INTERNATIONAL FALLS PRESS The he not only compelled my father to Czar's Spy "Muriel ancTT met first at a tennis yyVVVVvVVVvVVVVY^VVVVVVvwvyvy cancel the debt, but he impressed tht party, and afterwards frequently at vessel and those who owned and navi. various houses in Malta, for anyone gated it into the secret service ol who goes there arid entertains is soon Russia. A dozen times did we make entertained in return. A mutual attachment attempts to obtain secret papers from sprang up between Muriel The Mystery of a Silent Love Italian, French and English dock* I and myself," he said, placing hie hand ARTER'S yards, but only once in the case ol tenderly upon her and smiling, "and By Chevalier William Le Queux Malta and once at Toulon did we succeed. we often met in secret and took long Ah! Mr. Gregg," she added4 ONVENIENCES walks, until quite suddenly Leithcourt "you do not know7 all the anxiety I Author of "THE CLOSED BOOK" Etc. said that it was necessary to sail for suffered, how at every hour we were Smyrna to pick up somG friends who in danger of betrayal or capture, and ILLUSTRATIONS by C. D. RHODES had been traveling in Palestine. The HOME, Df the hundred narrow escapes we For the night they sailed a great consternation lave had of customhouse officer* was caused on the island by the Copyright by the Smart Set Publishing Co. SCHOOL, rummaging the yacht for contraband. news that the safe in the admiral superintendent's You will no doubt recollect the sen* office had been opened I suddenly recollected those two consented, and the distressed girl in or OFFICE. sation caused by the theft of the by expert safe-breakers, and certain men who had passed by as we had the black coat and hat crept on tiptoe jewels of the Princess Wilfaehnins of most important secret documents talked, and how that the features of to the bedside. Schaumbourg-Lippe from the lady's stolen." one had seemed strangely familiar. "He was conscious for a quarter of maid in the rapide between Cannes "Well?" I asked, much interested. Therefore I took a cab to the police an hour or so," whispered the nurse and Les Arcs, the robbery from the "Again, two months later, when the station down at Whitehall and made who sat there, "He asked after some Marseilles branch of the Credit Lyon« villa of the prince of Montevachi, at inquiry of the inspector on duty in lady named Muriel." aais, and the great haul of plate from Palmero, was broken into and the the big, bare office with its flaring The girl at my side burst into low the chateau of Bardon, the Paris millionaire, whole of the famous jewels of the gas jets in wire globes. He heard me sobbing. close to Arcachon." princess stolen, it was a very strange to the end, then turning back the book "Tell him," she said, "that Muriel "Yes," I said, for they were all rob* fact that the Iris was at the moment of "occurrences" before him, glanced is here—that she has seen him, and In that port. But it was not until the beries of which I had read in the through the ruled entries. is waiting for him to recover." newspapers a couple of years before. third occasion, when the yacht was "I should think this is the gentleman, Day succeeded day, and although I at Villefranche, and our squadron being sir," he said. And he read to "Well," she said, "they were all was not allowed to visit my friend, I at Toulon I got four days' leave committed by Archer or Woodroffe me the entry as follows: was told that he was very slowly progressing. to go along the Riviera, that my suspicions and his gang with accomplices Spreader Tube I idled at the Hotel Cecil, were aroused, for at the very P. C. 462A reports that at 2:07 a. m., ashore, of course—and never once did longing daily for news of Elma. Only Photolibrarv Paste while on duty outside the National Gallery, hour when I was dining at the London it seem that any suspicion fell upon once did a letter come from her, a a he heard revolver shot, followed house at Nice with Muriel and a us. While the police were frantically of brief, well-written note, from which it by a man's cry. He ran to the corner schoolfellow of hers, Elma Heath searching hither and thither, we used Suffolk street, where he found a gentleman appeared that she was quite well and who was spending the winter there lying upon tlio pavement suffering to weigh anchor and c-almly steam happy, although she lenged to be able from a serious shot-wound in the chest with a lady who was Baron Oberg's away with our booty on board. We Carter's to go out. The princess was very kind and quite unconscious. He obtained the cousin—that a great robbery was had with us an old Dutch lapidary, indeed to her, and, she added, was assistance of P. C.'s 21S A and 343A, and Regulation committed in one of the big hotels up and one of the cabins was fitted as a the gentleman, who