The Connecticut labor press. (New Haven, Conn.) 191?-1921, 1920-07-10
CHAPTER V-Continued.

She professed indignation when 1
told of my eavesdropping in the woods.
but when I explained that I knew all
about the play and Searles' despair
ing search for her she was enormously
pleased.
"How wonderful I" she exclaimed.
"You know told you, Constance, that
II we really threw ourselves in the
path of adventure mystery would come
out to meet US in siiken sandals"
"But you will not appear in this
play?" asked Raynor anxiously. 'It
is the business of the government Of
the United States to see that you COM
NIT no further indiscretions. There is
another matter which hope you can
clear up. You are not only subject
Of concern to the British embassy, but
the French ambassador also has ap-
pealed to US to assist him in trihing
matter!''
'"The French ambassador" Alice
exclaimed with a surprise I knew to
be unfeigned. 81 thought the dear
Montani was an Italian?"
1--WE will continue to call him Mon
tani, but he's a Frenchman and one
OF the keenest men in the French
secret service. You have caused him
the deepest anguish"
"Please hurry on" She bent for
ward with childish delight. ''This is
a part of the story we've been living
that really know nothing about. I
hope it won't be disappointing
Raynor laughed and shook his
head.
Its fortunate that Montani is gen.
tleman, anxious to shield and protect
you. You have fan in your hand
She spread it out for inspection.
"a harmless trinket, but without 1t
the adventure would have been very
tame"
'aThe 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
Volkoff."
saThe dear womanr exclaimed Mrs.
Farnsworth. "We knew her very
WELL"
Almost too WE'LL" cried Raynor. "a
cultivated woman and exceedingly
clever, but a 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 a
most ingenious way of getting the in
formation across the Pacific, expecting
to communicate with German agents
In America who could pick it up and
pass it on to Berlin. You see, she
thought you an easy mark. She got
hold Of a fan which Montani informs
me is the exact counterpart of that
one you hold. She reduced her data
to the smallest possible compass, con-
cealed 1t In her fan, and watched for
q chance to exchange with you. The
astute Montani found the japanese
artisan who had done the tinkerfng
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
found it impossible to steal the fan
that he asked our assistance. He's
a good fellow. a 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-lamp. 'The
third, sixth and NINTH" he counted.
'fYou will notice that those three pieces
Of ivory are a trife 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
TAM, Terrence and Raynor CALCULATED
In concert.
"Oh, yes" murmured Alice, THAT'S
the pleasantest chapter of all. Our
grenadiers captured whole invading
army that made a 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 q moment"
While we waited Montani produced
photograph, instantly recognizable
as a likeness of our prisoner.
"My reputation rs saved!" he ex-
claimed excitedly. THAT he should
have been caught here! 1t is too
much! I shall never forgive myself
for not warning you of the danger.
But you understand, mesdames. that
was sincerely anxious to recover the
fan without letting you know it's inn
portance. When I found at Seattle
and Chicago that you were travelling
under assumed names, I was-pray,
pardon me-deeply puzzled, the more
so because 1 had satisfied myself In
Toxic that you were loyal English
women, and I believed you to be in
nocent of completely with MADAME
VoIkoff. Why you should have
changed your names, I didn't know,
but it's not my affair now"
"We sAw you on the steamer and