The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1915-05-14
CHAPTER XIV.
Am Invited 70 Spend Money.

CHAPTER XIV.
Am Invited to Spend Money.
- HORTLY after y o'clock the
next morning a sly faced man
~ in Overalls accosted me In the
nall.
II beg your pardon, Mr.. Smart" he
said In fairly good English. MAY
have q word with your l have a mes
sage from Mr.. Pless. am an agent
OF the secret service. Yesterday l fail
ed to gain admission as a visitor. to
day l come as a iaborer."
rs It necessary for Mr.. Pless to re-
sort to u subterfuge Of this character
in order to get a message to me:" 1
demanded Indignantly.
1T was not necessary yesterday, but
it Is today" said he. He leaned closer
and lowered his voice. "Our every
movement IS being watched BY the
countess detectives. We are obliged
to resort to trickery to throw them Off
the scent. MIR. Pless has read what
you had to say in the newspapers. and
he Is too grateful. sir, to subject you
to Unnecessary annoyance at the hands
Of her agents. He would have you to
meet him secretly tonight at the ReuFf
hotel across the river. It IL most i'm
portant that you should do SO and
that you should exercise great caution.
l am to take your reply back to him."
For an instant l was fairly stupe-
fed. Then ! experienced a feeling OF
relief 50 vast that he must have seen
the CLEAN of triumph in my eyes. The
trick was mine. after all.
You may tell Mr.. Pless that ! shall
be there ut g." said l. The agent de-
parted. When be was safely out Of
the. room l explained the situation to
~Poopendyke and then made my way
through the secret panels to the count
ess' rooms.
She was ready for the s~ubterranear
journey in quest Of treasure attire(
in a neat walking skirt, with her bon
ny hair encased In a swimming cap al
a guard against cobwebs.
Then you don't intend to send GU
the statementsY" she cried In disap
pointment You are going to let ev
cry one think you are his friend ant
not miner"
l stood ove her, trying my best +
scowL you know better than that
You know IL am as loyal as-as cal
be. Hang 1t all" l burst out impulsive
". do you suppose f"r a minute tina
| want to hand you over to that in
fernal rascal now that I've come to-
that is to say. now that we're such rip
ping good friends?"
She looked up at me very pathetical
~ at first Then her expression chang
ed swiftly to one of wonder and tn
most penetrating inquiry. Slowly
flush crept into her cheeks, and he
eyes wavered.
IL think | can trust you toto d
the right thing by me-" she said. d.
scending to a banality in her confu
sion.
held out my hand. She laid hers |
it rather timidly, almost as ii she wa
afraid Of ne. II shall not fail you,
said l without the ~faintest intention
be heroic. but Immediately consciou
of ha ving used an expression SO trit
that my cheek famed with humili;
ton.
= For some understandable reason Sh
- arose hastily from the chair and wall
ed to the window. A similar reaso
Is no doubt held me rooted rather safel
|H to the spot ON which | stood. ! hav
+ a vague recollection Of feeling dizz
l9 and rather short Of breath. My heaI
's was acting queerly.
"Why do you suppose be wants
see your" she asked after a momen
turning toward me again. She was
Il calm as q summer breeze. All trace
nervousness had left her.
I II can't even supply a guess"
|# "You must be very. very tactful
she said ~uneasily. II know him
we'll. He Is very cunning"
]# You may trust me implicitly to {
the right thing" said | beamingl
5ss And now what do you say to Of
I g trip to the bottom of the castle?'
3s She shook her head. mot with Il
house full Of spies. my dear frien
3# Wen a Y that for another day.
4 rainy day perhaps. ] feel like havil
Isl WI VIC ulASuAA ! Nuh fSt 'N"' .
night ! shall be gloomy and very Ion
3# ". shall take Rosemary and jim
BIB out upon the top Of the tower and pl'
BIB all day in the SUM-"
8# l had an idea. II am sure ! shou
enjoy a little sunshine myself. May
Dc come toO?"
She looked me straight in the e!
pa There was a touch Of dignity In b
voice when she spoke.
Ell mot today. Mr.. Smart"
## A most unfathOinab BILE person!
@@ found Mr.. Pless at the Rempf al
@E O'Clock. He welcomed me with gre
warmth. He called me 'dear old fello'
66sa and shook hands with me with M
30 heartness than | had thought him
@@ pable Of expressing. A smallish I
eee gentleman was with him. l a
ror~o1 <ho< M mos ono IF the create