was not identified, making secret arrangements for her Bottle was taken to the Charing1 Cross hospital, at Cimiez, the wife of an American workshop, where he altered the appearance escape across the Russian frontier where the house surgeon expressed a millionaire losing jewels valued at of the stones, and prepared Mucilage Into Germany. doubt whether he could live. Neither P. thirty thousand pounds. Then the them ready for sale while the gold C.'s recollect having noticed any suspicious-looking I saw Muriel many times, but never robberies, coincident with the visit of was melted in a crucible and put person in the vicinitv. Dnce did she refer to Rannoc'n or their JOHN PERVICAL,, Inspector. the yacht, aroused my strong suspicion. Hamburg." ashore to be sent to agents in sudden departure. Her only thought I remarked the nature of those was of the man she loved. I waited for no more, but rushed CHICAGO [said* "But that night in Leghorn?" documents stolen from Malta, and One afternoon, ten days after the round to the hospital in the cab, and recognized that they could only be of "What happened to poor Elm3?" itterapt upon Jack, I was allowed to was, five minutes later, taken along service to a foreign government. Then reply, "I do not know," was Muriel's sit by his bedside and question him. the ward, where identified poor Jack I came the Leghorn incident of which "We were both on board together, and "Ah, Gordon, old fellow!" he said lying in bed, white-faced and unconscious. you told me. The yacht's name had standing at the crack of the door .'aintly, "I've had a narrow escape—by been changed to the Lola, and she watched you sitting at dinner that Jove! After I left you I walked quickly "The doctor was here a quarter of I had been repainted. I made searching evening. The instant, however, you on towards the club, when, all of an hour ago," whispered the sister. inquiry, and found that on the went ashore, Chater, Woodroffe— 1 sudden, two scoundrels sprang out "And he fears he is sinking." evening she was purposely run whom you called Hornby—and Mack* }f Suffolk street, and one of them fired Photolibrary "He has uttered no words?" I asked aground in order to strike up a friendship intosh, the captain—who, by the way, 1 revolver full at me. Then I knew anxiously. "Made no statement?" Paste in at the consulate, a Russian gunboat was an old ticket-of-leave man—went 10 more." "None. He has never regained consciousness, was lying in the vicinity. The eshore, and, of course, broke into the Bottles "But who were the men? Did you and I fear, sir, he never consul's safe was rifled, and the consulate. Then, as soon as they returned, will. It is a case of deliberate murder, recognize them?" scheme certainly was to transfer anything Elma came to my cabin, the police told me early this morning.'1 "No, not at all. That's the worst obtained from it to the Russian awoke me, and said that the baroo I clenched my fists and swor« a jf it." gunboat." Vras taking her ashore, and that they fierce revenge for that dastardly act. "But Muriel knows who they were!" "But what was in the safe?" I asked. \vere to travel overland back to Lon« And as I stood beside the narrow bed. said. "Fortunately nothing. But you see don She w?s ready dressed to go. I realized that what Olinto had said "Ah, yes! Bring her here, won't they knew that our squadron was due kissed her, and promising to meet her regarding my own peril was the actual rou?" the poor fellow implored, "I'm last !n Leghorn, and that some extremely soon, we parted. That was the truth. I was a marked man. Was I lying to see her once again." Important dispatches were on the way I saw of her. What happened to her never to penetrate that inscrutable Then I told him how she had looked us." to the admiral—secret orders based afterwards only she alone can tell and ever-increasing mystery? lpon him while unconscious, and how lpon the decision of the British cabilet "But she is not the baron's niece?" had taken the daily bulletin to ber. as to the vexed question of Ruslian I said. For an hour I talked with him, urging CHAPTER XVI. ships passing the Dardanelles—* "No. There is some mystery," declared him to get well soon, so that we could they expected that they would be Muriel. "She holds some a* unite in probing the mystery, and The Truth About the Lola. lodged in the safe until the arrival of cret which he fears sue may divyjge. Throughout the long night I called bringing to justice those responsible the squadron, as they always are. am ignor* But of what nature, I many times at the hospital, but the for the dastardly act. ance." They were, however, bitterly disappointed "Muriel knows, and if she loves you reply was always the same. Jack had never because the dispatches had "You say that your father has Carter's not regained