The Washington times., 1910-07-04
CHAPTER /.
| Become a Spy.
GOD evening. Mr. Scott"
I glanced up in amaze
ment- Then 1 laid down my
CHAPTER /.
| Become a Spy.

glanced up in amaze
ment. Then I laid down my
pen, pushed away the letter
I had been writing, and leaned back in
my chair.
We'll, sir?'' answered coldiy.
He who had spoken was a tall, old
man with q pronounced military bear
| ing, and was obviously a foreigner. He
| had come into my room at 1 O'Clock
night. entering SO quietly that 1 had
not heard his footsteps nor even the
/ familiar creak OF the door.
Under ordinary circumstances such
/ an appearance would have startled me-
/ but that night 1 was Immune 10 al
/ ordinary emotion When one stands.
I IS 1 did, on the edge Of eternity. Oc-
/ cuTrences much more amazing shan an
+ unexpected visit are likely 10 appear
/ commonplace.
| Il my caller was surprised By his re-
/ ception ne did not show it Unasked. he
+ laid MS hat and gloves on the table and
/ drew UP a chair
II had thu deuce Of a time finding
vCu, 1Ir Scott ne remarked, cheerful
I ly. as he sat down. You hid yourself
well"
/ Not so well as seems to have been
/ necessary" returned. -sointedIy-
/ However. now that you have found
/ me. perhaps you viii be good enough
! 10 tell how you got into this room
/ through that door, that was certainly
/ locked a few minutes ago; what your
/ business is with me, and who the dick
/ ems you are. anyway
/ The stranger nodded
/ Y thought so, he remarked, enigmat-
/ jcauy. 7 felt sure you would take my
! er-unexpected visit in some such way
as t1is-" Re paused and drew out
/ cigar case. which he held cut across the
. Uttered table You viii join me2'
/ I shsok my head
Thank you-no. a cigar. Of course,
+ creates little Obligation, but neverthe-
1 less have always felt reluctance to
kick q man down stairs when I was
smoking his tobacco. Now, be good
enough 10 explain yourself"
Ny visitor did not reply Immediately
! Instead, he lighted his cigar and looked
M up and down with a slight twinkle
hl lis eye. Finally he shook his head.
No." he murmUred msditativeIy, no.
I never was a match for you. even IN
my paImy days. And nowr'-he shrugged
his shoulders sxpressiveiy-"I suppose
OF the whole 1 had better answer yoIr
questions.
FIRST. How did 1 get In2 Through
the door. which was unlocked wheu
put my hand III IT. What do I waat2
I TO TAX win you Who an II That
{ with your permission 1 viii lzt ep to my
SELF for the present You MAJ call me
/ Colonel Volta, Il you feel the need OF a
{ name trust this statement, which
/. must admit IS somewhat insufficient as
an explanation, may induce you To post
pone any-er-vioience you may be con-
30 DosTpone- yes"
/ very good Ny visitor settled back
/ in his chair comfortably II entered
your rooms at this unreasonable hour
and in this uncerenouious fashion. Ar
/ ScOtt, because I felt that I had no time
I TO lose II seems I was right
He pointed 10 the revolver that lay al
picked the weapon up Permit me
10 remind you. Colonel Volta ] warned.
that revolver has more than on+ car
fridge In IT. II you try 20 l1ter1er3 -
''Tnterferel Not / Tush. man, why
should / lntsrfere2 That Is the Amer
can OF Il On the other side, We do not
question a mans right 10 shoot himself
when he likes. In fact, under some cir
c-Ims-ances-such as yours, for in
s-auCe-We encourage MIN From our
point OF view there is really nothing else
TO DO. Eowever-'- He paused and
ficked the ash from mis- cigar thought
fully
well, sir2 However, Kindly come
10 the point I nave much 70 90 to
night L pointed at the unfinished let
ter before me
81 colonel Volta xaved his hand lightly
There IS always time for last Ie-Je IS, -
he observed. Besides. this ore may
prove unnecessary Come Mr. Scott
ne laid aside els cigar and leaned
! across the taC}e toward me- bring
you hope
"Hope27 The very word was bitter TO
me II had turned TO ashes on my lips
Yes hope. More, abilltauOn-at a
price" He aesitated a moment and then
went on. Pardon me. / refer TO facts
that must Be painful 10 you
A year ago you were in command of
! pa ymaSter, Richard Jordan, with his es-
cert, jOin5d you one day on his round OF
the ISLANDS, with q very large sum OF
Z money in his possession On the night
OF the same day ne appeared-also
with his DOD5y. y week later you found
his b0dy-without the money.
You reported the facts. and for a
time your account Of the occurrence
was not questioned Then-nO one knows
how-it began 70 be rumOred that you
had been IN dire need Of money and
that you had taken advantage OF Mr.
iJOrdan's disapDeaTanCe-pa me-if
am blUnt-tO rob him It was even sug-
, gested that you were not guiltless Of
ssFor months these rumors passed
from mouth to mouth, no one daring to
make himself responsible for them Lit
tie by little the evidence piled up, tTi-
p fes, each in itself light as air, aCCumu-
b. lated, until at last you were forced to
demand a court Of inquiry The inquiry
was followed BY cOurt-martlal. am
? right. an I nOJ2
You seem very sure Of your facts, -
3 1 responded, bitterly ct IS not Tor ne
, { 10 correct you Proceed
? VERY well Tonight you were ir
? formed unOfdCiaIly, but reliably, II Al
Z you had been found guilty and tOnrOT-
? row would be sentenced to dismissal
e from the army in disgrace Once dis
- missed. you would be arrested and put
on trial for robbery Word was sent
- to you in order that you might, # YOU
u chose prevent the publication Of Four
r. disgrace by making atonement- de
mOTtuiS nil nisi DOnum. you know He
pointed to the revolver 1T is EU-
e ropeau custom, ordinarily not followed
. IN your service"
''WeII2'
you are not guilty
{ I shrugged my shoulders.
! WHY do you ask2'' I said I had de-