6
MAGAZINE SECTION
"You arc armed, Monsieur?
"Yes; you nnticlpiite trouble?"
"Hardly that, but it Is well to lie pre
pared. I have heard unpleasant stories
of the plaee, and I do not know the exact
character of the men you are seeking."
"Brandt lias the reputation In F.uropc
of being equal to any expedient to at
tain his ends," I said quietly. "Perhaps
that is why I rim rather anxious to cross
swords with him. This man Schmitt is
an unknown."
"Schmitt I Oh, he will be content with
a silent part. There Is no danger of his
getting in the way of any harm. But
there arc probably others here under
Brandt's orders."
"Likely enough, although he usually
prefers to oerate alone."
There was a pause during which I
glanced uside at the contour of her face
through the haze of my cigar.
"Do you regret coming?" I asked final
ly, almost hoping she did. "For if so
wc can turn back. Iteally it is nothing
to me principally a curiosity to see the
fellow."
She turned her face up to look at me
in surprise.
"I! Why certainly not. You do not
understand. Monsieur, the newspajer
instinct. This looks to me like a good
story, and I wouldn't lose my chance
at writing it for the world and getting
a scoop."
"Oh, then I am to comprehend your
Interest is altogether professional, Mad
emoiselle? That is not flattering."
She laughed, her hand pressing my
sleeve,
"It is fur better for you to think that
than be deceived. Surely you could not
expect me to fight to preserve a French
secret?"
"My hope was a personal one ruther,"
I ventured recklessly. "That you might
have some interest in a Frenchman."
"Why of course I have. I confess I
wish you to win; perhaps I may even
help you, if I see a way clear; of course,"
she added mischievously, "if It doesn't
endanger my job."
"Your what, Mademoiselle?"
"My position; you must remember this
play is about to be staged in the presence
of my city editor. It therefore behooves
me to act well my part, and preserve n
strict neutrality. You must not exiect
too much."
"But you are more than a reporter."
"You would not think so, if you had
to live on my salary."
"That is not my meaning you are also
a woman."
"Why remind me of that misfortune!
The newspaper game is the one place
where sex is forgotten except as occa
sionally good bait for an interview. Oh,'
no, Monsieur, while I wish you well in
this night's adventure, I am to be a non
eomhatant, to count only as a mere
looker on in Vienna!"
As suddenly the light raillery in her
voice changed to a tone of seriousness.
"Of course circumstances might arise
to cause the woman to overcome the re
porter. One never knows, and there are
times when I fail to understand myself.
Do you speak Spanish, Monsieur?"
"Indifferently; just sufficient to get
along in Madrid," I answered, surprised
at the quick change. "Why do ou ask
that?"
"Because there might In- occasion for
us to exchange words unknown to the
others. If so, remember I sjieak the
tongue. It tnay prove of value."
"'Then you must really mean .that I
can rely upon you in an emergency."
"I have made no promise; rather it Is
more the nature of a warning, because
you have reminded me that I was more
than a reporter. A woman, you know,
is a strange combination. This is the
Cafe Francois."
Outwardly, at least, the place appeared
respectable enough, the front brilliantly
lighted, but the interior scene obscured
by clouded glass. Besides the -main
swinging doors, there was a smaller one
with "Ladies Entrance" lettered on it,
and we entered through this, finding
ourselves in a narrow ball, leading direct
ly to a rear room. This, while evidently
not the main dining-hall, was sufficiently
large and commodious, containing tables
of varying sizes prepared for guests, and
a few boot lis arranged for privacy. Many
of the tables were occupied, and noise
and loud voices proclaimed the presence
of a convivial set. A piano played furi
ously, and on one side of the room, in
a vacant space, a few couples were danc
ing. "Table, sir?"
"Yes," the lady answered for me. "The
small one next- the wall, please."
As we were being seated, and the
waiter left us to find a printed menu,
she leaned across to whisper swiftly t
"We must order something any trifle,
with drinks. Our party is at the next
table to the right. Don't look; let them
make the first move."
I glanced at them as I scanned the
bill, ordering a salad with a bottle of
champagne. There were, somewhat to
my surprise, four in the party, two un
mistakably German, the others not so
easily classified. Directly fronting us,
and hence facing the door, was a tall,
rather cadaverous person, with iron-gray
hair, hollow cheeks, and light-colored
mustache, his blues eyes partly concealed
by heavy glasses. Mentally I decided
this must be Schmitt, although he was
hardly the type I anticipated. Beside
him sat a younger man, very debonair In
appearance, with red cheeks, and pink
and white complexion. lie was doing
most of the talking, describing some in
cident on shipboard in excellent English,
while the others, apparently interested
in his recital, were leaning forward, for
getful of their meal. The faces of the
two with backs toward me were hidden,
but one was large, with almost colossal
shoulders, and a dark beard closely trim
med. I noticed bow upright he sat in
his chair in contradistinction to th
other, a small sandy-haired fellow with
waxed mustache, and long, thin neck.
I contented myself with a single glance,
deciding instantly that the larger Indi
vidual was Brandt, and feeling only slight
interest in the others. He was the one
to watch and fear, and I knew instinc
tively he was likely to prove himself mi
mean antagonist. I remember feeling
amused at the solerness of Miss Prohyn's
watchful eyes as my gaze returned to her
face. The adventure was beginning to
lie entertaining, and I was already con
fident enough of its final outcome to
feel slightly amused.
"Do you recognize the others?" I asked
softly.
She shook her head negatively; then
said slowly in Spanish.
"Do you understand? Yes; then lis
ten, but do not answer in English. The
younger man is a reporter on one of the
German papers, but I have never before
seen the fellow sitting beside Brandt.