consciousness, and the she will no doubt assist us," I said. taken any active part in the rob* not arrived." doctor regarded his case as hopeless. "Oh, she does love me, Gordon, 1 Handy Glue Pencil beries? Where is he now?" I asked, "And then?" know that," said the prostrate man, In the morning I drove in hot haste "Well, the only Russian who appeared "Ah!" she exclaimed sadly, her smiling contentedly, and when I left to Bassett road, Notting Hill, and at to have any connection with face pale and haggard. the address Olinto had given me found I promised to bring her there on the them was Baron Oberg, the governor "I have heard that the vessel was morrow. Muriel. When she entered the room general of Finland, whose habit it scuttled somewhere in the Baltic." with folding doors into which I had This I did, but having conducted hei was to spend part of the winter in "That is true. Oberg's purpose to the bed at the end of the ward I discreetly been shown, I saw that she was pale the Mediterranean. From Elma having been served, he demanded half and apprehensive, for we had not met withdrew. What she said to Heath's conversation at dinner that the property on board or he woulg since her flight, and she was, no doubt, him I am not, of course, aware. All 1 give notice to the Russian naval authorities evening at Nice I gathered that she at a loss for an explanation. But I did know is that an hour later when I returned and her uncle had been guests on the that the pirate yacht was I found them the happiest paii not press her for one. I merely told Iris on several occasions, although 1 afloat. He attempted to blackmail my her that the Italian Santini had given possible to conceive, and I clearly saw must say that Muriel was extremely father, as he had already do%£ so me her address and that I came ae that Jack's trust in her was not illplaced. reticent regarding all that concerned many times, but his scheme was frus* bearer of unfortunate news. trated My father, because of his inhuman the yacht." But of Elma? No further word had "What is it?" she gasped quickly. "Of course," she said quickly. "Now treatment-of poor Elma, defiedhim, come from her, and I began to grow "It concerns Captain Durnford," 11 that I have told you the truth, Jack, when it appears that Oberg, who uneasy. The days went on. I wrote replied. "He has been injured in the don't you think it was only natural?" was in Helsingfors, telegraphed to tho twice, but no reply was forthcoming. street, and is in Charing Cross hospi-1 "Most certainly, dear," he answered, admiral of the Russian fleet in the Bal* At last I could bear the suspense nc Carter's tal." I still holding her hand. "Yours was tic. The crew from the Iris were at longer, and began to contemplate returning "Ah!" she cried. "I see. You do 1 not a secret that you could very well once landed at Riga, and only Mackintosh Office Photolibrary Paste for the to Russia. not explain the truth. By your face tell to me until you could thoroughly and my father put to sea again. December came, and we still remained I can tell there is something more. trust me, especially as your fathei Ah! my father was desperate, for h« on at the hotel. Once Olinto He's dead! Tell me the worst." Press had been implicated in the theft ol knew the merciless character of that had written me repeating his warning, "No, Miss Leithcourt," I said gravely, those documents from Malta. The man whose victim he had been for but I did not heed it. I somehow dis truth is," he said, turning to me, "not dead, but the doctors fear that long. They watched a Russian cruiser trusted the fellow. he may not recover. His wound is "Philip Leithcourt has all along been bearing down upon them, when, just Stationery Store Jack, now thoroughly recovered, dangerous. He has been shot by some the catspaw of Baron Oberg. A few as it drew near, they got off in ft called almost daily at Bassett road, unknown person." years ago he was a well-known money boat and blew up the yacht, whiclj and would often bring Muriel to the lender in the city, and in that capacity "Shot!" she echoed, bursting into sank in three minutes with it* ill-ob* Cecil to tea or to luncheon. Often 1 met the baron, who, being in disgrace, tained wealth on board." tears. "Then they have followed him, inquired the whereabouts of her father required a loan. He was also in the "And your father?" after all! They have deceived me, and and of Hylton Chater, but she declared habit of having certain shady transactions She was silent, and I saw tear# now, as they intend to take him from herself in entire ignorance, and believed with that daring gang of continental standing in her eyes. me, I will myself protect him. You, I they were abroad. thieves of whom Dick Archer "There was a tragedy," Jack ejfr Mr. Gregg, have been in peril of youi One