g'in fer that."

The man was still choking from the sousings and Dutch turned him over
and pounded him vigorously on the back, assisted by Zimmerman, the
obliging valet, who had seized the occasion to show his hand on the side
of the Allies. "Shall I telephone for the Barton police, sir?" asked
Antoine with an extreme exaggeration of his professional manner.

This obviously was the thing to do, but I feigned not to hear the
question while I debated the matter. It was plain that many things
relating to the capture were veiled in mystery: that if Mrs. Bashford
and her companion were involved in an international tangle and had in
their possession something that vitally concerned the nations at war,
common chivalry demanded that I handle the arrest of Montani's agent in
such manner as to shield them. I was thinking hard and in my perplexity
even considered sending a messenger for Torrence; but he was already
suspicious and would be very likely to summon Raynor immediately and
precipitate a crisis I was not prepared to face. To invite the attention
of the American State Department to the increasingly complex situation
would not be giving my aunt the chance I meant she should have to clear
herself.

The captive had got upon his feet and stood dazedly staring at us. He
refused to answer my questions, even when I suggested that if he could
give a satisfactory account of himself he would be released. He only
doggedly shook his head. When I asked if he had been hurt in his bout
with Dutch he smiled and extended his arms in denial. He was a very
decent-looking fellow, blue-eyed and smooth-shaven, who seemed to accept
his plight with a degree of good humor.

I decided that as nothing would be gained by sending him to the Barton
calaboose that night, I would assume the responsibility of detaining
him until I had groped my way through the haze of suspicions and
circumstances that enveloped him.

"Get some dry clothes for this man and lock him up in the tool-house. Be
sure he has blankets, and you'd better give him some hot coffee."

The captive manifested relief at my decision and broke his silence to
thank me, which he did in very good English. His submissiveness only
deepened my perplexity, but I couldn't help laughing as he walked away
surrounded by the "troops," with Dutch leading the way--Dutch fully
conscious that he had vindicated himself and disposed to be rather
disdainful of his comrades.

I hurried to the house, wh