The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-05-04

that time that I should keep silent unless was
atIackeu; L nave kept silent. Now you perSe-
You VIII not wonder il defend myself, therefore,
/ say | ask for Count Lapin's pardon. STOP 1
e2preSseu myself BADLY; ask for documents es-
tabHshlng Ills Innocence and the immediate stop
ping Of all proceedings against him"
ha! hap said Schelm, as soon as he had
gradually recovered from his first surprise.
Now have the key of The whole mystery in
my hand! L allowed YOU TO finish your speech.
That ID ought 10 be enough for yon. II you wish
Tor an answer. here IL Is You are rebeil-
ious and dishonest clerk. AWayi Out of my
sFhI!"
Popoff drew stln nearer.
" shall not 90 till have what walt l have
proof against you In my hands"
Hal hal copy OF 4 lew Iinesl Show me
your proof The low clerk PopOf against the
head OF division, That is laughable; but l VIII
take pity aud talk with you as my accomplish
1he old Certificate IS already in my possession
yours has no value. Nobody Will inquire about
the means II the end is only attained. That is
what you yourself said. The Minister Will even
thank me for having acted thus To whom will
ordinate ocia You Tsi had 70 be s1Re sH1
to me, my friend. Give me back that paper.
and perhaps I'll pardon you. Although it IS of
no value TO any one. do not like my sgnat ure
to be seen i'll the world
81 shall only exchange it for the freedom Of
the Count"
"Are you 2" cried Schelm. as It for
you 10 make conditions? | can have you ar
rested, searched and stripped OF every paper
yon possess"
you are right" replied Popof coolly "In
my hands this little sheet OF paper NAV he
worth little enough, but in the hand of Count
Lanin or bis wife it goes quite far. and il you do
not do what ask l shall hand it to some one
ana tell the whole story to the Emperors aid.
You can have me searched; you will find
nothing Pardon me-" he added, as he noticed
mat echem was reaching for the bell, please
do not play with it!''
Popons voice sounded SO threatening thai
Scbeln turned round. There he stood, aiming
at his former chief, with a pistol in his hand
and his eye glOwed with such irreyocabIe
u6clSlOU Lldt SEIelll for In.
alyzed.
"Ha. ha You thought would call on you
ring. TO have me arrested, searched and sen.
fenced to lifelong confinement. You would
search my papers in vain l have waited TIL
The last moment because knew very well thai
II take your life jeOpardze my own also. The
moment, therefore, you move or call kill you
Ike mad dog TheycTill rush up as soon as
The shot Is heard arrest me, and then | shall tell
al know, and they Will soon lind out, In ad-
dillon all do not know. l count upon the scan
dal being Dig enough TO reach the highest per-
sonages. l sacrifice myself, but save the
Count and he will not let my mother suffer, nor
my betrotled, nor my brother"
Sehelm had lost his mind entirely and turned
deadly pale.
+" TO threaten me with pistol-here in the
Ministry OF the InterioI-sneh thing has never
happened in Russia. You are mad I"
" we must finish our business /" said Popoff,
raising his pistol
q Tell me what you wantl" stammered scbelm.
- :" nave told you Twice the documents proving
Count Lanin's innocence!'
i1OH Cdl luIulSl IUeIQ Hllen the Count Is
guilty! know nolhing-I can do nothiug-I
have no proofs"
80. Enoq 1i,i cried POpoG toying with the trg
ger " VIII you do my bidcing or not on
"I'il try, I'll endeavor, and after all do not
care so much for him."
What fools men are In the face of danger"
sneeted Popoh contemptuousiy. "Yeu keep me
waiting, hoping that somebody may come and
save you. DO you think I'll leave your room and
be arrested as ! come out? l can ind the
papers myself. They are there, In the concealed
uiche behind The portrait of Alexander. Open it
at oncei"
Schelm was beside himself If looks could kill
men SchelmS would have annihilaled Popoff in
stantly.
second time Popof touched the trigger.
Schelm bowed low, as-if 10 avoid the ball AL
most uncensciously he went up to the picture
touched the spring and. mutterng curses, opened
the box.
"Now stopI" cried PopofT. nFll find the papers
and return them when Count Lanin is set free!'
Schelm stood there as il struck by lightning
and tried TO master his fury Popof stepped up
to take the papers. This forced him for an IN
slant 10 turn the pistol aside from Schelms
head. That was the critical moment. The same
instant Schelm sprang aside, and, with almost
supernatural strength, closed the swinging por-
TRAIT OF the Car, so that Popoh was almost
crushed between II and the wall behind.
Now Schelm laughed aloud and threw himself
INTO ehalr to wipe the Precipitation OF his face
and catch breath.
Popon. although struck bard, suffered no In
jury. he tried TO ascertain where he was, and
noticed that he was Imprisoned In n space abont
SIX lert nigh and three feet wide. Soon he felt
oiNh abu tuc DlOOu TOSD 10 MS head. Evidently
there was no ventilation. He began to shout:
then ne tried to recover the pistol which he had
cropped, put u was too dark 10 see anything
Now despair SEIZED him and he began TO strike
the walls with his fists, knowing fnat he would
soon lose his consciousness suddenly he felt
all acute pain In one hand. He had struck some
thing harder than the wall. At the same time
he began to breathe more freely and thought at
once that lie must have struck a secret Spring
which opened concealed outlet
81 am not yet lost!" he cried, joyfuly
PopoH was as cunning In mind as resolQte I'm
action. He put as many papers as he could
seize in his pockets and felt along the passage
which lie had accidentally discovered. Ii was SO
narrow that he could only proceed sideways. A
little distance further on it took different dfrec-
ton ana Popof perceived faint glimmer of
ligbf, which came through small opening from
an adjoining room, evidently connected with
Schelin's private 01ice
Soon Popoff was at the end of the passage and
could look into that room. he light came from
lamp standing on a table and the sound OF sew
efal voices, conversing, struck P0poffs ear. He
nesitated, but suddenly lie heard behind him
Schelms voice crying OUT