follow VIII
liam's instructions. He found no one
about Outside the kitchen the lower
part of the house was deserted. To
reach the library he had TO pass
through the mushroom.
The first thing that caught his at
tenuOn was a movable drawing board.
on which lay an uncompleted drawing.
At one side a glass into which were
thrust numerous pens and brushes.
Near this lay a small ball OF crumpled
cambria, such as women insist upon
carrying in their street-car purses. a
delicate. dainty. useless thing. So she
drew pictures. too. he thought Was
there anything this beautiful creature
could not do? Everything seemed
to suggest her presence An indefn-
able feminine perfume stiil fingered on
the air. speaking eloquently OF her.
Curiosity compelled him 70 step
forward and examine her work. He
approached with all the stealth OF r
gentlemsnly burglar. lie expected e.
see some trees and hills and mayhap
brook. or some COWS standing In
stream or some children picking
daisies. He had sister and was reas-
dasies. He had sister and was rea-
sonably familiar with the kind Of sub
jects chosen by the lady-amateu-.
A fertilization plan,
He bent close TO f.. Here was the
seq, here was the land. here the num-
Der of soldiers. cannon. rounds OF am
munitiou. resources in the matter OF
procuring aid. the telegraph. the rail-
ways. everything was here on this pale.
waxen cloth. everything but a name.
He stared at IL. bewiidered. He couldn't
understand what a plan II this sort
was doing outside the war department.
Instantly be became a soldier: he
forgot that be was Incorporating as a
groom; he forgot everything but This
mute thing staring up into his face
Underneath, on q little shelf. he saw
a stack OF worn envelopes. He looked
at them. Rough drafts OF plans
Governors Island, Fortress Monroel
What did IL mean? What could IL
mean? lie searched and found
plans. plans. plans of harbors.
plans OF coast defenses. plans Of
ships building. plans OF full naval
and military strength; everything.
everything He Strengthened. How
his breath panied hint And
all this was the handiwork OF
the woman he lovedi Good cod. what
was going on IN this house? What
right had such things as these TO be in
a private home? For what purpose
had they been drawn? So accurately
reproduced? For what purpose?
Oh. whatever the purpose was. she
was innocent: upon this conviction he
would willingly stake his soul. In
nocent. Innocent licked the clock
over the mantel. Yes. she was limo
cent. Else how could she laugh in
that light-hearted fashion? How could
her eyes shine so bright and merry? d.
Karlon. Annesleyl KarloH the
Russian, Annesley the American; the
one a secret agent OF his country, the
other a former trusted oficiali No
not He could not entertain so base
a thought against the father OF the
girl he loved Had he not admired his
clean record. his personal bravery. his
fearless honesty? And yet. that abb
sent-mindedness, this care-worn
countenance, these must mean some
thing. The purpose. to find out the
purpose OF these plans,
He took the handkerchief and hid
it in his breast, and quietly stole
away A handkerchief, a rose
and a kiss: yes, that was all that
would ever be his.
Pirate nearly coughed his head OF
that night; but. il being Williams
night OF, nobody paid any particular
attention to that justly indignant ami
NAL.