'Watch for him in the future,' advised Prokop.
WHEN Fritz had gone, Prokop called for Agent C. This fellow was a quiet-faced man, who looked
steadily at the hooded form of his chief.
'You have come from the island?' questioned Prokop.
'Yes,' replied the agent. 'I spoke with Agent E this morning.
'Good! What progress is he making?'
'He has been unable to find the plans. He has hopes; but asks you to be patient. He has fraternized with
the man named Marsh. He has gained his support.'
'What of the other?'
'Crawford is a danger. Agent E has sought to remove him; but without success. Two have been
eliminated: Blades and Barrows. Crawford remains; also the new man, Vincent.'
'What has been done in his case?'
'Our agent planned to remove him last night. The method was a good one, yet it failed, he says.'
'He should not fail.'
'He cannot always be successful. Remember that his plots are subtle. He cannot betray himself. He told
me that he must be cautious. One death should not occur too soon after another, without a good reason.'
'That is true.'
'The new man—Vincent—held communication with some one in the town of Lake Marrinack.'
'When?'
'Last night. That is why our agent acted immediately to remove Vincent -'
Prokop was thoughtful.
'Can't he arrange to send one of the torpedoes to us? That might do instead of the plans.'
'I questioned him regarding that,' replied Agent C. 'I was watching from the shore, two nights ago. I saw
a torpedo fall in the lake.
'Crawford came out in the boat, two hours later, and removed it. But it would have been no good to us.
The secret lies in the projecting mechanism; not in the torpedo.'
'Has our agent examined the mechanism?'
'Yes; but there are unknown attachments which the professor applies, alone. He possesses knowledge
which none of the others have received.'
'Then how will we know if the correct plans are found?'
'Our agent knows sufficient to identify them if he sees them. He needs only a few clews in the form of
diagrams. But those are essential.'
Prokop made a motion as if to dismiss the agent; then he called the man back.
'The new man, Vincent,' he said. 'Instruct Agent E to remove him as soon as possible.'
'I shall do so.'
'Let Crawford remain—for a while. He is evidently of importance in the work. We have managed to
move along without interference from him. But as for Vincent—there is only one order. Strike!'
The agent bowed, and left the room. Prokop suddenly opened the door that led to the meeting place.
'Ah!' he exclaimed. 'What are you doing here, listening by the door?'
A small, robed figure entered. The last agent removed the disguise, and Arlette DeLand faced Prokop.
'Agent R,' said Prokop sternly, 'I had you remain because I suspected that you were hearing the
instructions which I gave to others.
'You have been failing in your work for the cause. Now you may tell me what you heard—while you
were listening there.'
'You are seeking an excuse,' replied the girl. 'You kept me until the others had gone so you could
resume your talk—which was interrupted the other night. Unless you have instructions for me, I shall go.'
Prokop caught the girl's wrist as she stepped toward the door.
'You shall remain,' he hissed.
'Do not forget the Red Envoy,' returned Arlette. 'Remember: he is your master.'
Prokop released her for a moment; then he suddenly leaped past her, and blocked the way to the door.
The girl stepped away, and retreated toward a corner—the very corner in which the shadow obscured
the wall.
Arlette cowered, as Prokop advanced. The man loomed above the girl as she neared the corner.
'Now!' exclaimed Prokop. 'Now!'
A hand appeared from the shadow—a white hand that hung above the head of the cowering girl.
She did not see the hand; it extended over her. Nor did Prokop see it, for his eyes were upon Arlette.
Upon the thumb and finger of the hand were splotches of dark powder. The fingers snapped. There was
a flash of light—a puff of smoke, and a hissing noise.
Prokop cried out as he staggered backward, his hands clawing at his hooded face. He had been
momentarily blinded by the sudden flash.
The pungent fumes of the powder had entered his nostrils. He was totally incapacitated for the moment.
The girl darted from the room. She could not explain what had happened. She had seen nothing, other
than the bright flash above her head. The strange occurrence was the advantage that she had needed to
make her escape.
WHEN Prokop had recovered from the unexpected shock, he removed his hooded robe, and stood
blinking, as he gazed toward the corner.
His vision had returned; yet he could see nothing there. For the mysterious shadowy form had flitted from
the room immediately after Arlette's escape.
Prokop snarled as he hid the black garments in the corner. He could not understand what had happened.
He decided that the girl had been responsible for the powder flash; that she had come prepared for this
emergency.
It was true that he had detected her, apparently listening to the instructions that he had given Agent C; at
the same time, it was also true that he had used that fact as a pretext to cover his real designs.
He had attempted to disobey the orders of the Red Envoy. Prokop decided to say nothing of this
occurrence. Hereafter he would ignore the woman, Agent R.
The leader of the Red group left the building, and made his way to the street. He walked to a corner, and
turned down a block. There he looked about for a cab. One appeared. Prokop did not know that it had
been following him.
He left the cab at an elevated station. He went up the steps on the northbound side, and caught a train a
few minutes later.
When that train arrived at the next station, the taxicab awaited it. Prokop did not descend the steps.
The cab sped on, and arrived at the second station just after the train had left. Still Prokop was not there.
Whirling madly onward, disregarding crossings, the cab reached the third station just as the train was
