New Mexico state record., 1918-09-20


paid for what you have done, but l
will not accept any further assistance
from you at any price, and what Is
more ! want you to return to me at
once all the photographs and other
papers and belongings of mine which
l turned over to you day or two
agO."
"I'm sorry about that, O'Brien." he
retOrted, with show Of apparent sim
cerity, "but that is something | cannot
do"
"If you don't give me back those
papers at once" l replied hOtly, Il will
take steps to get them, and ID
quick tool"
81 don't know just what you could
do. O'Brien," he declared cOolly. "but
as II matter of fact the papers and
pictures you refer to are out Of the
country. could not get them back
to you if wanted to-"
Something told me the man was
lying.
"See here, Huyiger threatened.
advancing towards him. putting my
hand on his shoulder and looking him
straight in the eye. 81 want those
papers and l want them here before
midnight tonight. If don't get them
shall sleep in this place just once
more and then. at s O'Clock tomorrow
morning, | shall go to the German au-
thorities, give myself up, show them
the passport that you fixed for me-
tell them how | got it, and explain
everything"
Huyliger paled. We had no lights
in the house. but we were standing
near a landing at the time and the
moonlight was streaming through a
Stained-glass window.
The Belgium turned on his heel and
started to go down the stairs.
mind yOu," called after him. II
shall wait for you till the city clock
strikes twelve, and if you don't show
up with those papers by that time. the
next time you will see me is when you
confront me before the German au.
thOrities. am desperate man, Huy-
Tiger. and mean every word say"
He let himself out Of the door and
sat on the top stair and wondered just
steal a march on me and get in first
word to the authorities so that my
story would be discredited when |
put it to them?
OF course, my threat TO give myself
up to the Huns was n pure bluff. While
| had no desire to lose the papers
which Huyliger had and which in
cluded the map and the last resting
place of my poor chum Raney, | GER
tainly had no intention of cutting of
my nose to spite my face by surren-
dering to the Germans. would have
been shot as sure as fate. for after all
| had been able to observe behind the
German lines l would be regarded as
"A spy and treated as such.
At the same time | thought l de-
tected a yellow streak in Huyliger. and
| figured that he would not want to
take the risk of my carrying out my
threat even though he believed there
was but small chance of my doing so.
If did. he would undoubtedly share
my fate, and the pictures and papers
he had of mine were really Of no use
to him, and l have never been able to
ascertain why it was he wished to re-
tain then unless they contained some
thing-SOme information about me
which accounted for his complete
change of attitude towards me in the
first place, and he wanted the papers
as evidence to account to his supe-
riOrs for his conduct towards me.
When he first told me that the plan
of placing me in convent disguised
as a priest had been abandoned he ex
planned it by saying that the cardinal
had issued orders to the priests to
help no more fugitives, and | have
since wondered whether there was
anything in my papers which had
turned him against Inc and led him to
forsake me after all he had promised
to do for me.
For perhaps two hours I sat on that
staircase musing about the peculiar
turn in my affairs, when the front door
opened and Huyliger ascended the
stairs
II have brought you such of your be-
lOngings as | still had, O'Brien," he
said softly. "The rest, as | told you. l
cannot give you. They are no longer
In my possession"
l looked through the little bunch he
handed me. II included my identiti-
cation disk, most of the papers l val
ued. and perhaps half of the photo
graphs.
II don't know what your object is in
retaining the rest of my pictures, Huy-
liger," replied, 'but as matter Of
fact, the ones that are missing were
only of sentimental value to me and
you are welcome to them. Wen call it
beat"
I don't know whether he understood
the idiOm, but he sat down on the
stairs just below me and cOgitated for
a few moments.
"O'Brien," he started finally. I'm
sorry things have gone the way they
have. l feel sorry for you and I would
really like to help you. don't sup
pose you will believe me, but the
matter of the order which which l
asked you to sign was not of my doing.
However. we won't go into that. The
proposition was made to you and you
turned it down, and that's the end Of
1t. At the same time. hate to leave
you to your own resources and l am
going to make one more suggestion
to you for your own good. have an
other plan to get you into Holland
and il you will go with me to another
house, will introduce you to man