The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1920-08-13
CHAPTER v-Continued.

His name is Dick SearleS," said,
'and he's my most intimate friend"
She professed indignation when I
told of my eavesdropping in the woods,
but when l explained that l knew all
about the play and Searles' despair
ing search for her she was enormously
pleassn.
"H0w wonderful I" she exclaimed.
"Yo0 know l told you, Constance. that
II we really threw ourselves In the
path of adventure mystery would come
out to meet us in silken sandals"
"But you will not appear in this
play?" asked Raynor anxiously. ut
is the business of the government of
the United States to see that you COM
nit no further indiscretions. There Is
another matter which I hope you can
clear up. You are not only a subject
of concern to the British embassy, but
the French ambassador also has ap-
pealed to us to assist him in a .triiing
matter"
"The French ambassadors? Alice
exclaimed with a surprise I knew to
be unfeigned. II thought the dear
Montani was an Italian?"
"We will continue to call him Mon
tani, but he's a Frenchman and one
Of the keenest men in the French
secret service. You have caused him
the deepest anguish"
"Please hurry on !" She bent for
ward with childish delight. "This is
q part Of the story we've been living
that / really know nothing about. /
hope it won't be disappointing"
Raynor laughed and shook his
head.
Its fortunate that Montani is a gen.
tleman, anxious to shield and protect
you. You have a fan in your hand"
She spread it out for inspection.
"A harmless trinket, but without 1t
the adventure would have been very
tame"
"The story Of the fan Is in the most
secret archives of Paris and Washing
ton. When you were packing up in
Tokyo to come home on the very last
day before your departure a lady called
on you whom you knew as Madame
Volkoff."
"The dear woman" exclaimed Mrs.
F~arnsworth. 1--WE knew her very
we'll"
almost too WELL" cried Raynor. "A
cultivated woman and exceedingly
clever, but a German spy. She had
collected some most interesting data
with reference to Japanese armament
and d~efenses, but suspecting that she
was being watched, she hit upon a
most ingenious way of getting the in
formation across the Pacific. expecting
to communicate with German agents
In America who could pick it up ard
pass it on to Berlin. You see. she
thought you an easy mark. She got
hold OF a fan which Montani informs
me is the exact counterpart of that
one you hold. She reduced her data
to the smallest possible compass. con-
cealed 1t in her fan, and watched for
a chance to exchange with you.s The
astute Montani found the Japanese
artisan who had done the tinkering
for her and surmised that you were
to ~ made the unconscious bearer of
the discriminating papers. Montani
Jumped for the steamer you were sail
ing on with every determination to get
the fan. His professional pride was
aroused, and it was only after he
found it impossible to steal the fan
chat he asked our assistance. He's
a good fellow, a gentleman IN every
sense, and with true French 'chivalry
warned to do the job without disturb
ing you in any way"
We pressed closer about Raynor as
le took the fan. spread it open. and
held It close against a table-lamp. 1.-THE
third, sixth and NINTH" he counted.
"YOu will notice that those three pieces
of ivory are a trifle thicker and not
as transparent as the others. Glanc-
ing at them casually in an ordinary
light, you would never suspect that
they had been followed out, an ex-
ceedingly delicate piece Of work. It's
a pity to spoil anything SO pretty.
but"
He snapped the top Of one Of the
panels. disclosing a neatly folded
piece Of thin paper.
AulUlIcs l SdlU, INc Tie dTIuS VI
the prisoner in the Toulouse and
bring him here
"A man in the toolhouser Mon
:ani, Terrence and Raynor calculated
In concert.
"Oh. yes" murmured Alice, "that's
the ~pleasantest chapter, of all. Our
g~renadiers captured q whole invading
army that made a night attack-One
81 the most remarkable engagements
Of the present war, Mr.. Terrence"
'The battle OF the Bell-HOps," I
suggested. THE prisoner will be here
n moment"
While we waited Montani produced
photograph. instantly recognizable
as 4 likeness OF our prisoner.
my reputation II saved" he ex-
claimed excitedly. 'sThat he should
have been caught here! It Il too