Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-06-24
The Il1efrkSfa}r :;
w IN ROBERT W CHAMBERS N w

Princess Mistchenka:
Dear Jim: If in the past it has
thing to yours, may l now invoke in
you the memory of our very frank
and delightful friendship?
When you first returned to Ameri-
ca from Paris I found it possible to
do you few favors in the way of
making you known to certain edi-
tors. It was, l assure you, merely
because | liked you and believed in
your work, not because L ever expect
ed to ask from you any favor in re-
| turn.
Now, Fate has thrown an odd COM
btnation from her dice-boX; and Des-
| tiny has yelled herself so impenetra-
bly, that nobody can read that awful
visage to guess what thoughts pos
sess her.
You, in America. have heard of the
murder of the Austrian archduke, OF
course. But-have you, in America,
any idea what the consequences of
| that murder may lead to?
| Enough of that. Now for the IA
| vor I ask.
| Will you go at once to Brookhollow.
go to Ruhannah's house, open it, take
from 1t chest made of olive wood
and bound with some metal which
looks like silver, lock the box, take
it to New York, place it in safe
y
Paris on the first steamer that leaves
New York?
VIII you do this-get the box
have described and bring it to me
yourself on the first steamer that
sails?
And. Jim, keep your eye on the
box. Don't trust anybody near it.
Rue says that, as she recollects, the
box is about the size and shape OF
suitcase and that it has a canvas
and leather cover with a handle
which buttons over 1t.
self exactly as though it were your
suitcase. keep it with you in the
train and on shipboard.
Will you do this, jim? 1t is much
to ask of you. I break in upon your
work and cause you great lnconven-
fence and trouble and expense. But
will you do it for me?
Much depends upon your doing this.
think that possibly the welfare Of
your own country might depend on
your doing this for me.
If you find yourself embarrassed
financially, cable me just one word,
Black" and 1 shall arrange mat
tiers through a New York bank.
If you feel that you do not care
to do me this favor, cable the single
word white"
If you have sufficient funds, and
are willing to bring the box to me
yourself, cable the word blue"
In case that you undertake this
business for me. be careful of the
contents Of the box. Let nobody see
it open Be certain that the contents
are absolutely secure. [ dare not
tell you how vitality important to
civilization these papers already are
how much they may mean to the
world; what powers of evil they
might encourage in any way they fall
into other hands than the right ones.
Jim, L have seldom taken a very
serious tone with you since we have
known each other. I am very serious
now. And if our friendship means
anything to you, prove it!
h0orS' NA1A.
AS he sat there in his studio, per-
picked, amazed, annoyed, yet Curl
Gus, trying to think out what he
ought to do-what, in fact, must be
done somehow or other-there came
a ring at his door bell. A messen-
ger with a cable dispatch stood there;
Neeland signed, tore open the enve-
lope, and read:
Please go at once TO Brookhollow
and secure an olivewood box bound
with silver containing military maps,
plans, photographs and papers writ
ten in German, property of Ruhan-
nah Carew. Lose no time, | implore
you, as an attempt to rob the house
and steal the papers is likely. Be
ware of anybody resembling a Ger
man. Have written, but beg you
not to wait for letter. NAIA.
Twice he reread the cablegram
Then, with a half-bewildered, half
Disguised glance around at his stu,
dio, his belongings. the unfinished
work on his easel, he went to the
telephone.
1t being July he had little diff
Guilty in reserving a good stateroom
on the Cunarder Volhynia, sailing the
following day. Then, summoning the
janitor, he packed steamer trunk
and gave order to have it taken
aboard that evening.
On his way downtown to his bank
he stopped at telegraph and cable
office and sent a cable message to
Princess Mitchenl1a. The text con-
sisted of only one word: Blue"
He departed for Gayfield on the
five o'clock afternoon train, carry
ing with him suitcase and an auto
matte pistol in his breast pocket,
s-