The Washington herald., 1912-01-21

H/IHET[HHlTTZ[
thief" snarled Brockett. how the papers
were stolen. Ask your men which one OF
them went fishing through the trsnsom,
and you will have the one who got the
messages"
Baron ZolIern walked over 10 the door
Of the room where the boys had slept.
He studied the panels. the floor, the car
pet leading from TIE doorway. He drag
ged a chair to the door. stood upon II,
and examined the transom. Then he re-
turned to the wondering group again. his
face a strange commingling Of purple.
white, and crimson
1T iss as you haf said" he rumbled,
half-chokingly. Somebody, climbing on
a chair, hshed ofer dot transom. Let
me see your coat. Ah-h-ya, va. dere
iss de blaze we're a hook caught in de
fabric. You haf told de truth, You we're
robbed by a Skillful fisherman. NIT line
and hook, liberated drough de transom.
II vos clefer work.
"Some one Of your people, exclaimed
Solsno. why don't you get the papers
from him, II you are so wild about
them?"
The baron turned his mottIed, anguished
face upon the speaker. Young chenille
men," he cried, raising his right hand
on high, "as dere iss a Gott. as / lofe
und honor de Cherman Kaiser, no man
OF mein hass done dis ting. De drick
hass been bulled OF by somevon else,
somevon 10 whom dose bapers vas as
valuable as to me or you We haf both
been fooled, und / am de bigger fool on
two FOOLS
There was no mlstaking the ring OF
honesty in the Germans voice. There
was no mis.aking the look upon his
horror-stricken visage. He had beer
baffied at his own game. and, In the
very trap he had prepared. had been
beaten TO the prize by some unknown
scoundrel. Brockett, heartsick. and des-
perate. could almost sympathiZe, in the
midst OF his own troubles, with the dis
appointed Teuton. For several minutes
Baron ZoIlern, clenching and unclenchinE
his hands, the mottled colors playing
back and forth across his face. leaned
heavily against the wall. Then he shook
himself together. and forced a grim smllt
TO his lips.
II blamed It veil young chentIemen. "
said he. You wonder how IL vos dot
could do such tings in dis hotel? Dot
vos easy-but vearvully exbensife. Lasd
nlghd, before you had been in de blact
an hour, bought de hotel. Made de ac'
quaintance off de brobrietor. Told him
him I musd make an investment. musd
make II. Himmel, so sudden! Asked hin
de brice OF de hotel Ach. but he vos
init himself, .nosd Hberall Den und der,
laid down de money. de crisp American
bills; vitin half an hour Yos in full
possession OF de house, Wit some faith,
| full employees at my command. Id vos d,
quickest transaction in hotel brobertie'
on record, va? Und Id vos all for de gooc
burbose-und ID vos all wasted"
| Cant say we are sorry for your trou
bles," spoke up Solano. THE question
is-what are YOU going TO do with usT'
Baron ZolIern shrugged his widt
shoulders. Il belief" said he, dot W
musd GONE to a compromise. You hai
losd your documents. I haf not SECURED
dem. We are both in. vot you call i'd
dehl of a fiX."
I'm all probability" cut In Brockett
your dear friend. Yazimoto, has th'
papers now
III So" sighed Baron ZoiIern, do
! does me no goot-apsoludely no goot
/ Mein young friendts, nations change del
/ alliances even as men change dem. Her
| Yazimoto and neinself haf no longer in
| deresds in common. To him, your docu
ments are on exceeding value-und 10 M
as yell-aber, neider on US now wisheI
TO share dem nit de oder"
| "Al Of which," said RHmon Solano
| has no bearing on that question-wha
are you going to do with us?'
| Baron ZolIern debated, interiorly, 70
| five minutes before he spoke.
Young chentIemen," said he, II belle
dot I can gif you your liberty mituo
de Ieasd gombunchuns. Under de cir
/ gumstances. you VIII hardly care TO tel
spout de aIIeched robbery Of your bapers
nor. in any case, TO charge i'd to me
Moreofer, II ! turn you loose, you vii
mituot a doubt. do your utmosd e
RECOVER your documents. Dot viii gif me
bossibly. anoder chance to dake dem avsl
| from YOU. I viii release you. We vii
both start de hunt for de stolen bapers-
and may de besd hunter win! In broo
of de good will bear you, de money
dot you paid for your room shall d
given back to YOU VII you also 90 M
de honor 10 dake breakfasd NIT me II
mein new hotel?''