Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1919-06-26
"will you be good enough, Mr.

"Will you be good enough, Mr..
SprOuse, to tell me just what you are
trying to get at? I 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 omeone at Green
Fancy. Now l 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. am very much
in the dark"
II am a special agent-but not a
spy, sir-Of q government that Is
friendly to yours. I am known in
Washington. My credentials are not
to be questioned. At present it 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"
SWELL" began Barnes deliberately,
II guess you will have to take a
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 I was sent down
from Green Fancy to spy on you.
Isn't that 500"
II am answering no questions, Mr..
SprOuse."
you were wrong" said Sprouse, as
if Barnes had answered in the afir-
native. II am working or my own.
accompany the sherif's posse today.
I 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 "sA+s. You
were under suspicion until l hung up
the receiver, l may say"
Zones 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 Sprssse 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
ing at nothing. By combining forces
we should bring this thing to a head,
and"
"Just a moment. You expect me to
abuse the hospitality Of"
II shall have to speak plainly, I
see" He leaned forward. fixing
Barnes with q pair of steady. earnest
eyes. six months ago q certain royal
house in Europe was ~despoiled of its
Jewels. its privy seal, its most precious
state documents and its charter. They
have been traced to the United States.
l am here to recover them. That is
the foundation of my story, Mr..
Barnes.
without divulging the name of the
house 1 will say that its sympathies
have been from the outset friendly to
the entente allies-especially with
France. There are two branches of
the ruling family, one in power, the
other practically in exile. The state
is a small one, but its integrity is of
the highest. Its sons and daughters
have married into the royal families
of nearly all of the great nations of
the continent. The presenter l
should say, the late ruler, for he died
on a field of battle not many months
ago, had no direct heir. He was
young and unmarried. l am not per-
mitted to state with what army he
was fighting, nor on which front he