The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-09-06


 know the difference. This may be a little thicker than the other. butt can't be sure. And you see, I never once had a chance to unbutton my coat and look at the thing I had in this in- ner pocket. It would have attracted too much attention to risk tha; and as matter of fact. was especially warned not to do 1t. could trust only to the touch. But even granting that, by a skill almost clever enough for sleight-o t-of-hand--a skill which only the smartest pick-pocket in Flu rope could possess--why should thief who had stoken my letter-case give me instead a string of diamonds worth many thousand pounds? If he wanted to put something into my pocket of much the same size and shape as the thing he stole, so that I shouldn't suspect my loss, why didn't he slip in the red case empty, instead of containing the necklacae"
 This necklace" too, of all things in the worldg' murnnured Maxine. lost In the mystery. sIt's like a dream. Yet hereby some miracle--it Is, in our hands. And the treaty Is gone"
 The treaty is gone" repeated. mis- erabIy. s
 It was Maxine herself who had spoken the words which merely eCnOeQ, yet lI dilHOSt hAitcu h0i tO lACetA them from me- No doubt 1t gave the dreadful fact kind of inevitability. She flung herself down on the sofa with a groan, her face buried in her hands.
 My God, what a punishmentw she stammered I've ruined the man risked everything to save. I will go to the theatre, and I will act tonight. my friend, but unless you can give rue back what is lost. when tomorrow morning comes, shall be out of the world"
 Don't say that" I implored, sick with pity for her and shame at my failure. "All hope isn't over yet; 1t can't be. I'll think this out. There must be s solution. There must sbe a way of flying hold of what seems to be gone. If by giving my life could get it, I assure you I wouldn't hesi- tate for an instant. now; so you see there's nothing I won't do to help you only I wish the path could be made a little palmer for me--unless for some reason it's necessary for for you to keep me in the dark. The word treaty I heard for the first time from you. didn't know what was bring ing you. except that it was document of international importance, and that you'd been helping the British Foreign Secretary-perhaps Great Britain as power--in some ticklish manoeuvre of high politics. He said that, so far as be was concerned, you might tell me more If you liked. He left it to you. That was his message.
 "Then I will tell you more" Maxine exclaimed Tt will be better to do so. I know that 1t will make 1t easier for you ao help me. The document you were bringing me was treaty-a quite new treaty between Japan, Rus sia and France: not a copy, but the original. England had been warned that there was a secret understanding between the three countries, unknown to her. There was no time to make a copy. And stole the real treaty from Raoul do Laurier. to whom I am en- gaged--whom adore, Ivor, as didn' know 1t was in me to adore any man You know his name perhaps-that ne Under Secretary in the Foreign once, here in Paris. Oh. I can read in your eyes what you're thinking of me, now :; You can't think worse of me than I think of myself. Yet I did the thing for Raoups sake. There's that in my defence--only that"
 q don't understand" I said. trying not to show the morrow of Maxine treachery to man who loved ana trusted her, which I could not help feeling.
 How could you?--except that I've betrayed himi But I'll tell you every thing-IlI go back long way. Then you'll pity me. even if you scorn me, too. You'il work for me-to save me, and him For years I've helped the British Government. Oh. won't spare myself. I've been a spy. sometimes against one Power. sometimes against another. When there was anything to do against Russia, was always glad, because my dear father was 2 Pole, and you know how Poles reel towards Russia. Russia ruined his life, and stripped 1t of everything worth having. not only money, but oh. well, that's not in this story of mine! I won't trouble you or waste time in the telling. Only, when I was a very young girl, I was always the enemy of all that's Russian, with big debt of revenge to pay. And I've been paying 1t. slowly. Don't think that the money I've had for my work hateful work often--has been used for myself. It's been for my fathers country-poor, sad country--every shilling of English coin. As an act ress I've supported myself. and, as an actress, 1t has been easier for me to do the other secret work than 1t would have been for a woman leading a more sheltered life, mingling less with dis tinguished persons of different conn- tries, or unable to be eccentric with out causing scandal. As for France she's the friend of Russia. and haven't a drop of French blood in my veins, so, at least, I've never been treacherous to my own people. on I have made some great coups in the last eight or nine years. Ivor! for began when I was sixteen and now Tp twenty six. Once or twice England has had to thank me for giv- ing her news of the most vital i'm portance. You're shocked to hear what my inner life has been?"
 eff I were shocked. no doubt the feeling would be moro than half con ventional One hardly knows how conventional one's opinions are until one stops to think" said l.
 "Once, I gloried in the work" Max inc went on. But that was before fell in love- You and have played a little at being in love, but that was to pass the time. Both of us were flirting. I'd never met Raoul then, and I've never really loved any man excent him. It came at first sight