New-York tribune., 1918-03-17

against. He began to bargain at once. If
his life were spared he would give me GER
tain very valuable information
"Mein Gott!" cried Belke. "Did Ger
man actually say that?"
"Tiel belongs to no country" said Black
lock. "He is cosmopolitan adventurer
without patriotism or morals. told him
his skin would be safe if his information
really proved valuable, and when I heard
his story may say that he did save his
skin. He gave the whole show away, down
to the passwords that were to pass between
you when you met"
He suddenly turned to Phipps and
smiled.
"It's curious how the idea came to me.
I've done good bit Of secret service work
myself, and felt in such a funk some
times that I've realized the temptation to
give the show away if were nailed. Well,
as I looked at Tiel I said to myself, There
but for the grace of God stands Robin
Blackjack" And then suddenly it flashed
into ny mind that we were really not at
all unlike one another-same height and
domi,i in our hair and so on. I decided
to continue Mr.. Tiel's journey for him.
That splash Of salt water on your motor
bike, and your resource in lodging pur-
suit just saved the situation, and we ar
rived at the house on the same night''
$50 that was why you were late!" ex-
claimed Won Belke. "Fool that 1 was not
to hAve questioned and suspected"
ut might have been rather nasty
BUNKER" admitted Blackjack, "but luckily
got you to lose your temper with me
when I reached that delicate part of my
story, and you forgot to ask me. Of
course, was in touch with certain people
who advised me what scheme to recon-
mend. My only suggestion was that the
officer sent to advise us professionally
should be one whose appearance might
lead those who did not know him to sus-
pect him capable of reasonable inclina-
tions. My old FRIEND Captain Phipps"-
"Robin" roared his old friend.
II tried you first with Ashington, of
the Haileybury, whom I slandered grossly,
by the way. If you had happened to know
him by sight, should have passed on to
another captain until got one you didn't
know. Well, l needn't recall what hap
pened at our council of war, but now we
come to rather az He hesitated, and
glanced for an instant at Miss Holland.
well, rather delicate point in the story.
think it's only fair to those concerned
to tell you pretty fully what happened. 1
believe I am right in thinking that they
would like me to do So"
Again he glanced at the girl, and this
time she gave a little asserting nod.
That night, after you left US, Mr..
Belke, Captain Phipps and had a long
discussion over very knotty point. How
were we to get you back again here after
you had delivered your message to YOUR
submarine?"
Il DO not see exactly why you wished me
to return?" said Won Belize.
There were at least three vital rea-
sons. In the first place, some one YOU
spoke to might have known too much about
Ilel and have spotted the fraud. Then
again some one might easily have known
the real Captain Ashington, and it would
be little difficult to describe CAPTAIN
Phipps in such way as to confound him
with any one else. Finally, we wished to
extract a little more information from
you"
Won Belke leaped from his seat with an
exclamation
what have I not told you'll" he cried
hoarsely. "Mein Gott! I had forgotten
that! Give me that pistol! Come, give it
to me! Why keep me alive?"
Il suppose because it is an English Gus
tom," replied Commander Blackjack Quiet.