The evening world. Newspaper, June 17, 1916, Page 8

assy Story No. 13 IN THE SERVICE OF THE STATE Two American girl Mona Hartley and Burnett, set about punishing the “Wolves of Soctety” through their check books. This is the story of their thirteenth adventure. Heceignt by Kalen Comany.) ARY,” said Mona Hartley, in @ low tone, to her chum, Mary Burnett, “don't look over at once. But there is a man eocrose the street ‘who has been following us for ten minutes, 2 but I can't place tm.” Mary laughed, She leaned close to Mona. ‘I know him! ute® ehe anid. And then: hates secret service man.” “Well,” said Mona, flatly, wh us? “That's the secret of it, I suppose!” said Mary. You know, Mona—there are people whe would say that likely to find out. T've seen him before, “Tl look in @ min- His name te Jones—he's a United “Mary—what has a seoret service man to do "At any rate, we're our way of getting niong was very far from being what !t should be,” “You're right, of courw “Well—ei over it! I'm sure! eaid Mona. ‘He's coming over, and he's going to speak to us, Don't act ae if 'you thought there was anything odd"-—— “I'm nervous, I think—that's all.” The next moment indeed, Jones was beside them, hat in hand, beaming. “Miss Hartley, Tam to see you! thing of you"—— “We must be getting old, Mona an effort to recognize us"—— “You're unkind,” said Jones, re- proachfully. Then, all at once bis manner changed. “Seriously,” he said, “I am extremely anxious to have a talk with you. There isa matter of the grevest importance, in which, I believe, you, and you only, can help me. I wonder if you would come in here with me-—and have some tea, perhaps, while we talk?” And #0, a few moments later, they were sitting with him at a secluded table. They gave their order; he waited until the tea things had been brought, and then he leaned toward them, speaking in a low, confidential tone. “It's my business, as you must know," be said, “to be aware of a goad many things. 1 know, for ex- ple—and I think, too, that I under- stand, very fully--something of your Uwes, I know that you have no in- comes—that the comfort in which you live you must supply yourselves. It ‘wl be simpler if you will believe that 1 ould, tf 1 chose, give you a very eorplete summary of everything thet you have done for a gvod many “I will be frank, then. You have een adle more thun once, to get the best of men who have fancied them- selves extremely clever. 1 want you to undertake the task once more—and Uhis time, if you aucceed, you will place me under the heaviest of obliga- tions—and you will, what is far more ft tant, do a great service to the United States—a service so important that It would be impossible to over- estimate it “This country, as you must know,” |, “depends for ‘ts security against attack, in a very large meas- ure, upon its coast defenses. To put the matter briefly, a secret that ts vital seems about to fall into the hands of a foreign power—and of that s foreign power, moreover, which 1s most likely to use its knowledge inst us!" "Oh!" eaid Mona. “But how could we help” —— “What has happened is this,” said Jenes. “A man named Hawkins, let Us may, Was in @ position to make tracings of certain drawings—pians, and so on, He was trusted—he be- trayed his trust. He mude the trac- ings; ‘he has sold them to a man whom J shall call Mr. X. Mr, X oc- cupies @ position of responsibility. It ‘would be impossible to bring a charge against him without proof of the most definite sort. 1 am sure of my facts but I cannot prove them. 1 know that X ts a spy of the most dangerous gert, but J am almost alone in my knowledge.” “Where ie he?" asked Mary. “T am telling you everything,” sald Sones. “He will be on his way to Hil- lr x e se Burnett!” said Jones. 1 wes not cortain—it is some time since I have seen any- “THIS 18 MADNESS “You don't know how glad enid Mary, with a laugh. “If it takes ‘fax within a fow hours. He will sail from there on a liner that makes a call at Rotterdam. I am certain of 'his—and that the plans will be with him. No—I want you to sail on the same steamer, as 1 shall do myself. I Want you to help me to recover those plans.” “Let's do it.” said Mary, “We'd bo doing something for our country, Mona! Wouldn't that be worth while?" ‘1 thought you would feel so!" sald ynes, triumphamly, “But there wilt @ more substantial retarn than that of knowing that you have done a patriotic act. J will promise you that the reward will be edequate—there is a large contingent fund, for which no accounting need be made"—— said Mona, with decision. ver accept pay”—— I!" echoed Mary. “Our