Nogales international., 1932-04-13

VA AsAoSA"A SIOuuO. COulQ Chey ar
rest her? With Shubin there to pro-
tect herr With her hand on the knob
she paused and glanced over he]
shoulder. The man had paused. too
He was studying the carving on 6
door.
An attendant met her in a. little
private waiting-room full of gilt
tables and sofas. Once Mata Hari had
been able to do him very great favor
and when he saw her his .wrinkled
old face broke into smiles of admira-
ton and humble gallantry.
Madame. 1t, is long time since
we have had the pleasure. And iust
this morning when the Colonel Is not
expected"
| oh. you know it's only last month
or was 1t last month?-that came
and had long chat with you," re-.
marked the dancer in friendly man.
ner while her eyes chung to the door
ana she made a rapid adjustment OF
her plans to Shubin's absence. 1t
didn't do to be nervous. II there was
q way out. she would find 1t. "Tt,s a
pity about the Colonel. I wanted him
TO take me to lunch. Perhaps could
leave note for him."
Certainly. Certainly. Make YOUR.
self at home"
BEFORE the writing desk in the cor.
ner. he held chair for her to sit. he
fussed with slew of papers and en-
velopes for her to choose from, he
complimented her In a deferential
way on her dress and her beauty,
until she looked longingly at his bit
OF wrinkled neck and thought how
marvellous 1t would be If one could
wiring it. And all the time she had
to smile and respond. at least in
monosyllables, her eyes never moving
from the door At length. he had
done with hanging over her and went
back to his own little table where he
took up a newspaper.
That which is most obvious and
naked to the eye. precisely this the
eye may miss altogether
1t was one of Adriana's most Oft
repeated aphorisms To which he
added. however. that good judgment
was the better part of boldness. That
time Mata Harris belongings had
been searched in England. she had
outwitted them by submitting with
out protest. by answering all ques-
tions willingly. by showing that she
had IN her possession not one false
bottomed trunk. not one paper OF
letter that would not bear examina-
ton. But then she had had nothing
discriminating with her except her
mtnd-and except the bottle of fluid
disguised as perfume forrevealing So
called invisible writing. This she had
brought out with the rest of her
toilette things and. displayed with the
same poise. no more. no less. than the
rest. They had never suspected 1t.
Now. she pretended to search for
her handkerchief and feeling in her
loose sleeves. slipped the folded paper
out amongst the sheets on the desk.
She doubled a piece of note paper.
made some play with her pen. in
serted the folded sheet and. thrusting
the two into an envelope. sealed it
and rose
May put it on the Colonies
desk?"
TO be sure. Madame. On top of
his letters where it will be the first
thing ne sees"
Blinking and nodding to assure her
that he understood little affair be-
tween lovers. the old man accom-
panied her into the main Office where
she had to place the unaddressed en-
velope on top of the pile. 1t did look
fearfully white and conspicuous.
However. she trusted that whatever
was done. no one would dare to in
vestigate Shubin's desk.
There remained the opening in the
seam. which was simple. AS she was
going out behind the attendant, she
folded back her cuff and tore at the
lining. 1t was fine silk. but she
pulled hard.
She gave little cry. Look. papa.
see what I've done? How careless Of
me! You haven't pin?"
Perhaps the man didn't mean to
come in at all. II he waited for her
outside and searched her elsewhere.
so much the better. On the other
hand. he must feel that she had come
here with some object in mind
Quite ten minutes had passed.
Torn between a conflict in Judgment
would it be better to go and ADAM
don the paper to the mercy Of what
ever happened or to stay within sight
Of it and learn what would happen?-
the dancer could come to no decision.
To go meant that it might not be
possible to retrieve the lists. In any
case. it was Just as perilous. for the
old man might be questioned on her
departure. He was an old fool and
would surely mention the note.
What do you hear from your SOM"
she inquired. starting him on a SUBJ
ject that was bound to be endless.
Ties alive and we'll in nice. quiet
sector. thank to your influence" he
said fervently. oh. Madame. we'll
never forget you for it, My wife says
prayer for you every night
II need it," said Mata Hari. soto
voice.
g.. All. 1t is good to know that
there are ladies so gracious who in
terest themselves in Others" the old
man went on as if food had been
released. you see. he is our only
| hope 80"
+, When the door opened. Mata Harl
was sitting with her back to 1t and
chatting with the attendant. She
looked up. naturally. The first man