The Washington times., 1911-10-25
At a glance he saw something wns up.
rising, he slipped into the hotel at my

rising, he slipped into the hotel at my
What's doin'Y" he asked in high c,l-
Iiosity.
Come Up to my rooms" replied.
He followed without word, and a
minute later we were in the little sit
ting room of my suite.
.! want you to help me out" I began,
as he seated himself on table corner.
.ussr usSre ,u,,dng thing! he responded cordially.
"Tm not broker assured him,
amused at his lightning conclusion as
to the chief sour.o Of all troubles.
".Cops ain,t trailin' you or anything?"
His face was q puzzle. To his check
cred experience, police persecution and
lack of money seeE,ed the only two Ills
OF any real Importance that could be-
Briefly. and as simply as I could. I
rehearsed> to him the whole story of
the scarab AFFAIR. from my purchase of
the ,wretched bauble up to Ferata's ar
He heard me through without a word
Of Interruptions rare event with Billy.
His chief reason for silence apparently
shs Nor os 5 hsd nSs st1ass sp @
finished did he fnd his voice.
unutterabie disgust he had recently
ame the erfe ana Ss.S q l. o Ghrs
casions, pete. you ain't stringin' me3"
sss .,osv a, !, true; ,1,ed. couldn't invent such
;. Tnsfs GnssIslcIas,.s T'sn. You couldn't Well. I'll
That = i, Soy, what I'll I don't want to be. And
.o.,!.,S Where DO i I , come INT Want me to
"No.. II 1t comes to roughhousing. I
car, take care Of myself. want you to
sit still and listen to something sebaste
will tell you. That's all"
GraOV 0r,Inted his comptete disp1ist at
.'Iii look sweet, won't I. posin' rs lit
tie Willie listenin' to a John D, Sunday
school spiel?" he objected. ITS too
mot as easy as it looks. Besides"
Say" he broke In. with a fresh
soE Keep tess s tRs
weeks? why was left standin' around
In picturesque attitoods Of ign'rance like
a corn-fed dodo bird7 Eh? Why couldn't
yoI 6e sosPS sPSr' oid Ia man, Pal me rsjoIned
haven't treated you right and that's
"oh! that's all o. K.." he interrupt
.Cut out the .'forgive-me-H Harold talk.
Now that you have turned on the secret
tap, what'll ! do to hell, your
"Just what / said Sit still and listen
to Sebaste. I'm going to send for him.
He'll give you a line of talk. You are
not to interrupt. to look glum or sur
prised, or make any comment. II any
words are Necessary ,niak take SoSr Ses
he gets to a certain point Ill drop my
cigarette case. When do you're to
say to him: What have Murena and
his men to do with all this? Can you
can remember the hang Of 1t. any
how. But 1t don't make sense to me.
What's 1t meanT"
you'd only get mixed. I'm going to ring
for a bellboy. Now. for heavens sake.
don't forget you're not to break in or
change muscle Of your face. no mat,
easy"
Don't you worry about me. Pete: I'll
lies tablet in Greenwood. An III
the box
4 servant knocked. 7 scrawled on q
Ma May I trouble you to come to my
Here 1 said. giving the boy the
card and tip. Take that message to
the east balcony"
Within two minutes the count was
boWing on the threshold.
YOU aWas aegrs from said. sba init In Italian Ito call
NO apology is needed he smiled
The Duke seemed extremely well en-
tertained. Already the
IL have sent for you," l went on, ito
tell You our campaign is at last afoot. -
His face lighted up. Then he glanced
askance ut Billy Gregg. But remember
Ing, that the latter's knowledge Of
Italian was limited to barely fifty
words. his brow cleared.
Billy, meantime. was sitting up very
straight, his eyes fixed on the opposite
wall, his face set and expressionless.
He looked like Pompton farmer hav-
Ing his first photograph taken.
You have perhaps wondered" con-
tinued, "as to the status of my friend
Gregg In this affair OF ours. Now that
the Duke has arrived. there is no longer
reason for delay. Our next step can be
taken. And. count, 1t Is decreed that
you are to take it."
He sprang up, all eagerness.
You may ne disappointed" I said,
IN the apparent pettiness Of your first
mission. But, believe me, II Is a most
important one. Also, the order er,an-
ates from the highest quarters OF all:
and 1t Is for neither of US to dispute
He nodded respectful assent. was
getting on swimmingly: for / had care
fully composed and rehearsed each SEN
tence.