The I

led Herring

A SHORT STORY :

: u By PERCY JAMES BREBNER

Had it not bo^n for Cameron’s | “Von are not coin* back to your chantteashop I should never have become •'“fa in Palm Tree Court. Give me closely associated with with Jenny your key. slip it into my side pocket Screed. Betty formed the link b*^ ! quietly ebcause It is possible we are tween us and on more than one o» hclng watched. When we re*, into casion kept the peace betw-ecn us loo.! Fleet Street call a tari and drive to The teashop, tucked away in an alley , Jour clul> — lhe Oriental, isn't It off Chancery Lane, was frequented : * , ‘" d f” u , r , > b * K aIonK 10 >' ou O'”**

chiefly by lenl men Stranaerw were ' ”’ V *‘ few and must quickly have realized

that they were not really warned. The surroundincs were cozy, and there was nothlg exceptional about the proprietress. There was a large room a smaller room practically reserved for special customers. and beyond these aw* Betty’s private room. Into which only a few were allowed. Perhaps it was because Screed had Introduced me that I was among the chosen few. It became a habit with me to drop Into the teashop about 4.00 o’clock. and so often was I allowed to pass Into the sanctum that the customer* must have thour.’.,t 1 was a relation—a cousin ms > be. Sometimes Screed was there .rather patronizing a» far as I was concerned, and when he was not with us Betty and 1 often talked about him. Probably she knew a great deal more about him than I did. but whether he had taken her into his confidence, or whether her woman's wit had guided her to an estimation of his character. I cannot say. We were talking about him one afternoon when he entered the sane

turn hurriedly

"Yates! Good! Just the man I wanted. Yes, I'll have a imp of tea. Betty, and a piece of cake. I hadn't time for breakfast and missed lunch. Some of us have got work to do." "Mr. Yates has only lust come,’ said Betty. "Knew I should find him here." and one might have thought he was uttering a complaint. “Point is. can you leave for Paris tonight?" “I have Just been suggesting a theatre to Betty.” I returned. ’’Betty can wwit,” he snapped. ••Betty might refuse to wait had she accepted invitation, which she hadn’t." laughed the fdr' “But seriously, Jerry, is this a dangerous business?" "Not unless the boat goes down the train sets smashed up. Mr. Yates might get killed by a taxi going down Chancery Lane, but no one would consider the Journey back to his chamber* dangerons." "Ill go." ? ■aid. "What have I got t»

do?"

"Wants to impress you with the fact that he doesn't care whether it is dangerous or not. We wil! walk along together in a few minutes. Mr. Yates, and PH tell you all about it. I want a little help and I think you will do.” "1 am not to be told, is that It?" asked Betty. "There is no part for you in this. Mr. Yates can tell jmu all about It aferwards. It will be an excuse for him to come and see you again " 1 was annoyed by your manner, but Betty cleared the atmo-ple-re by laughat us both. As we crossed the ladge room toward the door Screed stopped me, "Before we gc out put that in your pocctct." and lie handed me a sealed envelope, and added in a lower tone: "I will tell you all about i: In a mlnHe did not say anything until we were out of the alley and some way down Chancery Lane. "It is a nice little affair. Mr. Yates, and you are going to help toe by taking a little jaunt to Paris." he said, taking my anti. "Youwill find that letter Is addressed to a firm of foreign bankers. Marcelle et Cle. Rue Septembre, and your business is to deliv.-r it as soon ns possible alter you leave Charing Cross tonight. There is no answer, nothing to hring back, ro receipt to take even, but it is possible that someone traveling to Paris may get into conversation with you and endeavor to learn your business. He might be a member of the French po-

ll oe."

•'Someone working with you?" "Not exactly. I do not want to hamper you with instructions. ’ just a man traveling on important and confidential business, and it doesn'i matter very much who knows it Set the idea?" "You do not appear to set me a very difficult task." "Weil, you're not very experience*! vet. are you?" he returned, "and this is not quite as easy a* It looki may spot another traveler, a tall, looselimbed man. with gray hair and mustache. slouch hat. rusty overcoat, dingy suitcase which looks as if It wouldn’t matter If he lost it. a UohenUdn type. Got the idea of him? "Yes." "Keep out of his way. If he should get Into your companion make the best excuse you can to get out and find snother Ik) not travel with him on any account.' "ill dodge him somehow." "And one thing more.'' eatd Screed-;

What shall I throw into it?"

