Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-10-11

Wbeu the day before the snip was
due at Vera Cruz he saw her ana tne
young Spanish woman sitting side by
aide and talking conhdentially he made
mn his mind that they had been sent
ont from Washington to steal his dis
match and that one or both OF them had
already opened his suit case. froO'
ahlv one did the work while the other
kept watch.
A few hours before his arrival In port
Maitland went to his stateroom, TOOK
the dispatch from his pocket and iook'
ed at 1t. He felt very happy II ne
had got It 80 far on the Journey despite
those who were trying to get 1t from
him surely he could do what little re-
NAMED. Replacing 1t, he picked up MS
cigarette case, which he had left on
shelf, lighted a cigarette and. lying
down with his novel. began to read
He soon became drowzy and fell asleep
When he invoke the ship was In port.
He felt nauseated. Something had
happened. He clapped his hand to his
side pocket.
The dispatch was gone.
Beaten after ALL" he moaned.
Starting up. he staggered out ana on
TO the deck. Nc one had gone ashore
A last hope occurred to him. He would
have the two women arrested on q
trumped up charge. There they were
near the companionway. He rushed
forward and. seeing policeman on
the dock. beckoned to him. The man
met him on the companionway. ana
| Maitland. slipping ten dollar bill into
his hand, told him that there We're two
women thieves ON board who had rob-
bed him. When the women reached
the dock they were taken into custody.
They made a great ado at their arrest
asserting their Innocence.
81 am an American" said the old
lady. land demand to be taken before
the United States consul"
IL will take you TO the consulate,
said Maitland. provided your confed-
crate will consent to go with us.
The old lady persuaded the other wo
man to make no objection. assuring her
| that II WAS their best course. Maitland
| called n carriage. and the three travel
| ers entered. the policeman climbing TO
the box. On reaching the consulate
| Maitland insisted that the Spanish wo-
man go in with them. He did not dare
leave her in the carriage. She seemed
| Indifferent about 1t. and the three went
| in together. The consul being engaged
at the time they were placed In the
waiting room.
| While waiting. Maitland. facing the
old lady, scrutinized her. What was
there that was familiar about her?
| Suddenly the Spanish woman's back
was turned she gave him smile.
| He recognized his wife.
| Rising. Julie vent into the hall.
Maitland following her.
Don't worry" she said. Its safe
Where
I'm my corSage."
How did you come by it?'
i've had 1t all the time. When /
handed you the cigar box in Washing
ton il contained Il dummy. kept the
dispatch"
"Who opened my suit case"
""The woman in there"
How do you know"
~ saw plainly that she had been
sent to delay the delivery OF the dis
patch and. pretending that ! was ON
the same errand. won her confidence.
and we agreed To work together. All
err she found the envelope was not III
your suit case she wdS sure you nau
it on your person. You were very
careless to leave your cigarettes In
your stateroom. She picked the lock
with a skeleton key. went in and re-
placed your cigarettes with those that
had been drugged. When you were
asleep she robbed you
And the dummy? What did she say
when she discovered thatT'
"She cried Had she secured the
dispatch she would have beer paid
100000"
While Julie was explaining she was
opening her dress. took out the real
.ispatch and handed II to her nus
ic!nd Returning To the room he had
eft. he told the Spanish woman that
ne had found the missing article.
lpologized and said she might 20
where she liked
When Maitland delivered his dis
catch his wife did not appear In the
transaction. he was well launched In
he profession he had chosen.