The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-06-29

Haiti" challenge rang out in
the night.
The guard ran toward the sound.
There was little chance for escape.
He had seen the shadowy form Of
Doiltngs skulking through the under
growth. Dollings clambered to his
feet in a desperate dash for free
dom but the flash Of q rifle spat
through the darkness and he felt a
sharp pain in his leg. Crashing about,
stumbling, tripping, fighting his way,
he limped on, clinging to the bomb
in his coat.
The rifle spoke again and this time
Dollings dropped the bomb with an
oath as the bullet passed through
his wrist. A little closer and it
would have exploded the bomb and
he would have given up his life.
DoIlings did not want to die yet. He
dropped the bomb, lodging and leap
ing, pain fighting at his throat in an
endeavor to make him shrek, he
plunged into the darkness Of the
night and escaped.
Aroused by the shot the guards
were gathering at the point Of the
sudden alarm. The ground was be-
ing examined closely, guards walked
back and forth beating about in the
underbrush. In a moment the bomb
was discovered, dropped where Dol
lings had left it in his flight.
The discovery of the blood spat-
tered bomb and the attempt upon
the factory was reported at once. A
message went to Washington. From
Washington a message went to Har-
rison Grant at the Criminology club.
And Harrison Grant having received
the message lost no time In getting
to Hopewell. The Secret Service
needed him there.
Dixie Mason Arrives In Richmond,
When Dixie Mason arrived in Rich
mond the day after the attempt on
Hopewell, she went directly to the
hotel at which Madame Stephan and
Won Lertz were registered. 1t was
the hottest part Of the day and the
hotel lobby was deserted. Dixie
asked for the proprietor. Showing
him her Secret Service commission
she took him into her confidence to
the extent Of making him understand
that she wanted a room next to the
one occupied by Madame Stephan,
and that she did not wish her name
to appear on the register.
1T can be arranged, very easily"
he assured her.
Dixie was gracious in her thanks,
But you had better make card
entry Of my name so that in case I
am forced to come in contact with
either Won Lertz or Stephan, can
have an alibi."
THE clerk will take the blame"
smiled the proprietor.
Very shortly Dixie was installed
in room next to Madame Stephan's.
A door connecting the rooms was
locked and bolted-on Madame
Stephan's side, but this fact was OIL
no concern to Dixie. She had brought
out the panelphone and examined its
delicate mechanism; attached the
batteries which gave it the telephone
electrical connection necessary to
the transmission Of sound, and then
by means of vacuum cup had fast
ened it to the door. BY this device
each sound within the next room
would be intensified sufficiently for
her to hear every word Of any con-
carried on.
She placed the receiver at her ear.
The low murmur Of voices which she
had heard a moment before now was
so that each sound reach
ed her with q clarity allowing no
chance for mistakes.
Madame Stephan was speaking.
Her usually well -modulated voice
carried an acid quality, an angry sar- |
casm that conveyed a deep displeas-
ure.
Your little plan of taking my place
seems to have failed, Baroness. Your
endeaVor to worm your way into Won
Papen's favor through Won LertZ has
not met with the success you aspired
to." There was a sudden rustic Of a
newspaper being Strengthened out,
then the caustic tones Of the madame
cut the silence once more. "'Spy
Fails in Attempt Against Guncotton
Plant" she read. Believed to have
been Injured by Guard!' A very good |
start, Baroness, for your operations
In America. Three months in Hope |
well and this is what you have ac-
The deep tones Of the baroness re-
sounded into the little instrument at |
Dixie's ear.
Perhaps it is as much as you have
DONE"
rs it? At least I've covered my
tracks. The newspapers haven't an
nounced my failures! And suppose |
SAASS - S~S4h ySuA .SPy " ,yOuI LOLIU
telling emporium? What them
You are jumping at conclusions"
"On the contrary, am giving the
police and the Secret Service of this
country credit for having. a little
sense. And If a few others are work |
ing in the interests OF Germany would |
do the same thing there would not |
be so many failures in our plans. IF |
you could dispose of a little Of the |
egotism with which you all are over
ourdened you would be of more use. !
You think because you are Prussian
that all the rest of the world are
Idiots because your blood does not |
flow in their veins"
Her voice had risen to an uncau-
tious degree but it was cut short by |
the opening Ola door in the room.
= You've said enough. Stop it at |
once!" It was Won Lertz's voice, an !
cry, but low and self possessed. Can |
you not understand that this is no
place for"
But" Madame Stephan broke in,
neffectiYelys for Won Lertz brushed |
aside her expostulation.
personalities. If the baroness
lad failed it is not her fault, nor the |
'ault OF the man she sent to do the
WI a. II LLLS pan LdllS0t II LalIeut ana |
hats all there is to 1t. Now / have |
wired him in code to proceed at once !
IN Instruction Number -Four. I must |
tsk you to let the greatness Of the |
;ause we represent overshadoW any
private feelings that may arise"
My dear Won Lertz-" but Dixie |
lad slipped the panelphone from the
loor and was packing It In her tray-
cling bag. She had heard enough /
o realize that there were other places
1t which her services were more |
needed than here. Hopeweu was still |
n danger. What was this Instruc-
ion Number Four which had been
elegraphed the spy to proceed on?
She must learn, but the. conviction
hat only In EopaWell could she gain |