The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-10-12
CHAPTER I.

pMOnrhg tlM to an imnnediate audience
IN the inner office.
THE c5ief had keen blue eyes and
shaggy eyebrows. He never wasted
words; yet these words when spoken
mETe weight than of most other
tnen In Washington.
There was the briefest of sood-moam-
Ding gleanfs in his nod and glance, butt
The ,only said:
tGordon, can You take the Pennsyl-
SVania train for New York THAT leaves
the station i'm 80 minutes?"
Dhe young man was used to abrupt
questions from his chief. but he caught
ilis breath, mentally surveying his day
tns 1T had been planned:
Why, sir, ] suppose l oould-if it is
necessarily" He hesitated.
1t as necessary" said the chief curt
ny, saB If that settled the matter.
"But-half an our!!" calculated Cor
|'don in dismay. Il could hardly get to
my rooms and back ito the station. 1
don't see how- Isn't there a train a
little later?"
Later train won't do. Call up your
man ,on the phone. Tell him to pack
your bag and meet you at the station
IN 20 minutes. Quill need evening
clothes. San you depend on your man
to get your things quickly without
,fail?'
There was hat in the INT of the
chief that caused Gordon to make no
further demur.
"Sure!" he responded with his usual
business like tone, as he strobe to the
phone. His daze was passing off. Eve
ming clothes?" he questioned curiously,
as If fhe might mot have heard Alright.
Eyes, evening clothes,'' was the curt
answer, and everything you'll need for
DAYTIME for a respectable gentleman Of
lelsure-a tourist, you understand"
Gordon perceived that he was being
given a mission of trust and import
lanac, mot unmiXed with mystery per-
haps. He was new in the secret service,
and 1t had been his ambition to rise in
his chiefs good graces. He rang the
telephone bell furiOusly and called up
the number Of his own apartments, Civ
ing his man orders i'm a breezy, decisive
tone that caused d look Of satisfaction
to settle about the fine wrinkles of the
chiefs eyes.
GNrdon's watch WAS out n me was
telling his man ON just what car he
must leave the apartments for-the sta
ton The chief noted it was two cars
ahead OF what would have been neces-
sary. His gray head gave an almost i'm
perceptible nod OF commentator. and
his eyes showed that he was content
with his selection Of a man.
Now. sir" said Gordon, as he hung
up the receiver, I'm ready for orders
|. We'll, o are to go to New York,
and take a cab for the Coslmopolis hotel
y room there is already secured by
wire. Your name is John Burnham. The
name of the hotel and the number of
| your room are on his memorandum.
You will find awaiting you an invita-
ton to dine this evening with a Mr..
| Holman, who knows Of you as an expert
in code reading. Our men met him on
l the train an hour g arranged that
! he should invite you He didn't know
whom they represented. of course. He
a already tried to phone you at the
| hotel about coming to dinner tonight.
| He knows you are expected there before
| evening. Here is a letter Of Introduction
to him from a man he knows. Our men
got thai also. 1t is genuine, of course.
Last night a message Of national i'm
%portance. written in cipher, was stolen
from one Of u men before it a been
read. This is now in the hands Of Hol-
man, who is hoping to AVE you de-
cipher it for him and a few guests who
! will be present at dinner. They wish to
use 1t for their w purposes. Your
commission is to get hold of the mes
sage and bring it to us as soon as pos
sible. Another message of very different
import, written upon the same kind Of
| paper, is in this envelope, with a trans
lation for you to use in case you have
to use your own wits n judgment.
the main thing is, get the paper. and
SCI back with it, with as little delay as
possible. Undoubtedly you life will be
in danger should it be discovered that
you ave made off with it. Spare no
| care to protect yourself and the mes
sage. at all hazards. Remember, I said,
n the message, young mani 1t means
much to the country.
TN this envelope Is money-all you
| will probably need. Telegraph or phone
to this address if you are in trouble.
Draw OF us for more, If necessary, also
through his same address. Here is the
code o can use in case you find it
necessary to telegraph. Your ticket is
| already bought. I have sent Clarkson
to the station for II. and he will meet
| you at the train. You can give him
instructions in case you find you
have forgotten anything. Take
| your mai with you, and telegraph back
order to Your stenographer. I hin
that Is all. Oh, yes, tonight, while you
are at dinner, you will be called to
he phone by one Of our men. If you
are in trouble, this may give you OPP
p%ortunity to get away. and put US wise.
You will find a motor at the door now,
waiting to take you to the station. If
your man doesn't get there with our
things. take the train, anyway, and buy
some more when you get to New York.
Don't turn aside from your commission
for anything. Don't let anything him
der you! Make it a matter Of life and
death! Good morning and good luck!"
The chief held out a big, hairy hand
that was surprisingly warm n soft
considering the hardness of his face
and voice, and the young man grasped
1t, feeling as if he were suddenly being
plunged into waves of an unknown
depth and he would fain hold to this
strong hand.
He went out of the office quietly
enough. and the keen old ewes watched