The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-11-15

later. nothing would have saved her. She
would have been paraiyzed for life
Jim accompanied the doctor to the door
and went in search of Jones. He found the
taciturn butler eying the fruit basket his
face gray and drawn, though his eyes blazed
with fury.
'Poisoni"
A pretty bad poison too" said Jim, " We
can't do anything We've just got TO sit
still But in the end we'll get them. That
she devil ="
No, my friend that ne devil. The woman
il mad over him and would commit any
crime at his bidding. But this is his work.
We want him. He wasn't without courage
to send this fruit knowing that | would
instantly suspect the sender. Yet, l have
no definite. proof. could not hold him il
court in law. He will have bought the
fruit piece By piece, the basket in a basket
shop. He will have injected the poison
himself when alone, Poor Susan. That
messenger was without doubt some one over
whom ne holds the threat o. the death chair.
That's the way he works
Jim tramped the room while Jones car
RED the fruit to the kitchen The butler
returned after while.
What about that blank sheet of paper?
1t has to be dipped into a solution; after
that you can read it by heating / have
already dipped it into the solution The
moment the heat leaves the sheet the writ
ing disappears again. Toe ink is waterproof.
IN show you
Jones got a candle from the mantle, lit it.
and held the sheet Of paper very close to
the fame. Gradually, almost imperceptibly,
letters began to form the blank sheet. At
length the message complete.
Dear Hargreave-The Russian minister
of police is at the Blank hotel under toe
name of Henri servan He is investigating
the work of the Black Hundred in this coun.
try and can free you from their vengeance
If you supply the evidence needed
Now, what evidence can he WANT"
asked jim
Such as will prove Brsine an undo
sirable citizen
And then"
Quietly pack him off to Russia, where
ne is badly wanted
Who sent this message"
One Of our mysterious friends. We
have few, as you already know. But Ill
60 and make this man Servan visit.
have seen the real minister and II this man
Is the same one, something of Importance
may turn up. ! shall want you somewhere
about. Here. I'll let you have this letter.
Remember neat brings 1t out and cold air
e.
ment to see how that poor girl is getting
along We are lucky; there's no gainsaying
that
You're clever man. Jones said Jim.
Jones turned upon MIN, his face grave.
The two men looked steadily into each
others eyes. Jones was first TO turn aside
his glance as he had something to conceal
and Jim had nothing.
When the ambulance took the tortured
Susan away, Jones addressed Florence
gravely.
/ ana going out and so is Mr.. Norton.
Do not leave the house; not even if you have
a telephone call from me or Norton. Botn
of us will return; so don't let anything bother
or confuse you
promise Salu lorenzo. STRUGGLING
with sob.
Jones went downstairs again. paused 10y
window as if cogitating, and suddenly
threw it up and looked abroad. A rustic
among the lilacs caused smile to fit across
his face. So they had sent some one to
learn the effect of the poison? Or to fol-
low him should ne leave the house? de
retired to the kitchen and gave some explicit
orders TO the chef, orders which did not in
any way refer to 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 con-
fuse the stalker. He might dodder and fol-
low the wrong man. But it was evident
that this time he had been directed to fol
low Jones; for he entered the hotel min.
ute after Jones.
Meantime second spy. whom Jones mad
not seen, had observed the transfer of the
invisible writing and had Immediately In
formed Braine, who was not far away. THAI
his poisoned fruit had stricken down an out
slider troubled him none at all. But thai
mysterious message he meant to have: il
might be life and death affair, it nigh
be a clew TO the treasure. the where
abouts of Hargreave.
Thus, while only one man followed Jones
several kept a far eye on Jim.
Jones scrubbed his name on a blank care
and had It taken to the Russians room
The page eyed that card curiously. 1t va
different from anything he had ever seer
before. In one corner were written tnre'
OF four words which resen,bled cross be
tween Hebrew and Greek.
a Ia a