The San Francisco call., 1907-02-17

passed by the proper oflcials and
xasned perfectly regular. Still, pre-
caution is always considered impor-
liant in spain, and two inspectors were
sent TO make a scrutiny of the newly
arrived vessel.
They found nothing out of the or
binary The master OF tho vessel hav-
ing declared clean papers, the officials
retired and made a report of their in
vestlgation. But on the following day,
after part Of the cargo had been
transferred to lighter, 1t was dis
covered that several cases marked
italian books had been smuggied into
the hold of the vessel. The cases
were unusually heavy. They were in
voiced to the distinguished foreigner
whom 1 have already mentioned, but
whose name can not recall They
were landed on the wharf and the
inspectors, whose suspicious had been
aroused, made immediate report to
their superiors. Their first act was to
hunt Up the history OF the foreigner.
IT was found, among other things, that
for the study OF Italian. So that made
shipment OF Italian books in his
name quite reasonable
The Count, who had been listening
intently, moistened his lips with his
tongue.
But" continued Barnes, "once sus-
picion has been aroused, reasonable
ness does not count with the Spanish,
police. They said in their minds. Why
does this man smuggle in his ship
ment? Why does he need several
cases OF books? Why do those books
appear so weighty? Contrary to Gus
tom, the boxes were not seized or
the wharf. The officers resolved to
use a little strategy. They would per-
mlt the consignment to go to the
house OF the distinguished foreigner
and then be present when the boxes
were opened. AS soon as the boxes
had been delivered, two members OF
the police force, in plain clothes
pushed their way into the house and
informed the affable resident that
they desired TO purchase some Italian
books. He glanced at the intruders
and then at the boxes In the hallway,
and knowing look came into his
face
The Count pulled out his handker-
chief and mopped the perspiratlon from,
his brow.
1T was about DUSK said Barnes
continuing his story, ithe distinguished
foreigne. was in evening dress. Be-
fore answering, he took his hat off the
rack. and throwing his outer coat over
his arm. said with easy assurance;
o.
for dinner party. am already late
but my man viii open these boxes and
you can look over the books and talh
to me about them I'm the morning
unless you care TO await my return
tonight, which will be In about twc
hours
Gould anything be more polite OF
obliging? The police thought not. The
man, however, was not so pleasant as
his master. He growied terribly ai
being called upon TO open these heavily
bound boxes at such an uuseasonable
hour. It TOOK him about twenty min
utes TO find the implements with which
TO open the cases. When the boards
were taken on the FIRST box nearly ar
hour had elapsed. A mass OF straw
was on the top; then came coating
of heavy cardboard. and beneath this
in warlike array, WAS layer after layer
OF magazines for repeating rifles. This
second bog was filied TO the brim with
ammunition.
''Horrificd at the discovery, the OH.
GERS Immediately placed the man under
arrest, and awaited the return OF the
master. They may be waiting there
yet for all 1 know. Anyhow, he ncvel