Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-24

we concur" stated Sevrance solemuly.
He took a chair i'm the shadow, and | fol-
lowed his example, Won Holzborn puffed at
his china pipe and appeared to cogitate
deeply
you've no intention Of backing out?" he
asked bluntly.
"Not in the least. You are to state the
case" | said, and we will do our part
WORD OF honor, YOU understand"
YOU are dealing with gentlemen as
serted Sevrance.
"wep and good We understand one an
other thoroughly" lie laughed as though
Immensely pleased with himself. Wei,
honor among thieves he murmured phil
osophcally You're ready for anything L
suppose" ,-.
Highway robbery and arson by prefer
ence" said Scvrance. falling in with his
humor But we shan't balk at homicide,
kidnapping, or bprratry-upon one condi-
ton"
you pledged yourselves Internationally"
said Won Hozburn quickly,
"Then we retract and pledge ourselves
anew conditonally."
We'll what is it, then2" growled the
scoundrcl.
ut is understood that nothing which you
may ask us to do will react upon England
that the project will involve her In no
foreign difficulties"
Make your minds easy on that score.
You will be obliged to violate the laws OF
neutrality and shatter few clauses of the
Dcclloguc, perhaps, but no more
"Fire away. then"
Won IIozborn settled himself comfort
ably. pulled once or twice at his pipe, and
scowlcd into the smoke.
The Russian Government" he said,
has purchased through our friend, De
Netzc, n yacht-a small vessel built for
speed, and convertible"
"a torpedoboat?" Sevrance inferred
sharply
at might be used as a torpedoboat,
should occasion arise. In fact, am able to
inform you that a number of torpedoes
form part of the cargo of the vessel. and
1t Is provided with the regulation number of
tubes-masked. In short, should the vessel
get out of English waters she could be
transformed into n lively little torpedoboat
at moments notice"
"T see"
Naturally, you undoubtedly appreciate
that 1t would be violation of the laws of
nations for England to permit such craft
to be transferred to the Russian agents For
that reason the negotiations have been con-
Quoted with the utmost regard for secrecy.
Nevertheless. the agents of the Russian
revolutionary party have winded the affair.
What the vessel is, where concealed-they
suspect. But they know nothing positively:
they have not enough to go upon to warrant
their lodging information with the authori-
ties. You follow me?"
Perfectly"
"They have even managed to discover
by what means we cannot tel-that NetZe
was the ostensibe purchaser For that rea-
son they have dogged his steps persistently
attempted to assassinate him. or to capture
him alive-in order that they might procure
the papers and other necessary information
in the case. II would be madness for him
to attempt getting the vessel out of Eng
land. For that purpose my services were
n q Har
stand, I have become too closely identified
with the affair-and you see the result"
He smiled grimly continuing "1t will,
therefore, be your part to proclr' gcrv-
Ices of a competent crew--partcG rig of
an eng neer and a navigatOr-m"n upon
whom you can rely to take their pay and
keep their lips Highland 20 steal the vessel
and run 1t to Libau, where you will de-
liver 1t to the Russ an authorities"
He made the statement quietly. with no
emphasis, with nothing to Indicate that he
| considered the proposition anything out of
the ordinary. As for me, IL fairly took my
breath away-the audacity of the concep-
tion. the magnitude OF the task. For Sew
rance, however, it plainly offered allurng
possibilities. ! saw him flush with excite
ment, and his eyes shone with the light of
his enthusiasm
Yet, rs that all?" he questioned as
though disappointed.
THAT is all. You will have plenty of
ulIlCuItleS TO encounter ana 10 overcome,
with multitude of dangers which cannot
be overestimated If caught in the act
you'll spend some valuable time in an Eng
lish prison; If you permit yourselves TO be
overhauled by a British warshp a cruiser
or a destroyer of the Channel Squadron
you will probably be blown out of the water
You will in short, run the gantlet from
Barmouth to L!bau on the Baltic-and If
you get through unscathed. l shall be sur
prsed."
"Or disappointed" ?" put in.
Both" he said curtly. There, in a nut
she'll is the situation you have to face, gem
tlemen. And now for particulars" He
lay quiescent for a space. smiling inscrut-
ably.
And now for details" he resumed THE
yacht lies at anchor at yarmouth, already
thoroughly equipped, ready i'm every respect
to undertake long sea voyage-coal in her
bunkers, ballast and cargo in her hold Every