Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-02-15

name.
She fingered a few moments at some
of the other counters, aimlessly IN
speeding their offerings, and at last,
| with, ten minutes left to reach the
Ritz, emerged from the store. she was
amazed to see the man who had peen
inside now standing near the entrance.
and something within warned her that
he had been waiting to speak to her.
AS she attempted to pass him quickly,
he stepped in front of her, blocking
her path, but raising his hat deferen-
TALLY. :.
II beg your pardon. Miss Strong"
he said, may ! have 9 WORD Win
you?"
Compelled to halt. she looked at him
both. appraisingly and resentfuiiy.
tauous in his manner and ne seemed
far, too respectfully dressed to be q
beggar: He was almost old enough to
be her father, and besides there was
about him an indefinable air of au-
thority that commanded her attention.
She decided that, unusual as his re-
quest appeared, she would hear what
he had to say.
what is it?" she asked, trying to
assume an air Of hauteur but without
being able wholly to mask her curios-
ity: -.
he asked abruptly.
"Of course"
"a good Americana"
II hope So" She decided now that
| he must be one Of the members Of
some Red Cross fund drive" or per-
haps an overenthusiastic salesman for
government bonds. But I don't quite
understand what it Is hat you wish"
II can't explain" said her question
or, but If you really are a good Amer
lean and you'd like to do your country
a great service-an important service
go at once to the address on this
card"
She took the slip of white PASTE
pencil Room 708." The building was
a skyscraper downtown.
What is it?" she asked half indig-
nantly, "a new scheme to sell bonds?"
mo, no, Miss Strong" he cried, ut
is nothing like that. 1t is a great OPP
portunity to do an important service
for, America" 49,. ~ .g
How did you know my name?"
Il heard you give it to the clerk
just now"
"And why" she inquired with what
she intended to be whitening sar-
casm, 'have 7 been selected SO sud
denly for this important work."
II heard the address you gave, that's
why" he answered. That's what
makes it sc important that you should
go to that number al once. Ask for
Mr.. F1eck."
IT can't co." she temporized. IT am
on my way now to meet my mother at
the Ritz"
Go tomorrow, them" he insisted.
It'll see Mr.. Fleck meanwhile and tell
him about you" ,..an T.
Puzzled al the mans unusual and
wholly preposterous request, yet in
spite Of herself impressed by his evil
dent sincerity, Jane turned the care
n~ervously in her hand and discovered
some small characters on the back,
kills" they read.
What do those figures mean ?" she
asked.
Il can't tell you that. Mr.. Fleck will
explain everything. Promise me you
will &C to see him."
Who are you?"
II can't tell you that, yet"
Who, then, is Mr.. Fleck?"
H will explain that to you"
What has my address to do with
! It? l can't understand yet why you
make this preposterous request of
I; me-"
II tell you I can't explain it to you,
not yet" the nan replied, "but it's be-
cause you live where you do you must
go to see Mr.. Fleck. It's about a mat
ter Of the highest Importance to your
government. It is more important than
life and DEATH"
His last words startled her. They
' brought to her mind afresh the mys-
FERROUS occurrence she had witnessed
the night before n the equally mys-
ferrous death near her home. Had this
mans odd request n connection, she
wondered, with what had happened
there? The lure of the unknown, the
opportunity for adventure, called to
her, though prudence babe her be
cautious.
I'll ask my mother" she temporiz-
F.; ed.
Don't" cried the man. "You must
keep your visit to Mr.. Fleck a secret
from everybody. You mustn't breathe
a word about it even to your father
n mother. Take my word for it. Miss
Srong that what I am asking you to
90 Is tight. I've two daughters Of my
own: Tte thing I'm urging you to do
I'd be proud and honored to have
either of them do If they could. There
Is no n else in, the world hut von
that can do this particular thing. A
word to a single living soul and vou'l
end your usefulness. You must not
even tell any one you have talked
with me. See MI. Fleck. He'll expiain
/" everything to you. Promise me you'll
I PROMISE" Jane found herse,4
saying, even against her better iude-
ment, won over by the mans nsisf
ence. 1854"
Good. I knew you would" said her
mysterious questioner, turning on his
heel and vanishing speedily as il afraid
70 ! her an opportunity of recon-
s%idering. '
Puzzled beyond measure not on1v
more at her own, Compliance with bis
request. Jane made her way SLOWLY
= thoughtfully to the Ritz. where
she found her mother and Mra. Star.
rett had already arrived.
AS they slipped their tea the two
elder women chatted complacantly
about the matinee, about their ac,
qua1ntances about other women in the
tea-room and the gowns they had m
about bridge hands-the usual talk -;
afternoon tea u
Io vi oppressed with her. two
secrets. all at once their flow
seemed the dreariest piffle. Graat
things were happening everywhere IN
the world, nations at war, men fieht.
Ing n dying in the trenches Of hnr-
ror for the sake Of an ideal. kings were
penn overthrown, dynasties tottertnr
. OF nations vanishing. Wo
IN history were taking an active ana
Important part in world affairs. In ths
lands Of battle they were nursine the
! wounded. driving ~ambulances. heinine
to rehabtlitate wrecked villages. IN the
! lands were peace still reigned jthev
were voting, speech-making, holdins
Jobs. running offices, many Of them
were uniting to aid in movements for
]dIen. for ii