ex- penses—but no more. We'll go gladly, on those terms, Mr. Jones.” “That shall be as you ohoore, of course,” he said, “Can you start to- night? You had better travel separ- ately, and once on the steamer it would be well if you failed, even, to strike up the bir pponinn ocean acquaint- anceship--if you let it ap; that you disliked one another. I shall be aboard, but 1 will know neither of you officially.” The girls nodded understandngly. You want to expose Mr. X, don't you?” said Mary. “Isn't it true that he has such @ position that he is very fully trusted?" “Yes, My warnings are laughed at There ix no reason why he should ot execute this mission, return, and continue his work. He has covered his tpacks 80 cleverly that he appears to be entirely immune from suspicion. But if 1 can prove that he has those papers—and, of course, get them from him-his usefulness as a spy will be at an end, in this country at least. And I can'tell you that I will regard that as the best piece of work I have ever done.” You can count on us," said Mona 1 only hope we will really be able to help! Come, Mary—if we're going to start on such notice we must hurry home. It takes time to pack.” It was a matter of moments only to complete the few arrangements still to be made. Jones furnished them with tickets; he had reserved several staterooms on the liner, he * explained “1 try to be pre d for emergen- cies," he said. “I knew | would neod help—I didn't know at all who would be with me. But there will be no delay. I shall not see you again ‘until we are on board, and even then, of course, wo will meet as entire strangers.” “Does Mr. X know you?" asked Mar; y “I think not," said Jones, with a good deal of satisfaction. "His people re very fond of laughing at our ret service—but we manage to turn a trick ourselves once in a while." TO ACCUSE ME OF CRIME. ture Theatres The Newest Kalem Picture Now Being Presented at the Leading Motion Pic- In Greater New Yor déven in the bustle of salling it was Dot dificult for the two girls to make a 8 as to which of the passengers wae Mr. X. They both fastened upon @ man who was booked as Mr. Arm- strong. He appeared to be bored, in- stead of excited, by the incidents of departure, His manner indicated that HM was all an old story to him, And the deference that was paid to him at the office of the distracted purser revealed his importan Mary, without any real plan in hei mind as yet, till determined to no time, She was really well versed in the routine of travel, out from the moment she went on board she played the part of a helpless traveller, unac- customed to the inost ordinary’ things of shipboard life, ottice of the purser, and he seemed to be entirely willing to give up his time to her. He answered her ques- tons, promised to see to her chair, her seat at table, all the other things. “You're #0 good to me, Mr, Shelly!" told him, in wild-eyed innocence, must be frightful nuisany Nuisance—not a bit of It, Miss Burnett!" he assured her, gallantly. “L know how strange tt must scem the first time you cross, Just you | everything to me—I'll see that have such a comfortablo trip that you'll never cross on any other boat. You'll understand, won't you, if I have to run a nd leave you con- stantly? There are all sorts of things that I have to attend to—people who don't like their cabins, and cranks of all sorts.” “Of course-you mustn't bother you.” "You could never do that! Once we're off I'll have much more time— let me CRIED MR, xX, Sho haunted the M MARY I8 CHARGED WITH STEALING THE JEWELS. you muat let me show you the ship then!" Jones, as a secret service man nat- urally would be, was an amused wit- ness of Mary's dealings with tho burser. And that night, waen they Were at sea, he contrived an oppor- tunity to see the two girls, “I've found out a few things,” he sald. “Our man, just ag 1 expected, has taken the state cabin, as they call it—a regular suite, roally—two staterooms, brass bed, private bath— all that sort of luxur: No wonder— his Government has to pay! He's planning to keep to himse!? pretty well, we'll find.” “A man travelling with such dan- serous baggage would, I fancy,” suid (ona, “Right! I'm almost sure he has no suspicion that he has been followed He looked over all the passengers pretty carefulty—he was one of the first aboard, you know. I made my- a pou as I could, you no- theed!"" “You certainly did!” said Mary, with a laugh. “While I was trying to find things out from the purser you were simply brutal in your inter- ruptions! 