The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-08-12
CHAPTER XII.
Significant Incident of the Brandy
Flask.

Michael Grant and Basil were too sur
prised to say anything at all. He was
a man neither of them had ever seen
before. There was something foreign
in his appearance, in the cut of his
beard, in the clothes he wore.
The question that each instinctively
asked the other was, Had the man
concealed himself in the lavatory be-
fore the train started with a definite
design, or was it a, mere coincidence"
Excuse me, sir" Grant said at
length, the color mounting in his
cheeks and a somewhat dangerous
light coming into his eyes, excuse me,
but you have no right in this carriage
at all. This carriage is reserved for
myself and my friend, as you will see
by the label on the window"
The man looked steadily at Grant
Il speak not Englisch YER WELL"
he said.
AS he heard the accent Basil start
ed, and looked keenly at Michael.
Then" Grant returned, speaking in
very tolerable German, "let me speak
to you in your own language. The
label on the window distinctly states
that this carriage is reserved for the
use of myself and my friend, and you
have no right in it,"
II am extremely sorry" the man an
swered, in good cultural Prussian,
'but | never noticed anything on the
window when L into the carriage got,
or. of course, | should not, gentlemen,
upon you have intruded. / went into
the lavatory to wash my hands just
before the train was starting. | am
sure | had not the slightest idea OF
this, and beg my apology you will ac-
cept. The train does not all the way
to Dover stop, or else I would at once
relieve you Of my presence"
Grant bowed stiffly and said no
more. There was really nothing more
to be said. Whatever his suspicious
might have been. it was worse than
useless to voice them now.
Basil Marriott, who was also thor
oughly versed in German, having TAX
en- a course of 1t for a special naval
examination, quite understood what
his friend and the stranger had been
saying. He realized, as Grant did,
that it would be very foolish to show
anything more than ordinary irrita-
ton, If indeed, the stranger was not
more than a mere traveller, thrown in
their way by chance.
He longed to question Grant on the
subject, but it was impossible. He
lit a pipe and thought over the situa-
ton, wondering what Daisy was doing
a few coaches down the train--won-
dering whether she was thinking of
him.
The pipe went out. He held It in
his hand without relighting 1t, lost in
reverie. His elbow was resting upon
the window. and as the fast train
dashed on through the night the vul-
canite stem Of the pipe tapped against
the glass.
An idea came to Basil. 1t was worth
trying. at any rate. 1t all depended
upon one thing. Did Michael Grant
know the Morse code or not? Not
one person In ten thousand knows IL,
but it was possible that Grant did.
Lifting his eyes, he looked meaningly
at his friend. and then tapped out the
call for attention.
The bearded German at the other
end of the carriage was fast asleep.
AS the first faint "tick, tick" of the
pipe-stem against the window came to
his ears Grants face suddenly wore
questioning expression. Then 1t
cleared. He smiled slightly, and his
right eyelid fiickered in wink.
Grant understood.
What do you think of that Johnny
In the corner?" tapped out the mes
sage.
Grants fingers went into the ticket
pocket Of his overcoat for a moment,
and emerged with sixpence.
Looking after u.s." he tapped out,
in scarcely audible response. 1--WE
shall be followed all the way to Co
logne. but we must give him the slip
out upon the boat"
Basil nodded, and both young men
stopped further conversation.
They lay back against the soft cush-
Ions. thinking deeply.
Like most people, both found the
rapid motion of the express singularly
conducive to concentrated thought, to
plan-naking and scheming. There is
something in swift and long-continued
motion which seems to exhilarate the
brain. to tone 1t up to effort and alert
ness.
Michael. on his part. was taking
rapid and comprehensive view of the
whole matter upon which he was en-
gagged. To him Y meant everything
In the world, his whole LIES hopes.
Upon the success or failure Of this
expedition. this arduous attempt to
fight against powerful and almost un-
known forces, his whole future happi-
ness depended. For abe. his peerless