afternoon, shortly before Christmas, and Hylton Chater were leaders. For plained in a low, hoarse voice. *VH» life, that I know, but Jack's enemies as we were idling in the American this reason he purchased a yacht for are yours, and they shall not go unpunished. and the captain did not, unfortunate* bar of the hotel, my friend told their use, so that they might not only ly, get sufficiently far from the yacht May I see him?" me that Muriel had invited us to tea use it for the purpose of storing the when they blew her up, and they went "I fear not, but we will ask at the at her cousin's that afternoon, and accordingly stolen goods, but for the purpose oi down with her." hospital." And after the exchange ol we went there in company. DON'T ORDER YOUR AUTO Until you have seen the sailing from place to place under the And I looked in silence at Muriel, some further explanations we took a As we sat together Muriel, a smart guise of wealthy Englishmen traveling who stood with her head bent and bet hansom back to Charing Cross. figure in pale blue gown, poured tea for pleasure. Upon that vessel, white face covered with her hands. At first the sister refused to allow for us and chatted more merrily, 66 indeed, was stored thousands and Almost at the same moment ther# Muriel to see the patient, but she implored thought, than ever before. She seemed thousands of pounds' worth of jewels was a low tap at the door, and tht METZ" 25 so earnestly that at last she quick and nervous and yet full of happiness, and objects of value, the proceeds ol servant maid announced: as she should indeed have many great robberies in England, "Mr. Santini, miss." been, for Jack Durnford was one ol France and Belgium. Sometimes they "Ah!" exclaimed Jack quickly, at the best fellows in the world, and his traveled for the purpose of disposing Olinto entered the room. "Then yoi» restoration to health little short oi of the jewels in various inland towns had my note! We have asked yow FULLY EQUIPPED WITH miraculous. where the gems, having been recut, here to reveal to us this dastardly "Gordon," he said to me with a were not recognized, while at other plot which seemed to have beetf GRAY & DAVIS ELECTRIC sudden seriousness when tea had ended times, Chater and Archer, assisted formed against Mf. Gregg and myself and we had placed down our cups. by Mackintosh, the captain, and Olinto As you know, I've had a narrow e* LIGHT AND STARTER- "I want to tell you something—something Santini, the steward, sailed for a port, cape.': I've been longing always to tell landed, committed a robbery, and then "I know, signore. And the sfgnof FULL STREAMLINE BODY you, and now I have got dear Muriel'* sailed away again, quite unsuspected, commendatore is also threatened," consent. I want to tell you about hei as rich Englishmen." "By whom?" 32 BY $y2 TIRES, FOR ONLY father and his friends." "And the crew?" I asked, after a "By those who killed my poor wiffet $600. "And about Elma, too?" I said ill pause. and who intended also to silence me* quick eagerness. "Yes, tell me every* "They were, of course, well paid, was his answer. thing." and were kept in ignorance of what "The same who compelled you to takg "No, not everything, for I don't the supposed owner and his friends me to' that house where the know it myself. But what I know 1 did ashore." chair was prepared, eh?" International Machine Co. will explain as briefly as I can, and "But Oberg's connection with it?,! "It was Archer, who, fearing thai S1 leave you to form your own conclusions. I asked, surprised at those revelations. you came to London in search of them# It is," he went one, "a strange devised that devilish contrivance," b# —most amazing story. When I myself "Ah!" exclaimed Muriel. "The ingenuity said in his broken English. The# became first cognizant of the mystery of that crafty villain is fiendish. continuing, he went on fiercely: "Now I was on board the flagship the Renown, Before he got into the czar'e that I have discovered why my poo* under Admiral Sir John Fisher. favor he owed my father a large sum, Armida was killed, I will tell th*i Subscribe For The Press We were lying in Malta when there and then sought how to evade repayment. truth, and not spare them. Sine# arrived the English yacht Iris, owned By means of his spies he discovered been you left Scotland, signore, I have by Mr. Philip Leithcourt, and among the real purpose of the up in Dumfries, and have discover^ those on board cruising for pleasure cruises of the Iris—for I was often several facts which prove that fotj were Mr. Martin Woodroffe, Mr. Hylton taken on board with a maid in ordei some reason known only to himself Chater, and the owner's wife and to allay any suspicion that might Leithcourt, while _at Rannoch, wrote tf daughter Muriel. arise Jf only menjverejiruising^Then