Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1920-09-11
CHAPTER III-Continued.

had noticed that she had subSti-
tutcd "a Tiny Japanese fan for the one
that Montani had Inspected 50 eager
ly. When spoke of the change she
had said the other was too precious
for everyday use. and She meant to
keep il locked up.
Il hate to bother you. sir. knowing
you--"
The mention of the fan had brought
Inc 10 an abrupt halt. ] resented hay
Ing the thing thrust ut me IN the
ecStatic mood in which ! left the
house. but the visit of the German
Speaking stranger was serious, and
Antoine knew that his story had
startled me. He told me further that
the man had carefully outlined to FL
sic just how she could take advantage
ef her freedom of the house to appro-
pirate the fan when the ladies were
out and the servants off the Second
floor. She was 10 be paid for her as
sistance; two hundred dollars had
been promised: even more had been
Suggested. Elsie and the stranger had
left the garage and passed oct of ear
shot before Elsie fully consented; hut
1i"rre had given Antoine the impress
sign that >h" would make the attempt.
1T was ia be for the kaiser. for Ger
many" declared Antoine bitterly.
And she was to he careful aboul
FLYNN. | always thought Flynn was
straight-i did. indeed. sir"
Il think Flynn and his wife are both
honest. but we'll take no chance. Warn
the guards to he on the alert. We
don't want Elsie To get the idea that
she's being watched; 50 tell the men To
keep away from the garage. Ill keep
MI eye on The Flynns. You 90 home
and 20 to bed.
The deep calm of the country night
had settled upon the shore, and the
Fiynns' quarters We're perfectly tran
quill. II didn't seem possible that an
International episode was in process uf
incubation in that quiet neghborhuod.
] began To think that the general dis
trust of the German woman by her as
sUciateS might be responsible for
pierrc's story. But, viewed In any
light. had Il duty to perform. If Elsie
h::a visited IN" house and purloined
the fan. she would be very likely TO get
ru of il as quickly AZ possible and d..
iermined To keep watch. | drew the
blinds. got into my dressing gown ana.
rc enforcing The lampShadc with q
newspaper 10 deaden the light. pro.
ecrdcd tn read.
IL WAS nn toward one O'Clock and |
mas dpZin. when n sound reused mo.
A door an The Flynn side of the hail
creaked: there was silence. then 1
snapped nut my light ana peered out
of !hr window just as ElSie'S robust
figure disappeared into the shadows. |
was about to follow when the crca&-
ing of the Flynn door was repeated. I'm
II moment another peep through the
shade showed me Flynn himself. and
he, too. quickly vanished. Here was Il
situation indeed, IL Elsie was keep
ting tryst with her co-conspirator of the
afternoon and her husband was spying
upon her. row of large proportions
was likely 10 result at any moment. [
leaned from the window as far as [
dared and saw the woman close To the
wall at the farther end of the building.
The scene was well set for trouble, ana
I was wondering Nhsf | could do TO
avert the disturbance and the exposure
of the foolish woman when the whole
matter was taken out of my hands
You fool, You scoundrel!" she bel
lowed in German. That you should
think me a plaything TO commit rob-
berry for you! That ] should steal
from my mistress 10 satisfy you. you
niece OF swine-fesh. :"
| had often heard Elsie vocally dis
cipliping her Irish husband and knew
the power of her lungs and the vigor
~ her invective, but she seemed bent
upon apprising the whole common
wealth OF Connecticut Of the fact that