The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-03-25

diagram Not long ago q FTenchman
named Huysman, living in Tours, was
mysteriously murdered-a poor in
ventOr. 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
'CircumstantiaI evidence pointed to
an international spy named Ekstrom-
Adolph EkstrOm, once chief Of the aYi-
alton corps Of the German army, cash
Tered for general blackguardism-
a suspicion of treason to boot How
ever, Ekstrom kept under cover, and
presently the plans turned I'D in the
German war Office. That was a big
thing for Germany; already supreme
with her dirigibles, the acquisition Of
the Huysman stabiIizator 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, if France in
s1sts on rewarding me with safe con-
duct out OF the country, 1 sha'n't re-
fuse it Do you approve?"
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
Those go back to Nine. Omber. She
has home here in Paris that I know
we'll In fact, the sole reason why
didn't steal them here was that she
| left for England Unexpectedly. Just as
I was all set to strike Now purpose
to use my knowledge of her house to
restore the Jewels without risk of fall
ing into the hands Of the police That
viii be an easy matter. And that
brings me to the one great favor 1
would beg Of you
She gave him a look so unexpected
" kind that it staggered him But he
had himself well in hand
You can't leave Paris now before
morning thanks TO my having over
slept" he continued There's no hon
est way l know TO raise money before
morning opens the pawnshops. But
I'm hoping that won't be necessary;
I'm trusting I can arrange matters for
us without going TO that extreme
Meanwhile agree that these jew
els must be returned?'
of course" she affirmed gently.
'HThen-win you accompany me
when 1 replace them? There won't be
the slightest danger 1 promise you
that. Indeed. it would be more hazard
GUS for you to wait for me elsewhere
while 1 attended to the matter alone
And I'd like you to be convinced of my
sincerity"
Don't you think you can trust me
for that as weIl?" she asked with a
flash of humOr-
Trust you."
ITO believe. Mr.. Lanyard" she told
him earnestly. 81 do believed"
You make me very happy" he said
but I'd like you to see for yourself.
And I'd be glad not to have to fret
about your safety in my absence. AS
bureau of espionage, Popinot's brigade
Of Apaches are without peer in Eu-
rope I'm positively afraid to leave
you alone"
That is your sole reason for ask
| ing this Of me?" she insisted, eying
him steadily.
He colored. and boggled his answer
''I can't tell you" he admitted in the
end.
Why can't you tell me?"
He stared at her miserably. I've no
right In spite of all I've said, in
tspite of the faith you so generously
promise me. in your eyes I must still
figure as a thief, liar, an impostor-
self-confessed. Men aren't, remade by
mere protestations. nor even by their
own efforts, in an hour, or a day, or a
week But give me a year. If I can
live a year in honesty. and earn my
bread, and so prove my strength
then, perhaps, 1 might ind the cour-
| age. the-the effrontery to tell you
why 1 want your good opinion Now
I've said far more than / meant or had
any right to. l hope" he ventured
pleadingly. you're not offended
Only an instant longer could she
maintain her direct and unainching
look Then his meaning would no
more be ignored. Her lashes fell, a
tide of crimson flooded her face, and
with a quick movement, pushing her
chair little from the table, she turned
away from him. But she said moth
ing
He remained as he had been, bend
/ ing eagerly toward her
And in the long minute that elapsed
before either spoke again, both became
oddly conscious Of the silence brood
/ ing in that lonely little house. OF their
| isolation from the world. Of their CON-
mon peril and mutual dependence.