The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1920-05-13


"A harmless trinket, but without it
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 lady called
on you whom you knew as Madame
VOIkoff."
"rhe dear woman" exclaimed Mrs.
Parnsworth. "We knew her very
we'll"
almost too WELL" cried Raynor. "A
clever, but German spy. She had
collected some most Interesting data
with reference to Japanese armament
and defenses. but suspecting that she
was being watched. she hit upon n
most Ingenious way of getting the IN
formation across the Pacific. expecting
to communicate with German agents
in America who could pick 1t up and
pass II on to Berlin. You see. she
thought you an easy mark. She got
hold Of fan which Montani informs
one you hold. She reduced her s.ata
to the smallest possible compass. con-
cealed It in her fan. and watched for
a chance to exchange with you. The
astute Montani found the Japanese
artisan who had done the tinkerinr
for her and surmised that you were
to be 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
founG I: impossible to steal the fan
that he asked our assistance. He's
a good fellow. gentleman In every
sense, and with true French chIvalry
wanted to do the job without disturb
Ing you in any way"
We pressed closer about Raynor as
he took the fan, spread It open, and
held it close against table-amp. "The
third, sixth and NINTH" he counted.
you will notice that those three pieces
OF ivory are trile 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
pity to spoil anything so pretty.
but"
He snapped the top Of one Of the
panels, disclosing a neatly folded
piece of thin paper.
"AntOine." said. "tie the arms Of
the prisoner In the Toulouse and
bring him here
"A man In the toolhouse!" Mon
tani, Terrence and Raynor CALCULATED
In concert
"Oh. yes" murmured Alice, that's
the plcasantest chapter Of all. Our
grenadiers captured whole invading
army that made night attack-one
OF the most remarkable engagements
of the present war, Mr.. Terrence"
"The battle Of the Bell-Hops," I
suggested. 1.-THE prisoner will be here
IN moment"
While we waited Montani produced
photograph, instantly recognizable
as likeness Of our prisoner.
my reputation Is saved!" he ex-
claimed excitedly. ''That he should
have been caught herel 1t Is too
much I shall never forgive myself
for not warning you of the danger.
But you understand, mesdanes. that
was sincerely anxious to recover the
fan without letting you know It's i'm
portance. When l found Mt Seattle
and Chicago that you were travelling
under assumed names, I wns-pray,
pardon me-deeply puzzled, the more
so because I had satisfied myself in
Toxic that you were loyal English
women, and / believed you TO be In
nocent Of completely with Madame
VolkOff. Why you should have
changed your names. 1 didn't know.
but it's not my affair now."
I'VE saw you ON the steamer and
again in the hotel at Chicago. 1t was
very amusing to be followed. We
gave you the slip, stopped at Buffalo
to see Niagara, and you came on here
and scared the servants to death!
But you were generous at every
point" said Alice. 1--WE changed our
names so we could amuse ourselves
here-at Bob's expense. So now I
ask everybody's forgiveness
The prisoner. arriving Mt this mo-
ment, became the center Of interest
Without word Montani walked up
to him, brushed back his hair, and
called our attention to a scar on the
crown Of his head.
"There can be no mistake. This is
Adolph Schwenger,. who passes as
readily for a Frenchman as I do for
an Italian. The capture is Of great
Importance. ] shall want the names
of all the persons who assisted in the
matter"
ut isn't quite clear to me-" re-
marked Raynor, turning to me, "why
you held that fellow and said nothing
about it. If there had been a mistake.
1t would have been just little en-
barrasslng for you, Singleton"
"Ch!valry!" Mrs. Farnswortb an
swered for me. "An anxious con.