The Bolivar County Democrat., 1920-05-22
CHAPTER III-continued.

had noticed that she had substi-
tuted tiny Japanese fan for the one
that Montani had inspected so eager
ly. When l spoke of the change she
had said the other was too precious
for everyday use, and she meant to
keep it locked up.
Il 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 l 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, Ell
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 aboul
Flynn. I always thought Flynn was
straight did indeed, sir!"
II think Flynn and his wife are both
honest, but We'll takeAo chance. Warn
the guards to be ons 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, ard the
FlynIs' quarters were perfectly tran
quill. 1t didn't seem possible that an
international episode was in process of
incubation in that quiet neighborhoOd.
] began to think that the general dis
trust of the German woman by her as
sOciates might be responsible for
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
newspaper to deaden the light, pro-
ceeded to read.
1t was on toward one o'clock and
was doing when a sound reused me.
A door on the Flynn side of the hall
: creaked; there was silence, then l
heard furtive steps on the stair.
snapped out my light and peered out
of the window just as Elsie's robust
figure disappeared into the shadows. l
was about to follow when the creak-
ing of the Flynn door was repeated. In
shade showed me Flynn himself, and
he, too, quickly vanished. Here was
situation indeed! If Elsie was keep
ing tryst with her co-cOhspiratOr of the
afternoon and her husband was spying
upon her, row of large proportions
was likely to result at any moment. /
leaned from the window as far as |
dared and saw the woman close to the
wall at the farther end of the building.
The scene was well set for trouble, and
I was wondering what l could do to
avert the disturbance and the exposure
Of the foolish woman when the whole
matter was taken out Of my hands.
"You fool! You scoundrel" she bel
lowed in German. 'That you should
think ME plaything to commit rob-
berry for you!. That ! should steal
from my mistress to satisfy you, you
piece of swine-flesh !"
/ had often heard Elsie vocally dis
ciplining her Irish husband and knew
the power Of her lungs and the vigor
Of her invective, but she seemed bent
upon apprising the whole comm"'l-
~salth of Connerticut of the fact that