I told him and suggested that he

should put In my revolver as well.

"If you like, but you won't need it.” "I shall feel safer snd more adven-

turous.'' I answered.

1 drove to the Oriental, dined there, and in due course left to citch the boat train. Screed had of course omitted to put in half the things I told him. but he had included my revolv which I slipped into my hip pt-ckeh Of course as soon as Screed had left me I remembered all sorts questions I should like to have asked him. 1 hi ring dinner I realized how little ho had told me. and clso how futile the whole affair seemed. 1 also speculated whether he was not jealous and sen* me to Paris to keep n:e out of Betty's teashop for a few days. 1 imagine this Idea did not take very deep root, because 1 begun to take note of my fellow travelers as soon as I gut to Charing Cross. I did not the Bohemian, but there were fwo men who attracted my attention. One stood at the door of a first class car- . riage apparently waiting for a late arrival. I noticed him because his face

seemed familiar. The other was a foreigner a rough, bullying kind of man. the kind who stands in the middle of the pUtform with his legs spar, his hands clasped behind his back, and does’t move for anybody. I could not determine his nationality, and I lost sight of him before the train started. I did not see the foreigner on the boat, but almost the first person I met as I went down the gangway was the Bohemian. Screed's description had boen phn: ©graphic. The man whose face was faniliar to m*'. had passed along the gagway Just i nfront of me. he glanced nt the Bohemian, then turned toward me. It seemed that it was deliberately done to attract my attention. Where had I seen him before? Was he the man Screed had said might try and get Into conversation with me - He walked away without making any attempt to do so. and following my instructions. I got as far away a' possible from the Bohemian, whose interest In me was unmistakable. »»e deliberately moved to a point of vantage from which he could watch my movements. At Calais the pla'form was crowded, and it was evident the train would be full I was off the hoatbefore the Bohemian and riage. If he intended to travel in the same compartment I should aware of the fact, and have ample lime to change my seat. He was close at my heels, but he went further up the train, convinced. 1 suppose, was no room for him in my carriage. The available seats were quickly secured. The man whose face 1 knew had taken the one opposite mine, and the on*- at the far end was taken by the bullying foreigner, who suddenly pushed his way through the crowd and. having stumbled over our feet, •urveyed us one after the other as if re had no right to be there. The man opposite to me smiled and we began talk. He was not inquisitive. Our conversation was of a very ordinary' kind, nothing illuminating In it. noth ing in it interesting enough to reepat. I came to the conclusion he could not e the man Screed had expected ould speak to me. The bully, after a period of qitlesonce, during which he *ecmed inclined to sleep and snore, began to make himself objectional He made e remarks abusive of things in •ral in very guttural French, and then interferred with the man next to him because he was taking too much ibow room. This little quarrel having subsided he persisted In talking to another man who wonted to go to sleep. The would-be sleeper was quickly irritable, and he and the bully were quickly abusing each other. The language became forceful, and another passenger entered into the discussion with a request to know why the bully had got into a first-class car-

riage.

"Because I pay y a—you—" and while tie hea ed with the effort to find sufficiently approbious terms for the questioner, he produced his ticket, and wanted to know if anyone else had any remarks to make. They had. H<» | pugnacious attitude had thoroughly aroused everybody. I took no part in the discussion, nor did my coxnpanii unti! the bully made a dcsperagtng remark shout England, when he took up the cudgels at once. "1 am a Swede, born in England, which 1 love." he explained to me. ■‘We evidently chose our carriage unfortunately. I have seldom made ro

unpleasant a Journey. Perhaps we can breakfast together in Pans and forget it.” I made no definite promise. My movements must be regulated by those of the Bohemian. The storm sank Into grumbling for a while, but as we approached Paris it broke out again. Someon*- suggested that complaint should be made to the railway authorities, and the bully was Immediately ferocious. “We will go together, all together, and I will complain thst I purchase a ticke* to travel like a gentleman, and poof—I am obliged to travel with the cattle—canaille. Oh. yes. we will go to them. It Is a v-ry good plan, and 1 speak my mind. . t will be very much I shall have to saj " "We must keep out *f this.” said the Swede in a low tor “it would mean delay. I have btsiness which must not be delayed. / nd you?” "I do not intend to te drawn into the quarrel.” I answerer "We must protect eacl other then I have once before had a 1 exp* rienc of this sort, and it was t wo hours before 1 was free to regime Journey." Still I made no definite promise, but I realized this man might help necessary to shake off the Bohemian. He was a gdeater menace to me than my quarrelsome fellow passenger... In the hustle of the terminus I quickly forgot the unpleasant night Journey. My companion and I were first out of the compartment, leaving angry chattering behind us. The bully seemed to be the centre of a gesticulating crowd for an instant, and then I lost sight of him. My atnliou was concentrated on Uie Bohemian. who was watching me. There was nothing furtive about him; seemed anxious to compel my notice, and to escape his attention I made use of my companion. "I am going toward the Bourse.” 1

said.

