The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-30

oHCCls
cooking. Then Jones and the reporter
left the house, each quite aware that
they were being followed. Near the
Blank hotel they separated In order
to confuse the stalker. He might. dod-
der and follow the wrong man. But
it was evident that this time he had
been directed to follow Jones; for he
entered the hotel a minute after
Jones.
Meantime a second spy, whom Jones
had not seen, had observed the trans
fer Of the invisible writing and had
Immediately informed Braine, who
was not far away. That his poisoned
fruit had stricken down an outsider
troubled him nom at all. But that
mysteri Is message he meant to have;
it nigh. be a life and death affair, IT
might be a clue to the treasure, or
the whereabouts Of Hargreave.
Thus, while only one man followed
Jones, several kept a far eye on jim.
Jones scrubbed his name on a blank
card and had it taken to the Russians
room. The page>eyed that card curl
ously. 1t was different from anything
he had ever seen before. In n cor
ner were written three or four words
which resembled a cross between He
brew and Greek.
"Humph" muttered the boy.
"Whadda y know about that? Chick
en- scratches; but I guess the bell
rings Roosian. On your way, Hor-
tense" hs cried to the hall maid, who
wanted a look at the card. "Up>t' tn
room, sir. He'll see yuh!" The boy
kept the silver salver extended ex-
pectantly, but Jones went past with
out apparently noticing the hint.
The Russian was standing by a win
dow when Jones knocked and was
hidden to- enter.
"You are not Hargreave."
Neither are you the Russian min
lister Of police" urbanely.
"Who are you"
81 am Hargreaye's confidential man,
sir"
The two men eyed each other eau
tiously. .g
"You speak Russian"
mo. am able to scribble a few
words; that is all"
The Russian lit a cigarette and
smoked l%eisurely. He was In no bur-
ry.
mo, I am not the minister; but l
am his accredited agent. / am EN-.
powered to bring back to Russia a
man who is known here by the name
of Braine, another by the name OF
Vroon, and a woman who calls her
self a countess and unfortunately Is
one. All I desire Is some damaging
proof against them that they are out
laws In this country. The rest will
be simple"
They have all three taken out nat
uralization papers"
The Russian waved his hand airily.
"Once they are in Russia those docu-
ments will never come to light. h
man Braine, 1t has been learned, has
long beer in the pay Of Prussia, and
has given the general staff Of that
country many plans Of our frontier
Notifications! / do not know what any
one Of the three looks like. That Is
why I sought Hargreave."
{" will gladly point them out to
YOU" said Jones, rubbing his hands
together, a sign that he was greatly
pleased.
THAT will be very good Of you, I'm
sure" in a rumbling but perfectly
ineligible English.
And suddenly they all three Will
disappear"
suddenly; andiyou may believe me
that from that time on they'll be heard
of never more"
"All this sounds extremely agree
able to me. Mr.. Hargreave Will be
happy to hear that his long enforced
hiding will soon come to an end"
"All you have to do, sir, Is to point
them out to me-"
1T may take a week or ten days"
"My government has waited for ter
years to gather in this delectable trio.
A month. if you like"
THE sooner the better. I shall call
this evening after dinner. We shall
begin with Mr.. Braine; and generally