Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1919-07-24

and Try 60 explain. I can't ten you
everything ut presant-noe without her
epnsent-buf what I do tell win be
sufficient 10 make Jon think you are
listening 70 . chapter Of q dime novels
He had already taken Putnam Jones
into his confidence. lie saw no ofhes
way. out Of the new and somewhat
extraordinary situation.
his uneasiness increased TO eonsteE.
nation when he discovered that
Sprouse had not yet put I'm an appear.
ance. What had become Of the maBf
He could not help feeling. however.
that somehow the little agent would
suddenly pop out of the chimney in
his room, or sneak In through a crack
under the door-and laugh at his
fears.
Shortly before the noon hour. Peter
Ames halted the old automobile from
Green Fancy in front Of the Tavern
and ont stepped O'Dowd. followed BY
90 less q parsonage than the pseudo
Mr. Loeb. There were a number Of
travelling bags In the tOnneau Of the
sar.
Catching sight Of Barnes, the Irish
man shouted a genial greeting.
'The top of the morning TO ye. You
remember Mr.. Loeb. don't your Mr..
Curtis secretary. Mr.. Loeb Is leaving
On for a few days on business. Good
morning. Mr.. Boneface." he called out
10 Putnam Jones who approached at
hat juncture. I'VE are sadly In want
II gasoline"
Barnes caught the look that the
lrfshman shot at him out Of the cor
aer Of his eye.
Perhaps you'd better see that the
scoundrels don't give M short meas
are, Mr.. Loeb" said O'Dowd. Loeb
hesitated for a second, and then, evil
5ently in obedience to a command
srom the speakers eye. moved or 60
where Peter was opening the intake.
O'Dowd lowered his voice. Barnes
{ let you of last night, and let hes
,ff as wei. In return, ask You &c
aold your tongue until the man dowr
here gets q fair start. A days start
and"
"Are you in danger. too. O'Dowd7"
ITO be sure-but I love Il. can
always squirm out Of tight places"
II would not deliberately put you in
Jeopardy. ODowd."
"See here. I am going back to that
mouse up yonder. There-is still work
FOR me there. What I'm after now is
10 get him on the train at Hornville.
I'll be here again at fou. O'Clock, on
me word Of honor. Trust me, Barnes"
"Do you mean to say that you are
/ :oming back here to run the risk Of
being"
"we've had word that the govern
ment has men on the way. Why.
lang it all. Barnes, don't you know
who Il was that engineered that whole
business last nightf"
Barnes smiled. II do. He Il q Sc
cret agent from the embassy
SECRET granny almost shouted
o,Dowd. "TIe Is the slickest, cleverest
:rook that ever drew the breath of
life. And he's got away with the
Jewels. for which you can whistle In
vain. I'm thinking"
"For heavens sake, ODowd-" be-
gan Barnes. his blood like ice I'm his
veins.
"But don't take my word for Il.
Ask her-upstairs there, God bless
her ASK her IL she knows Chester
Naismith. She'll tell ye. my buckle.
He's been standing guard outside her
window for the past three nights.
Hes"
"Now I know you are mistaken"
.ried Barnes, a wave Of relief surging
over him. "He has been In this tav-
ern every night"
"Sure he has. But answer me. did
ye ever see him here after eleven in
the EVENING" You did not-not until
asst night. anyhow. In the struggle he
had with Nicholas last night ne was
recognized. That's why poor old
Nicholas Is lying dead up there ut the
house now-and will have q decent
burial unbeknownst to anybody but
his friends"
"Good God. ODowd. you can't mean
that he-he killed"
"He stuck a knife In his neck. The
dirty snakel And the chief trusted
him as no crook ever was trusted be-
fore. In the name Of God. Barnes, how
did you happen to fall In with the VII.
lainT'
Barnes passed his hand over his
brow. dazed. "He-he represented
himself as a book agent" ne mumbled.
striving to collect himself. "Jones
knew him. Said he had been around
here for weeks. II"
That's the man." said ODowd,
scowling, HE trotted all over the
county, selling books. For the love Of
Il, do ye thinkf Not much. He had
other fish to fry. you may be. sure.
Barnes. II We ever lay hands on that
friend Of yours-well, he won't have
10 fry In hell He'll be burnt alive.
Thank God, my minds ut rest on one
score. She didn't skip out with him.
They all think he did. Not one of
them suspects that she came away
with you. There Is plenty of evidence
that she let him In through her win
| dow
-All ready. ODowd." called Loeb.
"Come along. please"
Coming" said the Irishman. Don't
blame yourself. old man. See you
later, Barnes. So l0ngr
Il