“That is my way." he answered. "Here is a taxi." I smiled. If the Bohemian knew my destination he must realize that all chance of stopping me from reaching the Rue Septembre had gone. Outside the station there was a block In the traffic, and our driver took a side street to avoid it. Hera, too, was congestion, and the taxi was obliged to stop. Tt is all right.” said my companion as I moved to put my head out to see what was amiss, and the moment a man on the pavement flung open the door, and I was jerked to the floor of the vehicle. 1 think I swore, I know I hurt myself on a hard corner of my bag. and then I seemed to fall asliep, that kind of slumber which comes sometimes in the early morning, incomplete unconsciousness. Rumbling sounds were in my and the sound of laughter 1 thought and then a sense of uneasiness as if I were turning over and over in a vain endeavor to get Into a comfortable position. Whether complete consciousness returned soon after this I cannot say. I had neglected to wind up my watch and it had stopped. It war daylight, gray, and there were rain -dashes the dirty window which 'ight to the dirtiest garret I have -n. floor was covered with u o was the furniture, consisting ol a rough table and two wooden chaira with broken backs. I had apparently laid on the floor since my clothes were roverod with dust. My volver had gone, so had the sealed irelope I tried the door which * as solid and locked: then I went to the window which I found was nailed up. the top of a high building, my outlook the blank walls of factorand through a narrow gap I could water—the Seine no doubt. 1 thought of putting my fist through the window and shouting, but reflected that a demonstration of this kind would he more likely to attract my enemies than bring me friends. Not first did I quite recollect what had happened, my brain was fuddled as if I had dined far too wel. and It was some time before I could reconstruct doings to the moment when the taxi had come to a standstill in the ide street. The Sw*le had certainly pu'led me back, hut this might have been to save me from the assault of the man who had suddenly opened the door of the cab. Trying for a solution of the problem. I began to pace my garret presently, and this aroused the Almost immediately there were footsteps on the stairs oat.dde, the bolts of the garret door were shot hack, and a gang of men t.-oop*d in. headed hr the foreign bully. The last to enter was the Swede My visitors were my traveling companions complete plus the man who had driven

the c

"A plant!"A I said, looking at tne Swede. "A plant' Ah. Englit s s’ mg.' said

the bully, seating himself at the table T take the chair and I ask the prisoner if be understands French?" "Well enough to explain to the police later on.” I answered. "Ah! Optimistic and courageous. But it i* well you speak French; because some here understand English with great difficult} You have carried this letter from London.” and he held np the sealed envelope. Tt is a blind, eh? We have opened him and hein! Two sheets of blank paper. W© have treated him for hidden writing. but no, there is only paper. Lxplain.” "There is nothing to explain.” "1 keep my temper for the moment. We tell you this is a blind meant to deceive anyone who stole it and got away quick. Very clever, but we do not work like that. We know there is another paper. WTiere is It?” "There Is no other paper," I answered. "I was given that sealed coin Rue Septembre. I did not know the contents. I am as much surprised as you are.” •'Liar." snarled the bully, half rising from his chair. "A little patience." said the Swede. “Hr may hope to deceive us further, but it will be best if we show him how much he know. "Talk, talk," said the bully, for action. Have his clothes off. search him. and if there is nothing found knock him on the head and drop him in the Seine tonight." "All in good time." was the answer Then, turning to me, the Swede went on: "That letter was given you by an English detective named Screed, a—" "A fool." shouted the bully. "He thinks himself clever and we trap him. You are here and he does not see you again anymore." "That may be so unless you are wise,” said the Swede in an it ipres»lve manner. "The letter was given you in a teashop in Chancery Lane. You immediately went to the Oriental Club, where your bag was brought to you. You have been closely watched ever since. Now we are here to receive a certain paper from the English government to the French government. I take 1* you are a member of your country's secret service, and doubtless you have often made successful journies. This one has failed. My advice Is that you hand over the document and accept your unfortunate position.” While he was speaking I remembered why his fas was familiar. 1 had noticed him in Betty’s teashop when Screed had stopped in the large room to give me the sealed envelope. Had Screed done this on purpose? It seemed very evident that he had fooled them, but he had left me in a nice dilemna. appear to have followed the wrong man.” I said. "I know nothing about any other paper.” ‘If that is your final answer I can do nothing more to help you.” said the Swede, and he turned f-om me with a shrug of his shoulders. There was a growl which brought home forcibly the peril of my position. I had desperate men to deal with. Hinds went instinctively to hip pockets. ■No shooting." said the bully hast-

