Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-06-01

And the unexpected came. 1t came
In the form of stealthy step to my
door. II was a. mysteriously studied
step, q step that sent little SILVER
along my spine.
The next movement took the form
Of knock on my door. a carefully
moderated and yet distinct knock.
1t became louder and more determined
as 1t was repeated. And l could hear
an anxious and somewhat cultural
voice say 'Leetle one" twice over.
What do you want?" demanded.
Il want to speak nit you. please
retorted the somber figure so close to
me. Listen. leetle one. VIII you help
an oldt man in trouble?"
what can do?" asked.
II have worked hard. leetle one.
worked many years, and I haf saved
vat I could. Tonight, l belief, some
body vii come to rob me of vat hat!
Vat leetle haf is In a troonk in my
room. Somebody will come to rob me
OF dat leetle. One ding you can do.
You can keep dat troonk of mine here.
nit you. Here. under your bedt, 1t VIII
be safe. And den will not be robbed"
1t took moment or two for this TO
sink in. The only trunk i had sight
of in Otto Schoenfelds rooms had been
the iron bound chest of oak. And that
iron-bound chest held everything
which had brought me as a spy into
that household.
But haven't even a lock on my
door," I commended.
II will put one on" was his prompt
and somewhat unexpected reply.
1backed away from him little. Il
wish I was nome" said. with well
simulated sob Of distress.
II will help you go dere ven dis
trouble is ofer," he announced in his
heavy and intimate whisper
But there's Mrs. Munger" I still
pointed out. "She will send me away
without my wages"
"You will haf more from me. ven as
is offer, dan Mrs Munger will efer gil
you" He stunned back toward the
door as though the entire matter were
finally settled. $50 now I will bring
de troonk and fax dat lock-boN on
dis door OF yours"
I stood there listening as his quiet
vet heavy tread passed along the little
hallway. wondering what my course
Of action ought to be. Then I heard
him stunning back along the hall. and
whispering for me to turn on the
light.
He had come in through the narrow
door sideways. for he was carrying
the oak chest by it's two iron handles.
He toddled across the room to my
iron bed, put down the chest, and
carefully pushed it under the bed.
Then he reached into his coat pocket
and lifted out a screw-driver and
wrouEht-i Iron draw-bolt Reaching
into another pocket he took out some
sorew-nails, held the bolt against the
edge OF my door. and proceeded to
fasten 1t there. On the frame OF the
door ne screwed loop Of iron into
which this bolt could slide. Then he
closed the door and slid the bolt back
and forth several times to make sure
that 1t worked.
Lock yourself in--so-and 1t will be
all right" ne sad with a. reassuring
smile. And before could say another
word to him ne had slipped out
through the door and disappeared
within his own quarters.
Y promptly closed and bolted my
door, crossed to the bed. and cautious
" pulled the mysterious chest little
out from its hiding place. The first
discovery I made was that it was
securely locked. My second discovery
was chat the keyhole Of the huge lock
had been filed with sealing wax and
stamped while still fluid with a seal
OF oddly inte1mingied initials.
t. AS soon as had dressed I moved
the trunk out. to test its weight. AS
aid so sudden. question crossed my
mind. How was to be certain that
It really held, what thought it held'
The fact that It's lock had been SO
carefully scaled may have been only
a trick-and the man against whom
was campaigning had shown himself
extremely, resourceful in. tricks.
remembered a pair OF nau-scissors in
my suitcase got them out. aud with
them cut and ,geuged away. the seal