The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1919-06-06
CHAPTER xl-Continued.

''The deuce you say" cried Barnes.
"We will get right down to tacks."
said Sprouse. "My government
which isn't yours, by the way-sent
ME up here five weeks ago on GER
tain undertaking. l am supposed to
find out what is Matching up at Green
Fancy. Having satisfied myself that
YOU are not connected with the gang
up there I cheerfully place myself in
your hands. Mr.. Barnes. You were at
Green Fancy last night. So was /.
You had an advantage over me, how
ever, for you were on the inside and
I was not"
'Confound your impudence L"
zone of my purposes in revealing
myself to you, Mr.. Barnes, is to warn
you to steer clear of that crowd. You
may find yourself in exceedingly hot
water later on if you don't. Another
purpose, and the real one, is to secure,
If possible, your cooperation in beat
ing the game up there. You can help
me, and In helping me you may be in
strumental in righting one of the
gravest wrongs the world has ever
known"
'Will you be good enough, Mr..
Sprouse, to tell me just what you are
trying to get at? know nothing what
ever against Mr.. Curtis and his
friends. You assume a great deal"
Excuse me, Mr.. Barnes. I'll admit
that you don't know anything against
them, but you suspect a whole lot. To
begin with, you suspect that two men
were shot to death because they were
In wrong with someone at Green
Fancy. Now I could tell you who
these two men really were and why
they were shot But I sha'n't do any
thing of the sOrt-at least not at pres
emit"
Barnes was impressed. Perhaps
YOU will condescend to tell me who
you are. Mr.. Sprouse. l am very much
in the dark"
81 am a special agent-but not a
spy, sir-of government that Is
friendly to yours. l am known In
Washington. My credentials are not
to be questioned. At present 1t would
he unwise for me to reveal the name
of my government. / dare say if
can afford to trust you, Mr.. Barnes,
you can afford to trust me. There is
too much at stake for me to take the
slightest chance with any man. l am
ready to chance you, sir. if you will
do the same by me-"
"Well," began Barnes deliberately,
AZ guess you will have to take
chance with me, Mr.. Sprouse, for l re-
fuse to commit myself until l know
exactly what you are up to-"
in the first place, Mr.. Barnes" said
Sprouse, sailing his eggs, you have
been thinking that l was sent down
from Green Fancy to spy on you.
Isn't that SOP"
81 am answering no questions, Mr..
Sprouse."
"You were wrong" said Sprouse, as
If Barnes had answered In the affir-
native 81 am working on my own.
You MAJ have observed that l did not
accompany the sheriff's posse today.
was up in Hornville getting the final
word from New York that you were on
the level. l telephoned to New York.
Eleven dollars and sixty cents. You
were under suspicion until l hung up
the receiver, l may say"
Jones has been talking to you"
said Barnes But you said a moment
ago that you were up at Green Fancy
last night. Not by invitation, l take
it,
81 invited myself" said Sprouse sue
cinctly "Are you inclined to favor
my proposition?"
"You haven't made one"
"By suggestion, Mr.. Barnes. 1t is
quite impossible for me to get inside
that house. You appear to have the
entree You are working in the dark,
guessing at everything. l am guess