ily.

•The knife is best." one ruffian returned. and the gray light of the garret gleamed on the keen blade which he drew from Its hidden sheath. "Wait!" the bully exclaimed. "Dead en can tell no tales, and we want a lot of Information. Put that knife away a little, nimble! Was I not the loader in this affair? Have I not come from—from a long d stance with special orders for this business?" They grumbled in an assent. "Obey then. I ask a few questions." I listened for more footsteps or. the stairs and was painfully conscious of the silence in the house. I could not believe that Sr reed had overlooked the possibility of my capture, and had made no plan to help me. but he was leaving it very late. The man with the knife was full of Impatience. "You think there is help to «ome.” laughed the bully. "It is not so. The police, they know nothing. Now, if you carry no other paper, who ,i*..-s*" My brain Inclined to become torpid became active again. They had follow*^ one wrong scent, why should they not be started on another? T cannot answer ihet question, but can make a suggestion." I said owiy. -Did you notice a tall, loose-limbe-l man with gray hair and moustaohe. Bohemian type, carrying dingy suit case? I saw him on th ■ boat, at Calais, and at the terminus It looked to me as if be were afraid meeting someone he didn't want to

w."

I Spoke with studied carelessness, addressing myself to the bully, whose mouth gradually fell open as if he had trei of his facial muscles. Then he sprang to his feet roaring out right! I saw the fellow Someone has ployed us a trick, put us on to this fool to give the other his ohanc- Quick' We may not yet be too lau Scatter. Watch ev.- y road to the Embassy, and-and kill if there is no other method. We shall win." “Just a moment while I finish this

1 the man with the knife, from rignt to left; on!v . , ^ •fed qiilA vlfefe”hia diov«P children were playing in ? 1 ^

■ I .tart II roo dlmp, ' ■? bdp." he said. "You rive .

word to keep quiet? It | g

and for me." "* It was such a relief to b. a

open ajaln. to expert, freedom, ‘.nat I gave

fellow." said the man with the knife,

and so lithe

ments that the bully only just caught his hand In time. I had never been nearer to assassination. "No." said the bully. "We will keep him fpr the present. He may tel! us much more yet. He won’t escape. Ill see to that. I will wait here.” "The work for us. for you—*' "For me the greater danger.” was the answer with a savage oath. "If the messenger has reached the Embassy. the police may soon te inter ested in this place. I run the big risk. There is more danger here than in the

streets.”

"There is some truth in that,” said the Swede, “and It seems to me are the man to run the risk. You are the one who has been fooled. Wo took our orders from you." "Obey them still then and go." was the retort. T do not tell everything We have still a good chance." They went quickly, not so much obeying his orders. I think, as anxious to get clear of the building. The bully called instructions t othem as they went down stairs, and promised to show a light as u*.ual in some wlndoi If he had reason to think the house was being watched. I heard a door bang, and then the bully gave his attention to me. T expect you are trying to be clever." he said, "but you haven't got rid of me. Do you really think the other man is the man we want?" "Knowing that I am not I made a suggestion. You seemed to think it was a good one just now." "Ah. I do not say a' I think—never, and I do not show the world the works in my brain, nor you. nor those others. I am not an exhibit in a glass case. No, I always say less than 1 know, and then people think I know more than I do. You think you have fooled me; you have never yet got up early enough to do that.” I fully realized that this man might be more dangerous to me than any of the others, but at any rate he did not threaten me with an ugly knife. 'I see your brain working." he went "You wonder why I did not lock you up and go with the others—1 who am their leader. Wo take a little Journey together, and you say nothing and do exactly as you are told. I can use a knife. Come.” With his hand upon my arm readygrip me if I showeu any sign of resistance. we went down a flight of stairs, and were at the head of a secflight of stairs, when the street door below us opened and closed again, and someone came hurriedly up the stairs. For a moment the bully seemed uncertain how to act. the interruption was evidently unexpected. One of his companions did not trust him and was erturning to share his watch oxer me, 1 hoped it wasn't the man with the knife. Suddenly the bully, with a threatening hiss silent, drew me into a recess, ana as he did so I noticed he had a revolver

ready.

