Middletown transcript., 1920-05-08

imposters, they were extraordinarily
daring and clever.
We were nearing a gateway where
his car waited, and saw several Of
the guard hanging about at a discreet
distance. "Look here, Singleton" he
said angrily, 'you don't seem to take
this business very seriously. You don't
want to make the mistake of letting
pretty girl pull the wool over your
eyes," HE lowered his voice and added
tensely: '"Those women are under sus-
picion of something more serious than
an attempt to rob an estate. An agent
of the state department called or me
yesterday and asked embarrassing
questions about Mrs. Bashford. Not a
secret service man, you understand, or
anything Of that kind. but an impor-
tant man in the state department"
"Of course you knew nothing 70
TELL" suggested.
Il took a chance at lying to him
about her expected arrival. l though.
it only decent to have a look at the
woman first. He told me nothing ex-
cept that the British embassy had
made inquiries and that the mater
was delicate and must be handled
carefully"
''Was this inquirer lame-a small
dark man with q black muStache! l
asked, suddenly interested. "Suoh =
person has been hanging about here,
so the boys tell me?"
'Not at all! I may as well tell you
it was Raynor-you probably renem-
Der him. He's specialist in interna-
tional law, and they took him into the
state department just after the Lusi-
tania business. He's gentleman and
good feilow-Tve played golf with
him a good deal-and hated to lie to
him, but 1 thought I'd see this woman
before telling him she had reached
America"
l confess that l was trif1e dis
mayed by this. Raynor 1 knew slight
ly. Professionally and socially ne
stood high, and even without the pres
tige of his official position he was not
a chap to sneeze at; but didn't want
Terrence to know I had any doubts "a
to the perfect authenticity of my I'M
cle's widow.
"Oh, every transcontinental pilgrim
is probably scrutinized closely these
days." 1 remarked carelessly. "Mrs.
BashfOrd has lost a brother In the
war. and l haven't heard anyone talk
more bitterly against Germany. And
her companion certainly has no 1llu'
sions about the kaiser"
81 don't like the business" he de
clared stubbornly.
Lets do nothing foolish" I insisted.
IF Raynor has reason to suspect
either or both of these women, well
hear further from him."
"I'ye put myself in a hole" he said
angrily. ''Of course I've got to advise
him Immediately that Mrs. Bashford
is here.'
"Just wait few days; ! undertake
TO keep them under surveillance; you
can put the whole responsibility or
me, If they attempt to leave, I'll warn
YOU and Raynor instantly, but theJ
have settled themselves as though
they expected to spend the rest Of
their lives here"
l told him of Mrs. Bashford's adven
lures in reaching the house without
convincing him that there was any
thing funny in her experiences, and M
left on my promise to report to hin
daily at a given hour and instantly il
anything unusual occurred. I was OF
NV way back through the ground;
when Antoine arrested me.
"Pardon me, but I'd like to ask wha
Won think Of it, sir?" he asked hoarse
~, falling into step.
IF you mean what do l think Of
Mrs. Bashford," I replied sharply, -
, think she's quite charming and de
lightful and all any one could ask II
every way"