The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-04-26
VALIANT DUST
 by PercivaI Chrisfopher Wren -stAu eEsrr.

his brother officers as Carl von Mittengen.
 Well, as soon as we knew all this, it became my business to put a spoke in his wheel-and I con- ceived the bright idea of doing not only that, but being the new wheel myself, if you understand me. One fine day it would be a case of Herr Schlacht is dead, long live Herr Schlachtl'
 T got in touch--very gentle touch, just like velvet-with the &c., nor Pedro Maligni-who was act ing for the Kaid in Tangier-and in short, the Senor Pedro Maligni sold the Kaid and the German agent and the whole German con- nection, to me He also agreed with me that the Kaid had had his day, and that it was time for so wise man as Senor Pedro Maligni to put his money on another horse rat from the sinking ship.
 For I was able to prove to him that France was going to sink the ship
 Did my husband know anything of this?" interrupted Margaret. You want the truth, my dear?" of course, the absolute truth"
 He was present at my final in- terview with his father Jules Ma ligni was introduced to me by Pedro Maligni as his partner and agent. He was witness to our agree ment and he helped me in my plans for intercepting poor von Mittengen"
 'He knows, then" said Margaret, that you are a French officer, and in the French secret service? He knows you are not Herr Schlacht?"
 He knows I am a French agent, and he knows that Herr Schlacht is dead and buried. It was he who was able to produce for me mounted German photograph-from the mount of which I was able to remove the photograph and sub stitu5e my own above the name and address of the German pho tographer.p
 What happened to the real Herr Schlacht, I mean?" asked Mar garet.
 T killed him.
 Margaret involuntarily drew away.
 "Oh, l didn't murder him in cold blood, my dear Curiously enough, I killed him in self defense. As my little caravan approached his camp one evening, beside a water-hole in the Oued el Draa he simply turned his men out and opened fire on us. don't know whether he took us for Touareg from the Tanezruft, or whether he had his suspicious of the Senor Pedro Ma igni. I know I had my suspicious ofTMaligni as soon as von Mitten- gen opened fire on us at sight, and wondered whether he were double double crossing, and had warned von Mittengen to look out for me.
 s'Anyhow, it was, as I say, a case of self defense-for we'd got to get to the water-though I don't say I wasn't glad of the excuse to go for him. So Herr Schlacht' died that day-and rose again that night, in the person of myself.
 And when I reached Mekazzen, the Malignis were there all ready to vouch for me-pass-word, pho tOgraph, and all.'
 Filthy treachery," ex cl a imed Margaret in deep disgust and in- dignation.
 sYes, pretty bad. It might be ar gued, of course" continued Colonel Le Sage, that I'm as bad as they are; the receiver as bad as the thief"
 "Oh, mo-" expostulated Margaret. You are working for France, work ing for good-not for your own personal profit, not making money by betraying the person who em- ploys you and trusts you"
 Colonel Le Sage raised his huge hand and patted Margaret's shoul- der.
 Thank you, my dear. And now let's consider the Emperor Riccoli' for just a moment"
 Copyright, 1892, F. A. Stokes Co)
 And tomorrow the mystic