The Spectator., 1916-04-14

! utNns NoftOH tOOh Oul TOll OI DlilS. There's two hundred in this roll''
 "Well." said the captain, vastly as- tonished.
 Its yours if you will do me a small favor"
 "If 1t doesn't get me mixed up with tramp; and some of the harbor police have taken a dislike to me. What do you want me to do?" l The police will not bother you. This man Hargreave had some enemies; they want either his life or his money; maybe both. It is a peculiar case, with Russia in the background. He might have laid the whole business before the police, but he chose to fight it out himself. And to tell the truth, don't believe the police would have done any good"
 | 'Heave her over; what do you want me to do for that handsome roll of money?"
 ''If any man or woman who is not a reporter comes to pump you tell them the man went ashore with a packet un- der his arm"
 Tie knot in that
 Say that the man was gray haired, clean shaven, straight, with scar l high up on his forehead, generally GOV cred up by his hair"
 That's battened down. my lad. Go on"
 Say that you saw him enter wonder warehouse. and later depart without his packet"
 Easy as dropping my mudhook."
 That's all" Norton gave the cap tain the money. "Good-by and many l thanks.
 Don't mention it."
 Norton left the slip and proceeded to the office of the warehouse. He ap- preached the managers desk.
 Hello Grannis, old top!"
 The man looked up from his work surlily. Then his face frightened.
 Norton? Whats brought you here? o, yes; that balloon business. Sit down"
 What kind of man is the captain of that old hooker in the slip?"
 'Shifty in gun running, but other wise as square as die. Looks funny to see an old tub like that fixed up with wireless; but that has saved his neck a dozen times when he was run ming it into moose. Not going to in- terview me, are you?"
 No. I'm going to ask you to do me a little favor"
 They always say that. But spin her out If it doesn't cost me my job. it's yours"
 Well, there will be a person mak- | ing inquiries about the mysterious aeronaut. All I want you to say Is, that he left packet with you, that you've put 1t in that safe till he calls to claim it."
 Grannis nibbled the end of his pen. Suppose some one should come and demand that I open the safe and de- 1 liver?"
 All you've got to do is to tell them to show the receipt signed by you"
 The warehouse manager laughed. Got a lot of sense in that ivory dome ! of yours. All right. But if anything happens you've got to come around and back me up. Whats it about?"
 That l dare not tell you. This much, I'm laying trap and l want some one don't know to fall into it."
 On your way, James. But if you don't send me some prize fight tickets next week for this, I'll never do you another favor" In reply Norton took from his pocket two bits of pasteboard and laid them on the desk. 'I knew you'd be want ing something like this"
 "Ringside!" cried Grannis. You re- porters are lucky devils."
 I'd go myself If there was any earthly chance of a real scrap. You make me laugh. Gran. You're always going, always hoping the next one will be real one. But it's all bunk. The pugs are the biggest fakers on top the sod. They've got us newspaper men done to a frazzle." "I guess you're right. We'll count on me regarding that mysterious bundle in the safe.'
 At three o'clock this afternoon l want you to call me up. If no one has called, why the game is up. But If some one does come around and make inquiries, don't fail to let me know"
 "Ill be here till five. I'd better call you up then
 Then Norton returned home and idled about till afternoon. He went over to Riverdale. Five times he walked up and down the front of the Hargreave place. finally plucked up his courage and walked to the door After all. he was lucky mortal. He had a good excuse to visit this house every day in the week. And there was something tantalizing in the risk he took. Besides. he wanted to prove to himself whether it was passing fancy or something deeper. That's the way with humans: we never see sign "Erash Paint" that we don't have tO