The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-04

~ VI any OAN1NS ~ IHNs
THAT souds hard" Mr.. Cray OBJ
served, but if I'm not butting in I'll
come along with pleasure. What time
is this show to be"
1--WE shall have to leave in five
minutes" the young man answered,
with little SILVER.
Mr.. Cray withdrew the liqueur bot
tie from his companions rea- h.
Take my advice and leave that
stuff alone" he said. IF it's as bad
as it sounds, you'll want your head
clear"
Domville became no more commu-
NEGATIVE in the taxicab which drove
them presently to a gloomy looking
house in one of the southern squares.
They were admitted by a soldierly-
looking manservant who ushered
them into a somberly furnished Ii
brary on the ground floor. man
who was seated at a desk a grim,
oldierly-looking person in the uni
~form of a colonel-looked up at their
entrance and nodded CURLY. Seated
in an armchair was a pale-faced
young woman in widows weeds,
who turned her head away at their
entrance.
You have brought a friend?" the
colonel inquired.
Domville nodded in spiritless
fashion.
Mr. James Cray-Co1onel Haugh-
ton. Mr.. Cray is an American and
has not been in England for two
years"
Colonel Haughton touched a bell
by his side.
"Show the young lady in he di-
rected the soldier servant who am
swered it. How much of this af-
fair do you know, Mr.. Cray?' he in
auired colby.
Not a Bit" was the emphatic re-
ply. II wanted Mr.. Dcmvi,le to put
me wise on my way down, but he said
he'd rather leave it to you
Colonel Haughton made no reply.
There was a knock at the door and
young woman was ushered in. She
was fashionably dressed, and her face
was familiar enough to anyone study
ing the weekly papers. Mr. Cray rec
ognized a compatriot at once. The
woman in the chair glanced up at the
girl and then away. Every now AMI
then her shoulders shook. The colo
mel pointed to chair.
will you be seated Miss Clare?"
he said. You gentlemen pleasure
yourselves. I propose to recapitulatc
THIS UNFORTUNATE cast IOE yOui DcHC-
fit. Mr.. Cray I have my own ideas
as to the course which Domvilie
should adopt"
Go right ahead" Mr.. Cray invited
eenia1ly. I'm kind OF cramped in
the legs with travelling today, so I'll
take an easy chair if there's no OBJ
lection"
During the war" Colonel Haugh-
in ~
sharp, military brevity, "Domville
here held an appointment in a certain
British ministry. 1t was his duty
frequently to bring dispatches Of
great Importance to a certain branch
of the war office over which I pre-
sided. On one occasion. Domville ap-
pears most Improperly to have broken
his journey at Miss Clare's flat in
Charges street"
ney." Domville interrupted. MY in
structions were to deliver the dis
patches into your own hands, ami
when got to the war office you
were out for an hour. I came up to
have tea with Miss Glare instead Of
waiting in the office"
'Mr. Domville left his wallet of dis
patches hanging in Miss Clare's hail."
Colonel Haughton continued, a dis
SidStAuily caicieSS pTuCCcuiHSs w HSH
he found me at the war office that
evening he handed me two envelopes
instead of three. He said nothing to
me about the third. but realizing the
loss. returned to Miss CIares and
later searched his own rooms. Miss
Glare knew knothing about the pos
sibly missing dispatch; Domville could
discover nothing in his rooms. In the
meantime, a prisoner in the Tower
was shot at midnight that night. The
contents of the letter which never
reached me, would have saved him.
The woman in mourning began to
sob. Domville wiped the perspiration
from his forehead.
Say that's bad" Mr.. Cray adj
mitted.
lowing to information periodically
rendered by Miss Clare" Colonel
Haughton continued. "a constant visi-
tor to her flat was arrested soon aft
erward and dealt with in the usual
way. He admitted having opened the
dispatches. which he found in DOM
ville's wallet, and made use of their
contents. The one which he could not
open he took away, and finding it Nf
no interest to his cause, destroyed 1t.
The situation, therefore, amounts to
this. Owing to the criminal careless
less of Domville. a young American,
whose Innocence was beyond doubt,
was shot for a spy!'
The woman in mourning looked up.