The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-05-20
CHAPTER XVII.
A sPY's STORY.

EVERY man says tndl Wnen girl
has taken his fancy. know the world,
old fellow"
But ii so happens that I've not been
captivated by her charms" | retorted.
do not be entrapped by pretty
face or fine pair of eyes, that's my
advice" my companion said, slowly
striking match.
II can assure you, old fellow, shall
not be misled by any pretty face, even
If it has diamond eyes" l said quite
unthinkingly, Sonia's strange words
recurring to me at that moment.
Diamond eyes!" gasped Paul YER
blioudovitch, starting visibly and hold
ing the burning match still between
his fingers without lighting his cigar
cite. He had in that instant grown
paler, and thought detected that his
hand trembled, almost imperceptibly
be it said What do you mean" he
demanded with strange fierceness in
his gaze. What do you know of Dia-
mond Eyes?"
II know nothing Of diamond eyes,"
replied, surprised at Paul's excited
inquiry. Il don't claim originality for
It, To Sonia is the credit DUE
ITO Sonia!" he exclaimed, glancing
sharply at me. Then it is true, as |
suspected, that she has been telling
you some of her ingenious falsehoods."
Scarcely that" 1 replied, thrusting
my hands deeply into my pockets.
"She has merely urged me to go to
Ella and ask her whether she is ac-
quainted with any one with diamond
eyes,"
"As thought" he cried, rising and
pacing the floor furiousy. 1T is ey-
actly as I expected. She is trying to
entrap you as she has the others, and
has embarked upon the first step by
speaking thus of Ella, and sowing
seeds of suspicion in your mind. Surely
you have confidence in her, or you
would not have asked her to be your
wife"
There is mystery connected with
her." l said, quietly. "A mystery deep
and inscrutable that perplexes me to
the point of distraction"
"Tell me about IT," Verblioudovitch
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
10, hat nns he
! Just to Ella; therefore evaded his in.
yitation to make him my confidant. Re.
turning quickly to the object for which
I had sought him, persuaded him to
assist nae by giving me a passport for
Sonia.
you seem actuated by some spirit
Of animosity against her." I blurted
forth.
mot at all. I've never seen her in
my life" he protested. you appar-
emily want confirmation of my words.
Well, you shall have it at once" and he
touched an electric button.
The summons was instantly obeyed
by messenger in uniform, and to this
man Paul spoke some words. A few
minutes later short, middle-aged
Russian entered.
His hair was gray, his clean-shaven
face was rather red and slightly pimp-
ly, his small jet-black eyes were set too
closely together, and his low brows
met above his nose. Fashionably at
tired in frock coat of light gray, with
pink carnation in the lapel, he look
ed as spick and span that / regarded
him with genuine surprise. When my
friend, introducing Us, said:
This Godfrey, is Ivan Renouf. l
dare say you have heard of him. He
is now chief of the section of Secret
Police attached to our Embassies of
London and Paris
"Renouf," my friend exclaimed, Il
want to ask you question. What
character does Sonia Korolenko bear?"
For the past nine months we have
kept her under strict surveillance, ex-
pecting that she intended to recon-
mence operations in London. Indeed
l have here in my pocket the report
for the last fortyeight hours" and he
took from his breast pocket a long
folded paper. 1T shows, among Other
things, that she has had several Wis
itors at her house in Kensington, one
of whom was a gentleman who, accord
ing to the description, must have born
a strong resemblance to m'scieur Two
hours before this man had called a
lady visited her and remained with her
about an hour" Then, reading from
the report, he continued "the descrip-
ton says, tall, good-looking, blue eyes,
reddish brown hair, straw hat trimmed
with pale blue, brown shoes, light
blouse, black cycling shirt"
"By heaven!" l cried excitedly.
That's Ella! Every word Of that de-
scription tallies, even to the dress,
boots and hiatt"
"She is frequent visitor" the de-
tective observed. "She calls on her
bicycle every day."
LfViy ueiy SlhOCu III oStohioh
ment. 81 did not know they were
friends"
did not tell you that she was con-
cealing the TRUTH" Paul observed
smiling at my dismay. Tell m'sieur
Of the past, Ivan"
"Ah! her reco.d is a very black one
very black" the officer of police an
swered gravely, fixing his small dirk
eyes upon me. Her swindling trans
actions extend over several years, and
she has no doubt acquired quite for
tune, while at least one of her victims
has lost his life. By one coup she ac-
complshed in Moscow with the aid OF
that soft-spoken old scoundrel, her
father. they pocketed nearly one ham
dred thousand rubies between them"
81 really can't believe it" l exclaim-
ed dumbfounded
You apparently suspect the woman
you love of some terrible crime OF
other" Paul said after a pause. 81
can't understand you, Godfrey, | mus