The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1916-05-19

career II great criminal ard myself
wonderful figure m enemy d 50
clety potentially Is deadly IS rattle
snake. always ready to kilI-if never
did,
Why do gou say this 10 mesa she
demanded abruptly out Of a phase Of
/ profound fhQughffulness.
He lifted an apologize shoulder and
laughed with sheepish air.
because | presume. In no longer
self sufficient, was al Of that twenty
four hours ago. but now IN as lone
some as lost child in dark forest.
| haven't friend IN the world. I'm
like stray pup. eroyeIing for sym
patty. And you-are unfortunate
enough to be the only person can de-
clare myself to. It's going to be q
iight-I know that too well-and with
out something outside myself to strug-
gle toward I'll be heavily handicapped.
But if'-he faitered. with a look OF
wistful earnestness-'if thought that
you, perhaps. were little interested,
that l had won your faith and had that
to respect and eherish--if dared hope
that you'd be glad to know had won
out against odds-it would mean
great deal to me; It might mean my
salvationl"
Watching her narrowly, hanging up
on her decision with the anxiety of
man prescribed and hoping against
hope for pardon, he saw her eyes cloud
and shift from his, her lips parted but
hesitant. and before she could speak
he hastily interposed:
please don't say anything yet. First
let me demonstrate my sincerity. So
far I've done nothing to persuade you
but--talk and talk and talk But give
me half chance to prove ] mean
what say"
"How"-she enunciated only with
visible effort and no longer met his ap-
peal with an open countenance- how
can you do that?"
I'm the long run, by establishing my
self in some honest way of life, how
ever modest; but now, and principally,
by making renaration for at least one
crime I've committed that's not ir-
reparable."
He caught her quick glance of in
quiry and met it with a confident nod
as he placed between them the moroc-
co-bound jewel case.
IN London, yesterday he said
quietly, Il brought Off two big coups.
One was deliberate, the other the in
spiration OF moment. The one Id
planned for months was the theft Of
the Omber iewels-here,"
He tapped the case, then resumed in
the same manner; 1.-THE other-needs
a diagram. Not long ago Frenchman
named Huysman, living in Tours, was
mys.eriously murdered-a poor in
yentor, who had starved himself to
perfect a stabilizator, an attachment
for aeroplanes which renders them
practically fool-proof His final trials
had created a sensation, and he was on
the eve of selling his invention to the
government when he was killed and
his plans stolen. 81
"Circumstantial evidence pointed to
an international spy named Ekstrom-
Adolph Ekstrom, once chief of the avn
alton corps of the German army, cash
Tered for general blackguardisn- with
suspicion of treason to boot. . How.
ever. Ekstrom kept under cover. and
presently the plans turned up in the
Germah war office. That was a big
thing for Germany; already supreme
with her dirigibles, the acquisition OF
the Huysman stabilizator promised her
ten years lead over the world In the
field OF aeroplanes.
Now, yesterday, Ekstrom came to
the surface in London with those self
same plans to sell to England. Chance
threw him my way, and he mistook
me for the man he'd expected to meet
Downing streets secret agent. Well
no matter howl got the plans from
him and brought them over with me,
meaning to turn them over to France,
to whom, by rights, they belong
Without consideration" the girl in
CURED shrewdly.
Not exactly. had meant to make
no profit of the affair-I'm a bit
squeamish about tainted money--but
under present conditions, IL France in
sists on rewarding me with safe con.
duct out OF the country, sha'n't re-
fuse it. Do you approved"
She nodded earnestly. 1T would be
worse than criminal to return them to
Ekstrom."
That's my view of the matter,
But these?" The girl rested her
hand upon the Jewel case.
ITO be Continued.)