The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1915-04-22
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CHAPTER XXI.
a Packet AZ Panena,

/ ~
Jim said nothing at first about his
adventure to Jones, whom he met
half an hour later.
WAS 1t necessary to keep that in
visible letter." he asked.
mo" said Jones.
Would 1t have given our affairB q
serious turn II 1t had fallen into alien
hands?"
Decidedly" answered Jones. IT
would mean flight for the Black Hun
,dred or q long time under cover. Il
our friend Braine learned that Russia
was now taking an active interest In
the doings Of the Black Hundred. And
eventually all our work would have
TO be done over again"
"Ah!"
"You look q bit mussed up. Any
thing happened?" asked the keen-eyed
butler
Nothing much. made . cigarette
out of the letter and smoked It"
/ Jones chuckled II see that You
have had an adventure Of some sort:
but It can wait"
1T can"
because want You to pack on to
Washington"
washington"
+ "Yes. want you to interview
those officials who are most familiar
with the extradition laws"
"A new hnk?"
/ What 1 wish to learn Il this: Can
ia man, formerly undesirable. take out
naturalization papers and hold to the
protection of the United States gov
eminent? That Is to say, poisoner.
(. menaced by Siberia, becomes an Am
erican citizen. He Is abducted and
carried back to Russia Could he look
to this government for projections
That is what want you to find out :
THAT will be easy. When shall ]
start?"
"As soon as you can pack your
grip"
That's always packed" replied the
reporter. you see, I'm eternally
shunted hither and yon, at moments
notice, 80 always have an extra grip
packed for quick travel"
The Russian agent wants Braine.
vroon, and the countess; and tonight
I'm going to try to point them out to
him. It would satisfy me more than
anything l know to eliminate This
precious trio In Russian fashion. It's
thorough: and once accomplished.
,good-day to the Black Hundred in Am
erica. The organization In Russia
has still some political Significance.
but on this side Of the water 1t il
merely an aggregaticP Of merciless
thugs"
I'm take the first train out But
you will tell Florence?"
Surely"
"And take care Of your own heels
You were watched at the hotel"
Il know 1t; but the watcher could
learn nothing. Henri Servan as name
will suggest nothing to the fool who
followed me. Besides, we both knew
that he was trying to peek through
the keyhole. That hotel, you know,
still retains the old-fashioned key.
holes''
To keep the maids in good humor,
suppose" laughed Jim. well, must
be on my way to make that flyer"
The two shook hands and Jim hur.
ried of. The butler watched him till
he disappeared down the subway.
He's good lad" he .murmured.
and brave lad; and money is only
an incident in human affairs after all.
I'll be good angel and let the two
be happy, since they love each other
and have proved 1t In q thousand
ways"
Meanwhile the Russian agent settled |
down before his writing portfolio; and |
once or twice as he wrote he thought |
he heard a sound outside the door,
No doubt this butler of Hargreave's
had been watched and followed. BY |
and by he rose. drew his revolver, and
tiptoed to the door obliQuely 90 that
he watcher outside might not become
aware Of his approach. Swiftly he
Jwung back the door and the member
Il the Black Hundred stumbled into
he room. Almost instantly the Rus
Han caught him by the collar and
leld him up.
What were you doing outside my
door,"
The man did not answer. He was
trying to collect his thoughts.
"A spy of some sort, eh?"
I'm detective" said the man
inally, thinking he saw his way clear.
And what did you expect to learn
~ looking through the keyhole Of my
loor?"
Servan laughed. SHOW me your
badge Of authority"
The man fumbled in his upper
'ocket. hoping against hope that the
nuzzle of the revolver would waver.,
You're an ordinary thief" declared.
he Russian; "and as such l shall
instantly hand you over to the hotel
authorities unless you tell me exactly
tho and what you are"
The man remained dumb. He hung
etween the devil and the deep sea
he told the truth the organization,