Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-01-05

things" said the official, grimly. But
If, as you say, you are really DESTROYS
to undo this knot, your best plan will
be to keep on friendly terms with this
leaoul-'' q
l raised my eyebrows, as If in sur.
Irise.
with the suspected Nihilist, sir? I
was under the impression that you had
the kindness specially to warn me
against that mans society, as being
dangerous"
Not If you come to me and give. me
hint of what passes between you."
said the chief of the secret police, with
q. smile.
"Still, sir.'' said 1, with doubtful
air. ''Vesillow seemed to be so entirely
Indifferent to politics"
"Pooh! We know him to be one Of
the most dangerous ccnspirators in Eu.
rope.'
! "You don't mean to say thatv' I ex-
claimed, in voice of extreme surprise,
ard with what I flattered myself was
q look of genuine simplicity. I'm that
case, perhaps, it would be better for
me not to see him again. have real
| ~ molly no taste for being mixed up
| with those dreadful Nihilists and their
conspiracies. almost think That, now
that have seen you, had better go
back to Lovna as soon as possible"
| DE Noilleff gave me contemptuous
look, told me 1 had better please my.
self, and with curt "Good-day" went
back to his papers. l rose from nv
chair, went to the door, paused, and
finally returned to say that if [ did
happen to learn anything of Prince
Kropenski through Vesillov l would
communicate with him directly.
| A keen look, half inquiry, half sus-
picion, came into the face of the head
Of the secret police, as I said this to
him. He appeared to be asking him
self whether [ was in reality such a
fool as l was making myself out to be.
But apparently the unlikeliness that
anyone would be rash enough to at
tempt to play the double game with
Basil dc Noilleff treasured him. He
nodded. and signed to me that l should
! leave him.
had of course, told De Noilleff that
L
prepare him for my departure from the
capital; for-I may as well say It OF
once-I had already made up my mind
to accept the offer Of Won Mitschka.
1 saw clearly enough that had a
rare opportunity for playing double
game: and if the matter had been less
serious, almost think 1 would have
done so, out of pure love Of mischief.
However, soon decided that even if
l were willing to act such part, it
was too dangerous. I could not stan
long with foot in either camp.
I. therefore, resolved that though l
might use what had said to be head
Of the police as weapon in case Of
my getting into trouble on account of
Raoul-for which purpose had spoken
of meeting him-I would keep my own
counsel and that Of the conspirators.
and work for the Princes liberty in
my own way.
On the following morning I pulled
up my window-blind and looked out.
No one was in sight except an old
woman, who was creeping at a snaiTs
pace along the edge of the pavement,
STOPPING every few seconds to pick
up some bit of coal. or wood, or what
not, out of the gutter.
AS / was looking out for the agent
of the Committee whom 1 expected to
see, the old woman passed beyond my
line of vision. The street was empty.
But I had scarcely had time to re-
prcachi the Committee in my own
mind with not keeping their engage
ment, when the woman re-appeared,
%l,o cid nf CTR fhiS
time, and began to pass slowly along
of peering into the gutter for the rub
bish she was collecting. Could this
F; old beggar-woman possibly be the
agent of the Committee?
I resolved to test her. Keeping we'll
within the shelter Of the curtain,
held morsel of the blind aside, and
observed her closely. When she drew
near enough l, saw that she was in
fact glancing every now and then at
my window.
There was no reason for keeping her
longer in the cold air. made the re-
CURED signal; and although the beg,
gar-woman gave not the smallest sign
tnta she had noticed it, she cast no
more glances in my direction, her de-
sire for the valuables Of the gutter
speedily abated and she quickly dis
appeared from the street. 1 had not
a doubt that the begar-woman (real
or pretended) was no her way to tell
the chiefs of the Committee that l
was willing to visit the Prince in his
secret prison.