Evening star., 1896-12-05

| into her hand. The story. under the CT
! cumstances. was plausible enough III sh'
| bad not got you to do II she "ouid naNe
| got some one else. or have done II herself
! So don't feel too bad over it. No harm
has been done.
| ..That dark man with her is undoubtedly
one of those Russian nih!llsts. WHO are
! skilled in making explosives and internal
machines. 1t was an excellent braa1 ne
selected on this occasion. And the deviiisn
craftiness of making the little box so that
| 1T would run along on its own legs. All ID
wanted was start in life. If 1t had drop
ped from the top of the bed to the floor, as
1t certainly would have done had you MOI
called, the Internal thing would 'aVc eN-
plodcd without a doubt. 1t made quite
nice hole in the street and damaged plenty
of windows The police will probably be
up here socn II know II We can give any
information about it, l suppose you Will
allow the whole truth to come out. The
ca bman will probably tell what he knows,
although I'm not sure how far he was IN
himself. These nihilists are wondt rfnl
beings. I fancy it was consideration Tor
me more than for you that made her select
the rubber-tired cab and order the cabby
to drive here slowly. She didn't want the
little bomb to waste its sweetness on the
desert air by only annihiiating you and
the cab in the street.
But you are probably curious to know
the why and wherefore of this attempt on
my Efe," continued the young man. after
taking a pull at his brandy and soda. He
blew a fragrant puff of -Latakia from his
| fat cigarette and stretched out more com
| fortably in his chair.
Il am Prince Serge Malatopsky, Rus
| sian l have been in this country SIX
| months Here l assumed the name of Viii
| liam Wheeler. feeling that with my income,
| a very small one. and my manner OF life.
my title would only be in the way. Rus
| SLAMS iea-n to speak English well that
| they can hardly be told from the natives,
! ! add a little 10 my income by writing.
Shortly refore l left Russia, by mere
IL n f.f fat
against a high official. who was Il stanch
| worker against these miserable revolution
| lists. Owing to this discovery, the ring
| leader. young Russian. was put to death
He and this Olga Baranom your beSuiling
| woman friend of the cab. were engaged to
| De married / have learned lately that she
| sole1n,:ly swore to have my life is JOINT
! amend 10 nhilism and herself fcl hei low
| er'S execution.
| about month ago. continued the
prince Il needed a secretary for some
| work 1 had in hand. This young woman
| presented herself. | had never seen her be
| fore. | must admit that she filed the bill
| admirably. Prompt, neat, quiet, and never
| a mistake! Naturally she got to know my
| habits thoroughly. AS a matter of fact. |
am as metnodical as an Old virgin, and in
| many respects as regular clock. in
! variably return home about 10, for in
stance. and retire at II.
"She was a fascinating woman" said
Prince MalatopSky. thoug fully and with
| a faint smile. 'Captivatingly proper. With
| a chid-like insensibility to conventioaali-
ties, she was, ON the other hand, so modest
| that she would not allow me TO touch her
! ungloved hand. l did not know then what
| an aching hatred for me helped to fortify
| her in this maiden!y reserve. In subtle
! ways, she was wonderfully alurng. 1
| think it was very natural for you to meet
| her wishes in the cab During the day |
| am out great deal and it was my own
suggestion that she should have a key 20
| the apartment and come in and do the
| writing at any time.
"A fortnight ago l received a letter from
| ST Petersburg telling me that Olga Bara-
| noff had gone to America, and that she had
sworn not to return to Russia Until she had
| sent me to my forefathers. i am afraid
now, thanks to you, that she will not keep
| that oath. A minute description of the wo-
man given and l recognized my in
valuable secretary at once.
"a week ago l told her that the work
| was done. and with some pretty compIi-
| ments on her efficiency and regrets that 1
| no longer had any need of ner services,