Middletown transcript., 1898-05-21

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He auds 3ttst in time to see the dark man
raise q knife.
rife blow with his left which caught
Goodenough straight between the eyes.
1t knocked him senseless. At the
same moment there was the sharp crack
of pistol.
When he came to, he found himself
stretched on the bed, with Prince Mala-
topsky at his side calmly applying a
towel wet with ice water to his head.
He looked around, dazed, trying to re-
call the events which had preceded his
lapse of consciousness
"Goodr' said the prince in his cool,
encouraging voice. "You will be all
right now-no greater harm than big
bump between your eyes, and l have
sent messenger boy down to Delmoni-
co.'s with note to the chef to kindly
send me raw steak. That will help to
mend your countenance. He passed a
small vinaigrette, such as women use,
under Goodenough' IS nose while saying
this, and the pungent salts helped to
clear his head. "What a pleasant even
ing this has been for you'll seem, to be
the favorite of fortune tonight and you
the victim. Thank you for saving my
life just now. That may be some con-
ISOLATION after your previous efforts in
my direction. Are you all right?'
eyes" said Goodenough, though he
was feeling all wrong, his brain throb-
bing and dull pain in his head. "But
the--that man! Where is he? That was
the fellow who was with her tonight.
Look out for him."
"My dear fellow, I have looked out
for him." said Prince Malatopsky, smil-
ing gently. "He is lying in there, " and
he gave a careless side nod toward the
sitting room, with an undigested bull
let in his system. imagined he might
be friend of Olga's. This is her field
day. The beggar died in great pain,
am happy to say, and cursing me in a
very impolitio way. He was not thor
oughbred like Olga. We found ticket
on him for Montreal. She is probably
on her way there and will wait for him
in that city, If she gets there. He must
have wished to assure himself of the
success of your endeavors in behalf of
that lady. When he saw that they had
failed, he attempted this reckless coup.
How pleased Olga Baranof will be
when she learns that she would have
succeeded in blowing me to atoms but
for you and that this beggar would
have killed me except for your friendly
presence.
"But now, my dear fellow" said
Prince Malatopsky, with businesslike
directness, ST have got to go to police
headquarters with the officer out there
to send advices along the route to have
my active countrywoman arrested at the
first point they can grab her. shall
try to see if can prevent our passing
the night in station house. It is toe
bad that your kindness should have led
you into such muddle, but, of course,
I cannot regret it too deeply, and
know you are too good to do SO. This
vinaigrette, he said, with genuine
look of merriment, as he held up the
dainty banble, "is the fair Olga's 1t
has most appropriately helped to revive
you. For she can't have any i'll will to-
ward you You did your best to help
her as long as you could. F."
1t was proved later that she hadn't
any i'll will toward him, for when that
fragile, modest young woman was as
signed Siberia for life residence as
the ultimate outcome of that hot day s
Vaccinations before she obviated the
need of SO tiresome a journey by poi
soning herself she wrote letter to God
dard Goodenough which brought out
strongly graceful trait in her singu-
IarIy composite character. In it she de-
plored with perfect simplicity that she
should have been forced to seemingly
misuse the noble kindness he had SO
chivalrously shown to her in her dis
tress In the same breath in which she
deprecated his entertaining any harsh
feeling toward her, since In very truth
she felt his kindness deeply, she de-
clared that she would die with gladness
could she have the crowning bliss Of
holding for one moment a dagger in her
hand whose blade was buried in Mala-
topsky's heart.
She had sworn to the dark man, her
associate, whom she had ever kept at
arms length though he was madly in
love with her, that in case Of Good
enough's failure if he would secure her
this happiness, even vicariously, she
would marry him at once.
Goodenough has not wholly abjured
being kind. but he is more warily be-
neyolent. He is stanoh friend of
Prince Malatopsky, who does not take
it tall i'll that he is very fond Of wear
! ing his opal scarfpin. Goodenough also
preserves Olga Baranoff's s letter as re-
minder of the most exciting evening Of
his life. In the beginning he used to
feel that he ought to check an inclina-
tion to think with pity of the poor
lady, but later he deliberately admitted
this feeling of compassion for her as
perpetual inmate of his heart This
again is due to his kindness. without
doubt.