Evening journal., 1922-09-12
CHAPTER 1
Avoiding Danger-By Request


Through the suave. warm radi
ance OF that afternoon of spring
in England a gentleman OF mod
est and commonly amiable deport-
ert nlent bore a rueful countenance
Cor down PiccadiMy and into Halfmoon
ed street. where presently he intro
tors duced II to one whom he found
lin awaiting him in his lodgings much
fs,s at ease in his easiest chair. making
free with his whisky and tobacco,
NC" and reading a slender brown volume
ffert selected from his shelves.
stat This degage person was patiently
fbav an Englshman. The other was as
49,. Enthusiastically OF Gallc pattern,
'els though he dressed and carried him
hay SELF in a thoroughly Anglo-saxon
fashion.
+ act The Englishman dropped his book
bin tosthe floor beside the chair, uprose
{ boo and extended a cordial hand, ex-
dea claiming; "H'are ye Monsieur
are Dnchemin?"
fvea s'Well, for the matter of that; How
lye' are you. Mister Wertheimer?"
Nren sTheir hands fell apart. and Mon
Yer sieur Duchemin proceeded to do
tior away his hat and stick and chamois
eVo gloves
ufa sPretty way you've got OF making
con your friends wait on your pleasure.
pee Here I've wasted upward Of two
hours of His Majestly's time :"
IN 1aTfow was I TO know you'd have
OF the cheek TO force your way in here
one in my absence and help yourself to
ant my few poor consolaions?'
rep Duchemin retorted, helping himself
pas - then, IN tnrn "Rnt then one
lui never does know what fresh indig |
W w nifty or danger Fate has in store
.o.s."
1"There are some things one knows
eo' very definitely. You aren't forget
ins ting you have given that Smolny lot
1Hu reason for holding your name an
'nS a<hema?"
IN IN sAhl" Duchemin growled-'as for
aea me, can take care OF myself thank
you"
lsTManl" the Englishman declared
va solemnly-"you're superannuated.
,ea You're nearly forty-next door to
III second childhood"
,nn ~ uafI know; and so long as feel my
* years, even you can abuse me with
inpunity.'
50. so But wertheimer would not hear
u'u him. odd" he mused. Il never
~ thought OF II before, that you were
us' growing old. You're just doddering
- land l thought you were simply
~ ~ tired out and needed holiday"
VT Perhaps I am and do" said
IRE Duchemin patiently. zone feels one
me mas earned a holiday, If ever any
'ok body did in your blessed Secret Ser
vice"
,lor 'sull-at, your age-rd be think
,naN ing about retiring instead of asking
,"r Tor rest"
pas Although Duchemin knew very
'uri well that he was merely being rag
atl ged in that way OF deadly serious
hess which so often amuses the Eng
IA iish. he chose to suggest sourly:
ne my resignation is at your disposal $
any time you wish it,"
pro Accepted" said Wertheimer air /
. iy ITO take effect at once" y
ng To this Duchemin merely grunt-
~ ed. as who should say he didn't con- II
or sider this turn OF conversation des- n
perately amusing k
'os And TO what" he inquired with n
~ The tedious irony OF ennui, is one n
az Indebted for this unexpected honor II
= on the part OF the First Under II
oe' Secretary OF the British Secret Ser Q
Fice2 Or whatever your high "
Sounding official title IS :" 10
80 "Oh." we.theimer replied lazly- H.
=. and knocked out his pipe-'I mere II
ls.6ropped in 10 say goodby." e
= Duchemin discovered symptoms OF
more animation.
ne And where. pray, am I going?" s.
That's for you TO say
~ Monsieur Duchemin meditated
ieTl Briefly Il see" he announced: d
" w'm to have a rowing commission" d
M = Worse than that; none at all"
zee Duchemin opened his eyes wide b
aal Z Look here: What the devil" r
se' We'll. II you must know" the S
. Englishman interrupted hastily. my b
Instructions were 10 give you your s
le baking papers II you refused to re-
nu dgn. SO your connection with the
lrt & s is from this hour severed And s
il you ain't out Of England within s
mi twenty-four hours. we'll Jolly well
on deport you. And that's that" n
1r zone perceives one has served c
ats England not wisely but too we'll" ii
arS "Shrewd lad." Wertheimer laugh I;
re ed You see old soul. admire "
DO You no end and we're determined il
TO save your life. Word has leaked F
10 through from Petrograd that your u
al name has been triple-starred on the1 q
smoinys Index Expurgatorius. II
you linger here much longer the n,
Y Verdict will undoubtedly be: Violent ID
death at the hands Of some person
dr persons unknown. SO here are -
passports and a goodish bit OF =,
.ec money. II you run through all OF ~
Il before this blows over, We'll find -
." way. Of course. TO get more 10 you. a..
ar The other nodded investigating
the envelope which his late chief
az Mad handed him and the smile fad
= "a from the eyes Of the man whom A
~ Engiand preferred to recognize as n
Andre Duchemin.
But where on earth is one to
Je go?'
re . Don't ask me-" the Englishman
me protested, And above all don't ten
en- ne. don't want TO know. I don't Jo
ior- want you to come to a sudden end pa
as through somebody's establishing IL HI
lie. Act Intercourse with my subconscious ce
- mind" tr;
va Ale took his leave shortly after W,
dat; and Monsieur DuSemin set bi
tfed down in the chair which his
J dest had quilted TO grapple with m
Ms problem: where under Heaven to tn