New-York tribune., 1918-02-10

and closed the gate behind mc--a tall, dim
figure in black.
"Ill lead your cycle" he said in low
voice, as he came back to me. ''I know the
way best" -.
He took it from me, and as we walked
side by side toward the house he said:
"Pcrmit me, Mr.. Belke, to give. you one
little word of caution. While you are here
forget that you can talk German. 7hiak
in English, if you can. We are walking or
Il tight rope, not on the pavement. No
precaution is excessive"
~ understand" l said briefly.
There was in his voice, perfectly courtc-
GUS though it was, a note of command
which made one instinctiveiy reply briefly
--and obediently. I felt disposed to be ia
vorably impressed with my ally
He left me standing for a moment in
the drive while he led my motorcycle
round to some shed at the back, and then
we entered the house by the front door,
"My servant doesn't spend the night
here" he explained, $50 we arc safe
enough after dark, as long as we make nc
sound that can be heard outside
1t was pitch dark inside, and only when
he had closed and bolted the front door be-
hind us did Tiel flash his electric torch.
Then saw that we stood in a small porch
which opened into little hall with stair
case facing us and passage opening be-
side it into the back of the house. At
either side was door, and -Tiel opened
mat ON the right and led me into pleas
ant, low, lamplt room with bright peat
fire blazing and table laid for supper
J learned afterward that the clergyman
who had just vacated the parish had left
hurriedly and that his books and furniture
had not yet followed him. Hence the room.
and indeed the whole house, looked habi
table and comfortable.
This is the place have been looking
for for long time." cried cheerfully for
indeed it made pleasant contrast to q
2uinous farm or the interior of subma
rine.
Tiel smiled. He had pleasant smile.
but it generally passed from his face very
swiftly, and left his expression cool. alert.
composed and trifle dominating.
'You had better take off your over
alls and Begin" he said. "There is an
English warning against conversation be-
tween full man and fasting. l have
had supper already
When | took off my overalls, noticed
that he gave me a quick look of surprise.
I'm uniformv' he exclaimed.
lit may not be much use if I'm
caught" I laughed, ''but l thought it
precaution worth taking"
Excellent" he agreed. and he seemed
genuinely pleased. "It was verv we'll
thought of. Do you drink whiskey and
soda?"
''Nou have no beer?"
He smiled and shook his head
1 am Scottish divine" he said, "and
| am afraid my guests must submit to
whiskey. Even in these little details it is
we'll to be correct
For the next half hour there was little
conversation. To tell you the truth. T
was nearly famished and had something
better to do than talk Tiel, on his part
opened a newspaper, and now and then
read extracts aloud 1t was an ENGLISH
newspaper. of course, and l laughed once
or twice at its items He smiled. too. but
ne did not seem much given to laughter
And all the while | took stock of nv now
acquaintance very carefully.
In appearance Adolph Tiel was lust AS
he had been described to me. and very
much as my imagination had filled in the
picture; man tall, though not very tall
c'can-shaven, rather thin, decidedly Eng
lsh IN his general aspect, distinctfy~
looking, with hair beginning to turn gray.
and clcverness marked clearly in his face
what had not been quite prepared for
was his air of good breeding and author
'Iy. NOT that there was any real reason
why these qualities should have been ab
sent. but as naval officer of a countr,
whose military services have pretty strone
preJuolccs, had scarcely expected to find
IN secret service agent quite this air
Also what | had heard of Tiel had nre-
pared ME to meet gentleman in whom,
cleVerness was more conspicuous than dig
hltS. Even those who professed to know
something about him had admitted that
ne was bit of mystery He was said
to come either from Alsacc or Lorraine
and to be of mixed parentage and the
most cosmopolitan experience. One story
mad 1T that he served at one period Of
MS very mixed career in the navy of a
certain South American state. and this
story very soon came to the conc,,s;o,
was correct, for he showed considerable
knowledge of naval affairs. Even when
ne professed ignorance of certain no;nts
| was inclined to suspect he was s;mn,v
trying to throw doubt unon tho .o.,4.....