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playing into his hands。 This man Metzger； who had been an assistant
chef at the Octagon for years； was slated to go on board the George
Washington with the party of cooks from that hotel who were to prepare
the President's meals。 Weintraub was informed of all this from someone
higher up in the German spy organization。 Metzger； who was known as
Messier at the hotel； was a very clever chef； and had fake passports as a
Swiss citizen。 He was another tool of the organization。 By the original
scheme there would have been no direct communication between
Weintraub and Metzger； but the go…between was spotted by the
Department of Justice on another count； and is now behind bars at Atlanta。
〃It seems that Weintraub had conceived the idea that the least
suspicious way of passing his messages to Metzger would be to slip them
into a copy of some booka book little likely to be purchased in a
second…hand bookshop。 Metzger had been informed what the book was；
butperhaps owing to the unexpected removal of the go…between did not
know in which shop he was to find it。 That explains why so many
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THE HAUNTED BOOKSHOP
booksellers had inquiries from him recently for a copy of the Cromwell
volume。
〃Weintraub； of course； was not at all anxious to have any direct
dealings with Metzger； as the druggist had a high regard for his own skin。
When the chef was finally informed where the bookshop was in which he
was to see the book； he hurried over here。 Weintraub had picked out this
shop not only because it was as unlikely as any place on earth to be
suspected as a channel of spy codes； but also because he had your
confidence and could drop in frequently without arousing surprise。 The
first time Metzger came here happened to be the night I dined with you； as
you remember。〃
Roger nodded。 〃He asked for the book； and to my surprise； it wasn't
there。〃
〃No： for the excellent reason that Weintraub had taken it some days
before； to measure it so he could build his infernal machine to fit； and also
to have it rebound。 He needed the original binding as a case for his bomb。
The following night； as you told me； it came back。 He brought it himself；
having provided himself with a key to your front door。〃
〃It was gone again on Thursday night； when the Corn Cob Club met
here；〃 said Mr。 Chapman。
〃Yes； that time Metzger had taken it；〃 said Aubrey。 〃He
misunderstood his instructions； and thought he was to steal the book。 You
see； owing to the absence of their third man； they were working at cross
purposes。 Metzger； I think； was only intended to get his information out
of the book； and leave it where it was。 At any rate； he was puzzled； and
inserted that ad in the Times the next morningthat LOST ad； you
remember。 By that； I imagine； he intended to convey the idea that he had
located the bookshop； but didn't know what to do next。 And the date he
mentioned in the ad； midnight on Tuesday； December third； was to inform
Weintraub （of whose identity he was still ignorant） when Metzger was to
go on board the ship。 Weintraub had been instructed by their spy
organization to watch the LOST and FOUND ads。〃
〃Think of it！〃 cried Titania。
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THE HAUNTED BOOKSHOP
〃Well；〃 continued Aubrey； 〃all this may not be 100 per cent。 accurate；
but after putting things together this is how it dopes out。 Weintraub； who
was as canny as they make them； saw he'd have to get into direct touch
with Metzger。 He sent him word； on the Friday； to come over to see him
and bring the book。 Metzger； meanwhile； had had a bad fright when I
spoke to him in the hotel elevator。 He returned the book to the shop that
night； as Mrs。 Mifflin remembers。 Then； when I stopped in at the drug
store on my way home； he must have been with Weintraub。 I found the
Cromwell cover in the drug…store bookcase why Weintraub was careless
enough to leave it there I can't guess and they spotted me right away as
having some kind of hunch。 So they followed me over the Bridge and tried
to get rid of me。 It was because I got that cover on Friday night that
Weintraub broke into the shop again early Sunday morning。 He had to
have the cover of the book to bind his bomb in。〃
Aubrey was agreeably conscious of the close attention of his audience。
He caught Titania's gaze； and flushed a little。
〃That's pretty nearly all there is to it；〃 he said。 〃I knew that if those
guys were so keen to put me out of the way there must be something
rather rotten on foot。 I came over to Brooklyn the next afternoon；
Saturday； and took a room across the street。〃
〃And we went to the movies；〃 chirped Titania。
〃The rest of it I think you all knowexcept Metzger's visit to my
lodgings that night。〃 He described the incident。 〃You see they were
trailing me pretty close。 If I hadn't happened to notice the cigar at my
window I guess he'd have had me on toast。 Of course you know how
wrongly I doped it out。 I thought Mr。 Mifflin was running with them；
and I owe him my apology for that。 He's laid me out once on that score；
over in Philadelphia。〃
Humourously； Aubrey narrated how he had sleuthed the bookseller to
Ludlow Street； and had been worsted in battle。
〃I think they counted on disposing of me sooner or later；〃 said Aubrey。
〃They framed up that telephone call to get Mr。 Mifflin out of town。 The
point in having Metzger come to the bookshop to get the suitcase was to
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clear Weintraub's skirts if possible。 Apparently it was just a bag of old
books。 The bombed book； I guess； was perfectly harmless until any one
tried to open it。〃
〃You both got back just in the nick of time；〃 said Titania admiringly。
〃You see I was all alone most of the afternoon。 Weintraub left the
suitcase about two o'clock。 Metzger came for it about six。 I refused to let
him have it。 He was very persistent； and I had to threaten to set Bock at
him。 It was all I could do to hold the dear old dog in； he was so keen to
go for Metzger。 The chef went away； and I suppose he went up to see
Weintraub about it。 I hid the suitcase in my room。 Mr。 Mifflin had
forbidden me to touch it； but I thought that the safest thing to do。 Then
Mrs。 Mifflin came in。 We let Bock into the yard for a run； and were
getting supper。 I heard the bell ring； and went into the shop。 There were
the two Germans； pulling down the shades。 I asked what they meant by
it； and they grabbed me and told me to shut up。 Then Metzger pointed a
pistol at me while the other one tied up Mrs。 Mifflin。〃
〃The damned scoundrels！〃 cried Aubrey。 〃They got what was
coming to them。〃
〃Well； my friends；〃 said Mr。 Chapman； 〃Let's thank heaven that it
ended no worse。 Mr。 Gilbert； I haven't told you yet how I feel about the
whole affair。 That'll come later。 I'd like to propose the health of Mr。
Aubrey Gilbert； who is certainly the hero of this film！〃
They drank the toast with cheers； and Aubrey blushed becomingly。
〃Oh； I forgot something！〃 cried Titania。 〃When I went shopping this
afternoon I stopped in at Brentano's； and was lucky enough to find just
what I wanted。 It's for Mr。 Gilbert； as a souvenir of the Haunted
Bookshop。〃
She ran to the sideboard and brought back a parcel。
Aubrey opened it with delighted agitation。 It was a copy of Carlyle's
Cromwell。 He tried to stammer his thanks； but what he saw or thought
he sawin Titania's sparkling faceunmanned him。
〃The same edition！〃 said Roger。 〃Now let's