The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-07-22


my own private study, adjoining my
bedroom, before retiring tor the night
and counted up my gainA Iwas IN .
fair way to get father restored to free
dom. There could b but one result 10
the chiefs telegram. He must be ideh-
titled At once and allowed 10 90 frea
That was the FIRST and best point Of all
Then We were rid Of Andre II was
exceedingly unlikely that he would ever
favor M with his presence again-nay,
II was probable that the police would
put II out Of the question by laying
hands upon him before be could escape
very far. II they did so. they would not
let him 60 again. poor wretch This
time his departure for the east would
be final.
Ny thoughts dwelt on the fate Of the
student. Poor little, creature that he
was, victim of a very cruel destiny, he
had had hard life Of 1itifrop start to
finish. IT was to be hopeal sheh Us he
would be mercifully judged, for indeed
be had never .chaurSl iWho could
blame himi Not for one. On the con-
trary, l felt grateful enough toward
him, for how In the world should we
ever have attained the end, which now
loomed well In view, but for his good
oficesf He had been very aggravating
in the manner Of giving his informa.
tion. he had been foxy and avaricioua
and, Of course. from the point Of view
Of coed or bad faith toward his friends,
his conduct had been treacherous snd
atrocioua Nevertheless I felt softly
toward the poor fellow by reason Of the
services be had rendered me. services
which-as a matter Of fact-had cost
him his life
Was he stabbed while sleeping1 l
wondered. God grant that he suffered
none Of the terrible anguish of suddenly
awaking to sec his murderer, like an
avenging fury. standing over his bed,
perhaps bidding him prepare for instant
death, a traitors violent death, while
horror paralyzed his limbs and his
tongue 90 that be could neither move
nor cry out.
Did I dream. or was that the figure
Of a man standing in the doorway
which led into the bedroom,
For a moment I imagined that II
must be Percy or Borofsky or perhaps
my own man Petka, who had been pre-
pairing my room for the night; then he
suddenly stepped out into the light, see.
ing, I suppose, that peered at him,
and perceived, with gasp Of horror,
that it was Andre.
The odious creature laughed aloud.
"Ah." he said, my charming and
most elegant nephewl I have long in
tended to pay you call in your own
apartments, since you seemed determin.
ed to keep aloof from me in my own"
Twas too frightened-there Is no 9th
er world was too terrified to speak.
Horror and surprise kept my tongue
tied to my palate. ! could not have
spoken. If my life depended on 1t, dur
ing that first minute or two
"You are surprised to zee me, per-
ceive," he continued. II am aware
that am unlimited. Probably you be.
lieved me TO be out Of town-nicht
wahrf"
Lmade no reply.
II should have left before now, no
doubt" he went on, "but unfortunate
ly forgot to draw a check upon my
bankers before leaving home. You
don't happen to have a checkbook in
your writing table there, do your"
He pointed with his right hand to-
ward my roller desk, and now observed
that he held revolver in 1t.
My thoughts had begun to work now.
racked my brain madly for ideas. I
uid not know what course to take
"You internal murderer" ] now
muttered from between my dried up
lips. "You shall never have a farthing
from mel"
"Oh, ohl' he said. "For shamel
What, grudge your own uncle thou.
sand or two from your affluencea Be-
ware, undutiful nephew, lest l take an
uncle's privilege and chastise you'll"
"You dare not shoot that thing off"
I said 'The noise would alarm the
household, and you would be caught at
once"
"Pooh, there are other ways less
noisy, if need be; moreover, there are
also other checkbooks in the house.
There is the dear countess, your moth
er's."
"You shall not go near my mother"
said. "even though you stabbed me
as you stabbed the student"
"You fooll' he said. "Come; write
me the check and let me 60 have a
journey to make tonight, and I will not
be delayed. Do not make me desperate.
would as soon kill you as not, you
hellhoundl 1t was you that caught the
student and wormed my secrets out Of
him. You would have been dead man
by this but that / must have the mon
ey. I was an internal fool not to stick
a knife into you as you sat doing in
that armchair. Your mother can pay
the money as easily as you. Come,
now, shall she pay 1t or your will
have the cash, mind your
My mind was working quickly and
well now.
"Stopr l eaid "You have the whip
hand of me, for l am unarmed. We
will make q bargain Of it. You shall
write me a declaration that you are
Andre Landrinof or Kornilof or any
one you please, and that my father,
Count Vladimir. was arrested in your
place. You shall give me such doou.
ment. and I will sign check for
what, 1000 rublesf"
l never really intended to bargain
with this internal assassin. My inten-
ton was to spring upon him as he
wrote.
"Twenty thousand Is the sum, said
he, land there Is no bargain. / sign
nothing. Twill have the money without
conditions Of any kind. Come; time
passes. Do not make me desperate l
can force the countess to pay me; re-
member that"
"Not while live," I said. "You
shall not leave this room, though You
may carry an arsenal Of arms "
"Poohl' he said. "You defy met
You are one that talks much, ! take It,
and acts little gay shall go from