Argosy All-Story Weekly, July 7, 1928 — page 85: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

WORLD BRIGANDS. “Tet’s see. Do you know Renée Prévost, the diseuse, who is working at the Modern Theater?” “Haven’t the pleasure.” “Get chummy with her. She is a real wild woman and you've got to trav- el to keep up with her. Throw parties for her and have her bring all her friends, especially her men friends. Get your name coupled with hers.” Dick groaned again. ‘ Ah, say!’ he protested. “ Can’t I just be foolish and keep out of scandal? I have a rea- son—”’ Brown took a step in his direction and inspected him with a penetrating black eye. “‘ Reasons. Are you falling in love with some woman over here?” Dick colored violently, but attempted to deny it. “Who is she?” Brown demanded harshly. “ Come on. Out with it.” “Well, I[—it’s not falling in love, but the fact is that I’ve seen a girl—it’s Vesta Tuttle.” “Don’t blame you,” said Brown un- expectedly. “ She’s the loveliest thing I ever set eyes on, but you are engaged in a business which may get her father hanged. What does she think of you?” “T’m afraid she thinks I’m a blamed fool.” “Then see that she doesn’t change her opinion. Your orders are to go after Renée Prévost. Are you’ going to play the game?”’ “Ves,” said Dick sullenly. “Good boy, Boswell. I am an Eng- lishman by birth. I spent three years at Oxford after I graduated from Princeton. I love England and I ad- mire the English people. I am work- ing in their interests as well as my own. “T’ll tell you something. Tuttle is a rotter. He laid the beginning of his fortune by stealing money from his own government when he was in the commissary department of the army during the war. “He is execrated by the better class of Englishmen to-day, men, unfortu- nately, shoved aside by this upstart gen- 6A s 225 eration. Tuttle considers himself the head of this conspiracy, but he never had ingenuity enough to invent it. “ Stutt is the originator, and back of him is the dictator of Russia. England and France are cat’s-paws in this game. First America, then England and France will be the victims. In the long run, Russia will be the only winner. It’s up to a small band of Americans to save not only our own country, but the na- tions we like best in Europe: Until the job is done we cannot afford to fall in love. Do you understand ?” “T can’t help being in love,” ad-— -mitted Dick, “but you can depend on me to do my job. Ill arrange to meet this Frenchwoman immediately.” Brown gave him a very winning smile, then froze into the well trained waiter, bowed stiffly and stalked from the room. Tremendously impressed by the con- versation, Dick picked up a newspaper and turned to the theater advertise- ments. There it was: MODERN THEATER Mile. Renée Prevost, diseuse, and an imposing array of stars of the vaudeville and music hall world Evenings at 8.30 He phoned downstairs. “ Get me two seats in the front row if possible for the Modern Theater to-night.” CHAPTER VIII. MADEMOISELLE PREVOST. T is probable that Renée Prévost had been born a brunette, for her eyes were dark brown, but at the present -moment she was as blond as art could make an artist. Her hair was pale yellow, her eyebrows and lashes red- dish gold, her complexion as pink and white as creams and rouge could Comichboo (E@) >