Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1919-07-10

from Paris By persons y0n know 20 ala
ron In delivering the crown Jewels into
he custody Of your country's minister
n Paris. We must act swiftly. Ten
me where they are. / win get them"
..wbo are your" she whispered
tenseiy.
Ny name Is Theodore Sprouse. i
nave been loaned to your embassy by
my own government. I beg OF you do
not ask questions now. Tell me where
the prince sleeps. how / may get to his
room-r
"You know that he Is the prInce?"
"And that you are his cousin
She was. silent for q moment. aNot
oniy Is It impossible for you TO enter
his room but II Is equally impossible
for you to get out Of this one except
oy the way you entered. II thought
there was the slightest chance for you
to-"
let me be the Judge OF that, eoun-
tess. Where Is his roomy'
@The last TO the right as you leave
dis door-at the extreme end OF the
corridor. Across the hall from his
room you win see an open door. A
man sits In there all night long, keep
ing watch. You could not approach
Prince Ugo's door without being seen
Dy that watcher.
"You said in your note TO Barnes
that the-er-something was In Curtis
study"
The prince sleeps In Mr.. Curtis
room. The study adjoins II, and can
only be entered from the bedroom.
There Is no other door. What are you
doing?"
Il am going to take q peep over the
trans0m, first Of ali. II the coast Is
clear. shall take a little stroll down
the hall. Do not be alarmed. win
come back-with the things we both
want. Pardon me-" He sat down on
the edge of the bed and removed his
shoes. She watched him as IL fasci-
mated while he opened the bosom of
his soft shirt anG stuffed the wet shoes
inside.
Then he said: sYOu are not dressed
for flight. May I suggest that while J
am outside you slip ON a dark skirt
and coat2 You cannot go far In that
dressing gown. 1t would be In shreds
before you had gone a hundred feet
through the brush. If do not return
to this room inside of fifteen minutes
or II you hear sounds of a struggle
crawl through the window and 60
down the vines. Barnes will look out
for YOU"
'You must not fail, Theodore
Sprouse," she whispered. 81 must re
gain the Jewels and the state papers.
/ cannot go without"
ST shall do my best" he said simply.
Silently he drew a chair to the door,
mounted It and, drawing himself up by
his hands, poked his head through the
open transom. Al instant later he was
on the floor again. She heard him I'm.
sorting a key In the lock- Almost be-
fore she could realize that IL had ac-
tuaIly happened, the door opened slow
ly, cautiously, and his thin wiry figure
slid through what seemed to her no
more ihan crack. As softly the door
was closed.
For q long time she stood. dazed and
unbelieving, In the center of the room,
staring at the door. She held her
breath, listening for the shout that
was so sure to come-and the shot,
oerhapsI A prayer formed on her lips
and went volcelessly up to God.
Suddenly she reused herself from
he stupefactiOn that held her. With
.everish: haste she snatched up gar
nents from the chair on which she had
:arefully placed them in anticipation
" the emergency that now presented
Z Itself. A blouse (which she neglected
% button), short skirt OF some dark
Material, a jacket, and a pair of stout
walking shoes (which she failed to
ace). completed the swift transforma-
ion. AS she glIded to the window, she
tanned the pins into a small black
nat of felt. Then she peered over the
edge.
She started back. sitting a cry with
ler hand. A mans head had almost
,ome In contact with her own as she
eaned out. A mans hand reached
Dver and grasped the inner ledge of
he easement, and then a mans face
was dimly revealed to her startled
gaze.
CONTINUED NEXT WEEK.