The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-09-16
BY GUY THORNE.
CHAPTER xiv-Continued.

ODLlBeu III you WOulu care 10 tell me
whether, SO far, you have commune
Gated with these people in whose in
terests you are acting? Have you
telegraphed to them any account OF
our movements, or have you not? II
you have, | shall know what to do. ]
shall compel you by very unpleasant
means to %acquaint me with your
cipher, or with the name under which
you telegraph, and with the address
OF the person to whom your despatch
es are sent. Then | shall be able
to do as ! think best to further u
messages to your employers it will be
very much to your interest to tell
me so at once.
MY friend" he continued, lighting
q new cigar, and pulling a bedroom
chair TO the door of the cupboard,
sitting down, and looking upon the
wretched man within, with a bland
smile-"my friend, don't you think it
would be better for you if you were
to be united and made far more com
Portable than you are at present?
And don't you think also that your
pay for the dirty work you have been
doing-and | admit that you are a
remarkably clever man. and have
done 1t very well-should be doubled
or trebled?
The bearded man, who had been
watching Marriott with a grave and
frightened scrutiny, at this juncture
gave a most heartfelt grunt of assent.
Very well, then" Marriott replied;
When Mr.. Michael Grant comes
back, perhaps we may come to terms.
You must remember, mein Herr, that
though you are the agent of the Prin-
cess OF Observation-Disclosures thing
which we all know perfectly we'll
It will pay you far better to be the
agent of the Duchess Of London, who
is a far greater princess of the British
Empire, and who could make your
fortune with a stroke of the pen.''
The mar looked at Basil, thought a
moment-and his INDIGESTION was ap-
parent in his shifty eyes-and hen
said in excellent English. though with
a strong German accent, Captain
Marriott. / shall accept your terms,
provided that they are made suf-
.fciently attractive to me, and | shall
tell you everything"
Basil threw back his head and
laughed, but there was bitterness in
his laughter.
Good heavens." he cried, 1T Is
very strange to me, an officer of His
Majesty's Navy, and a commander Of
many honest, seafaring men, to think
that such things as you should creep
and crawl about the world"
The man WINGED a little, and then
he said. "Sir you must remember that
in Germany we cannot be our own
masters. We do what we are told,
we do what we are hidden to do"
THAT is as may be-" Marriott re-
piled. II must wait till Mr.. Grant
comes back before | conclude this ne
collation.; meanwhile, | have given
you two brandies, and you don't seem
to be very uncomfortable lying there!
I shall therefore shut the door and
leave you to your own reflections for
an hour" With that he rose from
his chair, pulled II back, and locked
the cupboard door.
The Duchess and Daisy knew exact
ly what they were to do. They were
to leave Cologne by the evening train
for Wohlau-Landskrona; they were
not to see or speak to Michael or
Basil until they has been ensconced
In their hotel for several hours during
the next day, disguised and unaccom-
panied. A messenger would come to
them from the young men, telling
them what they were to do and what
part they were designed to play in
the imminent drama.
Now we know. my dear" the
Duchess said, Daisy, now we know
exactly what we have to do, and we
must follow out our orders In every
particular"
Daisy looked at her hostess as they
sat In the private sitting-room Of the
hotel, among all the carved woodwork
III nlitiOi anu thO hSuNy ShdiiS
covered in crimson plush, which form
the German idea of luxury and com
fort.
She looked at the Duchess and
smiled, while at the same time she
blushed a little. Your Grace"
she began.
"Oh, don't call me that, Daisy" the
Duchess answered.
She was sitting close to Daisy. and
as she said it she bent oyer and
kissed the girl upon the check.
Daisy blushed a little mare.
well. then, Duchess" she went
on. don't you think it's rather splen-
did to have two such people to tell
US what to do."
"Oh, you little dear!" the Duchess
answered. You little dear! So you
feel 1t, tool That handsome young
Captain Marriott"
well. is 1t not splendid. Duchess?"
Daisy said.
MY DEAR" the great lady returned.
1T is simply perfect to be ordered
about by two men like Michael Grant
and Captain Basil Marriott. l know
perfectly well that the desire of my