The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-09-24

q man, his back towards the door, kneel-
ing before an open dispatch box, from
which he was removing and examining
one by one the papers it contained. With
a swift movement Seymour stretched out
his hand and switched on the light to its
full extent. The effect was as that of an
electric shock upon the kneeling man.
With a bound he sprang to his feet and
faced the door.
A moment or two they stood confront
ing each other, no sound save the steady
beat of the chronometer outside break
ing the silence. Then the Russians lips
moved spasmodically, and his teeth
cleaned in a straight, white line. 1t was
meant as an ingratiating smile, but
caused one to think of the snarl of an
angry animal brought to bay.
Seymour came further into The Cabin
gently closing the door behind him.
ITO what do I owe the honor of this
visit?" he inquired, urbanely.
During an instant the others eyes
wavered 1t was as If he were searching
| for some way of escape. Then they
returned to the attaches face.
'I think" he said, smoothly, that
is somewhat unnecessary question
| .Seymour's face expressed innocent
surprise.
"Ah, then perhaps he said, cit Is the
custom of Monsieur Muriefs country for
one man to enter anothers cabin, and
ransack and read his private papers?
In that case he paused and shrugged
| his shoulders.
my presence here is not from any wish
to examine your private effects, monsieur,
| but to recover some personal property. "
"And yet" returned the Englishman,
with the same suave politeness, my cab
in still seems to me rather unlikely spot
for monsieur to recover his missing prop
erty from. And that being so, would 1t
not be we'll for him to return to his ship,
before his prolonged absence Is comment
| ed upon?
He made a slight movement, as If he
would have held open the door; but the
| other did not stir, only after a little pause
his hand moved surreptitiously to his
| pocket, his fingers closing round some
| thing concealed there. Seymour observed
the movement, and a dangerous CLEAN in
! the mans eyes.
1t was the Russian who broke the 81
lence which had followed the others last
words.
"It would be, as you say, well for me to
reioin my ship again. Therefore, I must
request you without further delay to hand
over the papers distracted from my cabin
yesterday afternoon"
Again seymour's face was expressive of
nothing but polite establishment.
my dear sir, you are really laboring
under some strange deluson! I have
nothing of-er-yours In my possession.
The Russians hand was slowly with
drawn from his pocket in It's grasp was
q small shining object. 1t was his trump
| card; but for many reasons he had nc
wish to play it. He preferred subtler
methods, and ones involving less chance
! Of awkward consequences to himself and
| those he served.
1T am sorry to use coercive measures. "
| he began, with elaborate carelessness
"but monsieur gives me no other alterna
tive" He raised his arm slightly. II ask
once more-the papers?"
'I regret I must return the same an
swer- have nothing of monsieur's in my
possession"
He had pulled the door slightly farther
| open and his fingers still rested on tho
brass knob. The light from the little
milky globe on the bulkhead cleaned or
the small sinister weapon in the others
hand. He began wondering in a vague
mechanical way, almost as If the subject
| concerned someone else, what would be
the feelings Of Lord Wickham and his
1 daughter when they returned and found
the attache to the British embassy muir
dered on board Of their yacht. He hardly