Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-01-27
By George Barton.

ner TO this resemblance to the most cum
ming and sagacious OF animals. II could
he seen In the erect. pointed ears; in the
long nose. which seemed to be perpetuallv
on the scent of something; in the sharp
eyes, at once observant and suspicious: In
the shrewd countenance, which indicated
not only intellectual capacity but ingenuity
and fondness for strategy. A reader Of
character would have said that this was a
man naturally of a timorous disposition.
yet who, II driven into corner, could ex-
hibt boldness bordering on courage. Tho
soft white hand with the pinkish finger
nails suggested eheminacy as did the gem
eral makeup Of this gentle. soft spoken
perfumed and bejeweled person.
The talk was OF travels. and Clancy
listened with open-eared establishment
while Barnes represented himself to the
others as the great American traveller. He
said there was no part of the civilized
globe he had not visited. and spoke glibly
Of London, Paris, Madrid and st. Peters
burg. Clancy was lost in admiration at the
cleverness with which the chief PLAYED his
part. Presently the countess begged leave
to retire for a while Her seat was taken
by Jerome Harvey a fellow passenger who
had become acquainted with the count
short time before and who seemed fas-
' ny NHt ollg AOuBut VI tie
Count Velasquez voiced the general desire
to hear more Of Barnes travels.
Tell us about Madrid" he said. Surely
something out of the ordinary must have
occurred to you while there"
There was nothing personal to me-" re-
piled Barnes. looking at the other out OF
half closed eyes. Incidentally, though,
heard many queer stories"
Tell us one of them" said Harvey.
Perhaps" continued Barnes, as II the
other had not spoken, the most interest
ing of these was the adventure Of the dis
tinguished foreigner and the consignment
of Italian books"
THAT sounds interesting" cried Clancy.
give us that"
We'll" began Barnes, putting away at a
perfecto, lone day the society of Madrid
was increased by the arrival of a stranger,
a foreigner of distinguished appearance.
He was cultured agreeable and made
many friends. He spoke italian huently,
although that was not his native tongue.
Not many weeks had passed before he I'M
dertook to form a little class for instruc-
ton"
THAT sounds all right" commented
Harvey, as Barnes paused to pun at his
cigar
''It was all right" smiled Barnes. for
a WINE, anu lntis dS SOHlCAllhtS udppShS
in Spain. it turned out to be all wrong.
There was an agitation going on in the
provinces outside Of Madrid. The peas
antry, goaded to desperation by proverty-
were holding secret meetings with view
of rising against the authorities. The mill
tary and the police were constantly on the
alert, so that the movement did not make
much progress. About that time an Eng
lish vessel arrived at one of the outlying
ports. II had been passed by the proper
officials and seemed perfectly regular.
stu. precaution is always considered inn
portant in Spain, and two inspectors were
sent to make a scrutiny of the newly ar
rived vessel.
They found nothing out of the ordi-
nary The master of the vessel having
declared clean papers. the officials retired
and made a report OF their investigation.
But on the following day. after part of
the cargo had been transferred to lighter
II was discovered that several cases
marked Italian books had been smuggled
into the hold of the vessel. The cases were
unusually heavy. They were invoiced to
the distinguished foreigner whom l have
already mentioned. but whose name l can
not recall They were landed on the
wharf and the inspectors, whose suspi-
cions had been aroused, made immediate
report to their superiors. Their first act
was TO hunt up the history Of the foreigner.
II was found, among other things that
he had organized class in the capital for
the study of Italian. SO that made ship
ment Of Italian books in his name quite
reasonable"
The count, who had been listening in
tently, moistened hi lips with his tongue
But" continued Barnes, "once suspicion
has been aroused, reasonableness does not
NTH he pOliTa ThQV said
in their minds. why does this man snug
gle in his SHIPMENT Why does he need
several cases of books? Why do those
books appear so welghty7 Contrary TO
custom the boxes were not seized on the
wharf The officers resolved to use a little
strategy They would permit the consign-
ment 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 at
fable resident that they desired TO purchase
some Italian books. He glanced at the in
truders and then at the boxes in the hall
way, and a knowing look came into his
face"
The count pulled out his handkerchief
and mopped the perspiration from his
brow.
1T was about dusk said Barnes, con-
tuulng his story. the distinguished for
eigner was In evening dress Before an
swering he took his hat on the rack, and
throwing his outer coat over his arm, said
with easy assurance:
Gentlemen. / have an engagement for
dinner party. I am already late; but
my man will open these boxes and you can
look over the books and talk TO me about
them In the morning-unless you care to
await my return tonight which will be in
about two hours
Gould anything be more polite or oblig
ing? The police thought not. The man.
however, was not 80 pleasant as his
master. He growled terribly at being
called upon 20 open these heavily bound
boxes al such an unreasonable hour. It
took HIM about twenty minutes TO find the
implements with which 10 open the Eases
When the boards were taken of the first
box nearly an hour had elapsed. A mass
OF straw was on the top then came a
coating OF heavy cardboard. end beneath
this, in warlike array. was layer after layer
OF magazines for repeating rifles. The sec
ond box was filled 10 the brim with ann
munition.