The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1917-04-21

self to needless danger by continuing
to masquerade to Baron Huroki as
this creature, Elaine, whom he tried
to put in Miss %Channing's placer"
at is no my wish, but Miss Chan.
ning's will. She herself conceived the
notion of playing Elaine to Huroki
and she insists on going through with
it."
But why"
AS long Is Huroki believes her his
tool masquerading as Elaine, he will
have few secrets from her-and con-
sequently-from u.s."
But if he discovers his mistake"
Il am doing all 1 can to provide
against any serious upshot."
Miss Charming is a very brave
young woman"
Il would be a poor American were
l not heart and soul and hand with
Miss Claiming in this work !" he ex-
claimed. "Tell me how 1 may help!"
Donald consulted his watch.
Her train is due at Grand Central
now" he announced. "Unless Huroki
has changed his plans, they will call
on you at four or Whereabouts. l wish
to be present at the interview"
won't hat be dangerous to your
plans? How am 1 to excuse your pres
ence?"
"By this" And with a few words
of explanation Donald submitted to
tho nnCidnr0fin of Mr. pnrfrnT M q
legal document whose nature complet-
ed the process of stupefaction inaugu-
rated by the letter of Introduction.
After a time he nodded. Il under.
stand. What else?"
Il want you to go down to Powder
Town tonight-as soon as you a
leave after the interview with Huroki
and take the situation there in
hand"
Mr.. Bertram's tone was edged with
alarm. what situation there?"
Are you ignorant of the fact that
there is a certain amount of disaffec-
ton among your employees, in spite
of munitions-contract wages, short
hours, and general prosperity"
81 give you my word, 1 know moth.
ing of any such state of affairs!"
ut none the less exists"
"How do you know?
Through the activities Of Mr.. Ry.
ley's assistants, who have been in
Powder Town in one or another os-
tensible capacity-some even working
in fhn Chnnninn willis nuor cinna VIZ
learned, through Patria-Miss Chan.
ming, I mean-that Huroki was plan
ming a demonstration there to compel
Channing's acceptance of the Mexican
munitions contracts"
"You astound me !"
"Will you go?"
without losing a moments time !"
"Then," said Donald, rising, there
is nothing more for us to arrange until
we have had our talk with Huroki. l
will be back at half-after three"
Punctual to the minute of his ap-
pointment, he anticipated the appear
ance of Patria and her dupes by less
than a quarter-hour.
AS he dropped into a chair by the
side Of Bertram's desk that gentle
man answered the muffled signal of
his private telephone, and after giving
it an instant of attention, handed the
instrument to Donald, accompanying
the action with a gesture of surprise.
"Channing, New jersey" he said,
giving Powder Town" it's proper title,
according to the United States postal
authorities, sis calling Capt. Donald
Parr."
Putting receiver to ear, he called :
"Yes. This is Captain Parr."
Barnes, sir" came the response
over the wires-"speaking from Pow
der Town."
Something important, Barnes?"
"Things look pretty nasty, sir. The
airs thick with suspicious circum-
stances. Strike and violence are be-
ing publicly preached, but no one
seems to know just when anything
definite will happen. And I notice a
lot of Japs in the streets; they pre-
tend to be engaged in petty business
running restaurants and that sort of
thing-but it's a safe bet they're in
close touch with Huroki and his out
fit. I've been spotted already, I'm
afraid"
"What makes you think so?" Parl
asked as the other ceased abruptly to
talk.
For all answer he heard a deadened
bang at the other end of the wire-a
sound closely resembling that made by
slamming open the f~olding-door of an
alleged "sound-proof" booth.
"HelloT he called impatiently
"Hello? Barnes! What the deuce
Hello?"
No anSWer.
At this juncture the secretary tC