The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-10-07
A CONFIDENTIAL AGENT
BY John x. Legs in The Saturday Journal.

"Geoffrey, come here. I want you."
h touched him lightly on h arm
with her fan, and he moved backwards
a step or two. They were now side by
lnquiring glance at the fair ACE turned
up to his.
II must see you alone tonight. How
can we manage it?"
Internationally the young man looked
troubled. He had been head over ears
In love with Lady Violet Stanton, his
cousin, only a year ago. She had pre-
ferred the handsome, needless Dick
Allardyce, and Godfrey had come to
the conclusion hat the less he saw of
Lady Violet for some years to come,
the better it would be for his peace of
mind.
"Tonight?" he repeated mechanically.
burst of laughter and applause
from the crowd around and in front
Of them prevented her replying. Dick
Allardyce, a clever amateur conjurcr,
was keeping the people thoroughly
amused.
Yes; tonight and alone" she said.
SUPPOSE we ave our talk here
noW?' he said. There will be no one
In the conservatory"
They slipped out unnoticed, and seat
ed themselves side by side. After a
nasty nervou glance around, Lady
Violet began:
II e Dick and have been exceed
Ing our income-oh. very foolish, and
all that know what you and everyone
would say"
But 1 haven't said anything vet"
said Godfrey with a smile.
Yes, but 1 could see you were think
ing how foolish it is OF us to spend
more than we ought. And, of course,
you are right. But 1 have thought
of a way to earn more"
"Indeed!"
Yes. 1 am going to write a novel,
and make enough to put things straight
again."
Geoffrey could scorcely keep his face
straight. AS soon as he saw her that
night he had noticed that she was not
wearing her diamonds, old Lady STAN
tons wedding gift; out the idea hi
even a clever CIR! like vi could make
Two or three thousand pounds by writ
Ing a novel was too absurd.
1T is to be what they call a powerful
noVel--with q big burglary in 1T. Now
you must know burglars and all kinds
Of dreadful people by defending them
In court, and 1 want you to give me the
address of a real burglar"
She stopped and bit her lip, for her
companion had broken into an uncon-
trollable fit of laughter.
M Dear vi, hadn't you better ad-
Vertise In the Morning Post, or some
such paper? You don't imagine bur
slary Is a recognized profession, do
you? And as a natter of fact, 1 don't
know any burglars"
you have got to know at least one.
then." said Lady Violet calmly, for 1
have set my heart on this. The man
must do a burglary before my eyes.
exactly as he would do it in real life,
and then when 1 put 1t in my book it
VIII look quite real, you know. Isn't
It q splendid idea?"
II dare say 1 could get to hear of a
good cracksman-that's the proper
word, you know-and l could bring him
to see you," said Geoffey after a
pause.
"oh, but you mustn't be there. That
would spoil it ALI"
The barrister remained silent for a
his mustache.
make it a condition that I make n
Of the party. Or Dick would do"
oh. h whole thing is to be kept
secret from Dick! My novel is to come
lpon him as a great SURPRISE"
quite so. Well, then. 1 must be there
myself, that's all. No. Wi, you needn't
make a fuss. l couldn't take the re-
sponsibility of leaving you alone with
q mar of hat kind-couldn't think
of it,"
Anuv Slolel wanted the interview to
take place after dinner, here, too,
Geoffrcy was obdurate. The meeting
must take place in daylight or not at
all.
With a good deal of trouble, more
than vi ever imagined, Godfrey did
succeed in running a first rate cracks
man to earth; and managed to per-
suade him to accompany him to No.
Is, Rowland Gardens, W., for the pur-
pose of being interviewed.
On the appointed day Godfrey went
10 see his cousin, bringing with him a
gentleman who called himself the Hon.
claude Fortescue. Honorable as he
casually remarked, was such q useful
prefix.
1T goes down with the fats quite
rs well as Lord This or Earl That"
said Mr.. Fortescue with a modest grin.
In appearance Mr.. Fortescue was as
unlike the Bill Skies type Of the
criminal as could we'll be imagined. He
tall, good looking, with bold, alert
eyes, and crisp. curly black hair. He
wa fairly well dressed. Godfrey sat
sulkily In a corner of the fireplace,
while the Hon. Claude Fortescue sat
on a chair and smoked, opened locks
with a pick-lock, too the lock off the
door and put 1t on again, and gave a
quantity Of miscellaneous information
which Lady Violet then and there
tIdLlsCIAOeO TITO q Dig notebook.
VIII you ring the bell for tea,
Geoffrey?" she said suddenly to her
rousin. n as he walked over to the
knob of the electric bell she leaned
over toward her other guest.
Come back in an hour" she said in
q whisper.
He stared, and nodded.
Il thought all that was only for
show" said the Honorable Claude with
q geniel grin, as. an hour later, he
once more entered Lady violet's
boudoir.
The Door girl was trembling all over,
but the man opposite her did not no.
tice it.
Your ladyship has something in the
nature Of a proposal to make to me,
l presume" he said with an air of in
siderable familiarity.
Wis eyes flashed, but she was unable
to resent the impertinence.
~ Some time NJ. ago." she said, being in
we are all in that fix occasional
ly."
81 parted with some very valuable
13 or,10poIC ~ Tho< {oko