Middletown transcript., 1920-05-29
CHAPTER lIl-Continucd.

I had noticed that she had substi-
tuted a tiny Japanese fan for the one
that Montani had inspected so eager
ly. When I spoke of the change she
had said the other was too precious
for everyday use, and she meant to
keep it locked up.
II hate to bother you, sir, knowing
you"
The mention of the fan had brought
me to an abrupt halt. resented hav-
ing the thing thrust at 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
of her freedom of the house to appro-
pirate the fan when the ladies were
out and the servants off the second
floor. She was to 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 out Of ear
shot before Elsie fully consented; but
Pierre had given Antoine the impress
sion that she would make the attempt.
1T was to be for the kaiser, for Ger
many" declared Antoine bitterly.
And she was to be careful about
Flynn. I always thought Flynn was
straight did indeed. sir!"
II think Flynn and his wife are both
honest, but We'll take no chance. Warn
the guards to be on the alert. We
don't want Elsie to get the idea that
she's being watched; so tell the men to
keep away from the garage. I'll keep
an eye on the Flynns. You go home
and go to bed. :"
The deep calm Of the country night
had settled upon the shore, and the
Flynns' quarters were perfectly tran
quill. 1t didn't seem possible that an
international episode was in process of
incubation in that quiet neighborhood.
I began to think that the general dis
trust Of the German woman by her as
sociates might be responsible TO.
Pierre's story. But, viewed in any
light, had duty to perform. If Elsie
had visited the house and purloined
the fan, she would be very likely to get
rid Of it as quickly as possible, and de-
termined to keep watch. drew the
blinds, got into my dressing gown and
reinforcing the ,lampshade with 9
newspaper to deaden the light. pro
ceeded to read.
It was on toward one o'clock and
was doing when sound reused me
A door on the Flynn side of the hal
creaked; there was silence, theh
heard furtive steps on the stair.
snapped out my light and peered ou
of the window just as Elsie's robus
figure disappeared into the shadows.
was about to follow when the creak
ing of the Flynn door was repeated, Ii
n moments another peep through tn,
shade showed me Flynn himself, an:
he. too. quickly vanished. Here was .
situation indeed! If Elsie was keep
ing tryst with her co-conspirator of tn
afternoon and her husband was spyin!
nnon her. q row Of large proportion
was likely to result at any moment.
loaned from the window as far as
dared and saw the woman close to tn
wall at the farther end Of the building
The scene was well set for trouble, AM
was wondering what ! could do t
avert the disturbance and the exposur
of the foolish woman when the who'll
matter was taken out Of my hands.
"You fool! You scoundrel!" she bel
lowed in German. 'That you shoul'
think me a plaything to commit rob
berry for you! That should stea
from my mistress to satisfy you, 20
piece Of swine-nesh!"
I had often heard Elsie vocally dis
c,n,,ning her Irish husband and kne'
the power Of her lungs and the vigo
~ her invective, but she seemed ben
unon apprhing the whole common
wealth Of Connecticut Of the tact tha