Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-05-17

gatIng yOu. Mr.. Barnes said the little
man. unsmilingly. Don't get sore.
There are a lot Of things that yOu don't
know, and one of them is that I don't
sell books for living. Its something
Of a side line with me-" He leaned
forward. Il shall be quite frank with
yOu. sir. / am secret service man.
Yesterday l went through your effects
upstairs, and last night l took the lib
erty Of spying upon you, so to speak.
while you were a guest at Green
Fancy"
"The deuce you sayl" cried Barnes.
"We win get right down to tacks."
said SprOuse. my government
which isn't yours, by the way-sent
me up here five weeks ago on a Ger
tain undertaking. l am supposed to
find out what Is Matching up at Green
Fancy. Having satisfied myself that
you are not connected with the gang
up there | cheerfully place myself i'm
your hands, Mr.. Barnes. You were at
Green Fancy last night So was /.
You had an advantage over me, how
ever, for you were on the inside and
| was not"
"COnfOund your impudepce! +"
"0ne of my purposes in revealing
myself TO you, Mr.. Barnes, is TO warn
you to steer clear of that crowd. You
may find yourself in exceedingly hot
water later on if you don't. Another
purpose. and the real one, is to secure.
If possible, your cooperation in beat
ing the game up there. You can help
me, and in helping me you may be in
strumental in righting one of the
gravest wrongs the world has ever
known"
"Will you be good enough, Mr..
SprOuse, to tell me just what you are
trying to get at7 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 whole lot To
begin with, you suspect that two men
were shot to death because they we're
in wrong with someone at Green
Fancy Now l could tell you who
these two men really were and why
they were shot But l sha'n't do any
thing of the sort--at least not at pres
ent."
2arnes was impressed. perhaps
you win condescend to tell me who
you are, Mr.. Sprouse. am very much
in the dark"
81 am a special agent-but not a
spy, sir-of government that is
friendly to yours. am known in
Washington. My credentials are not
to be questioned At present 1t would
he unwlse for me to reveal the name
Of my government. l dare say if !
can afford to trust you, Mr. Barnes.
you can afford to trust ine. There is
too much at stake for me TO take the
slightest chance with any man. am
ready to chance you, sir, if you will
do the same by me-"
SWELL" began Barnes deliberately,
81 guess you will have to take a
chance with me, Mr.. Sprouse, for re-
fuse to commit myself until | know
exactly what you are up TO-"
"In the first place, Mr.. Barnes" said
Sprouse, sailing his eggs, you have
been thinking that | was sent down
from Green Fancy to spy ON you.
Isn't that so?'
"I am answering no questions, Mr..
Sprouse."
"YOu were wrong" said SprOuse, as
IL Barnes had answered in the aflir-
native. 81 am working on my own.
You may have observed that did not
accompany the sheriffs posse today.
was up in Hornvile getting the final
word from New York that you were on
the level. I telephoned TO New York.
Eleven dollars and sixty cSs+s. You
were under suspicion until l hung up
the receiver, may say"
"Jones 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, I take
It."
81 invited myself" said SprsNse sue
cinctly. "Are you inclined to favor
my propOsitionp
"YOu haven't made one"
"By suggestion, Mr. Barnes. It In
quite impossible for me to get inside
that house. You appear to have the
entree. You are working In the dark,
at everything. / 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"
81 shall have to speak plainly.
see." He leaned forward, fixing
Barnes with pair Of steady, earnest
Eyes. "Six months ago a certain royal
house in Europe was despOiled of its
levels, its privy SEAL its most precious
'tate documents and its charter They
nave been traced to the United States.
am here to recover them. That IS
he foundation Of my story Mr..
Barnes.
Continued next Saturday,