1 couldn't have the man to myself for five minutes, He's thor- oughly convinced that you're a very important newspaper correspondent, and he's going to see that you give a good report of the line!” “I saw what you were doing! laughed Jones. ‘@Vell, you simply an- ticlpated my suggestion, It's going to be very important for one of you to be on good terms with the purser. I think he'd do a good deal for me, but I wouldn't take chances by ask- ing too much. He didn't offer to show you the state suite, did he?" 'No," said Mary, regretfully, ‘I never thought to ask!" “I managed that,’ said Jones, com- Placently, “He showed me over the whole ship. Awful bore it was, too— I crossed in her half a dosen times before he got his berth, and [ imagine I know a few things about her he hasn't even suspected yet! But I wanted a look at Mr.’ X's cabin— and I got it, There's a small safe in there-and Shelly explained to me that he and the passenger occupying tho suite are the only ones who have the combination, It's changed for every voyage—and even the Captain doesn't know it!" He'll keep his papers there, of course?" said Mona. ‘We don't have to worry so much about where he's hidden those valua- ble papers. Unless all signs fall we know that what we've got to do is to ket that safe opened, by one of the vwo men who can do it, If he'd turned his stuff over to the purser for safe keeping 1'd be a lot more dubi- ous—because @ purser's strong-room {6 the real thing. And Shelley is rather stupld—and very faithful and con- solentious. I couldn't have done any- thing with him.” “Juet what do you expect to do as tt 18?" asked Mona. “One of you—and Miss Mary has started, ao that whe'd better be the one—will have to make friends with Shelly, The other will have to see if there’e a human aide to X. There must be, you know—he must be sus- cepuble in some way. ‘l don’t Ike hte looks," said Mona. “And I doubt very much woether be'll see anything in me You'll have to t said Mary, “Oh, T'll do that," Mona, Mona lost no in attempting to arouse the interest he myste- rious Mr, N. It seemed to be well soderstood on board that Armstrong Was not big real name: that he was some important, and probably, official versonage, who chose to travel under an assumed name, He excited a good deal of curiosity, but there was no attempt to intrude upon his evident desire to be alone, On an American ship it might have been different. But on this vessel Were passengers much more accus- tomed to the peculiar ways of an of- ficial caste. Armstrong's privacy was rather pointedly respected, He took no part in the common life of the ship. He was never in the smoking- room; the chance games of cards, When tables were made up, on the spur of the moment for bridge or poker, never claimed him, He seemed to see no fun in throwing rope quoits “tL @ stick, and he passed the devoiees: of shuffleboard with a tolerant smile. He made no friends at meals, for he was careful to take his meals always after the other passengera at the table had returned to deck; this when he did not eat in the solitary state of his own state-rooms. So Mona eaw herself deprived of the ald of all the pleasant cultivators of acquaintapceship that so abound ona ship. On the ocean the conven- tions are relaxed; introductions are dispensed with more often than not, But though plenty of the men among the passengers found excuse for talk- ing with her, for joining in her walks about the wind-swept decks, Mr, X held aloof. If he noticed her at all he gave no eign, and Mona, though she might have managed it skilfully cnough, was afraid to resort to the crude stratagem of boldly beginning the acquaintance herself. She did as much as she thought was safe, One day, when she saw that he was coming toward her, she stood at the rall, peering out over the waves, Calculating her time to a nicety, she dropped the case that contained her marine glasses. They fell at the feet of the self-styled Armstrong; in @ moment, cap in hand, he was bowing before her. “Permit me,” he eaid, handing her the case, “Oh, thank you fo much!" aid Mona, prettily confused, “What a clumsy thing to do! I'm afraid they’re broken"—— Gravely he took the case from her, drew out the glasses and inspected them. “You are fortunate,” he said. “They are quite uninjured, 1 congratulate you!" yHte restored. them to her then, and she had, perforce, to look through them at a distant gull, And when she turned, expecting to find him at her side, he had gone, She bit her lip; @ certain chagrin at her failure to arouse his interest, that was wholly personal, sent the color into her cheeks. It was a feeling dis- tinct from her disgust at the effect of his