The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-07-16
WITHIN AN ACE,
CHAPTER V-CONTINUED.


Give me a small coin. V%ladimirn
whispered Maruscha. Il have thouoht
OF a plan to manage with the
Dvornik."
Whilst am producing the coin she
continues: at is certain that wnen
ne hears a foot descending the stairs
he Will look out Of his room to see
who it is; SO I will go down first and
stop and. speak to him. Presently I
Will seek IN my pocket for a pour
boire which l will not be able to find.
At length | shall ask leave to enter
his room to approach the lamp, and
Will manage in doing so to close the
door behind me. I shall be long in
finding the coin. and shall thus hold
MS attention in greedy expectation
whilst thou wilt steal down past the
closed door and out into the street.
There thou wilt hurry away to the
right until thou hast turned the corner.
md wait for me-"
MY clever one" l murmur.
She encloses my hand in a firm
clasp and turns out the lamp. I hear
her + in her breath as one might
40 before taking a plunge as she
leads me to the door-turns the kew,
opens boldly, locking the door noisily
behind her; then she leaves me and
trips lightly down the stairs.
creep forward and peer down over
the balusters. There is a CLEAN of
light across the narrow entrance. A
bullet head is thrust into it from the
Dvornik's den. Now Maruscha an
pears in it, with smiling visage.
':Ah, you are there, Mattel! Is your
mistress at homes" she inquiries.
The mistress is at home"
II would give her this key"
"Why have they taken Ivan Ivano-
Witch and the other one?" asks the
man, %curiously.
1T is nothing-a misunderstand-
ing replies Maruscha, c~arelessly.
Ivan 1vanovitch; l doubt not, will
be back to his lodging in the course
OF TO- morrow. if not tonight"
She begins to search for the coin.
Bah, my pocket has got twisted! I
would give you"-she fumbles vainly
"a trifle to get some tea"
"My gracious lady is too good!' in
terposes the Dvornik, cycling her
movements greedily.
well, that is stupidu' Maruscha
laughs. Find it [ must, for indeed
it is there. she says gayly. 'Excuse
me, Mattel I will just s.cp to your
lamp.
Matel quickly makes way, preced-
ing Maruscha into the room.
l am on the top stair as the light is
suddenly shut off.
Maruscha is indulging in a merry
peal OF laughter at her own expense.
She keeps up an unbroken string of
remarks in a voice raised far above it's
ordinary pitch.
l steal swiftly down. The stairs
creak under my heavy boots, yet on 1
60. confident that the man hears
nothing say Maruscha's tongue
thinks of nothing but the value of the
coin that 5 % obstinately refuses to
come to light
Here it is at last!" I hear Marus-
cha exclaim, as l am shooting past
the door. 1T isn't muc1a but you are
welcome to it."
And l hear no more, for 1 am in the
street. with the wind whistling in nv
ears.
l have not long to wait round the
corner OF the street. Maruscha comes
on me like q small whirlwind, and
seizes my arm convulsively in the
gloom.
THANK God thou art here I'D he
has neither seen nor heard thee!n she
sobs.
l look fearlully around to make
sure that no one is near. Not a soul
is abroad this wild night, though the
world has not yet gone to sleep. for
from many a window shines out a
warm glow. Now the wind bears to
US the booming strokes of midnight.
There is silence between US for a few
minutes. I mold Maruscha's two
hands in a fervent clasp as I look
down into her white, upturned face.
and swallow drop by drop the bit
terest cup that cruel fate over pressed
to the lips of man. To bid fare we'll
to the woman that I love with every
fibre of my being, knowing not when.
If ever: we may meet again is bitter
indeed: but to be compelled to go from
her side when danger besets her-dan-
ger Of which l am the a thor: to
know the enemy and yet withhold my
avenging hand. lest | whelm her also
in destruction. is like swallowing a
draught of the burning lake of hell.
A cro00f vy0Df,,I --h -
the present. and the necessity for self