New-York tribune., 1918-03-17

lady of very exceptional looks and brains
and character, and, moreover, she knew
Germany and she knew German. 1t oc-
Cured to me that in dealing with a
young and probably not unimpressionable
man such an ally might conceivably come
in useful"
"Robin," interrupted his old friend,
with his rich laugh. "you are the cold
est-blooded brute l ever met!"
"Well, I decided on the spot to take
Miss Holland into my confidence, and
should like to say that confidence was
never better justified. She seemed in
clined to do what she could for her
country. I first telegraphed to her, and
then went over and fetched her. That was
how she came to play the part she did, en-
tirely at my request and instigation."
"You-you then told her TOTO make
me admire herr" asked Won Belke in an
unsteady voice.
Frankly, did. Miss Holland placed
herself under my orders, and I simply
told her what to say. She was in no
sense to blame.
"Blame" cried Captain Phipps. "She
deserves all the decorations goingv'
II was trying to look at it from Mr.
Belke's point of view," said Blackjack,
cas- I think Miss Holland probably de-
sires."
She gave him quick, grateful look,
and he continued:
ut was I who suggested that she
should appear critical of me and en-
deavor, as it were, to divide our house
hold into two camps, so that you should
feel you were acting against me when
you were doing what I wished I tell
you this frankly so that you may see
who was responsible for the deceit that we
were forced to practise. It was an extreme
ly difficult problem to get you to risk your
life and stand out against your COM
manding officers wishes and your own
inclinations and your apparent duty, and
come back to this house after the whole
plan was arranged and every argument
seemed to be in favor of your going
aboard your boat again. Nobody but a
man under the influence of woman
would have taken such course. Those
were the facts l had to face, and-well,
the thing came off, thanks entirely to
Miss Holland. I have apologized to her
twenty times already for making such q
use of her, and I apologize again.
Suddenly the young German broke
out:
"Ah, but were there not consolations?"
"What do you mean?"
"You and Miss Holland living by your
selves in this house-is it that you need
apologize for?"
"Miss Holland never spent single
night under this roof" said Blackjack
quietly. "She stayed at house in the
neighborhood."
The captive sat silent for a moment,
and then said:
"You had the house watched by the
police-I see that now"
"a compliment to you, Mr.. Belke,'
smiled the commander, and then he
added: "You gave me one or two anx-
ious moments, may tell you. Your de-
mand for muSti necessitated very hur-
ried interview with the commander Of
a destroyer, and old Craigie's visit very
nearly upset the apple cart. I had to tell
him pretty nearly the whole truth when
l got him outside. But those incidents
came after the chief crisis was over. The
nearest squeak was when thought you
were safely engaged with Miss Holland,
and a certain officer was calling on me,
who was not Captain Phipps. In fact,
he was an even more exalted person. Miss
Holland saved the situation by crying out
that you were coming, or Pm afraid that
would have been the end of the subma-
rine attack"