Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1894-01-12
CHAPTER XIII.

"A eUGGESIlONs
Kavanagh's brougham was waiting at
the door, but the man ON the box was not
the driver whom I had seen there the night
before.
II have bad news" said Kavanagh as
We passed Lambeth palace Read that, "
he added, putting q letter In my hand
which hs had taken carefully from leather
casa
I opened the folded sheet Of thin. blue
lined paper.
There was a black split eagle in the left
hand corner. and on the right Of 1t printed
address in Russian chaiacters. l glanced
down the paper and could make nothing of
IL. for it was written in the Russian char
acters, but turning the leaf found several
names in the ordinary Italian hand, and
among them was one which struck the note
Of alarm-Rudersdorf occurred several
times in the same page.
what does it sayi" asked. II can't
make it out"
II thought you understood Russian"
"A few words. but can't read Russian
writing"
He took the letter from my hand and ran
through il In somber silence. then raising
his eyes and fixing them relectively on the
distance he said:
Its from the minister Of police at st.
Petersburg. Luck runs in streaks, and i'll
luck too. He writes in the most friendly
and courteous spirit. but virtually he offers
me my demission-tells me that I have
failed to do the work undertook and init
mates that he shall have to employ some
one else. Who that Is you can guess"
"Rudersdorf." said.
He nodded and turning again to the let
ter continued:
Here are his reasons: We have certain
information that Borgensky'-Taras. you
know-'has made arrangements for exhibit
ing at an early date in Paris and London
casts of statue in terra Gotta, modelled in
Lambeth, which must give extreme dis
pleasure to the car. His anger will fall
upon me, and the production Of this statue
must involve my downfall. The order Civ
en- me, now nearly IL months ago, was to 81
lence Borgensky, and he must be silenced
at any cost, even though the cost be Bor-
gensky's life and the loss Of your services.
With much reluctance-as you, feel sure,
will UNDERSTANDABLE have this day instructed
Rudersdorf to start for London"
He paused, and held my breath, too ter
rified to speak.
IF anything can be done to save the life
Of Borgensky, know you will do it, and
should you succeed you may depend on a
substantial recognition Of your services
With this view l have given Rudersdorf
imperative and stringent instructions to
consult you before taking any action what
ever. He will call upon you as soon as he
reaches London and carry out implicitly
any directions you may give for conveying
Borgensky safely on board the Volga. In
the event, however. of your having no direc-
tons to give him'-that means il can find
no means Of getting Taras on board the
steamer that is waiting for him-'then Ru-
dersdorf will have the sole management of
the affair-tO silence Borgensky as may
seem best to him-and you will be freed
from all further responsibility in the mat
ter"
He sighed, and without other comment
glOomily replaced the letter In his case
when will Rudersdorf be heret" ask
ed after an interval of dreadful silence.
If he left on the same day that this let
ter was posted. he may be here now"
''Now!" gasped.
HE may be waiting for me at my cham
bers this moment"
The throbbing Of my heart seemed to
check the words as they rose,