Morris tribune., 1915-07-16
THE WRONG
MAN
By NJ. QUAD
By M. QUAD
Copyright, 1914, by Associated Lit
erary Press.


knew, and a surprise awaited me on
the first night of my arrival when a
man whom l clearly saw was a Po-
lander edged along to ME on the ve-
randa of the hotel as | smoked my
cigar and said:
You are discretion itself, Dir. GreIl-
ing. You have registered under an
other name. How were matters in
London when you left?"
II don't exactly understand you,"
replied as looked him over and made
sure that we had never met before
1.-The others will be here inside of
two days, and we will have meeting.
have been here three days. and find
nothing to alarm me. trust matters
In London are all right?''
"As far as | know" ] replied as
returned his card and wondered
whether he was trying to cheek me or
had really mistaken me for somebody
else.
Three hours later as l retired to my
room the stolid faced and wooden
headed waiter who carried my light
hung about in queer way after set
ting the candle down. and finally
gave him small coin and waved him
out Instead Of going he whispered
to me: .......
III wish to warn you! Strange men
have been here for week. a think
they are waiting for your
Next morning at breakfast the same
man waited on me. had a little ia.
BILE by myself, and while bringing my
dishes the waiter whispered In my ear:,
"The two strange men are at the,
fourth table. I am sure they:a are Rus
sian spies and will watch YOUR
Now had the key to the mystery.
There was some sort Of conspiracy
on foot, probably against the peace OF
the czar, and the conspirators. were to
meet at Stockholm. ~: J.: =. !.
For the next two days I was closely
shadowed After the first day Of this
spy business the same stolid faced
waiter slipped into my room with pale
face and whisperingly exclaimed:
Those spies are following you every
where! For Gods sake be careful?' i
See here, Hans" / said as put my
hand on his shoulder, you are evil
IDENTITY on the inside of this affair, and
l wish you would tell me what the
dickens it all meansr'
He looked at me open mouthed for
half minute, and then broad grin
stole over his face. He thought l was
playing off on him to test his prudence
and loyalty. N
You will carry it through all right"
he finally said, with many heavy mods
of his head, and he went away look
ing very well pleased.
At the end of another twenty-four
hours l got further insight into the
mystery. | had strolled into another
hotel three or four blocks away to eX-
anime the register. as a globe trotter
invariably does for no reason he can
explain. when saw a traveller who
might have been my twin brother as
far as outward appearance went. He
was Of my height and weight, had the
same colored eyes, hair and mustac che.
and l believe our own mother would
have wondered which was which, He
stared at me. and stared back, and
wandered back into my own hotel.
knowing that the real man from Lon
don had arrived.
The Russian spies must have had a
bad time Of it trying to settle on the
right man, but they finally decided in
my favor. The EngIishman was free
from surveillance. while was dogged
closer than before.
At the end of week, and while they
were still dogging me and l was rath.
er enjoying it, there was fire aboard
Of a ship in the harbor. It was about
o O'Clock at night, and great crowd
gathered on the wharf to watch the
confiagration. made one Of the mum
ber and IN my anxiety to secure q
good view l mounted the bows OF q
smart looking brig lying at wharf.
was hardly over the rail before two
men followed and seized me and hus
tied me down into the cabin. | found
the captain OF the brig. the two spies
and a Russian government oficia
awaiting me. 4e.s ..:f
have told you that the English
man and | looked to be twins. but
had not had time to took for little de
tails. AS | sat down opposite the Rus
stan official he began comparing my
description and appearance with 8
written description. and at the end OF
five minutes he rose up and thundered
at the two spies:
'Dolts, idiots, blunderers! You have
arrested the wrong man!'
''If not too much trouble" said tc
the official as he got through storming
would you kindly explain why ar
American citizen has been made prts
Oner in this fashion?"
was told that it was mistake, but
got no other satisfaction. The bris
was put about, but as the wind fell W.
did not make the harbor until after
daylight. Then was dumped on the
wharf without apology. walked
straight to the American consul anG