The Monticellonian., 1917-05-31


 was not present. He had been there pected.
 He is late" commented one mem- Der of the group looking at his watch.
 After some time had passed. q taxi cab dashed up to the landing. Four men of businesslike appearance leaped out and gazed around as if expecting to be met. h some disappointment they dismissed the taxi and cautious ly approached the vessel. The decks fore and aft were deserted.
 I guess this is the boat" speculated one of the four, noticing the name on the prov. Its the T. B. Thomas.s
 They hurried across the gang plank into the wagon entrance under the head rail. There a masked man, lin- sering in the shadows, stepped forth.
 "The disguise is excused, gentle men?"
 sure" grunted one of the men. That was understood"
 You are ready to do business 2"
 For spot cash only"
 Follow"
 Several of the ships crew, negroes, now put in an appearance, hustled Il huge box on their shoulders and led the way to the ship captains cabin. They deposited their burden and with. drew.
 The four visitors entered. followed by the man in the mask who closed and locked the door.
 "Messieurs,n he began, addressing the Foreign Alliance, whose faces also were muflled. "These are the Amer ican intuition manufacturers.
 The Foreign Alliance returned to their seats, focusing their undivided attention upon their leader and the matter at hand.
 Monsieur Karnavi" !" The man thus addressed rose. You are the muni- ton expert and will outline our prop osition"
 Tt is this" briskly began Karnavi, advancing. We have here" point ing to the box, "- an explosive of hitherto unimaginable potency. We alone know it's composition, several tons of which are secreted in this ship. What we lack are casings. These cas- iags must be in various sizes and shapes, resembling say, m imitation bunch of grapes, an ear of corn or q potato, and so forth. How quickly can you manufacture the casingsf
 How soon do you want them?"
 aF tn GiynG N1rit h. in two weeks from date.''
 sDelivered Where?"
 "To our submarine warehouses at at =" turning to their silent and listening leader, at which ware house, monsieur? Bay, Sound, Capes or Gulf, or shall we save time by ship ping via the West Constr
 Now ensued q short barley in lan- guage which the intensely interested and somewhat uneasy visitors did not understand. Presently Monsieur kar- navi mentioned certain celebrated town on the middle Atlantic coast. The munition manufacturers agreed that freight facilities to this point were ideal and that unloading could he accomplished without the slightest suspicion.
 Now let us see the color of your money and that sample bomb said one of the manufacturers, inpatient ly. .sWe can make the deliveries if the castings are simple to mold"
 Another member of the Foreign Al- lianee left his seat and taking from his pocket an oflicial-like envelope handed it to his superior. It was unsealed. It contained Il draft payable at the l banking house of Null X Son. one of the foremost financial institutions in America having to do with information al dealings running far into the mil- lions of dollars.
 There was no question of the genu- inc character of this draft which any one could cash.
 'Is it satisfactory, gentlemen?" suayely inquired the leader of the For eign Alliance.
 The Americans were more profound ly impressed than they cared to show.
 "Quite' All smiled broadly.
 The leader of the Foreign Alliance now approached the box containing the sample bomb. It was curiously con strueted affair not unlike 2 wardrobe trunk in size and dimensions.
 "The lid is on the side" explained the leader of the Foreign Alliance as he stopped to release 1t. Its pretty big hiding place for such a little pack age. But, them" He shrugged ex- uressively. "rhe package is so dan= eerous. If 1t were to strike the fl8er it would explode and blow up the ship"
 The Americans drew back in alarm as the leader of the Foreign Alliance opened the lock.
 An instant of suspense followed. He started to raise the Id when it flew open and he drew back startled. Miss i Pearl Dare stepped out of the box holding the potato-shaped sample bomb threateningly in her hand.
 "Stop v she cried, as with wild yelia and blanched faces every one in the party ran toward the door. She made q move as # t6 throw the bomb at them. 'IIl send you all to kingdom come if you don't"
 They retreated from the door at which she now posted herself huddline 1 together, dumb with surprise and fear l The only person in the room who had not moved or after the moment of surprise passed showed alarm was the i leader of the Foreign Alliance.
 Pearl faced him. At last!" Her voice rang out yictoriously. ''Un- 1 ,,asl-l v,