action upon the more tmpor- tant phase of her work, but St prom- ised to rankle, It was a long time since any man whom Mona had detgned to notice had turned away from her, She turned to go back to her chair, and saw X regarding her, speculatively, faintly amused, from @ spot @ little distance away, Beast!" sho said to herself, ‘He’ perfectly sure 1 Gropped those glasses intentionally—for him to pick up! I wonder—am I getting clumsy, or is he preternaturally wise and experi- enced? He looks like the sort of man that women are supposed to find trre- sistible!” But, though Mona‘s determination to succeed was only sharpened by Incident, she was obliged to ad- mit to herself, ¢ ra few more days, that she had met @ man at last who was entirely charms, The two girls had followed the sug- gestion of Jones; they contrived, without resorting to anything ob- vious, to give the ship the impression that they disliked one another, Like all the women on board, they spoke, but each was cold and distant. It seemed that they were of opposite and instinctively antagonistic type: Meanwhile, though Mona had fail in her t of the undertaking, Mary's triumph was complete. Her subju- gation of the purser was the talk of the ship. The two took long walks about the decks; heads nodded as they passed, and there were man: smiles and whisperings about the budding romance. Shelley found Mury captivating; it was difficult for her to keep his ardor within bounds at all. He sighed, talked of his wretched work, that almost forbade him to marry; confided to her that he intended, as soon as he could, to find work ashore. “This sort of thing is all very well for a time!” he told her. “But when 4a chap begins to think of marrying and settling down—why, the sea’s no ce for him, then! “Oh—oh!" said Mary, innocently. “Why, when I first came abcard you told me you loved your work, Mr, Shelley!" “Oh, well—one says lots of things one finds one was mistaken about, when one has time to think!” he said, fatuously. Shelley was far gone, indeed; there could be no doubt about tha And Jones, taking note of everything, was well satisfied, on the whole. He knew that Mona had fatled, but he had never built very strong hopes upon the outcome of her attempt to pene- trate the shell of Mr. X. He knew very well that in the epy he was op- posed by an antagonist who would require the very best efforta of an: who opposed him, And his deter- mination to recover the plans was not one whit daunted by the increas- ing darkness of the outlook, The day before the steamer was to dock saw the three conspirators again in consultation. “By Jove—it looks pretty bad!” sald Jones. “Now, if we were on an Amer- fean liner, going into New York, I'd have no difficulty! I'd have that safe opened in a jiffy on the plea that he Wae @ emugeler-—and get the chance to search his things!" Mary started “Wait a minute!" she said, eudden- ly. "I believe I've got an idea—it’s terribly risky—but, 1f there was any real trouble, You could get us all out of {t sooner or later, couldn't you? “Ag goon as I could reach the near- it Amerfoan Minister with my ore- dentials,” said Jones, “But that eort of thing t#@ frowned on—the State De. partment doesn't want to have to get its agenta out of trouble very often.” “Oh, I don't really believe it would come to that,” eaid Mary, “I wae just thinking that it would be well to have an anchor to windward, that's all. When I've told you the whole idea you'll ese why.’ impervious .o her head—don't keep us tn eus- Passe’ pense," @aid Mona. She spoke rather sharply; ehe Was still irritated and disturbed by her failure, De hed touched her pride—and {it was be- cause she realized that that she was angry. “There'll be festivities of some eort to-night, you know,” said Mary, “Mr. Shelley ts full of the plans. A quite wonderful dinner—the Cartain’s din- ner, you know. And must afterward, and a chance to dance, perhaps, Ali the women are to bring out their very t eagerly. for her and was Plot George Bronson Novelization CIODOGOHIGE GHGS GHOQETE by she nodded slightly, screamed suddenly. prettiest gowns—we're to be very stunning “Well “Lasten!" » And she un- folded her plan y listened in the rowing exciteme! but it was not long before Mona clapped ber hands ly. “Oh, that's eplendid, Mary!” she thed ed. "Well—wilt it work?" Mary asked Jones, when she had finished. “T believe it will!" he aaid. drawing a long breath. “My hat 4s off to you ‘be e hit upon the way out of our difficulties! Win or lose— you've given us the gambler’s chance, that's all we have a right to expect! And, if we win—oh, it's