The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1920-11-12

the bully, seating himself at the table
II take the chair and ask the prison
er if he understands French?"
"Well enough to explain to the
police later on" answered.
"Ah! Optimistic and courageous.
But it is well you speak French; be-
cause some here understand English
with great difficulty. You have car
ried this letter from London" and he
held up the sealed envelope "It is
blind, Ell? We have opened him
and helm! Two sheets of blank paper.
We have treated him for hidden writ
ing, but no, there is only paper. LIZ
plain"
"There is nothing to explain"
II keep my temper for the moment.
We tell you this is blind meant to
deceive anyone who stole it and got
away quick. Very clever, but we do
not work like that We know there
is another paper. Where is it?"
There is no other paper" I an
swered. 81 was given that sealed en-
in Rue Septembre. 1 did not know
the contents. am as much surprised
as you are"
Liar" snarled the bully, half ris-
ing from his chair.
"a little patience" said the Swede.
"He may hope to deceive us further,
but it will be best if we show him how
much he know.
"Talk, talk" said the bully "I'm
for action. .Have his clothes off,
search him, and if there is nothing
found knock him on the head and
drop him in the Seine tonight"
Cali in good time" was the answer
Then, turning to me, the Swede went
on: 'That letter was given you by, an
English detective named Screed, "a
"a fool" shouted the bully. "He
thinks himself clever and we trap
him. You are here and he does not
see you again anymore"
"That may be so unless you are
wise," said the Swede in an impress
sive manner. "The letter was given
you in teashop in Chancery Lane.
You Immediately went to the Oriental
Club, where your bag was brought to
you. You have been closely watched
ever since. Now we are here to re-
ceive a certain paper from the Eng
fish government to the French govern
ment. I take it you are member of
your country's secret service, and
doubtless you have often made sue
cessful journies. This one has failed.
My advice is that you hand over the
document and accept your unfortunate
position"
While he was speaking remem-
bered why his fas was familiar. had
noticed him in Betty's teashop when
Screed had stopped in the large room
to give me the sealed envelope. Had
Screed done this on purpose? 1t
seemed very evident that he had
fooled them, but he had left me in a
nice dilemma.
"You appear to have followed the
wrong man." said. 81 know nothing
about any other paper"
eff that is your final answer 1 can
do nothing more to help you," said the
Swede, and he turned from me with a
shrug of his shoulders.
There was a growl which brought
home forcibly the peril of my posi-
ton. had desperate men to deal
with. Hands went instinctively to hip
pockets.
mo shooting" said the bully hast
lily.
"The knife is best" one ruffian re-
turned, and the gray light of the gar
ret cleaned on the keen blade which
he drew from it's hidden sheath.
"Wait!" the bully exclaimed. Dead
men can tell no tales, and we want a
lot Of information. Put that knife
away little. Diable! Was 1 not the
leader in this affair? Have 1 not come
from-from long distance with spe-
cial orders for this business?"
They grumbled in an assent.
"Obey then. 1 ask few questions"
I listened for more footsteps on the
stairs and was painfully conscious of
the silence in the house. l could not
believe that Screed had overlooked
the possibility of my capture, and had
made no plan to help me, but he was
leaving it very late. The man with
the knife was full of Impotence.
"You think there is help to come"
laughed the bully. "It is not so. The
police, they know nothing. Now, if
you carry no other paper, who does?"
NV brain inclined tn hncOmo tOrnid