The Washington times., 1914-11-08

sheet the writing disappears again. The
ink is waterproof. I'll show you"
Jones got q candle from the mantle,
it it. and held the, sheet Of paper very
close to the flame. Gradually, almost
imperceptibly, letters began to form on
the blank sheet. At length the message
was complete.
Dear Hargreave-The Russian minis
ter Of police is at the Blank Hotel under
the name OF Henri Servian. He is investi-
eating the work Of the Black Hundred
in this country, and can free you from
their vengeance il You supply the evi-
dence needed"
Now. what evidence can he want?"
asked Jim.
Such as will prove Braine an unde-
sirable citizen"
And then
Quietly pack him Off to Russia, where
he is badly wanted"
Who sent this message?''
"One of our mysterious friends. We
have few, as you already know. But
I'll 60 and make this man Servan a
visit. I have seen the real minister.
and if this man is the same one, some
thing of Importance may turn UP. I
shall want you somewhere about. Here,
I'll let you have this letter. Remember.
heat brings 1t out and cold air makes 1t
vanish. Now. ~ go up for a moment
along. We are lucky: there's no gain
saying that
You're a clever man, JONES'" said
Jim.
grave. The two men looked steadily into
each others eyes. Jones was first to
turn aside his glance as he had some
thing to conceal and Jim had nothing.
When the ambulance took the tortured
Susan away, Jones addressed Florence
gravely.
Il am going out and 50 is Mr.. Norton.
Do not leave the house: not even If you
have a telephone call from me or Nor
ton. Both Of us will return; SO don't
Il promise" said Florence, struggling
with sob.
, Jones went downstairs again, paused
by a window. as If cogitatfng and sud-
denly threw it up and looked abroad. A
rustic among the lilacs caused a smile to
fit across his face. So they had sent
some one to learn the effect Of the pois-
on? Or to follow him should he leave
| the house? He 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
confuse the stalker. He might dodced
and follow the wrong man. But it was
rected to follow Jones; for he entered
the hotel minute after Jones
Meantime a second spy, whom Jones
had not seen, had observed the transfer
Of the invisible writing and had immedi-
ately informed Braine, who was not far
away. That his poisoned fruit had
stricken down an outsider troubled him
none at all. But that mysterious mes
sage he meant to have; it might be a
life and death affair. it might be clue
to the treasure, or the whereabouts OF
Harbreave.
THUS, while only one man followed
Jones' several kept a far eye on. Jim.
Jones scribbled his name on a blank
card and had 1t taken to the Russian 8
room. The page eyed that card curious
ly IT was different from anything he
had ever seen before. In one corner were
wrssten three or four words which he
sembled cross between Hebrew and
Greek.
"Humph - muttered the boy "Whadda
y know about that? Chicken scratches ;
but l guess the bell rings Roosian. On
your way, Hortense." he cried to the
card. When the boy returned to Jones.
he said: up t tn room, sir. He'll see
yuh! :" The boy kept the silver salver
extended expectantly, but Jones went
past without apparently noticing the
hint.
The Russian was standing by win
dow when Jones knocked and was bid
den TO enter.
"You are not Hargreave.
Neither are you the Russian minis
ter OF police" urbanely.
WHO are you?'
II am Hargreave's confidential man.
sir.''
The two men eyed each other cau-
tiously.
You sneak Russian"
70 cNyth
words; that is ALL
The Russian 1T a cigarette and
smoked leisurely. He was in no hurry.
mo. I am not the minister; but l am
his accredited agent. I am empowered
! to bring back TO Russia a man who is
known here by the name Of Braine. an
other by the name OF Vroon, and a
woman who calls herself a countess and
unfortunately IS one. All / desire Is
some damaging proof against them
that they are outlaws in this country.
The rest will be simple
They have all three taken out nat
uraliZation papers"
The Russian waved his hand airilv.
Once they arc in Russia those docu-
ments will never come to light. This
man Braine. it has been learned, has
long been in the pay Of Prussia. and
country many plans Of our frontier
fortifcations. I do not know what any
ore OF the three looks like. That is
why | sought Hargreave."
"I will gladly point them out to YOU"
said Jones. rubbing his hands together.
sign that he was greatly pleased.
That will be very good of you. I'm
! sure" in a rumbling but perfectly leg
ible English.
And suddenly they all three win dis
appear"
Suddenly; and you 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-
"It may take a week or ten days"
My government has waited for ten
years to gather in this delectable trio.
month. If you like
THE sooner the better | shall
call this evening after dinner. We
shall begin with Mr.. Bralne; and Esn-