Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-08-18

drank to an EXCESS
Then. to my intense disgust. l saw
tears we'll up in the eyes OF the secret
service man and heard him whine in
muudlin fashion:
Going to turn down chap after
he's gone through with you like have?
Going to send me back in this condi-
ton after you've become tired of me?
Want me To go back and lose my job?"
and so forth. ad nauscam
Equally intoxicated the other follow
was moved to compassion left the
pair as the latter WAS picdGing eternal
friendship and vowing that his pledge
could only be scaled by "anuzzcr drink"
n glance over my shoulder revealed
them heading for the street exit
My business concluded that night
at about 10. | dropped into a popular
cabaret OF the city for a luncheon Tho
head waiter took me in tow Imagine
my embarrassment when he seated me
at table next to one occupied By ''Pey-
ton" the secret service man. and his
companion. "Pcyton." of course, is not
his real name.
"Peyton," on catching my eye arose
staggered over to my table and loudly
insisted on my joining his party AT
first l demurred, but when he seemed
bent on making scene, ! reluctantly
took seat at his table. Introductions
followed. and few minutes later |
was bitterly rueing my luck.
For "Peyton" began to cast yelled
aspersions on the stupid" conduct Of
the foreign relations OF the United
states. at which his friend made no
comment. whatsoever. was dunn
founded at "Peyton's" indiscrctions
However. rather than get into an argu-
ment with a drunken man. kent
silent But when "Peyton" grew more
and more abusive, / concluded that be-
ing an EnglishmaE. his discretion had
been overcome by international jcai-
ousies Whcreupon l made an excuse
for leaving the table. resolving to 70
I telephone booth and report the
traitor" by long distance telephone to
the British authorities in New York.
SLICK DEFECTIVE WORK
MAKES ONE; SPEECHLESS
"Peytons" friend was too far gone
to care whether left the table or not
but was mildly astonished when the
secret service man made no objectio
since 1t was obvious to him that I had
no intention of returning. He simply
uttered an insistent demand for me
to como back as quickly as | could. and
went on talking with his companion,
by name Linsmorc
Two minutes later, while porting over
the pages OF my notebook at the tcle-
phone desk in search of the number OF
the New York agency came one OF the
most startling shocks of my life.
Some one tapped me on the shoulder
turned. and there stood "Peyton" with
that old familiar grin that had
I learned TO like SO we'll back in the
Switzerland days He was as sober as
/ and | had not taken single in
toxicating drink.
We'll, are you going to deliver me
up?" he asked. speaking clearly and
distinctly.
was spcechless
I'm no more drunk than you are"
h" explained. his face becoming
serious And want YOU TO helm me
l.!nsmorc is under suspicion for operat-
ing ono Of the most novel schemes ever
originated for the purpose OF keeping
the allies viewpoint in this war away
from the public.
Now he has been under my wing
for three weeks" "Pcyton' continued
hurrying his speech But he is either
the wisest spy or biggest fool in all
creation. l simply can't fathom him.
Yet he has not been away from me
for n minute during this time. could
have arrested him in Canada, but we
must know who his accomplices are
first.
We've had him under suspicion for
n long time az a pro-German. but it's
only recently that we have twiEged his
real game. picked him up In st. John.
New brunswick. Curiously enough. he
had been selling war books for one OF
our biggest British American publish
ing houses.
They've sent me clean acioss tn.
water to get onto his real game You
SCI, the chief knew that l went 10
public school with the chap. Several
- ihe service have tried to get friendly
with him. but lie has been absolutely
unapproachable Luckily he's a
drinkcr, SO that between Scotch high
balls and our schoolday friendship, Nv.
been able TO hang on with him. lie
believes me to be representing New
York drug concern.
Meanwhile l was gathering my be-
wildered thoughts together. Here was
in the midst OF n situation that | had
supposed was exclusively the property
OF dime novelists "Pcyton's" eyes that
only few minutes ago were so duh.
now literally bored me with their
Steely StcrnneSs.
I've slept with him every night" he
continued. I've been a rabid Sem Fein
Sympathizer for his benefit. There's
nothing I've left undone to draw him
out. But as said. he's either foolish
or wise He's got or affects the worst
case OF neutrality that ever witnessed
That's his only weak spot-hc's too
neutral.
NOW. I can't stay with him forever.
And all l can show the chief for my
time is the suspicion that his letters
are in code-they absolutely fail to
L
leave him. If l didn't know him he
fore, il would have been impossible to
have kent up this continuous perform
ancc with him.
We came here straight from ST.
John. and. I've worked every possible
Dretense to stay. Worked on his SYM
pa;hv tonight. Picked quarrel with
a stranger at the station last night
10 miss the last train and nearly got
arrested.
Here's where you come in. I planned
1t out when / saw you enter the caba-
ret. You're n newspaper man. Come
back to our table, get confidential and
boast that you've got in your possession
a list of every man in the United STAGES
who has been suspected OF dealings
with the German propaganda clique.
It's to be turned over TO the govern
rrcnt on condition that your paper gets
4 scoop on the arrests Have you n
suit case? Good! Afterwards get "A big
....f - r,