Tombstone epitaph., 1915-10-17

Q cigar and tried to puzzle out the situation. But the more l racked my brains the more perplexing it became. could understand the main feature ,f weisknoprs conspiracy: the sub stitution of the dress coats. Very likely Dimitrieff had worn the coat which had been planted" upon him. in place of his own. But how could he have been SO foolish as to have left the document behind him? And, save as . method of insult, the meaning of the pot of grease. to which the little spy had alluded. was absolutely unintelligible.
 The one chance of solving the mys- tery. and, at the same time, of aiding Dimitrief. lay in the possibility of the Hotel Metz valet calling upon me with the suit in the morning. I remembered that it had been the spy's intention to call on Weisknopf at Agram. This made 1t just possible that the spy. as- suming his mission to be completed. would not come into touch with Weis- knopf In time to permit of a revision of the plans already made. That they had been made with con siderable attention to detail, and were, therefore. dificult to readjust in time. was clear from the single incident of tho pot Of tar. Dimitrieff's exit from the opera house. and the very line of his flight. must have been telephoned to the man who was In readiness with the Darh.po several of the confederates with pots of tar. along different routes. waiting for Dimitrien.
 had discarded every possible solu. tion in turn before l went to bed. 1 was awakened the next morning by . ring at my telephone. The hotel manager called to me that the valet was below. waiting to attend on me. Then I flung on my dressing gown. and the valet from the Metz. entering after a discreet knock. doubtless saw before him the man whose appearance had been described to him by the lit- tie spy.
 The suit. mein herr." he said apolo- getically. placing the greasy garments across the back of a chair. Secured though they evidently had been they represented the dreadful havoc of what had come fresh from the tailors shop on the preceding morning.
 handed the man two English sov ereigns and dismissed him.
 When he had gone, set about my examination of the greasy garments l was still engaged upon this interest ing work when the telephone bell rang once more.
 Herr Ivanoff has just gone up to your room. mein herr" explained the clerk He wal in a hurry, and said he had an appointment with you"
 Quite right" l answered, and I could not resist a chuckle. For I had solved the mystery in it's entirety.
 The dress coat and its accompany ing garments were hidden under the soft cover when. Dimitrieff entered.
 It was a very different Dimitrieff The man seemed utterly broken. His face was haggard from the effects of sleepless night. his eyes bloodshot. and his hands trembled dreadfully as he essayed to close the door.
 He succeeded in accomplishing this act after two failures; then he came forward and suddenly flung himself upon his knees before me.
 Herr Weisknopf, have mercy upon me!' he stammered. T came because I thought you might be willing to make some bargain. having given me your card last night
 "Nicholas," l began, feeling the same choking in my throat.
 You know how much this means to mel" DimitrieI resumed. q will do anything for you if you will return me the papers. I will not ask wheth- CT you have had copies made. l will advance your interests in Sofia, do anything except betray my country. if you will preserve to me the sem blance of my honor"
 Dimitrieff rose from his knees, and, with dramatic gesture, pulled an army revolver from his coat pocket. Unless you return me my papers shall blow my brains out in your pres ence." he shouted wildly.
 took the weapon from his hand as simply as one would disarm a child.
 Tn that event. I answered. you will blow out the brains of the stu oldest, simplest, finest and most for getful donkeyhead that ever came out of Bulgaria" Uncopsciously ! was falling into the Slav tongue. Fer the twentieth time. Nicholas. hast thou no memory for old friends-from Berlin from America?"
 Umitrien knew my voice. He stared at me, and slowly memory came strug- gling back. Then, rising, he leaped at me and flung his arms about my neck, and violent smack on either cheek indicated that recollection was com plete.
 Thou. who hast got. me out of more scrapes than my own brother!" he cried. holding me at arms length. Tt is thou!" he shouted. After a quar. ter of century! God forgive me for thinking thee whom ! did! Now I shall blow out my brains in earnest