The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1922-09-24
CHAPTER |
Avoiding Danger-By Request


Through the suave, warm radiance OF
that afternoon of srplng in England a
gentleman of modest and commonly am.
liable department before a rueful coun.
Itenance down Piccadlly and into Half.
moon street where presently he intro.
duced 1t to one whom he found await.
ing him In his lodgings much at ease
in his easiest chair. making free with
his whisky and tobacco, and reading n
slender brown volume selected from his
shelves.
This degage eprson was patiently an
Englishman. The other was az unmis-
takibly of Gallic pattern. though he
dressed and carried himself in a very
thoroughly Anglo Saxon fashion.
The Englishman dropped his book to
the floor beside the chair, uprose and
extended a cordial hand exclaiming:
Hare ye, Monsieur Duchemin?"
We'll for the matter of that: Hoy
are you, Mister Wertheimer?"
Their hands fell apart, and Monsieur
Duchemin proceeded to do away hlt
hat and stick and chamois gloves.
Pretty way you've got of making
your friends walt on your pleasure. Here
I've wasted upward of two hours of his
majesty's time -
How was | to know you'd have the
cheek to force your way In here in
my absence and help yourself to my
few poor consolations?" Duchemin re-
torted, helping himself to them in turn
But then one never does know wha,
fresh indignity or danger fate has in
store :"
There are some things one knows
very definitely. You aren't forgetting
you have given that Smolny lot reason
for holding your name an-athema?"
AIR Duchemin growlcd-"as for IN,
! can take care of myself. thank you.
Nam the Englishman declared sol
! emnly-"you're superannuated. You're
nearly forty-next door to second child
hood"
II know; and so long as | feel my
years, even you can abuse me with i'm
unity"
But Wertheimer would not hear him
odd he mused, Il never thought OF
1t before. that you were growing old
You're just doddering l thought
you were simply tired out and needed
a holiday"
'Perhas | am and do" said Duchc
min patiently. "One feels one has earn
ed holiday, If ever anybody did, ir
your blessed Secret Service"
'Still-at your age-I"d be thinking
OF retiring instead of asking for a rest
Although Duchemin knew very wei
that he was merely being ragged in tha
way of deadly seriousness which so or
ten amuses the English, he chose to SUB
gest sourly: MY resignation is at YOU
disposal any time you wish it,
"Acceted" said Wertheimer airlly
Ito take affect at once"
To this Duchemin merely grunted. q.
who should say he didn't consider thil
turn of conversation desperately anus
ing.
And 10 what" he inquired with tn,
tedious Irony of ennui, lis one indebt
cd :or this unexpected honor on the par
OF the first under secretary OF the Bril-
ish secret service? Or whatever you
high sounding official title is
oh" Wertheimer relied lazily--an,
knocked out his ppe-"I merely drop
ped in to say goodby."
Ouchemin discovered symptoms o
more animation.
and where, pray am ! going?"
That's for you 10 say"
Monsieur Duchemn meditated brief
ly. II see" he announced. I'm 10 hav,
a rowing commission"
Worse than that: none AT all
D1'hemin opeE,d his eyes wide.
Look here: What the dewitt"
"Wcl, II you must know" the Ems
lishman interrupted hastily. my in
structions were to give you your walk
ing papers II you refused 20 resign. $,
y0W trhcttion with TIE $. s.. is iron
this no ir sct' I'D. And II you elm. uu
Of England within ,wcnty.four hours
wen jolly we'll deport you. And that
that"