Middletown transcript., 1920-07-03
a..,,~.u1 - cue1ky ,cexanx7ey Sa~s
CHAPTER V-continued.


pleased.
"How wonderful" she exclaimed.
"You know 1 told you, Constance. that
If we really threw ourselves IN the
path Of adventure mystery wouid come
out to meet us in silken sandals.
"But YOU will not appear in this
play?' asked Raynor anxiously. III
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 suo1ect
of concern to the British embassy, but
the French ambassador also has ap-
pealed to us to assist him in trl1llns
matter"
1.-THE French ambassador" Alice
exclaimed with a surprise l knew 10
be unfeigned. II thought the dear
Montani was an Italian?"
| 1--WE will continue to call him Mon
tani, but he's Frenchman ana one
of the keenest men in the freneh
secret service. You have caused MN
the deepest anguish"
"Please hurry on" She bent Tor
ward with childish delight This IS
a part of the story we've been living
that really know nothing about. l
hope it won't be disappointing
Raynor laughed and shook his
head.
"It's fortunate that Montani is gen.
tleman, anxious to shield and protect
YOU, You have a fan in your hand"
She spread it out for inspection.
"A harmless trinket, but without 1t
the adventure would have been very
tame"
-"The 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."
."The dear woman!' exclaimed Mrs.
Farnsworth. 1--WE knew her very
WELL"
"Almcst too WELL" 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
IN communicate with German agents
in America who could pick 1t up and
pass it on to Berlin. You see. she
thought you an easy mark. She got
hold Of fan which Montani informs
me is the exact counterpart OF tina!
one YOU hold. She reduced her data
70 the smallest possible compass, con-
cealed it in her fan, and watched fol
a chance to exchange with you. The
astute Montani found the japanese
artisan who had done the tinkerine
for her and surmised that you were
10 be made the unconscious bearer Of
the discriminating papers. Montan
Jumped for the steamer you were sail
ing on with every determination to ge
the fan. His professional pride wa:
aroused. ard it was only after III
found it impossible to steal the fa1
. that he asked our assistance. Hes
q good fellow, gentleman in ever.
= sense, and with true French chivalr!
wanted to do the COB without disturb
} ing you in any way"
We pressed closer about RaynOr a
he took the fan, spread it open. ant
held it close against table-lamp. 9TH
third, sixth and ninth," he counted
'YOu will notice that those three piece
of ivory are a trif1e thicker and no
ms transparent as the others. Glane
ing at them casually in an ordinar
light, you would never suspect tina
j, they had been followed out, an e1
: ceedingly delicate piece Of work. 1t
: a pity to spoil anything SO prett!
but"
He snapped the top of one pf tn
panels, disclosing a neatly folded
piece of thin paper.
y "Antoine," I said. "tie the arms
the prisoner in the Toulouse an
bring him here
"a man in the Toulouse" MOI
tani, Terrence and Raynor calculate
in concert. f
"Oh, yes" murmured Alice. that
the pleasantest chapter Of all. Or
T. grenadiers captured a whole invadln
army that made a night attack-on
of the most remarkable engagement
Of the present war, Mr.. TorrenGe.
"The battle of the Bell-HOrs,"
suggested. "The prisoner will bd he'
in a moment"
While we waited Montani produce
photograph, instantly recogn zab
as a likeness of our prisoner.
my reputation is savedv' he e
= claimed excitedly. "That he shou
have been caught here! It is II
n much! shall never forgive myse
= for not warning you Of the DANCE
But you understand, mesdames. tn
was sincerely anxious to recover Il
fan without letting you know its il
pcrtance When I found at Seatt
and Chicago that you were travelil
IN under assumed names, was-pra
pardon me-deeply puzzled. the mo
50 because / had satisfied myself
ed Toxic that you were loyal Englis
women, and I believed you to be
nocent Of completely with Madar
% volkoff. Why you should ha
= changed your names, I didn't kno
hut it's not my affair now'."
N I'VE saw you on the steamer O