Putnam patriot., 1908-12-18

| l Jl Jules" And NJ Du nd 0 rand adjusted the wick of smoking bras. lamp that hung suspended from tho ceiling of room of the inn, store and | postoffice at Lamar.
 Meanwhile, this being but Wednes. day, we have our work to do Which is not so simple. after all. as one studies the situation Mir Armitage is here, quite within reach We sus. peet him of being n person of distlne. tion. He evinced unusual interest ia a certain document that was once in your hands
 our own hands. if you would be ae. eurate"
 You are eaptious. But. granted SO We must get them back The gentle man is dwelling in a bungalow on the mountain side for greater convenience in watching events and woeing the lady of his hearts desire We employ. ed a clumsy clown to put him out of the world. but he dies hard. and now We have got to get rid Of him But if he hasn't the papers on his clothes then you have this pleasant scheme for Kidnapping him. getting him down to your steamer at Baltimore and cruis. ing with him until he is ready to come to terms. The American air has done much for your imagination. my dear Jules. or possibly the altitude of the hills has overstimnlated it''
 You are not the fool you iook my dear Durand. You have actually talk en fair grasp of the situation"
 But the adorable young lady. the fair Mile Glaiborne-whaf becomes of her in these transactions
 That Is none of your affair."" replied Chauyenet, frowning. .i am quite content with my progress. 1 have not finished in that natter"
 Neither it would seem, has MT. John Artnitage But l am quite well satisfied te leave it to you. In a few days we shall know much more than we do now l should be happier if you were in charge in Vienna. A false Step there-ugh, hesitate to think of the wretched mess there would be-
 Trust Winkelried to do his full duty. You must not forget that the acute Stroebel now sleeps the long sleep and that many masses have al ready been said for the repose Of his intrepid soul"
 The splendor of our undertaking Is enough to draw his ghost from the grave. Ugh. By this time Zmai should have filed our cablegram at the Springs and got your mail at the hotel I hope you have not misplaced your confidence in the operator there. Com ing back our giant must pass Armi- tage's house."
 Trust him to pass if. His encoun- iers with Armitage have not been 10 his credit
 The two men were dressed in rough clothes, as for an outing. and in spite of the habitual trifling tone of their talk they wore serious air Du- rand's eyes danced with excitement and he twisted his mustache nervous iy. Chauvenet had gone to Washing ton to meet Durand. to get from him f,ews of the progress of the conspiracy in Vienna and. not least to berate him for crossing the Atlantic. "l do not require watching. my dear Durand' he had said
 A man in love. dearest Jules. some times forgets.'' But they had gone into the Virginia hills amicably and were ouartered with the postmaster They waited now for Zmai, whom they had sent to the Springs with message and to get Chauvenet's mail Armitage. they had learned, used the Lamar telegraph office. and they had decided to carry their business else where.
 While they waited fin the bare upper room of the inn for Znai the big Ser yian tramped up the mountain side with an aching head and heart heavy with dread The horse he had left tied in a thicket when he plunged down through the Claiborne place had pro ken free and run away, so that ne must now trudge back afoof 10 repori to his masters He had made mess a. his erranis and nearly lost his lie besides The bullet from Oscars re yolver had cut neat furrow in his scalp. which was growing sore ant stiff as it ceased bleeding He would undoubtedly be dealt with harshly by Chauxenet and Durand. but he knew that the sooner he reported his csiaint ties the better. so he stumbled toward Lamar. pansing at times 10 clasp us small head in his great hands. When he passed the wild tangie thaf ma Aryni4ase.s bungalow he paused and cursed the two occupants in his own dialect with a feFee. vie tongue II was near midnight when he reached ths tavern and climbed the FsckeIy stairway to the room where the two men waItssGi-
 Chaurenet opened the door at his as1 proseh. and fhey cried aloud as the great figure appeared before them ana