The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1913-06-10

II was short story and soon tod
Somebody had stolen plans and impoF-
tnnt documents from the war ONCE.
ana the secret service men were comb
ing the country for the thief While It
was cut OF order for this commission
10 be placed in the hands OF an out
slider the chief had wanted 70 give
Forrest the chance to redeem himself.
and at the same time he knew II the
young man was successful that breach
OF red tapeism would be forgiven be-
cause OF Forests former connection
with the Office and the unhappy circurn-
stances OF bis dismissal.
iii give you the same clew that the
others have. The papers are supposed
to have been taken BY small. dark
man who had been hanging around the
building for several weeks. He was
traced. the niornIng following the theft.
to the railroad station where he bought
q ticket for New Orleans. AT thar city
II vas learned that he: had bought n
ticket for some station further along
the line. but under what name ii IL NOT
known The man Is supposed TO have
been employed by somebody-it's for
Yon to discover. John-and even IL you
and him you may not be able to get
The other Fellows have eight weeks the
start of you. 1 couldn't cable. or 1
wofid have done so. Now. Eoft!'
SO John Forrest started on his quest
TO redeem his reputation. His search
was as thorough as 1t could be made.
ana he found genuine satisfaction In
the knowledge that he had learned
more about his suspected man than
had his brother sIeuths. .s.Ss,.
First ne learned that the small dark
suspect had been seen with com
panion OF the same compl Hon. l5pt Of
stonter build. This man had not ac-
companiad the firsf man on his dight
through the south but Forrest learned
that the stout MAJ mud tslken passage
on "a steamer sailing from New York
Tor Havana. from wlfence he had sailed
TO Mexican port. All this ipyestiga-
fion took weeks OF valuable time. but
once settled on the trail OF Manuel
. Corta. the stout man. for Forrest had
even learned the mans name. the
AInericanss pursuit was undagging un-
til at last It Terminated In a small VII
Iaga in the heart of the Sierra des Bias
mountains.
Inn there was none, and because he
wore American clothing dark eyes
peered fnsoiently at Forrest from
around adobe huts or from lazfiy
swinging hammocks under the pecan
trees. II Corta had not moved on the
man would soon be apprised OF the
Americans presence there and. taking
alarm. would be away. Forrest finally
found quarters In the home OF the VII
lage water carrier. and because the
vendor OF the precious fluid is always a
notorious gossip he SOON learned where
Corta might be found. In broken
mixture OF Spanish. Indian and here
ana there an English word or a graph
fc gesture Forrest communicated with
the water carrier. The generous sum of
money he thrust into the brown hand
made the man his slave.
The moon was setting over the shout
dersef the highest mountain when the
water carrier slipped back through the
tfiorny undergrowth and motioned the
American to pass through. Forrest
pressed forward and saw In the light
OF lantern three men. The first an
swered the description of the small
dark man who had been traced to
New Orleans: the second could be no
other than Manuel Cortn. who held
package wrapped in oilskfn covering
The identity OF the third man caused
him to gasp for breath. ,.-.
Tall and thin. his white face showing
strained and haggard in the light. was
the nephew OF his old chief in the de-
partment. Blake FinIay and he had
been chums in the old days before For
rest had made his mistake. What was
FinIay doing here? Was he not conf
Dental secretary to his uncle? For
rests heart sank. I" Fmlay.s quest
was the same as his own he had failed
in his quest. the eagie's call had been
In vain. and Forrest might never have
another opportunity to redeem himself
But now the loud and angry words
of the men fell on his ears andshe was
conscious that the American llpd grasp
ed the package, and hidden 1t in his
coat while the dark men were ex-
postulatiug.
lyon have tricked u.s., sputtered the
man Corta You accepted our hrihe
ana secured the documents for us. and
now that we have made rendezvous
and are only waiting to deliver them to
the general and receive the reward you
have tracked us down and want your
papers back. Coward" He drew a
knife and leaped Mt Finlay. and his
companion sprang to his aid.
1t was FORESTS quick shot that sent
the knife spinning out OF one murder
GUS hand. while the second report was
followed by a yell OF rage from the
small man and instant retreat. Blake
F1nlay leaned against a tree and star
ed at his rescuer.
You ought to be John Forrest" he
said thickiy. "1f you have heard what
this man says you understand the
situation. rye got the papers back
again. and hope that will wipe out
80 aaso,.o can Az ft ~ thew Will