worth trying, @ thousand times!” “You see the risk, don’t you?” said Mary. “There's no use letting our- eelves think that it will be easy. We've ot to work together—and yet not let a soul on board suspect thet we're doing anything of the sort.” &: of course,” said Mona. “How lucky that we arranged to stay apart through the voyage as we did! I couldn't see just why t - Sorin Sec sary when we arranged it—a if we had not, there would have been no chance even to try this pian of ours, Mary.” i “Well—to work then!” eatd Mary. “You both understand?? You won't be at the dinner, Mr. Jones?” “Tm dreadful mock distress. terrible headaches coming on, and I'l have to see the ship's surgepn, and ask him to get me a little relief—and, incidentally, establish a dit of evi- Geage that will come in handy later oni” “Ite too dad you have to mise al 6&7! the fun,’ id Mons, mockingly. “I think I' be able to dear up.” he said, with a grin. “I rather suspect I'H be cured—to-night! And Ill eat a big lunch to make up for the dinner 1 ghall have to miss. On second thought, I'll wait until after lunch be- fore I see the doctor.” Mona and Mary were both radiant that night when they appeared at the captain's dinner. Both were superbly dressed; thoge who knew of the cool- ness between them whispered to one another that each had evidently de- termined to outshine the other. It would have been hard to sa: which of them had succeeded. In- deed, hon ween them appeared at first glance to be even. But It was not long before all eyes were drawn to a superb necklace of dia- monds that Mona wore. It dimmed the lustre of every other jewel, al- though several of the other women wore ornaments of unusual Drilliancy and beauty. And it was impossible for any one who coyld not take the necklace and examine it closely to see that it consisted, not of dia- monds, but of imitation stones so cleverly wrought that any but an expert eye must have been deceived. Mary started with well feigned Jealousy when she saw the stones, She turned to the purser and, intend- ing, as it seemed, that only he should hear her, but speaking loudly enough for the others at the table to catch her meaning, said: “Don't you think auch a display of jewels ie in very Dad taste? A few simple rings—but for a young girl to wear such a etring of huge stones as that! Well, I was brought up not to believe in so much display!” “Tt say—U is rather atartling!” ad- mitted the purser, “Still T suppose she likes to show them off! It isn’t every one who can wear such a for- tune as that eround her neck!” “Perhaps every one dpesn't want to,” sald Mary teily, And her eyea went back to the jewels time and again throughout the dinner, and later, when the dancing began, The great main saloon had inclosed a part of the deck, too, for those who wanted air. And in the brilliant confusion of the scene no o1 aw Mona etealthily appropriate a tiara from one dancer, a jewelled ornament of another sort from an- other. “Here!” sald Mona, She had come straight from the dancing floor with her booty wrapped in @ handkerchief; she handed it to Jones, who was wait ing for her In the empty and desert- ed corridor near the stateroom in which he was supposed to be trying to find relicf from his headache in sleep. “Good girl!” said Jones, taking it eagerly. “That's the pant that hi worried me most! I wes afraid yo would be caught in the act—and we would have hed a frightfully dificult time in explaining that “I was frightened myself,” eaid ‘Mona. But | had to make up in some fashion for the way I failed with Mr, X!" “Hurry back—you muatn't risk any delay.” said Jones, “I'll be waiting anxiously.” As Mona went back she unfastened her necklace and held it in her hand. Her brief absence had not been no- ticed; she found a partner waiting ept into the maze of dancers at once. As she passed Mary, dancing with the pur- ser, she nodied slightly, and a mo- ment later Mary, as if by accident, brushed against her. In the momen- tary contact Mone elipped her neck- lace into Mary’s corsage. And five minutes later, as she da yr, she screamed sud- deny. WILL BE PUBLISHED Hug THE FOURTEENTH ADVENTURE OF “THE SOCIAL PIRATES” As Mona went back she unfastened her necklace and held it in her hand. Her brief absence had not been noticed; she found a partner waiting eagerly for her and was swept into the maze of dancers at once. As she passed Mary, dancing with the purser, and a moment later Mary, as if by accident, brushed against her. In the momentary contact Mona slipped her necklace into Mary's corsage. minutes later, as she passed a mirror, she And five Instantly