Putnam patriot., 1916-03-03

aid him against GEanford
 "Ali right D0nnyl Aren't we due foi some fishing as side issueS"
 ''I'il see to that. Fagin. The idea is to come in from NatertoNn. Nobody has noticed us. Wen engage a guide ana play no bluif. Coming from Matertown well keep an eye open Tor deserted farmhouse. It won't be hard to find We'll rent it tomorrow and take out supplies Then when everything is ready our friend from the secret scrv. ice will do the disappearing act. Moth. ing rough, though, mind you; just a temporary sequestration."
 Il understand"
 The man called Fagin tickled the ends of his wiry fingers against his bristly black mUstas De. T suppose I'll have to act as his guardian angel.'
 That's the ticket,
 m play the Uncle Tom eame-black face. Id bate to cut this mustache again. I'll be able 10 shine my boots with it one of these fine days. And Pidgia islunjf@
 "I'll lock cut for that
 "The old man made foolish move coming up.
 "HeIl keep 10 his room.9
 Fagin let an admiring glance stray over the strong handsome young face. Here was lad, The real boss. the chap who had the imagination, even if Smead took all the credit Never hummed and hawed, but struck out on first thoughts and generally hit tho bullseye.
 Queer old cock, though. Moody when everything was running smooth ly. and whistling gay when his back was to the wall
 "Donny, the Princess Xenia has gone broke.h
 "She has? Well, what of it?'
 May l ask you questionY
 Not if it has anything to do with her. Fagin, put this in your pipe-my private affairs are my own. l know exactly what's on your mind, but it's none of your business. Read your pa. per. Here comes the conductor for tho tickets. Don't bother me again for awhile. I've got lot of thinking to do. l want to map out everything"
 Mum il is."
 Fagin opened his newspaper and searched for the news of the sporting world, but once he found it the usual iRtelli: ee blocked and eolumned be fore his eyes failed utterly to hold his intercs.
 faapcfafnI in, no fn the be at his side. Who was hei Where cid he come from? Wasn't a day over thirty. Lucky too.
 Fagin had known the boy but three eventful years. The Princess Xenial The paper sank slowly upon Fagins knees. and his gaze roved to the river, sparkling in the distance. It was none of his business, but nevertheless curl osity was very strong within him.
 At the villa on the way between Paris and Versailles he had seen the tantalizing will O the wisp on her knees before this boy. He had heard her passionate sobs. He had seen the cigarette smoke curl from the boys smiling lips, seen the shrug of the graceful shoulders-she who had flout ed dukes and princes and rajahs and weaved her spider web for the ruin Of many an honest man!
 He knew-he, Fagin. Half a million in emeralds had slipped through the boys fingers. He remembered the flush days of last winter. He had seen these emeralds flow over the green ta- bles. A beautiful golden rain of louis had gone up the spout instead of lownl
 At identically the same time the or dinary and the exceptional rogue ar- rived at Watertown there sterpel down from another train slen CT woman dressed in black and heavily yelled. Guided by one of the station porters. she proceeded directly to the nearby hotel and was assigned to a room.
 The two men asked to be directed to the best garage. There, after some dickering. they rented a comfortable ear They expected to use the car for I week at least. The terms were S10 the day and $500 deposited against ac- s.Lents to the car.
 "You are total strangers to me. sir" said the proprietor of the garage. "I must protect myself"
 That's reasonable enough agreed the exceptional rogue.
 He counted out five $100 bills and laid them on the desk. Now, suppos- ing you make out a check dated one week hence. Then we'll go over to your bank and leave it with the cash fer. When the car is returned Ill go to the bank and get my money"
 That's easy replied the proprietor
 Fagin's expression was one of puzzle ment.
 The affair was accomplished in short order, and the two set out for the river.
 "Donny, what new kind of flimham is this going to be?'
 "Fagin, you cant even think honest ly, can you! This is as straighteas the road. That was real money-Smead's. 1 mapped out most of this last night. No piking this trip. When We get out into the country I'm going to show you another little trick. Nothing like being thorough
 Half an hour later he turned the car into a deserted lane and stopped.
 From out of his suit case he took two new license numbers, state of Penn sylvania These he substituted for the ones in use, and out into the main highway they sped.
 You're a wonder" admitted Fagip, grinning. But what chance to do some fancy business in buzz wagons. my, my, or hold up bank messenger"
 'Our business is to give this fellow Cranford a vacation. He'll be wide