The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1898-05-17

A frightful detonation followed. This
was accompanied by the crash of shat
tered panes of glass in the neighboring
windows and its sharp crackle as the
fragments dropped to the sidewalk. The
windows Of Mr.. Wheeler's apartment
ratified with the ooncussion, but were
not broken.
With face as white as a sheet and
his legs so weak he could hardly stand
Goodenough tottered to the nearest seat
and fell into it speechless, regarding
the young man with an expression of
horror. The other still kept the pistol
pointed at him, but seemed much more
at his ease, as if relieved notably.
"You will not object to my searching
you probably after this little episode,
which apparently" he laid stress on
the word, "has been more Of surprise
to you than to me. You must admit
that l have reason for mistrusting q
stranger who kindly provided mo with
such companion for the night as that
little box. Do not be alarmed" 4" he con
tinued lightly. II am nearly certain
that you were only dupe. But one must
take ordinary precautions.
He quickly went through Good
enough's pockets with his left hand
while he kept the cooked revolver aimed
at him all the time with his right.
Naturally the pockets revealed nothing
more dangerous than match safe and q
pooketknife. Goodenough had kept his
arms stretched straight up all tho time
| with the most earnest spirit Of co.
operation.
"Yes, you arc only fool, think, "
the other remarked when he had salts.
fed himself as to the contents of the
others pockets. Gwen that unflattering
remark may have to be qualified when
hear your explanation. If you are not
| criminally involved in this attempt on
my life, should suppose you would be
as eager to make it ;.s am to hear it.
Where did you get that scarfpin?'' he
| asked suddenly
THAT, " replied Goodenough sarcas.
tically-he was getting his wind now
twas given me by your wife through
| gratitude for my Kindness in restoring
| the box Of documents so necessary to
you as executor of this great estate He /,
life's happiness depended OH my getting
1t back before you had noticed it's alb
sence and putting it just where you
had left it,
'Olga ~ exclaimed the young man,
| nodding his head. II was sure it was
she. am not surprised that she fooled
you. l must already apologize for quot
| ing you so literally against yourself.
Come into the other room and let me
hear how she worked her little game.
What womanl"
ri certainly want to tell you tho
whole thing, and you can doubtless
throw some light on my dark end of the
story, " replied Goodenough as he fol-
lowed his host, who had poclleted his
pistol and preceded him into the sitting
room.
The young man poured brandy and
soda into two long glasses and present
ed one to Goodenough, who accepted it
with alacrity and took big draft from
1t. The young man, who had not lost
his sang froid throughout, was now the
debonalr host, as much at ease as if he
were entertaining an agreeable and
habitual evening caller He pushed a
tray Of Russian cigarettes as large as
oiiO 'iUOlO hiBCl IoWuIu Ills SuSSU ana,
having lit one himself, listened most
attentively without interrupting him
once, while Goodenough, who began by
giving his full name and address, re-
counted the whole story of his connec-
tion with the box.
81 can hardly blame you," he said
when Goodenough was through. "You
were simply too quixotically kind to a
fascinating and helpless woman. lSwas
manly instinct, generously obeyed A
clever woman, that. She must have made
up most of her story while she was
with you in the cab. Everything, your
self included, played into her hand The
story, under the circumstances, was
plausible enough. If she had not got
You to do it, she would have got some
one else or have done it herself. So don't
feel too badly over it. No harm has
been done.
"That dark man with her is undoubt-
edly one Of those Russian nihilists who
are skilled in making explosives and in.
| fernal machines 1t was an excellent
brand he selected on this occasion. And
| the devilish craftiness of making the
little box SO that it would run e. ,ng on
its own legs! All it wanted was q start
in life If it had dropped from the top
Of the bed to the floor, as it certainly
would have done had you not called,
the informal thing would have exploded
without doubt 1t made quite nice
hole in the street and damaged plenty
Of windows. The police will probably
be up here soon to know if we can give
any information about it. Isuppose you
will allow the whole truth to come out
The cabman will probably tell what he
knows, although Pm not sure how far
he was in himself. These nihilists are
wonderful beings. fancy it was con.
sideration for mo more than for you
that made her select rubber tired cab
and order the oabby to drive here slow.
ly. She didn't want the little bomb to
waste its sweetness on the desert air
by only annihilating you and the cab in
the street.
"But you are probably curious to
know the why and wherefore Of this at.
tempt on my life," continued the young
man, after taking pull at his brandy
and soda. He blew fragrant puff OF
Latakia from his fat cigarette and
stretched out more comfortably In his
chair.
NJ.