Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-28
THE
ISLE OF. STRIFE
By .
GEORGE C. SHEDD
Copyright. 1912, b. Small. Maynard 4 co.,


- II
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CHAPTER u.-Continued.
Something of the grave character of the
chart began to impress me. Here was I,
a young fellow. an ordinary American.
one without interest In the German en-
pire; indeed. one who had never given
two thoughts to her affairs. come by q
singular chain of circumstances into pos
session OF this document. Now. verify, 1t
seemed to grow ominous in my hands.
Hitherto 1 had given 1t little considera-
ton, flung it into an old chest with other
idle rubbish, but as I gazed upon 1t per-
ceived that 1t was one of those things
that, wherever 1t might be, whoever had
it. could never prove Insignificant and
never idle. The nation concerned was too
powerful and the issue at stake too
mighty. and once 1t became known that
this sheet was In existence no obstacle
would halt Germany on the one hand, or
her enemies on the other, In an effort to
seize 1t. In truth. 1t was fraught with
future complications. electric with posi-
bilities. I could destroy it-but against
that my mind cried out. The mystery,
the spicy odor Of things unknown and
momentous that chung to it. the beck 1t
made, the suggestion to fling aside fear
and challenge fate. fascinated me as
red flag charms and holds immovable the
startled deer. No. I could not destroy It.
And as IL fate. now that my decision was
made. would at once put me to the touch.
a harsh voice spoke at my shoulder:
Where did you get that?"
whirled about in my seat. unconscious
ly clutching the map in a defensive grip.
nv shoulder stood a tall gentleman.
scowling at me. His hair and upturned
mustache were fair, his eyes blue. his
smooth cheeks and milk-rose complexion
that Of the typical Saxon: his figure.
though inclined to feshiness. was never
theless erect, almost stiffly so, apparent
Notwithstanding the easy hang of his
loose though fashionably cut apparel of
white serge He lifted the walking stick
he carried and pointed at my prize. re-
That" said I. recovering self.posses-
sion, lis entirely my own affair. And
rapidly rolling it up I placed 1t out OF
sight in my bag.
"ft's q plan Of a fertilization"
Whatever 1t is, it's my own business.
You assume q great deal as stranger
when you catechise me-"
"Of a German fertilization"
"You made good use of your eyes.
LET me inquire how and where it came
into your possession"
by all means
"You do not give me an answer" he
stated, after a pause.
"a question is one thing. an answer
another. The first may be an annoyance
and the questioner impertinent. I trust.
my dear sir. that you catch my fuil mean
ing
What should do with the map had
no idea; but did not intend to make 1t
free to any passerby. least OF all Ger
man. Consequently my resentment. On
his part a dark flush suffused his face at
my words and his eyes blazed hot, but his
self-repression was admirable. He lifted
his straw hat in scornful acknowledg-
ment and passed up the aisle to his seat
in the opposite end OF the car.
/ considered the incident at an end, for
the man was clearly q gentleman, and
could account for his conduct only upon
the ground Of unusual interest or some
special knowledge. He was or had been
concerned with German army affairs. His
swift recognition OF the character Of the
map bespoke an intimate knowledge of
military defense. though his questions
showed plainly that he did not identity
the fortress which 1t outlined. But, as
was soon to learn, the man had by no
means abandoned his purpose Of discoy-
ering what he wished to know.
That night upon retiring l considered
the circumstance OF my mild clash with
the unknown. The map was in my bag.
the bag under the berth. sleep descend
ing upon the travellers as evidenced by
more or less wheezy aspirations. and the
aisle would presently be dim and cur
tanned lane, in which any trespasser could
move with little fear OF detection.
The map would be far safer by my
folded it carefully into a fat package and
slipped around 1t rubber band. Thus II
was compact and could later be carried
in a pocket Some time in the night |
awoke. My curtains were stirring gently
as by a touch. A low sound of something
being dragged came TO my alert ear; the
German, il the German 1t was. was now
engaged in the very depreciation which
I had anticipated. A sudden lurch Of the
car threw the night prowler against my
forward and thrust forth a hand to catch
him. Out upon the thief I fell in a
whirl of bed clothing and curtains In q
mad endeavor to get grip on his limbs.
Over and over we rolled and twisted.
struggling in the dim. reduced light; I
could distinguish nothing Of the man. only
feel his body. Then came muttered
curse. an upheaval, the patter of retreat
ing feet, and / remained alone and wrap
ped like some netted animal. to extricate
myself at leisure. When finally l stood
up, pajama-clad. rumpled. annoyed. be-
held the astonished porter before me.
while sticking out from between hang
ings were half dozen heads.
'Fo' heaven sake. sub, what you dom %
Trying to catch a thief" I said,
shortly.
"They amt no thieves in this car, To-
Use wide awake and would have seen
EN-
But it was thief
mo. sub. yo' mistaken. I don't low
thieves round
Then it was no doubt a phantom l
retorted, "or a dinosaurs. with which 1
was wrestling here on the floor"
That's all right, sub. everything s
quiet now. Yo' can sleep some mo-. I'll
see none Of them nightmare animals like
you mention runs round in the aisle"
To such grinning incredulity there was
no reply. I returned to bed. AS for the
German. he would go, as was now ap-
parent. to greater lengths than I had
imagined from his single accidental at
tempt to look at the map. Truly, this
strange property was already beginning
to exercise q potency. a growing capacity
for mischief. which promised to involve
me in I did not know what difficulties.
Well, at any rate, I still kept 1t unstolen.
The arrangement which had wired An
drew was that he should meet me at
Penosset, the nearest railroad station to
Lavouche, in order to convey me and my
baggage to the island. The sun was not
more regular than Andrew: 1t was there
fore with some surprise that ! stepped
upon the station platform and found
nothing Of my servant. / approached the
agent, a gaunt, stopped, melancholy in
dividual. and inquired IL my telegram had
been forwarded to Lavouche.
It had not; on the contrary. 1t was still
on file in the depot office; no one had
a1Iod for If he aYplainod and when I