The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-12-02
Copyright. 1914. by tho
LuBIN MANUFACTURING COMPANY

hand, an eager CLEAN In his eyes 81.
lently Rodney placed in his grasp the
sealed packet and fed
The old jeweler. Won Hagen. looked
mp without surprise as Rodney entered
| his shabby shop and placed upon the
counter a small box
Here Is the pearl. Give me the
money" he said. and the exchange was
quickly accomplished
Flushed with triumph. Rodney pres
emily burst into Mile, .Daxia's drawing
room. and. with sparkling glance, the
actress swept forward to meet him.
"You have brought me it,? she cried
and broke into gurgles of delight as he
placed the precious thing In her palm.
II cannot stay. am on duty. r
must go" Rodney stammered not dar-
ing TO follow his impulse to crush her
in his arms. u
As the door closed behind him Corin-
mas manner changed swiftly. She
glanced at the great pearl with quiet
satisfaction, then moving briskly to an
inner room. spoke sharply:
DO not take time to pack the re-
mainder OF the things" she ordered.
and the intelligen faced maid nodded
understandings I'VE leave on the
instant"
Suddenly Co-Inna laughed
Fancy the sensation" she exclaim-
ed. Can yon not see the newspapers
and the posters oil the boardings-.
Mysterious Disappearance of World
Famous Actress-Mlle Dazia Vanish
es. 1t is pity" she added regret
fully. "for the world of fools has real.
iy thought me n srreat actress, and
must give up much But. after all. the
game has paid we'll"
Upon Cecirs arrival In town he made
his way directly TO the war Office He
was filled with an unaccountable fore
boding. which he was impatient to set
at rest by seeing the boy. and proceed
ed at once to the intelligence division.
General Sir John Harvey. the famous
old soldier who had been his fathers
friend and who was now the head of
this important Office. greeted him with
grave kindliness.
II am glad you are here. Henry" he
said slowly. II have just sent to Croft
laish wire begging you to come"
You were my fathers friend and
are mine. Sir lohn-speak plainly"
Cecil replied quietly. hut his heart was
In the grip of numbing horror.
! The general suddenly raised his eyes
and spoke with rapid terseness.
%Onc hour ago" he said there was
stolen from this desk IL sealed packet
/ containing plans of the secret harbor
defenses-the Submarine mine maps
/ OF every gateway to England. The
man who placed that packet in the
hands of the enemy has laid open to
invasion. should the navy but be drawn
away. the very heart of his country"
/ This packet-it has not been recov
eredT' Lord Cecil's white lips whis-
pered.
/ 1T has not nor will it be. England
does not guard her secrets so, poorly
that the plot of foreign spies. the con-
nivance Of clerk and the treachery Of
subaltern may violate them. The
stolen plans are false and If acted
upon will prove a deadly snare, but
/ this is known TO you and me alone"
The old soldier pondered sadly.
I'VE are in a calm that Is the fore
runner Of the hurricane. Lord Cecil" !"
he said. God knows when the storm
/ will break. 1t is not expedient that
any official notice be taken of this
thing. The spies shall leave England
unmolested. The clerk shall 20 his
way with his purchase price. None
but those who will shut the secret in
their hearts will know that an officer
or the king has been traitor no less
base because the effect OF his act is
discounted. So far as he is concerned
1t Is the same as though the country
he had sworn to serve lay In smoking
ruins under the bloody heel of the en-
envy. My Lord Cecil. that man Is your
brother, and the honor of your house
Is in your keeping"
Lord Cecil bowed gravely.
-Sir John. thank you" he said.
At this moment Rodney entered the
room. and a quick smile of pleasure
lighted his face at sight of his elder
brother. Sir John glanced at the young
officer with expressionless eyes.
Lieutenant Cecil" he said quietly.
you will Mt once proceed to Croftlaigh
manor. remaining there until further
orders. My Lord Cecil. bid you good
morning"
Come" Lord Cecil said. and fol-
lowed by his bewildered and rebeIlious
brother left the room
Five hours later the brothers sat in
the old library at Croftlaigh. Appar-
emily unmoved. Lord Cecil rested un-
wavering eyes upon the stricken white
face OF the boy and heard to the end
the broken food OF agonized confession
and repentance that poured from his
lips When the other had sobbed him.
self to silence he spoke grnvely.
while in my keeping Is the honor
Of this house no stain may dim fits un-
tarnished shield" he said. and the boy
slowly raised his head. while the pride
and courage of a noble race fought to
banish the weakness and cowardice
that had so strangely usurped their
place. At length be spoke. and his
voice was hrm.
! II now remember that in my Keeping