The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-09-06
(Continued from yesterday

It was noe far, as the crow flies from his hotel to the squaHd hovel | to which he was conducted. but the route which they adopted was long and devious.
 Duckins through unlighted streets. 1 lodging puddles and piles of filth as best they could, the detective and his ragged guide approached their destination through a back alley. A side door, blotCh. of darkness agains the grey of the house wall revealed itself The guide plunged into 1t Rothweu followed.
 For d moment all was silence. He heard the opening and closing of a door, Someone stood before him in the blackness.
 We can't chance a light, liar rington," came Peggy's clear voice.
 The house is asleep as far Ss I know, but there is always a chance. Come over here and sit down."
 They groped their way through the dark to the sofa which stood against the wall
 Probably you're surprised to see me" Peggy continued. But really when you thing of it. It's been too simple. Several families of wealthy Mexicans had been in England try ing to get home for the past year. The British Government was taking no chances and forbade it. When the time came for me to start O.. my way here the Washington people arrang- it so that these Mclean people were given passports by the British and sent over on a transport homeward bound. They came to New York, of course. There 1 joined them simply 2s SenOrita Inea CostabIes, one of their countrywomen who had been caught in Holland at the same time they were detained in England and for the same reasons. l had come over in another boat, of course.
 Well, a special escort took us all to Panama City by water, and from there it was easy for us to reach Tampico-aH of us repatriated, of course, and glad to be home again. Our passCptrs were all in good or der Of course, the first minute I had chance I simply disappeared. don't think there was the least sus- picion aroused. The Mexican refugees themselves aren't so keen on espion- age work. I was merely one of num- ber of refugees.
 "So I came here as a dancng girl, and got a place as a dancer at the Princcsse-and here I am. Now tell me all about yourself"
 Rothweu in a few words descrih- ed his pilgrimmage to Mexican soil.
 And now, Peggy he said, what have you been doing and what have you found out?''
 Not so very much" she replied You saw the man in the cafe of course-the one you nearly assaulted. Well, that was Won Ekstein-probab- ly you know him. The German with him is Adolph Rinzheim, before the war the head of a chemical plant in Sonora somewhere. The other man is Pedro Sontales, a Mexican.
 'I first saw the three a week ago, when l first came to Princesse. Won Ekstein's face was familiar. but I couldn't place him at once. The three were always together, and that made me wonder. An then it came to me in a flash who he was,-he had been pointed out tos me once-and that settled it. Something, call it fe- minine intuition, if yau want, tells me that he is involved in some way with the German secret service, and that he is one of the men who we must watch.
 "Of course, I've been friendly with them all ever since I first suspected. SontaIes and Rinzheim don't seem particularly interesting. But Won Eks- tein is-well, Harry, I might as well tell you that he's fallen head over hee~ in love with me and wants me to go away with him somewhere in to the country where he has sum mer place.
 50 far I have kept him a. a dis tance with tales Of a mythical nus band noted for his artistry win the stilletto, who has committed innum- erable murders on my behalf. But of late he seems to be more and more indifferent to possible danger from that score, and has pursued me more openly. I am afraid that he will have mo followed here sometime This place is a cheap lodging house, and 1t would be awkward for me to have him find me. And yet if l avoid him 1 altogether it will be difficult for me to learn much about his affairs "Of course you're right, Peggy" | Rothweu replied, "but you musn't do anything rash I must find a way of being near you as often as l can without arousng suspicion, so you won't be wholly without protection "Oh, l can take care of myself, Peggy replied easily, so don t- ! what's that?'' she asked breathless- Iy, seizing his hand
 The stealthy footstep outside the | plank door which had startled the girl, was repeated, nearer this tIne. ! A.hand fumbied gently at the hasp, found it and the door swung silently open.
 A figure outlined aGasnst the gloo- my brightness of the night sky stood ! framed in the doorway It was that 1 of a man.
 4 tall, thin man, somewhat stoop- i sbouldered It was Won EkStein.