E-text prepared by Suzanne Shell, Project Gutenberg Beginners Projects,
Mary Meehan, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team
THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS AT WASHINGTON
or, Checkmating the Plots of Foreign Spies
By
LAURA DENT CRANE
Author of The Automobile Girls at Newport, The Automobile Girls in theBerkshires, The Automobile Girls Along the Hudson, The Automobile Girlsat Chicago, The Automobile Girls at Palm Beach, etc.
1913
[Illustration: A Fat Chinese Gentleman Stood Regarding Her.
(Frontispiece)]
CONTENTS
Chapter
I. A Chance Meeting
II. Cabinet Day in Washington
III. Mr. Tu Fang Wu
IV. At the Chinese Embassy
V. Sub Rosa
VI. The Arrest
VII. Mollie's Temptation
VIII. At the White House
IX. Bab's Discovery
X. The Confession
XI. In Mr. Hamlin's Study
XII. Barbara's Secret Errand
XIII. A Foolish Girl
XIV. "Grant No Favors!"
XV. Bab Refuses to Grant a Favor
XVI. Barbara's Unexpected Good Luck
XVII. The White Veil
XVIII. A Tangled Web or Circumstance
XIX. Harriet in Danger
XX. Foiled!
XXI. The Discovery
XXII. Oil on the Troubled Waters
XXIII. Suspense and the Reward
XXIV. Home at Laurel Cottage
CHAPTER I
A CHANCE MEETING
Barbara Thurston stood at the window of a large old-fashioned house,looking out into Connecticut Avenue. It was almost dark. An occasionallight twinkled outside in the street, but the room in which Barbara wasstationed was still shrouded in twilight.
Suddenly she heard a curtain at the farther end of the drawing-roomrustle faintly.
Bab turned and saw a young man standing between the curtains, peeringinto the shadows with a pair of near-sighted eyes.
Barbara started. The stranger had entered the room through a small studythat adjoined it. He seemed totally unaware of any other presence, for hewas whistling softly: "Kathleen Mavourneen."
"I beg your pardon," Bab began impulsively, "but are you looking forsome one?"
The newcomer flashed a charming smile at Barbara. He did not seem in theleast surprised at her appearance.
"No," he declared cheerfully, "I was not looking for any one or anything.The butler told me Mr. Hamlin and Harriet were both out. But, I say,don't you think I am fortunate to have found you quite by accident! Icame in here to loaf a few minutes."
Barbara frowned slightly. The young man's manner was surprisinglyfamiliar, and she had never seen him before in her life.
"I hope I am not disturbing you," he went on gayly. "I am an attaché ofthe Russian legation, and a friend of Miss Hamlin's. I came with amessage for Mr. Hamlin. I was wondering if it were worth while to waitfor him. But I can go away if I am troublesome."
"Oh, no, you are not disturbing me in the least," Barbara returned. "Iexpect Miss Hamlin and my friends soon. We arrived in Washington lastnight, and the other girls have gone out to a reception. I had a headacheand stayed at home. Won't you be seated while I ring for the butler toturn on the lights?"
The newcomer sat do