The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-01-18

balls covered with green silk md selected
One OF these balls. At this moment there
came n third knock. Scheim pulled the
ball toward him; there WAS n grating Of
bolts and bars; n OF the doors opened.
threshold. 5chelm lot 20 tho ball. The
door closed Of itself.
well" asked schelm, "is It doneY"
"What? Why! it is seven o'clock"
y found it impossible to carry out your
Then one might have imagined that
SchelIn had regained control of himself II
that his wrath gaye him supernatural
strength, 80 sudden WAS the movement he
gave to his chair. lie half turned his livid
face md looking at the procurator with al
eye flashing insensate rage he cried:
impossible to carry them out! Why!
Come now. arc you mad? Who was there
to hinder your"
your superior"
sche!m Was nearly st,fled by his rage; he
uttered Il yell OF furious wrath that ended
ike y death rattle Of tho damned.
"SuperiorY repeated he. 80 l have a
superior! You deceive me because / am
Helpless. An, bewares
Am l your supreme and absolute head?
Have ] ali the secret societies of Russia
under my control? Does the committee
wiShesI Did the last meeting Of the centre
proclaim me chief?. II you nave lied to me
you can yet say so."
II have not lied to you. The order OF the
centre WAS, to be sure, to obey You; at
our monthly meeting the committee de-
cided 3d.
well, then, why did you not obey me?''
'fSllunGa Vnnr nFdapA 1Dara RnYInfAr-
manded."
"By whom? The centre has not met, SO
far as l know"
1T appears it has. Here is the letter"
"A letter! Show it to me! Why! don't
you see that ] cannot stir"" yelled schelm
n Th q mSst fearful passion. "show II to me!
Il want to read It. That is all right" he
added a moment later. II recognize the
zeal and the signatures. Oh! oh! but some
tnihR is concenled from mean orGaniza-
ton OF which l know nothing"
Then looking Darine in the eye:
Gould it be that you are a traitorY"
IN an instant he answered himself.
mo: you are only a fool. Next month,
even II it kills me, / shall have myself car
rled to the centre. Now, be off with you!'
Don't you want me to tell you"
why, don't l know it as well as you?
Some one handed you this letter, the coun-
booDS AiOHU llhclys IL WhB III LuC DEGBcUCC OF
everybody, for Vladimir is not the man to
be intimidated. You did not ever VEN
ture to examine :.Dakouss. The plan has
failed: They will be ON their guard. BE
"Your orders, Baron, for the threatened
socialists of Riazan?'
what orders would You have me give?
l count for nothing nowadays. Warn them
that they must defend themselves"
"Ihey will be perSecuted.F
"Weli, what then? How does that con-
Germ me?"
Then, as Darine looked at him with eyes
of amaZement:
Understand that I no longer consider
myself the chief. Since my will has been
disputed / abandon the supreme direction.
You need not come here until the day when
the center meets. That day, / repeat to
you, upon my honor, / mean to be carried
there Go. now. Don't you see that you
are wearying me?"F
Darine tried to speak.
Away. Out with your cried Schelm,
darling at him a terrible glance.
With a sudden movement he seized one
of the balls; the door opened. Schelm
pointed toward it with his finger; the pro-
curator bowed and faced about. Schelm
called him back in a sharp tone:
What about that Prince Gromof?" he
asked; do they hope to save him"
Il had no time to question Dakouss, but
he gave me the sign agreed upon. / in
ferred from it that his patient was out of
danger"
SIS this Dakouss a good doctor?"
NC worse than the rest-stupid and con-
ceited-but he will obey us, because he
fears u.s."
Remember my words" said Schelm,
"Good-bye."
The procurator obeyed; this man. who
was SO naughty in LanIne's house, seemed
to tremble at the mere frown of this help
less old man. The door closed again. Then
Schelm, feeling that he was alone, heaved
q deep sigh; his assumed composure forsook
ing of keen anxiety.
MY orders countermanded!" he muir
INJURED. BY whom? Who is above me in
the committee? Can it be treachery? Per
haps it is the police. And l, an ex-chief of
police, should allow myself to be entrapped?
Perish the thoughtr
He let his head sink on his breast. "And
why? Because this is the sole amusement
l enjoy. the one objective of my life!"
He again seized the bunch Of balls, An
opening as large as a window, skilIfully
concealed in the wall of the room, was dis
closed. AT any moment the old man could
by means of these balls set i'll motion a
disclosed in the same manner as the door
by which Darine entered. The face of a
servant appeared behind a grating and a
voice asked:
what does the baron wanti"
"Mademoiselle.'
Eyes, sir"
'Beg her to come to me-"
The opening closed up again. Evidently
the baron had surrounded himself in his
own homo with a profusion of unheard-of
precautions. He closed and opened doors
and and no one could reach hia
presence except after giving prearranged
signs and after a satisfactory inspection.
Several minute elapsed; with his useful
hand Schelm was crumpling up some papers
Oh his desk, muttering:
II am the master and shall not submit to
any IL abov me. l had chiefs when l was
i'll the service of the old-fashioned society;
| will not submit to any now that | an
fighting against it. Clearly, it must be the
police. IN my day l might have contrived
e.