The Huttig news., 1910-12-03

l The assortment of masks was suffi ciently varied for the representation o many types of men and women o1 different ages.
 The match burned down to his fin gers. and again he sat in darkness wondering at the elaborateness of the mediums outfit. She was a fraud. but he liked her--yes. pitied her-and he felt inclined to excuse her in so far as he could For the kiss which he had given her he felt no regret, it was hers. in all innocence, for what oi good she might have found in it.
 The minutes dragged by He thought of the precious documents, safe in the inside pocket of his ceat. What they were. he did not try to determine, but it was plain that they must be of in ternatienal importance. The talk of ships and Alcatrante's references to con missions had puzzled him. But suddenly came to his mind the news paper rumors that Japan was secretly adding vessels to her navy through the agency of a South American republic which was having cruisers and battle ships built in Europe, to turn them over at their completion, to the Japa- nese. There was, as yet, no interna. tional proof of this policy, for none of the ships had been completed, but the South American country was certainly adopting 2 policy of naval construction quite out of proportion to her position among the powers.
 How came the girl to be involved in this mix-Gp of nations? Through her father, of course-but who was he? A concessionaire? Her courage and de. termination, employed against shrewd men. was as notable as the beauty cf her face and mind, for she was like a queen in her assured comprehension.
 How 1t quickened his heart to think of hes The poor. faded medium, with the smo.der of old flames in her eyes, with the records of hard experience written on her face, was child in stature beside the girl-a child with yearnings that could never be satis- fled.
 We'll. the girl had doubted him. He could not wonder at that. for the facts were all against him. and she had known him only few hours. Yet he dad hoped-he had believed-that she would know the truth and the devotion in him without further evidence Per haps he had expected too much from her noble insight. After all-and that vas part of the loveliness of her-she was a very human girl
 The panel swung open, and Madam Alia stood looking down at him. She spoke in an undertone.
 The Japs are still watching. Arima is sitting on the fire escape by his window, and 1 can hear the other fel- low moving around in the hall outside ny door think they're on to your being here''
 Orme thought for a minute. i've got to get away soon,' he said T don't mind telling you that there are papers that must be delivered before twelve o'clock tonight
 Can I take them for your"
 T don't know where to tell you to take them"
 She sighed. q guess you don't trust me-
 Trust you? Of course, do. But the truth is, Madam Aiia. that it is going 70 need hard work on my part to find the person to whom the papers belong. don't even know his name" Secretly hcf t1o, |. had not overcome his scruples and looked at the address on the envelope while he had the chance.
 Again she sighed. We'll she said, of course. it's beyond me. Do you do you mind my knowing your name 2"
 Pardon me- he said T didn't req ,ize that you didn't know i. already. My name is Robert Orme"
 She looked at him with a smile. Well, MT Orme, Fl get you out of his. l.. think know a way But you'll have to do just what tell you"
 'I depend on you" he said.
 She laid her hand on his shoulder with a friendly pressure. You'll have 10 welt here while longer-and you'll have to keep mighty quiet. I've got a circle at three o'clock-a seance They come once a week, and can't we'll put them off. You see, I work alone. It's a small circle, and I never liked the idea of helpers-they're like ly to give you away sooner or later. I stretch curtain across this corner for a cabinet, and they tie me to a chair and then things happen. She smiled faintly. q know you won't hurt my game"
 All your secrets are safe with me !" He glanced at the dark interior of the closet.
 T didn't know any other place to put you she said simply They'd have got you, if you had went to the hall-Sh-h." The panel closed and she was away. A moment later he