New Britain herald., 1918-04-03

!, Han entailed and I was glad, indeed, when MT. Drake dropped the sub- ject of my memory and began to speak of other things.
 After all,' he said, with an utter abandonment of his former position, T fancy this paper will be safer with you than with anyone else, because no one else knows you belong to us"
 'I am sure that Miss Draper sus- poets that I do," l returned quietly
 Miss Draper?" he countered sharply. Where does she come in?'
 l saw that I had startled him, that until this moment he had had no suspicion that Grace Draper was other than a remarkably beautiful and fascinating girl who had been impressed by his personality and was more than willing 10 indulge in q mild Irritation with him. I was con- scious of a peculiar feminine willing ness to enlighten him as to the girls real motive in seeking his society.
 Mrs Underwood believes her to be a leading spirit in the enemy camp of spies," I returned "and l. myself, know that the man who followed us tonight and wounded you is under her direction.'
 
 ing this self-poised, powerful person. aity startled out of his self-posses- sion He muttered something be- meath his breath, and then, leaning toward me across the table, began to question me swiftly, searchingly.
 Tell me all you know about her at once, please" he said.
 One on Drake.
 I obeyed him literally, although I didn't go into the reasons which made her personal enmity for me so strong and bitter a thing. But I out lined minutely her movements since her return from South America, and also told him the story of the man with the scared hand, and his at tempt to enter Lillian's library through the secret door.
 He listened attentively. and I was gratitied to see a. distinct look of cha grin overspread his face when I spoke of the man who had followed us.
 That explains something" he said with a. short laugh. and then he flashed a rather r ueful smile at me. = 1T guess you're entitled to come back at me-" he said, and I'm not the boy who won't give you the
  think of the Draper person signalling that man before my eyes?'
 I'm not surprised at anything she might do,' I returned.
 Well, ] certainly have to hand it to her." he said, grudging admiration in his tone As I look back now, 1 I see that this Johnny who followed us was in the station in a different get-up after you left I noticed him cycling her rather closely, but put It 1 down to pronounced admiration of 1 her beauty which I would have re- proved if it had become offensive. l But he disappeared, and I thought no 1 more about the matter. Some girl, 1 that! I owe her something for bam- l boozling me this way!"
 His tone held no grudge, but 1 knew that he wouldn't soon forget ] the incident.
 And now to business" he said, shrugging his broad shoulders as If l he were shaking off all thought of l Grace Draper.
 Are you afraid to keep this paper?"
 I shot a scathing look at him 1
 T beg your pardon,'' he said quick | ly But don't run any foolish risks, 1 and, above all, inspect carefully any | m essa ges you may receive purporting | to come from your husband or { friends. Be sure they're authentic, 1 especially if they name a meeting place unknown to you.
 Plans for Parting.
 And now we must get back I'll transfer this to you in the machine and then I think I'll have George take us both back to New York. I can't take you to Mrs. Underwood's door, for one of our strictest rules is to keep the operatives ignorant of | each others identity if possible. George mustn't know who you are, nor dream of Mrs. Underwood Where can I leave you safely?"
 "One of Mrs. Underwood's men, a taxi driver, is waiting at a corner di- agonally opposite the Pennsylvania station for any emergency" I an- swered.
 "Good!" MT. Drake calculated. 'I'll have George drop you a block