The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-10-26
II (continued).

keep up a pretense Of eating, the paper
held in one hand while he seemed to
be studying it. Once he turned it over
and looked on the back. There was a
large crossmark in red ink at the up
per end. He looked at 1t c~uriously and
then instinctively at his host.
THAT Is my own mark" said Mr..
Holman. II put II there to distinguish
Il from other papers" He was smil-
ing politely, but he might as well have
said. Il put II there to identify 1t in
case of theft" for every one at the
table, unless II might be his wife, un-
derstood that that was what he meant.
Gordon felt It and was conscious Of the
other paper in his yest-pocket. ThS
way was going to be most difficult.
Among the ARTICLES in the envelope
which the chief had given him before
his departure FROM Washington were
. pair of shell-rimmed eyeglasses, .
false mustache, a goatee, and a pair
OF eyebrows. He had laughed at the
In the disguise, but had brought them
with him for a possible emergency.
The eyeglasses were tucked into the
vest-pocket beside the duplicate paper.
He b~ethought himself of them now.
Gould he, under cover OF taking them
out, manage to exchange h papers?
And IL he should, how about that red
AAAh LAAol n "Stooo IA oCNS 'SSt sstJ
one notice It's absence? 1t was well to
exchange the papers as soon as pos
sible before the writing had been stud
led by those at the table, for he knew
that the other message, though resem-
bling his one in general words, differed
enough to attract he attention OF a
close observer. Dared he risk their
noticing the absence of the red cross
on the back?
Slowly, cautiously, under cover OF
the conversation, he managed to get
hat duplicate pape u of his pocket
and under the napkin In his lap. This
ne did with n hand, all the time
o~stentatiously holding the code mes
sage In the other hand, with its back
to the people at the table. This hand
meanwhile also held his a lapel out
hat he might the more easily search
his vest-pockets for the glasses. IL all
looked natural. The hostess was en-
gagged in a whispered conversation
with the maid at the moment. The
host and other guests were finishing
the exceedingly delicious patties On
their plates, and the precious code
message was safely in evidence, red
cross and all. They saw no reason to
be suspicious about the strangers
hunt for his glasses.
"Oh, here they are!" he said, quite
unconcernedly, and put on the glasses
to look more closely at the paper,
spreading it smoothly on the table
cloth before him, and wondering how
ne should get 1t into his lap in place
OF the one that nov lay quietly under
his napkin.
The host and the guests politely re-
Trained from talking to Gordon and
told eac other incidents of the day
in low tones that indicated the nom
Importance Of what they were saying;
.yh;Ia fhau x,yoital Pn,. fbn xaol ht,aina1,
of the hour.
Then the butler removed the plates,
pausing beside Gordon waiting punctil-
iously with his silver tray to brush
away the crumbs.
This "a just what Gordon waited
for. 1t had come to him as the only
way. Cautiously he drew aside, lift
ing the paper from the table and put
ting II in his lap, for just the instant
while the butler did his work; but in
that instant the paper with the red
cross was slipped under the napkin,
n the other paper too it's place
upon the table, back down so that its
lack OF a red cross could not be noted.
So far, so good, but how long could
this be kept up? And the paper under
the napkin--how was 1t to be got into
his pocket? His hands were like ice
now, and his brain seemed to be at
boiling heat as he sat back and real
lied that the deed was done, and could
not be undone. II any one should
pick up that paper from the table and
discover the lack of the red mark, 1t
would be all up with him. He looked
up for an instant to meet the gaze of
the six men upon him. They had moth
ing better to do now than to look at
him until the next course arrived. He
realized that not one Of them would
have mercy upon him II they knew
what he had done. not one unless 1t
might be the tired, old looking one,
and he would not dare interfere.
Still Gordon was enabled to smile,
and to say some pleasant nothings to
his hostess when she passed him the
ualted almonds. His hand lay care
lessly guarding the secret of the paper
on the table, innocently, as though 1t
Just happened that he laid II on the
paper. ~, "A. s.
Sitting thus with the real paper in
bis lap nder his large damask nap
kin. the false paper under his hand on
the table where he from time to time
perused 1t, n his glasses which
made him look most distinguished still
on his nose, he heard the distant tele-
phone bell ring. :
He remembered the words of his
chief and sat rigid. From his position
he could see the tall clock in the hall,
and It's gilded hands pointed to ten
minutes before seven. 1t was about the
time his chief had said he would be
called IN the telephone. What should
he do with the two papers2
He had but an instant to think
until the well trained butler returned
and announced that some
one wished to speak with Mr.. Burn
ham on the telephone. His resolve was
taken. He would have to leave the sub
Stitute paper On the table. To carry II
away with him might rouse suspicion,
and, moreover, he could not easily man
age both without being noticed. The
real paper must be put safely away al
all hazards, and he must take the
chance that the absence Of the red mark
would remain unnoticed until his re-
turn.
Deliberately he laid a heavy silver
spoon across one edge of the paper on
the table, and an Ice cream fork across
the other, as IL to hold II in place until
his return. Then, rising with apologies,
be gathered his napkin, paper. and all
IN his hand, holding II against his coat
most naturally, as IL he had forgotten
that he had II. and made his way into