Gilpin observer., 1910-02-24

nature of your mission in this coun
try"
Il should like to see those papers,"
said Hardy. Il can not imagine what
they are, that you should be interest
ed in them. I didn't know that I had
any papers in my overcoat pocket"
The general smiled.
I'VE shall be under the necessity OF
OBTAINING you," he said, "and OF ex-
amining you more at our leisure"
He pushed button in the wall. Two
soldiers entered You will go with
these men,"
But you are making some great
mistake, that will get you all into trou
BILE. am a well-known American cit
izen, now on my way to Russia. / ar
rived only this morning, direct from
my country. 1 demand to be taken be-
fore the American consul-or, better,
l will send for him"
You say you arrived this morn
ing?" asked the general. Hardy's
earnestness was so great that it was
almost convincing Besides, the Jap
anese had no desire to ALLEVIATE Amer.
lean sympathy.
Come out into my office and wait
a while,' he said Il will telephone to
your consul"
Hardy found Neville still waiting in
the office, smoking a cigar and ap-
pearing quite cheerful, under the cir
cumstances.
"Oh. this is good of you to wait for
me- said the American, sitting down.
j,,'+ la1,,
replied Neville. They haven't let mo
go yet"
But what do they suspect me Off
What have What have we done?
Have you any idea what those papers
were that they found in my overcoat
pocket?"
Not the least in the world. but I
suspect. You see, these people ara
simply spelling for a fight with Rus
sia. They talk and think of nothing
else. Japan is volcano of war, ready
to erupt at any moment Consequent
ly, they are suspicious of foreigners.
They probably take you for a French
man or Russian-a spy, in fact
Neville spoke quite loud, SO that 10
was possible for any of the officials
admired his imperturbability The
consul soon arrived, forceful man
who understood his business Hardy
produced his passport, a card, and sey.
eral letters.
Il am on my way to Russia" he
said. ito take place with the Ameri-
can Trading Company at Stryetensk.
| have bought my ticket, and must get
off in the morning.
The consul led him to one side
Those papers found on you are
plans and specifications of the fortifi-
cations here he whispered. The au-
thorities were rendered suspicious OF
you to-day through finding you in the
act of photographing the harbor de,
fenses. They have developed yous
films and they find very good pic
ture of the forts and the approach to
them by sea-"
Hardy laughed.
Il do seem to be a deep and darn
villain, don't L? Yet, 1 assure you I
was only taking an innocent view Of
the town"
But how did you come by the plana
and drawings?",
|
world. l didn't even know there wers
any Notifications here
Il believe you," said the consul.
Somebody, hard-pressed by the po-
lice. must have unloaded on you.
What do you know about this-what's
his name, who is with you? Where
have you been?"
This man with me? Why. he's Ne
vile, an Englishman. Everybody
knows him and all about him. He's q
gentleman. We've been taking in tho
sights together in a jin-by Jove, I
have it. In that place where we were
arrested there was a most offensive
chap who insisted on rubbing up
against me. His face was covered
with whiskers. He was a Russian. Of
course. He's the mani"
The consul held long conference
with the general and the latter held
one with his subordinates. AS a re-.
suit, the two men were allowed 10 go,
the Japanese so overwhelming them
with courtesy on their departure that
Hardy, on the whole, was rather
pleased than otherwise at his strange
adventure.
THE bewhiskered gentleman at tho
cafe chantant, or whatever you call IL.
was the man who put the papers in
my pocket" laughed Hardy to Neville,
as he bade him good night at tho
Grand. But why doesn't he disguise
himself? Anybody would know that
he was Russian with those whiskers.
If there ever was man who looked
the part. he's the one"
Perhaps the whiskers were artt