The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1910-01-13

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. ! didn't know that ! had
any papers I'm my overcoat pocket"
The general smiled.
I'VE shall be under the necessity OF
OBTAINING you" he said, "and OF ex.
aiming you more at our leisure"
lie 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-
bic. am a well-known American cit
lien. now on my way TO Russia. ! ar
rived only this morning. direct from
my country. | demand 10 be taken be-
fore the American consul-or, better.
| will send for him"
"You say YOU arrived this morn.
ing?" asked the general. Hardy's
earnestness was so great that Il was
almost convincing. Besides. the Jap
anese had no desire TO ALLEVIATE Amer
lean sympathy.
Come out into my Office and wait
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.
cumstancos.
"Oh. this Is good OF you TO wait for
me" said the American. sitting down
Couldn't help u. my dear fellow"
replied Neville. They haven't let mo
go yet"
But what do they suspect me of
What have what have We doneY
Have you any idea what those papers
we're that they found in my overcoat
pocket?"
mot the least in the world. but
suspect You see. these people are
simply spelling for a fight with Rus.
STA. They talk and think OF nothing
else. Japan is a volcano OF war. ready
10 erupt al 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 it
was possible for any OF the officials
standing near 20 hear him. Hardy
admired his imperturbability The
consul soon arrived. n forceiul man
who understood his business. Hardy
produced his passport. a card and sew.
eral letters.
Il am on my way 90 Russia" he
said. ito take a place with the Ameri.
can Trading Company at Stryetensk
have bought my ticket, and must get
on in the morning"
The consul led him TO one side.
Those papers found on you are
plans and specifications OF the forth
cations here" he whispered. The an.
thoritles we're rendered suspicious OF
you today through finding you In the
act OF photographing the harbor de-
lenses. They have developed your
films and they find a very good pio
ture Of the forts and the approach to
them by sea"
Hardy laughed
Il do seem 20 be a deep and dark
villain. don't /? Yet. | assure you
was only taking an innocent view OF
the town"
But how did you come by tho plans
and drawings"
Il haven't the least idea in the
world. | didn't even know there we're
any Notifications here"
Il believe you" said the consul.
Somebody. hard pressed by the Do
lice, must have unloaded on you.
What do you know about thls-what's
his name, who is with your Where
have you been7"
This man with me? Why, he's Ne.
vile, an Englishman. Everybody
knows him and all about him. He's a
gentleman. We've been taking in the
sights together in a jin-by Jove,
have II. 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 a long conference
with the general and the latter held
one with his subordinates. As re-
suit, the two men were allowed TO 20,
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 the
cafe chantaIt, or whatever you call IL.
was the man who put the papers In
my pocket" laughed Hardy TO Neville.
as he babe him good night at tho
Grand. "But why doesn't he disguise
himself? Anybody would know that
he was Russian with those whiskers.
II there ever was a man who looked
the part, he's the one"
Perhaps the whiskers were arti.
fetal" suggested Neville.
Perhaps they WERE" unused Hardy.
And that. too, seemed probable.
(To BE CoNTINUED)