New Britain herald., 1922-05-24
The Eager Promise Mir, Briggs
 Made Lillian,


 Mir Briggs. our neighbor, urban and dignihed. followed Tom Chester Into the hall. A man of affairs, eS peren0d In meeting odd situations he betrayed no inkling of the surprise which must have been his at his sum mons from Lillian, unless his courte ous apology for the earliness of tho hour might he construed as such
 This IS most unusual hour fol . peiGhborly call Mrs, Graham" hf said as he removed his hat with just the suspicion Of flourish, but m, young friend here was very urgent in assuring me that thls was the par. ticular time you named"
 He was quite right" l said smil. ing, But 1t was not I who named the hour or, indeed, who summoned you. Here is the culprit drew Lillian forward Mrs. Underwood MT Briggs. She will explain everything to you
 Have you breakfasted ?" she asked abruptly after the first perfunotory greetings were over T thought not and am sure that we can talk much better over some of Mrs. Graham $ coffee. It won't spoil your later break fast. l can promise, because there isn't enough of 1t. Just be seated a moment"
 She gave me a quick little signal and we went into the dining room and put coffee, cream. sugar and rolls on the tea wa gon. We were back in the livine-room Tn really creditable time served the two men. and sat down opposite them.
 Lillian Explains.
 Upon my word, Chester" said MT Briggs as he drained his cup appre- ciatively T hope you come after me again. This is the best cup of coffee I have tasted in many day"
 Upon behalf of Mrs, Graham, thank you" Lillian said grandilo- quently. And now" her voice be- came crisp, serious, "I will tell you why we wished to see you"
 Mir. Briggs keen gray eyes never left her face as she talked. and l de- cided long before she had finished that he was mentally filing in the gaps suS lcIl III Iel StCIS, anu " dS drawing his own conclusions.
 T am government employe. Mr. Briggs" Lillian began. "A member of the secret diplomatic service. Here is my authority" drew the tiny silver insignia of her rank from her dress and held it for an instant be- fore his eyes T cannot tell you what reasons I have for suspectlng the man Smith, who is in your employ and whom you know as Anton. But l can tell you there IS no doubt he is a most dangerous performer There are req sons why we do not wish to apprehend him now. why we must keep a close watch upon him. why, also. if pos sibe, we must know the name of his former employer from whom you se- cured him.
 "The Best of News"
 That will not only be entirely pos slble, Mrs underwood" Mr. Briggs ln- terposed gravely, but I shall be glad to give you the information. I have had a sneaking idea that things were -well-queer in that particular di- rection for some time. l can give you his name now. but his address I shall have to look up"
 That will keep" Lillian replied, 'iust so I know that I can get 1t at any time I need it. But here is something which will not keep many minutes. Smith made little excur sion from your house last night, and in the excursion lamed himself. we be- lieve, quite severely. He managed to get back to your house, but we do not believe he will be able to take a step this morning"
 T haven't seen him yet this morn ing" MT, Briggs said effectively, but then that is nothing startling. In these times it is the unlucky farmer who has to arise early. The hired man takes his time about getting out of bed.'
 T fancy he will take good deal Of time this morning Lillian said, with a grim little smile, and we expect him to ask you which is the best physician. or which doctor you em- ploy If you can do us the great favor of saying Dr. Petit, so as to insure that physicians attendance upon Smith, you will be doing us a great service For Dr. Petit is working with me upon this particular case, and. therefore. it is imperative that he be given this chance of reckoning up the man Smith"
 MT. Briggs smiled widely.
 AS it happens, I shan't have to stretch my conscience the fractional