The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-26

Bartle looked from Tredways to me.
then again to Tredways. What sort
of idea have you fshed up?" he
queried.
Here it is" exclaimed my compan-
ion, rising and confronting the other.
How much were you paid for stepping
into Nathan Branna's shoes?"
Bartle also got up. but slowly, The
fresh color had sunk out from his
cheeks. "Branna? ' he answered slowly.
as If stupefied by the question. You
told me yourself that Branna was just
a vulgar craftsman. Why should de-
sire his shoes?"
I have readjusted my opinion of
Branna. I think he was anything but
what we termed him. 1 believe he was
-is-a member of an organization of
foreign spies of considerable power in
this country at the present moment"
But he acted as a burglar"
True. But he was not after plate.
The mouse he entered belonged to a
man who was a cabinet minister at the
time of the offense. Unquestionably
there was something OF high value in
his charge. 1t was probably amongst
his papers at the time. A vital secret
of State. Branna was after that He
was caught. He permitted the error
of the police in assuming he was a
craftsman to continue. It was better
for him; better for his friends. He
knew his friends wound help him later
on. if that was possible. 1t became
possible. They found you"
Found me?"
Precisely. They wanted Branna out
very much. They looked around
probably all over the country. for one
who should resemble him in a fashion
sufficient to answer their purpose. This
is theory, but I am convinced of its
truth because it unlocks the puzzle as
nothing else can do. They took note OF
you. You were confronted with a mos
extraordinary, a most sensational. g
most tempting offer. You were invi ed
to serve the remainder of Branna's
time in prison. And you were paid fol
this, whether before or after l cannot
tell, fortune"
"A tissue of lies" said Bartle, breath
ing with difficulty.
Urged, possibly, to it by a woman
member of the gang. BY a very beau
tiful woman with black eyes. with e
crown OF magnificent red gold hair
with lips"
stop" flashed out Bartle.
stop, I say! I want proofs. 1t i:
impossible that you can prove such al
insane assertion
Here is one." continued Tredways
taking out his pocketbook. TT is nott
to the effect that If 1 do not instantly
drop my investigation either you, o.
me, or Miss Cassidy, will be shot deaf
within twentyfour hours. True, tina
interval has lapsed; still
MY soul," calculated Bartle, staring
at the letter as if it were a rearing
adder.
He tried to pull himself together
Look here. Mr.. Tredways." he wen
on. endeavoring to scoff, you know
more than any one else. how impossi
BILE, wildly impossible, 1t is for one maj
TO take the place of another in sucl
circumstances. 1t is unthinkable!"
ITO my undying astonishment
have discovered that it is thinkable,
answered Tredways with admiration
Let me refresh your ailing memory
Bartle, by telling you of the procedure
Having prepared their plan to delive
Branna by substitution they must hav
got into communication with him a
Blackmoor prison. A warder hugel.
bribed? Questionable. Major STAR
having mentioned to me that the mai
had knowledge of fruit-tree grating
and was sometimes SO employed, it i
likely that a message in cipher reache
his hands via consignment of trees
suppose we say apple-trees Cox
Orange, the governors favorite kind
''Branna undoubtedly got the in
structions. 1t was known that o.
Wednesday mornings he worked wit
the outside gang on the moors. His in
structions were blissfully simple: o.
the edge Of a certain quarry he was t
slip, to roll down. to vanish. TIL
sequel had been arranged to the las
detail
"Of that sequel you were the pivof
On the right previous you were take
to the spot. to the quarry on the moo
There was no moon that night and tn
plain was black as the pit. You wer
led down the sides of the quarry; 20
were shown a big hole, a hole Amos
large enough to be called a cave. an
which was practically concealed by
! dead thorn bush. Here you were lei
TO carry out the rest of the program.
1T was simple. and very plucky. Yo
took off every stitch of clothing. an
you exchanged it for the convicts flu
garb which had been made for you an
left with you. 1t was an exact dupl.
cate Of that worn by Branna, of tn
Blackmoor prison garb. with the neces
sary badge. When you had changed
; you burned your own clothes in tn
cave.
THE night passed. what a night fc
youi The dawn came. Presuna b.
you proceeded to soil your brand ne
suit, and 10 ini1ict plenty of scratche
upon hands. etc The outside gang e
length passed by the edge Of tn
quarry. Down fell Branra with a ye
OF well-feigned terror, pitched over an
over. came to the bottom muddy an
> scratched. and was promptly helpe
and pushed by you into the cave. whs
followed was beautifully natura
charmingly simple. You allowed your
self to be discovered in the pit {
doubtless, struggling painfully IN