every woman in the reom added their outcries to Mona's. “Ladies calm!" said the of tain. He had stopped the music; he spoke quietly but sterniy. “Rest as- sured that it is impossible for you te lapse your property on this The thief cannot get away. I shell ask ry one present to submit to a ‘arch—suspecting no one, but thus ving the innocent a certain way to Prove their innocence,” No one objected; to do eo would Dave seemed Itke a confession of guilt. Men and women divided to submit to the search. And Mona's necklace was found when Mary's turn came. “There—there's some horrible mis- take!" gasped Mary. never took it! How can any one suspect me of euch a thing?” She burst into hyaterical sobbing. Shelley indignantly took her part; @oms one, he insisted, must have played a trick on Mary. But the cap- tain brushed aside their protesta; be spoke sternly and with the weight of authority, to the purser. “I cannot go behind the evidence!” he said, gravely. “The young woman must be confined in her cabin until we band; it will then be @ matter for the attention ¢ the shore poiice.” “Thies is my necklace—but where are the other jewels that were tak- en?” asked Mona. She was following the captain and Shelley, who were escorting Mary to her cabin. And then, in the corridor, they en- countered Jones, who , coat~ less and showing evidence of having deen asleep. Ho demanded an ex- Planation of the odd acene from Shel- ley. And when he had it he looked ve. “Perhaps I may de able to throw ome light on this terrible affair, captain,” he said. “I think you have de a terrible mistake!" cannot admit that, Mr. Jonest” id the captain. ‘But I shall be glad to hear what you have to tall. “It will not take Jong, Captain. As you know, I was unable to attend the dinner on account of a severe headache—which is only just begin- ning to yteld to the doctor’s medicine, During the evening I lay in my berth, with my door open and my light out, 1 saw Mr. Armetrong, as he calls him- self, go into his room—first lookin about to make sure that he was ni observed. This aroused my curiosity and I looked in upon He thought, I euppose, that my room was empty. I saw him take epme jewelry —~a tiara and some other ornaments —from hia pocket and place them ito his safe!" ‘I knew it!" cried Mery, hyster- ically. “He must have placed that necklace on me to throw euspicion @gainst m “That A very eerious charge,” eaid the captain. “You can prove tts truth by haw ing the safe opened—the purser, here, has the combination, I understand,” said Jones. “Captain—suppose you stay here with 3 Barnett. Let Mr. Shelley and Miss Hartley, one of the victims, examine the safe. 1 will un- dertak to keep Mr. Armstrong away." The capt@in hesitated, but yielded in the end. And now Jones covertly returned the jewels to Mona, and held them as she went with the purser to the room of Mr. X. He knelt by the wafe; just as she heard the tumblers fall at the opening, Mona cried out: “Some one is coming—Mr, Arm- strong. I'm afraid!” Shelley rushed to the door end peered out. In a moment Mona Teached the safe, drew out a package of paper and threw in the jewels, And when the purser came back only the Jewels were in the safe! His de- light knew no bounds, He rushed oft at once to carry the good news to Mary, And Mona, at Jones's door, knocked, At once he reached out hii plane—end he hand and took the heard the striking of @ matoh. A minute would be enough to burn drawing that. in the hands of a heat tile power, might have - Siavame injury to che asted ates! The captain was profuse in hi apologies to Mary. And she casaited Mr. X, for whom a stewarg had been sent, with the uttermost bitterness. The ip-madness!"’ he burst out, angrily. “To accuse me of a c1 of a vulgar theft! You Cen jewels were placed in my safe! disprove that by opening ft uur eyes!” “It has been opened already, sald the captain, is found!” “By whom?" asked Mr. X, his face “The jewels were 3y my purser, sir—and by this lady, one of your intended victimel And then, 4s he looked at Mona, a look of understanding came into the spy's eve, There was hatred in his eyes, toobut he knew that he wi powerless. To tell the truth would be to expose himself anew “Unless the victims of your in- tended crime insist, I shall not cause your arrest,” said the captain @ jewels have heen restored—I ona ask these ladies to spare my ship a scandal!" And, urged by Mary, who magnane imously forgave the suffering he had caused her, Mona and the others al- lowed themselves to be persuaded not to press the charge against Mr. X. (To Be Continued.) SATURDAY, JUNE 24 ae