The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-05-09
EPISODE 1.


 Many things may happen to a Kings Messenger, and he may put Up with them Cheerfully; but when he Clnds himself out in the raiu and mistaken for some body else, the thing is not so amusing.
 I was going into Spain at the time of the affair of which l am now about to speak. I did not carry despatches. but was seeking them. My mission was, as far as I dare make it known, to call upon a certain naval officer, then pleasantly occupied in the neighborhood of the Western Pyre- nees. and to get from him a letter to the proper authorities at home.
 The journey carried me to familiar hau1t5 and awakened pleasant mem ories- ] thouEhS of the Garonne and of the fair vineyards of its valley. Biarritz suggested forgotten games of Enre and the warm breezes of the Atlantic.
 Spain itseIf-that magnificent coun- try-has always fascinated me, and T have ever enjoyed a caurtIy hospi- taHty there. There seemed to be no reason whatever why I should not en- joy it again upon this occasion.
 Here I reCkoned without the Hun. He was everywhere, as we know, and there vas hardly a fair province of Europe into which he had not worm ed himself for an evil purpCfe. But going into Spain I suffered no un- egsiuess whatever. Possibly thought that so sudden and secret a mission would be unknown entirely JU the Germans. was very wrong. as you shall presently discover.
 Et was night when I arrived at my destination. The town lies in a lfol- low near the sea, and is backed by the declining spurs of the Phrenees. There are odd and bare green hills and beyond them tree capped heights and scenes of desolatiou. As ii chanced, l had twice visited the place ia the yacht of an American friend and was familiar with the town, if not with it's environment.
 The station, I knew 10 he on the southern side-oddIy placed at some distance from the main thorough fares. It is upon the main line to Madrid. and possibly when it's rail way was built the community was too iu'9usiderable to invite the attention Of engineers. So we have the station %s badly placed a5 that at Oxford. There is quite g. considerable drive from it's portals to the doors of the Chicf hotel
 4 Revolver is Required.
 So much l knew when I had quilted my train. It was ten o'clock upon an evening of September, and ex- ceedingIZ- dar.. had telegraphed for a car to meet me. but I could dis cover none in the station yard. An ancient cabriolet, which surely was as old as a Roman chariot, alone of rf burIy driver immediately took pos session of me
 A pOliter scoundrei never bReathed The flourish of his hat was worth 9 guinea to see, and he gabbled so fast and used so many English words sc ridiculously that he would have beer worth a fortune to 9 music hall re. vJe Naturally I went along witt him. My telegram, thought, haG miscarried anI he was my aIterna tive.
 Presently we were rolling an( umbling over q road which even saint might have cursed. It wa. paved for q little way, and the hole in it were as wide as wagon wheelt and as deep as their hubs Beyonc that came a lane you might hay, found in Devonshire; but it's ruts wer, appalling, and the incest pro O0lemS II centres Of gravity presented them selE- g to n-y mind as we went. Should we sink or swim, so to speak? F'or myself, I held onto the car with botl hands, and thought of St Christophe, the god of travellers, indeed, seem ed the only hope Was the thing stil right side up. or had it turned over
 Naturally, these terrifying jolting: y.ept my mind for a little while iron She thought of my destination. Wher r-e emerged upon a fairer road, am 1he cabmans charger began to trot bethought myself of it, and made startling discovery. The man Wa not going into the town at all; he wa going away from it. Plainly could see the lights of the place as we be gan to mount the hillside, and a pan orama of valley and sea stood ou fair in the moonlight
 The scoUndreI was deliberatel driving me away from my destination ito God knows what rendezvous and he was doing it with q innocenc which was inimitable.
 Believe me, that it took me bu EA @-WVE~ a sHA RE{S