The Portland daily press., 1898-04-13
COPYRIGHTED. 1897, BY
(Chapter XVIII
A SPY'S STORY.

he had suddenly become agitated and
suspicious. He glanced at ]ne in doubt,
saying:
1t is useless, now, to try and disguise the
fact"
No. replied, quickly. "She has
not explained anything. What do you
expect her to reyeal?"
"Oh, nothing, my dear fellow, nothing,
he answered, smiling with that ind1ifer-
ence cultivated by the diplomat. THE
expression you used was as original as
1t was unusual, that's all. !"
II don't claim originality, for it," |
laughed. To Sonia is the credit due"
''Io Soniar' he exclaimed. uneasily
glanoing sharply at NE. "Ihen 1t IS
true. as I suspected, that she has been
telling, you some of her ingenious false
hoods"
Scarcely that [ replied, thrusting
my hands deeply into my pockets "She
has merely urged me to go to Ella and
ask her whether she is acquainted with
anyone with diamond eyes,"
HAs l thought. he cried, rising and
pacing the room furiously. SIT is ex-
aotly as Iexpecied. She is trying to en-
trap YOU as she has the others, and has
embarked upon the first step by speaking
thus of Ella, and sowing seeds of suspic-
ion in your mind. This is the character
Of the woman you seek to help, and you
Geoffrey,' he said, hating suddenly, and
looking me straight in the face. Il shall
not stir on her behalf.
'sBut remember that, in return for the
passport, she has promised to tell me all
regarding Ella cried, anxiously,-
"Ahl" he echoed. in surprise. lis she
such mysterious person. then? surely
you have confidence in her, or yod would
not have asked her to be your wife.
"There is mystery connected with
her." 1 said, quietly. "a mystery deep
and inscrutable that perplexes me to the
point of distraction.
said, interested.
1t was upon my tongue to relate to him
the whole of the facts sub silentio, but a
thought at that instant occurred to me
that such course would be unjust to
Ella; therefore, L evaded his invitation
TO make him my confldant. Returning
quickly to the object for which l had
sought him, persuaded him to assist me
by giving mo passport for Sonia.
"What will she do in return?' he again
inquired, raising his eyebrows and shrug-
ging his shoulders in q manner habituai
to him when unduly excited. "She will
concoct some idiotic romantic story. in
order that the woman you love snail
suffer. 1 really cannot see, Geonrey,
what end can be attained in assisting
criminal to re-enter the country from
which she is a fugitive. You don't KNOW
the real character of this apparently In
genuous girl, or feel certain you would
never ask me to imperil my reputation
by rendering her assistance. If l had
done my duty long ago, I should have
allowed the extradition proceedings to go
on. I'm sorry now didn't, for il l had
you would have been saved world of
worry, and we should have been rlo OF
the pair forever"
animosity against her," blurted forth.
| mot at all. I've never seen her in my
life," he protested. "You apparently
want confirmation Of my words. Well
you shall have it at once, and he
touched an electric button.
Il The summons was instantly obeyed by
a messenger in uniform, and to this man
Paul spoke some words. A few minutes
later a short, middle-aged Russian en-
tered.
His hair was grey, his clean-shaven
face was rather red and slightly pimply,
his small jet black eyes were set too close
ly together. and his low brows met above
his nose Fashionably attired in frock
coat of light grey, with a pink carnation
in the lapel he looked so spick and span
that regarded him with genuine sur
prise when my friend, introducing us,
| said
"This, Godfrey, is Ivan Renoue, dare
say you have heard of him. He is now
chief of the section of Secret Police at
tached to our Embassies of London and
Paris.
l nodded in acknowledgment of the
bow Of this expert detective who at the
time had lived in ST: Petersburg. had
stories told of his amazing ingenuity in
detecting crime were legion, though
many of them were perhaps fabulous;
yet there was no doubt that he was one
OF the most experienced police officers in
Europe.
"Renouf,' my friend exclaimed, II
want to ask you question. What charac-
ter does Sonia Korolsnko bearf"
"Sonia?'' answered the greet detective
refieotively, in fairly good English.
"Ah you mean the daughter of Anton
Korolenko who escaped from Petersburg?
l-eh?''
Eyes. Tell my friend, Deedes," Paul
said, with a slow gesture indicating me.
"Well," he answered glancing quickly
at me with his searching eyes. "For the
past nine months we have kept her under
strict surveillance, expecting that she IL
tended to re commence operations In Lon
don. Indeed, have here in my pocket,
the report for the last forty weight hours,
and he took from his breast pocket
long folded paper. cit shows among
other things that she has had several Wis
itors at her house in kensinguon, one OF
whom WAS a gentleman who, according
to the description, must have borne
strong resem blance to m sieur. Two
hours before this man had called lady
visited her and remained with her about
an hour" Then. reading from the re-
port, he continued ''the description says.
tall, good-looking, blue eyes, reddish
brown hair, straw hat trimmed with pale
blue, brown shoes, light blouse, black
cycling skirt"
| 'uRv heayenI', cried exoitedly
"That's Ella! Every word of that de-
scription tallies, even to the dress, boots
and hat!''
"She is a frequent visitor 1.-THE detsc-
tive observed. ''She calls on her bicycle
every day.
"Every dayl' echoed in establishment.
81 did not know thsy were friends"
Did I not tell you thatlshelwass conceal
in, The truthY' Paul observed, smiling at
my dismay. "Tell km seur of the past,
Ivan"
"Ahl her record is very black one
very black" the officer of police answered
gravely, again fixing his small dark eyes
upon me. "Her swindling transactions
extend over several years. and she has no