The Crittenden press., 1920-05-28
CHAPTER lll-continued.

! mad noticed that she had Substi-
tuted a tiny japanese fan for the one
that MOntani had inspected so eager.
ly. When | spoke of the change she
had said the other was too precious
for everyday use, and she meant to
keep it locked up.
81 hate TO bother you, sir. knowing
you--"
The mention Of the fan had brought
me to an abrupt halt. resented hay
ing the thing thrust at me In the
ScStatic mood in which | left the
house, hut 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 oct of ear
shot before Elsie fully consented; but
Pierre had given Antoine the inpres.
Sion that she would make the attempt.
III was 10 be for the kaiser. for Ger.
many declared Antoine bitterly.
"And she was TO be careful abom
Flynn. ! always thought. Flynn was
straight did indeed. sir"
~ think Flynn and his wife are both
honest, but Wen take no chance. Warn
the guards 10 be on the alert. We
don't want Elsie to get the lden that
she's being watched; so tell the men To
keep away from the garage. III keep
al eye ON the Flynns. You 20 home
and 90 To bed. ."
The deep calm Of the country night
had settled upon the shore, ard the
Flyurs' quarters We're perfectly tran.
quill. II didn't seem possible that an
international episode was in process of
incubation In that quiet neighborhood.
/ began 10 think that the general dis.
trus, Of the German woman 10y her as.
sociates might he 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
rld Of 1t rs quickly MS possible. and de.
termined 10 keep watch. drew the
blinds, got Into my dressing gown aud.
reinforcing the lampShude with q
newspaper To deaden the light, pro.
cecded Ia read.
II was on toward one o'clock and
was doing when u sound reused mo.
A door on the Flynn side Of the hail
crcakcd; there was silence, then /
heard furtiye steps ON the stair. /
snapped out my light and pccrcd out
of the window just as ElSlcs robust
figure disappeared into the shadows. I
was about to follow when the creak.
INK Of the Flynn door was repeated. In
u moment another peep through the
shade showed me Flynn himself. AMI
he, too quickly vanished. Here was n
situation indeed! II Elsie was keep.
Ing tryst with her co.conspirntor OF the
afternoon and her husband was spying
/ upon her Il row of large proportions
was likely 10 result nt any moment.
leaned from the window us far M
dared and saw the woman close 10 the
will at the farther end of the building
The scene was well SET for trouble, ana
l was wondering shn' could do to
avert the disturbance md the exposure
Of the foolish woman when the whoi,
matter was tnken out Of my hands.
"iou fool You scoundrel," she bel,
lowed In German. "Thnt you should
think me n plnythlng to commit n rob
berry for you That shotid steal
from my mistress to satisfy you. yoi
piece Of swlne.ilpsh
had often heard Elsie ,ocally dls
ciplinnv her Irish husband and knew
the power of her lungs and the vigoi
Of her lnyectlve but she seemed ben,
upon apprlslng the whole common
wealth Of Connecticut Of the fact that