The man wno came up was a stranger to me. a course, brutal fellow, more ferocious than my gaoli murderous a looking scoundrel as I had ever set e>es upon. He passed without a glance at the recess went up to the room we had left. "Now. quietly." said the bully, gripping my arm. I went with 1 im hesitatingly for I had no desire meet the newcomer. We tip-toed down the next flight of stairs, then turned into a short passage, and passed through a door at the end of t. This opened onto the brad of another flight oi narrow stairs, and my companion paus.d as if uncertain whether to go down or not. At the foot he paused again, and listened before opening another door which led into a large storeroom filled with bales and boxes. "This way.” and le led me down an alley between stacked merchandise. He still had the revolver in his hand ready to use it on me or on any part enemy who might stand in his way. No one challenged us and not a sound reached my ears as from one storeroom we descended to another, and finally through a small door, which the bully unbolted, passed Into a narstreet. My companion looked

under certain conditions oath with such a man a*

not be a serious crime.

thb

V,.. J

out of the street side by were presently in a busy tfc orw but in a part of the city 1 ing about. Here the buiir -j; passing taxi into which hr h-rrJ after telling the man to go to o,:

de Rivoll.

"Ah. that was very good. - spreading himself Befor, », at the Rue de Rlvoli I deiit-- „ a friend of mine He lok* ^ until I come tonight. No ii i, w friend with the knife, but tUi » very important—as import.-.-n. You will do well not to a

m."

He vras silent for the re»t « Journey. Now his one desire ^ to be to get rid of me. I*re*«~ ; , spoke to the driver, and frorr, t*. before which we stopped a mu to the door of the taxi. All rood so far." said the bCj him. "Here Is your prisoner him if he is troublesome "Oh. that won’t be nces*»rr. ire.” laughed the other. ■Mr. i_ will credit me with wishinK U rra." "Settle that between you. - mj bully, and drove away. I did ro- • where the driver was told to tt My new gaoler was a very d type of man, a gentleiuan ui Englishman. I propose taking you to x r hotel where I am staying.'' he 1 A bath migi t suit you. and ror.-n I am hungry, too. Tot later than I expected I do no: * play the role of policeman. tl'Ja for the time being that is tfc* *> thrust on me. May I take it you trust me and not cause trouble? friend will Join ns later." Friend!" I exclaimed. “Do y«*< fer to the fellow who has gone rf that taxi?” “Well, neither he nor I are (jsia a 10 as some you have been In 11 ▼ith during the last few boro, we?" ‘There are degrees in ererytMi “Of course." he laughed, "ui don’t mind telling you that "ils tt and I are playing; a ’.Ittle gan:* rf' own which, among Mher tticr : . ceesitate* keeping you alive 32: a Now how ohout that b«i food?" "Right. 1 will give no trouW- i after we have discussed the degrees in scoundrelLm.” I M Even as I said it I thought k * rather weak to make such a F* 3 but there was soemthlnc &t:rv' ;: ' this fellow, and it is my di*:*to like to see the end of an ad*^ Besides, there was creed to ihal Somehow or other hi* pb** have gone wrong, and he had 1 in the lurch. A gang wiih’.r s 3 had got i.old of me now and b guard 1 was no longe- such u « victim to deal with. By golnc " 1 end of the adventure I might W far more than Jeremy Screed t! * there was to discover, and this rt be a great score. Not much •*- could happen to me in a hot* i a small but well zPf** hotel. The bath was good, id' excellent, and the wine had r" 1 '' first-class eeller. My cooptf* who was known by the name e-^ was entertaining, hut not a * explanation did 1 get out of l: fenced some of my question* be refused point blank t<> an.-»-his friend came. He said he yet thoroughly acquainted whole business and to speak . tureJy might spoil every!: ” c ^ In the afternoon, while smoking in a small '’ utu;e - ' „ for the moment crept fee **'' a waiter brought my c 0 ® 1 card. t (ConUnned on Page I'-' ‘

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