The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-12-14

SccAneo W nave peen iOsI Ou MIN. 11Aa
muscular young hand suddenly frightened
on my sleeve.
by Cad, sir. you can help me-" he
cried, under his breath. "You must! I've
right to call on you. as decent citi-
zen. as"
"wno are your" interrupted, quite
myself by this time
TIN Lieut.. Palmer" he absently adj
mitted all the while cycling the moving
figure.
i And" I prompted as I, watched his
gaze follow that figure.
"And I've got to get that man. or tt'n
cost me a court-martiaL I've got to get
him. Wait! Sit back here without NOV
ing. Now watch what he does!"
I saw the thief drop into an empty
bench. glance down at his timepiece. look
carelessly about. and then lean back with
his legs crossed. Nothing more hap
pened. -.s--. r..
well" I inquired, whats the gamer
Its no game" he retorted, in his
quick and decisive tones. Its mighty
near q tragedy But now I've found
himi I've placed himl And that's the
man I'm after!"
ct don't doubt IT." ianguidly admit
ted. But am to assume that this lit
tie bench scene was a sort Of, well. q
sort Of neutrality-suspicious. trap?''
ut was the only way could clinch
the thing" he admitted. II,
"Clinch what?" I asked. conscious of
his hesitation.
'oh, you've got to know he finally
conceded, now you've seen this much!
And I know you're-you're the right sort.
1 can't tell you everything. But I'm on
the Connecticut She's the flagship Of
our Atlantic fleets first division. the nag
ship of Rear Admiral Shredder. I was
sent to confer with Admiral Maddox, the
cornmandant of the Navy Yard. 1t was
in connection with the navy's new Elmer
Eency Wheel Code. I can't explain 1t to
you; there's lot Of navy department
data can't go into. But was ashore
here in New York with list Of the new
wireless code signals"
And you let them get away?''
There was no letting about it. They
were stolen from me, stolen in some
mysterious way can't understand.
I've only one clew. I'd dined at the Plaza
Then I'd gone up to the ballroom and
sat through the amateur theatricals for
the French Hospital. I'd been carrying
the code forms, and they'd been worrying
me. So split the wheel as-Ee say In
the service.-I mean L divided lem and
left one half locked up at my hotel while
1 still carried the other half. Each part,
1 knew, would be useless without the
other. How or when they got the half /
was carrying can't tell, for the life OF
me. I remember dancing two or three
times in the ballroom after the theatre
calls. But it couldn't have been any Of
those women. They weren't that sort"
"Then who was it?'' For the first time
a sense of his boyishness had crept over
me.
That's Just it; I don't know. But I
kept feeling that was being Swallowed.
I was almost positive was being trailed.
They would be after the second half, 1
felt. So I made a dummy, and loafed
about all day waiting for a sign kept
it UP until tonight. Then, when actu-
ally found I was being followed, every
move made, L"
HIS voice trailed on and he caught at
my arm again.
See, he's on the move again! He's
going, this time. And that's the man!
want you to help me watch him, watch
every step and trick. And II there's
second man, I'm going to get you to fol-
low him, while I stick to this one. It's
not altogether for myself, remember; it's
more for the whole servieeT'
We were on our feet by this time,
passing northward along the asphalted
walks that wound in and out between the
trees.
you mean this mans a sort Of agent,
a foreign spy, after your naval secrets?"
1 asked. as we watched the figure in blue
circle casually out toward Fifth avenue.
That's what I've got to find out. And
I'm going to do II, If have to follow
him to hades and backg" was the young
officers answer. Then he suddenly drew
up, with a whispered warning.
You'd better go west toward Broad
way. Then walk north into Fifth ave-
nue. again, toward Brentanos corner. I'll
swing up Madison avenue on the oppo-
site side of him, and walk west on
street. Don't speak to me
as We pass. But watch him, every mo-
ment. And IL there's a second man, fol-
low him" --.-..-s
A moment later was sauntering west
ward toward the Hoffman House cor.
ner. As approached the avenue curb
I saw the unperturbed figure in blue stop
beside the .Farragut monument on the
northwest fringe of Madison Square. I
saw him take out a cigar, slowly and de-
liberately strike a match on the stone
work Of the. exedra, and then as slowly
and deliberately light his cigar.
] felt, as saw. it, that II was some sort
Of signal This suspicion grew stronger
when. a. moment later, I saw a woman
step out of the avenue doorway Of Mar
tins. She wore a plumed Gainsborough
hat and a cream-colo-ed gown. Over
her slender young shoulders, I further
made out hung an opera cloak Of deli
cate lacework.
She stood for a moment at the carriare