The Crittenden press., 1920-05-28

in the wall; with swish of wet gar
mentS, The guards from the outer
edges Of the garden had clambereh
down and they gathered about us as |
began questioning Dutch.
Dutch, undoubtedly enjoying his vie
torious encounter, was tearing opeI
the prostrate captives collar to give
HIM air and with his knees clamping
the mans body was disposed to delay
the story of his adventures to increase
its dramatic effect.
at happens this evenln'." he began,
spouting water, that ! seen Elsie,
who's been sneakin' me meals To the
old stables. an she says to me:
Dutch, she says, 'they's all agin Ms
here, callin' us Huns an we gotta
show 'em wes good Americans she
says. An she tolc me feller been 10
see 'er ut wanter 'er to rob the house
fer I'm, he thinkin 'er likely to do ut
fer love o the kaiser. She said us 'ow
she'd nail I'm when he comes tonight
TO git n fan she's promised 10 lift fer
I'm. She said that'd prove she wasn't
no Dutchwoman and recommended II
got the chance to do the same. |
thought nothin wuz goin' to happen
an wuz sleepln' on me bench here IN
the garden when the hOllern' at th.
garage woke me up sits quiet, lis
TENN an this guy drops into the gar
den an wuz crawlin past me bench
an | ninches i'm. He wuz fer havin'
fight an we knocks over one Of the
big urnS an Iii in the tank. He says
it's thousand bones an We turn me-
loose, he says, an | soused I'm ag'in
fer that"
The man was still choking from tho
sousing and Dutch turned him over
and pounded him vigorously on the
back, assisted by Zimmerman. the
obllging valet, who had seized the oc-
caslon To show his hand on the side OF
the allies. shall telephone for the
Barton police. siri" asked Antoine,
with an extreme eXaggcration OF his
professional manner.
This was obviously the thing to do,
but feigned not TO hear the question
while | debated the matter II was
plain that many things relating to the
capture We're veifed in mystery: that
If Mrs. Bashford and her companion
were involved in an international tan.
Gle aud had in their possession some
thing that vitally concerned the ma
tions at war, common caiyalry demand.
ed that ! handle the arrest of Month
mis- agent in such manner as to
shield them. | was thinking hard and
in my perpleXlty even considered
sending i messenger 10 Terrence; but
he was already suspicious and would
be very likely to summon Raynor i'm
mediately and precipitate a crisis
was not prepared TO face. To invite
the attention Of the American state de-
partment To the increasingly complex
] SliuuNloil Nbulb llNl w SlNiHE NY uunl
the chance | meant she should have to
clear herself.
The captive had got upon his feet
and stood dazedly staring at us. He Ie.
fused to answer my questions. even
when suggested that II he could give
satisfactory account of himself he
would be released. lie only dOggedly
shook his head When | asked II he
had been hurt in his bout with Dutch
he smiled and extended his arms in
denial. He was very decent.looklng
fellow, blue-eyed and smooth.shaven
who seemed to accept his plight with
degree OF good humor.
/ ! decided that MS nothing would be
gained by sending him to the Barton
calaboose that night, | would assume
the responsibility Of OBTAINING him un.
Ill | had CROPPED my way through the
haze Of suspicious and circumstances
that cnveloped him.