The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1912-04-19
CHAPTER xl.-(Continued.)

"A change has come over the spirit
or our dream-yes?" Appleyard in
CURED. Nothing like food on the hu-
mar stomach to make the skies seem
brighter. Not that it seems to affect
this weather any: it's thick as curds.
we ought to pick up that buoy before
long-won't be happy till | get it."
You're sure about this thing?"
asked Coast, perhaps not quite CO.
h%erently. The other seemed to IN
derstand him. none the less.
"Ab-solut-lully," he returned. Il
know where we started from and what
were aiming for; this is a perfectly
good compass, SO long as you keep it
from flirting with the coil; and I've
made allowance for a lee-tide. You
Watch!"
Coast sat down. "Well?" he said,
with the air of one no longer to be
denied.
"Wel-l." said the little man re-
%luctantly, IF you must know all
Coast received an amused
glance. Il read the papers"
whats that go to do"
so. when you We're kind enough
to tell me your real name, after your
gallant rescue yesterday morning, |
knew at once just who and what you
were"
"O!" said Coast, a thought blankly.
Just SC. 1t never occurred to you
that you were a public character, in
a way? | noticed that. And your lack
OF sclf-consciOusness interested me.
Also the aroma of mystery you eX-
hale. intrigued CIR | may coin the
word) my romantic imagination"
Coast flushed. The deuce 1t did,"
he exclaimed angrily.
Don't lose your temper-please.
! know | sound impairment, but /
don't mean to be SO; it's just my
tempryment makes me such a cut-up.
When | walked up before you
did yesterday. | thought it all out.
and | seq to myself, seq |: His biog-
raphy aln't half-written yet, and un-
less I'm mistaken something %grievous,
Romance is a-leadin' of him by the
hand, like a little che-ild. II can
work it, I'm goin' to stick round and
see what happens next You see, it's
my business to so about nosing into
other peoples"
II see" said Coast CURLY, with a
feeling of contempt which he took no
trouble to disguise.
Yes" assented Appleyard serene
ly. II make my living that way.
Government pays me a handsome sal
ary for doing It,"
WHAT" A light was beginning to
to dawn upon Coast.
The little man nodded gravely. THE
y. S. Secret Service" he affirmed.
Let US begin at the beginning, for
clearer understanding" Appleyard
continued. I'm o hero for my
health-I'm or the job; and things
have shaped round SO that | want
your help temporarily-while you GER
tainly need mine. That's why I'm let
ting you in by the basement door and
speaking in stage whispers. You get
me? What I'm telling you is to be
kept under your hat"
"Certainly; that's understood"
Right you are. Now. the
particular phase Of lawless industry
at present engaging my distinguished
professional attention is"-he allowed
himself the dramatic pause-"smug-
Cling. For some time the Treasury
Department has been aware that a
very considerable quantity of highly
dutiable goods was finding its way
into the country-mainly for the New
York markets-without paying toll
A syndicate of Maiden Lane jewellers
has been reaping most Of the profit,
although other goods have been COM
ing through: but that's by the way.
Now the Customs net is fine enough
to assure US that no such heavy i'm
pOrtations could have been sneaked