Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-27
CHAPTER NI (Coniinued


w and talked with the proprietor, a
Hungarian whose German was almost
negligible. the man of the cotton UNI
brella abandoned the doorway which he
had been darkening with his shadow,
and shuffied forward awkwardly.
"If you will permit me-" he said
eolemnly. 81 speak the Hungarian quite
well I should be glad to interpret
your wishes
The mans impertinence was really
admirable. Renwicks desire to get for
ward on his long journey made MN I'M
patient of obstacles. He shrugged.
.sVery we'll then. Tell him I must
have machine and chauffeur to take
me to Sarajevo by way of Brod. |
will pay him handsomely and in ad-
vance. I must travel today and all
night; must reach sara1e'o IN the
"Ach. So" said the stranger, and
Renwick listened to the conversation
that ensued, endeavorins by the light
of his small knowledge of the language
to make out what was said. But he was
lost in the maze of consonants.
In moment the interpreter turned
with smile.
: This man will drive himself. The price.
10 two hundred kroner and the petrol.
THANK you. That is very good. |
must leave within half an hour.
Renwick produced money, the sight
of which brought about an amazing
activity on the part of the garage man.
Renwick strolled to and fro outside,
alternately smoking and watching the
Preparations for departure. while the
melancholy giant stood leaning upon his
umbrella in the doorway.
What was he waiting for? Renwick
thought that he had made his intentions
sufficiently explicit. At last, his imps-
tience getting the better of him. he stop
+ ped before the man with the umbrella.
II am greatly obliged to you for your
Kindness. But you understand, got on
alone"
The man in black regarded him
blandly.
That is not part of the arrange
ment," he said.
what do you mean?
THAT | am to go with you.
II asked you to make no such ar
'it is a pity that perhaps I misunder-
Renwick angrily approached the gar
age owner and tried to make him un-
dsrstand, but he only proceeded bonIf, With
and pointing to the man in the door
Lyon observe" said the tall man,
that you viii only complicate mat
Renwicl glared at the other, but he
returned the look with an imnudent
composure, and Renwick, in fear Of Of
losing his self-control, at last turned
away Nothing was to be gained by this
controversy After all, what difference
did the fellows presence make? AS a
source of danger he had already proved
wick with an i'll grace at last acauiesced'
and within an hour they were on thelr
way. crossing the Danube and turning
to their right along rough road by
the Fruska mountains.
The first accident happened before
the machine reached Sarengrad. blow
out which made another tire necessity.
The second, a broken leaf of spring.
which made rapid travel hazardous. BUT
II was not until nightfall, in the midst
of a desolation of plat-s that carburetor
trouble Of a most disturbing cnaraS,er ,n
offering advice and suggestion and then
swearing in all the languages he knew
but the chauffeur only shrugged and
sputtered, while the tall man gurgled
soothIngIy. An hour they remained there
when Renwick's patience became ex-
hausted. and he gave way to the sus-
picion which had for some time ooessed
him, that the pair of them were con-
spring to delay him upon his way.
He came up behind the tall man who
was bending over the open hood of the
car. and catchiag him roughly by the
elbow. swung him around and faced him
"I've had about enough of this he
said. Either that car moves in nve
m1nuteS
He moved his hand toward his pocket
to draw his weapon but his wrist was
caught in midair by grip OF steel that
held Renwick powerless. The English
man was stronger than most men Of
his weight and made sharp struggle
10 get loose, but the man in black dis
armed him as he would have dlsarmed
q child, and calmly put the pistol INTO
his own pocket. 1t was not until then
that his bulk had seemed SO significant.
and the real purpose of his presence
been so apparent. There was no use IN
battling with this melancholy Colossus
who might. If he wished, break every
bone in Renwick's body
.sHerr Renwick, II ii will please you
10 be reasonable" he said, releasing the
Englishman and speaking as If soothing
~ Al the mention of his name, Renwick
drew back in growing wonder;
"Who-who are you! ne askep: p cold
suavely II have been sent to keep you
from coming to harm. You see ana
he patted the pocket Whlch cohtaiheu
Renwicks pistol ut Is mot not dsilisqT IL s1wavs s
~Who sent you?" demanded Renwick
me man in black coolly picked up
M cotton umbrella which in the strug-
gle had fallen to the ground -,
THAT is not matter which neea
concern you"
an 10 Brod without delay"
a, The other merely shrugged.
y Il regret to say that that is impos-
oible."
why"
"Because my instructions were to
keep you from reaching the Bosnian
border until tomorrow morning"
ssYou are-?"
"Herr Gustav Linke-that is all. Herr
Renwick."
"An agent Of
-aThe agent of Proyidence-let us say