Has Schmitt appeared to notice me yet?"
"No; he is listening to the story."
"All make-believe; the whole four saw
us when wc came in. They will begin
the game in a minute. Don't be sur
prised at anything I may do, Monsieur,
and keep your eyes and ears open."
We sat there sipping our wine, and
conversing carelessly. As her back was
towaj-d-the other table, I easily kept
them in view, but could observe no sign
that we had been recognized. Finally
the German reporter excused himself and
withdrew, passing our table without so
much as a glance, yet he had scarcely dis
appeared before Schmitt stepped across
the narrow aisle and spoke to my com
panion. "Why, Miss Probyn," he exclaimed, his
slight foreign accent barely perceptible.
"This Is the last place I would expect to
meet you. However, all the greater
pleasure," and he extended his hand,
smiling genially behind his glasses. "You
have met Captain Brandt? No! Ob,
then jermit me Captain Brandt, Miss
Probyn, and ah, Herr Franzen, of
Berlin, Miss Probyn old friends from
the Fatherland, indulging in reminis
cences, inspired by the national bever
age," and be swept a glance over the
half-emptied steins littering the table.
"Germans are Germans the world over,
you know. I I think I have never met
your friend."
She was standing facing them, and I
also arose to my feet.
"My friend," she said pleasantly, "hap
pens to be traveling incognito, so names
do not count for much Mr. Gray, of
Boston, gentlemen."
Brandt was the picture of courtesy,
bowing politely, while not a change of
expression appeared on his somewhat
stolid face. Sehmitt's pale blue eyes
sought those of the girl in a swift ques
tioning, but Herr Franzen, his face red
dened by drink, was evidently in an
ugly mood, and glared at me without
acknowledgment.
"Huh !" he snapped, twisting his waxed
ends insolently. "Campagne; our new
friend must be a millionaire."
"The wine is paid for," I replied, hold
ing my temper, "and another bottle will
be ordered if Messieurs will join us?"
"Messieurs! Bah! I smell a French
man at the first whif."
"Be quiet, Franzen," and Brandt
gripped the drunken fool none too gently.
"Sit down and hold your tongue. Your
pardon, Monsieur," and he turned to me
smilingly. "This fellow is always most
patriotic when sodden with beer, but it
is the case of a barking dog. We will
join you with pleasure, only I insist on
giving the order. Draw up your table
next to ours."
Willing enough to permit affairs to
shape themselves, I accepted the ex
change of places. The lady's eyes
flashed warning into mine, but I felt lit
tle need of the admonishment. While
beyond doubt Franzen had been drink
ing, yet he was not drunk, but was de
liberately exaggerating his condition.
For what purpose? Either to throw me
off my guard, or else to provoke a quar
rel. His insolence was part of a well
conceived plot; .these fellows were here
with a prearranged plan, a concerted
purpose in view, yet I could only sit
quiet watching for the curd to be played
next. The delay was not a long one, al
though we conversed idly over the wine,
which Franzen, however, refused to
touch, leaning back in iiis chair and
glowering across at me. I chose to ignore
him utterly, directing my entire conver
sation to Brandt, whose individuality
Interested me at once. Here was the
man I must measure swords with. Never
theless I made no attempt to probe the
man, contenting myself with the com
monplace; it was Miss Probyn, taking
advantage of her sex, who ventured per
sonal questions.
"Are you really an officer of the Ger
man army, Captain Brandt?" she asked
innocently. "I am so interested."
"Not at present no," he acknowledged
frankly. "Indeed, I am seldom called
Captain any more except by old com
rades. Schmitt here and I served to
gether, but it Is ten years since I re
signed from the army." His response
was in English, scarcely marred by the
slightest accent.
"Not In government service then?"
"No," indifferently, yet with a swift
glance at her face across the table.
"Traveling altogether for pleasure, and
renewing old acquaintances."
"In these days I presume you meet
with a good many in America," I inter
posed carelessly.
"They are scattered about everywhere.
I ran Into Schmitt here merely by acci
dent. Hadn't seen him before for twenty
years until yesterday. "I'is not so with
your countrymen, Monsieur they do net
scatter as the Germans."
"Taking It for granted that I am
French."
"I supposed that was admitted,"
laughingly. "Really nationality has lit
tle weight with me. Monsieur. I have
lived under so many flags that I am u
true cosmopolitan. Herr Franzen, here,
remains intensely patriotic, but I have
learned long ago that manhood has no
race lines. Am I to understand you de
sire to remain incognito?"
"Certainly n:it; that was merely a
joke of Miss Probyn's."
"Then it will lie my privilege to name
you to my friends."
"You recognize me?"
"Of course. I have traveled widely in
France, and have even visited the avia
tion ground at Nice. Your presence in
Chicago is no secret, and pictures of you
have frequently appeared in the news
papers of Paris and Berlin. I recog
nized you at once gentlemen," and he
glanced at the others, "the distinguished,
aviator, Lieutenant Dessaud."
Knowing what I did this byplay was
most amusing. I even ventured to smile
aside at Miss Probyn, while acknowl
edging this new introduction with a bow,
but the good humor felt did not in the
least throw me off my guard. That
Brandt was a secret agent, sjieeially de
tailed to learn all he could relative to
my monoplane, was beyond discussion.
IMreetly, or indirectly, the other two
men with him, were also interested to
the same end. How highly important
my discoveries were rated was evidenced
by the amount of money already paid
Schmitt merely to arrange this appar
ently accidental meeting. It alone was
proof positive that Brandt was prepared
to go far to attain his ends. Nor was
he one to waste effort. The present
(Continued on Page 10.)