The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-09-23
CHAPTER xV-Continued.

uAhNth dl the NnOlt lliubt dlu
at betrayed any great eagerness to
know his secrets, whatever they may
be. BY this time the tout will be
ready to confess everything-to &C
sept a bride, and to get out Of this
part of the world as quickly as he
can"
"If you really think So" Grant re-
piled, "it will be excellent. Let us go
apstairs at once and interview him"
"All right" Basil answered. "Will
you have a peg?"
"oh, no, MOI" Grant replied. quick.
IU, pushing the suggestion on n
side, as if 1t were of no moment.
Basil chuckled. "My friend" he
said, nothing is to be gained by CIV
ing up the pleasant conveniences of
life. 1t does not pay. Don't have a
peg If you don't want to, but don't
hint that my suggestion is utterly un
necessary at the moment 1t is not.
When | was up with Percy Scott at
Ladysmith-"
"Oh, confound you, Marriott" Grant
answered, laughing. You are quite
right, but-but this means more to
me than it does to you. 1t means
everything TO me, and you have got
what you want already"
Come on, old chap Marriott an
Bwered, suddenly dropping his ban
iering tone. Come on, and we will
see what we can do with the gentle
man with the pointed beard"
When they were in the bedroom
once more, and the door was locked
from the inside, Marriott tool the gag
from the wretched spy's mouth and
moved him into the room.
~ will leave him to you, Grant"
he said.
The spy was sitting on a couch
which was at the foot of the bed. He
could not move his body, though his
right arm was free. His eyes were
bloodshot. his longish iron-grey hair
was d~isarranged, and his under-lip
trembled like the hairy under-lip of
nm elephant. There seemed tears in
his eyes.
"Ach!" he said. Gentlemen, you
hat been too mulch for me! What
1t is? That with you / to terms
Gomez"
"Sit quite STILL" Grant said, land
listen to me, my friend. We have
treated you very roughly, but you de-
served all you got; and 1t rests with
you whether you wish to get a good
deal worse than this. / understand
that Captain Marriott has been talk
ing to you, and you have signified
your willingness to tell us exactly
what you have been doing"
"Mein Herr" the man replied, and
he shook visibly as he did SO, Il am
a poo man. Mine not a good lifing
by the exercise of my talent as a
secret agent. l was brought up in
life as the son of my father, the pas
tor of the Lutheran Church, and l
was too stupid the necessary examina-
tons TO pass. and through various oc-
casions have | into present occupation
drifted. In some things, mister, am
/ clever, but in others am | clumsy,
ana Sherlock Holmes never shall l
become"
"Oh, hang your explanations!"
Grant said, irritably. 81 don't want
your private history; I want to know
certain things about you, and l am
going to make you a proposal. II you
will give me the full information that
i require l will give you a hundred
pounds and your fare by the fast
train, which passes through Cologne
TO Budapest in a couple of hours.
How does that strike you?"
Il II would for fifty and the fare
hat done" said the man, "but | you
offer will accept and you to II hold,
mein Herr! But, bite, these horrible
bandages to remove. and me my
limbs let stretch, then i you tell ell
you want to know"
Il want to know very %little." Grant
said. as Basil released the poor wretch
from his bonds. "You are employed,
OF course, as a secret agent by the
Dowager Princess of Wohlau-Lands-
krona?"
"Yah!" said the a stretching
himself with a great sigh of relief.
you are employed to watch myself
and Captain MARRIOTT"
YAH" said the man again.
And what else?" Grant asked.
This" the man answered. 81 to
watch you two gentleman was en-
.ployed IL to this part of the world
you come, and / to an official of the
Court of the Princess in cipher to tel
legraph was.'
"Ah!" Grant answered; "just as
~Isuspected. Now, answer me truly.
Have you as yet sent any information
of our movements to Wohlau-Lands-
krona?"
"As yet, mein Herr" the man re-
piled, have l not communicated with
lmy employers. / had to do so from
here. though, when / more of your
plans had gathered. l should more
largely rewarded for a full bulletin
have been than information in little
pieces"
Grant looked at Marriott. and his
face cleared up.
"WeIl. Marriott" he said. III this
man speaks truly. and | see no reason