Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-09-27
CHAPTER XXXIII.
THE CAPTURE OF ANDRE

| There was no OlIHCulty III ouhSin6
the chief on this point. Ny father had
once broken his right leg below the
knee and carried an unmistakable
memento of the experience in the shape
of a huge scar on his shin. mentioned
this fact to the chief, who forthwith
declared that this should be amply suf-
ficient for Identification, and that he
would have my fathers whereabouts
ascertained and telegram cent with
out delay to the governor Of his prison.
fancy, but 1 will not absolutely as
sert it to be the case, that my threat to
take care the czar should hear Of the
blunders Of his police force quickened
at any rate the desire of his excellence
to see justice done. Perhaps I am
wrong, but I cannot help feeling that
the chiefs tenure of his high Office
would not long have survived the dis
covery by the czar of so well advanced
q plot to assassinate him. AS matter
of fact the secret of this conspiracy
never leaked out, and it is practically
certain that the czar never heard of it.
So we three yonng men returned
home that afternoon we'll enough
pleased with our days work.
What had we accomplished I sat in
my own private study, adjoining my
bedroom, before retiring for the night
and counted up my gains. I was in a
fair way to get father restored to free
dom. There could be but one result to
the chiefs telegram. He must be iden-
titled at once and allowed to go free.
That was the first and best point Of all.
Then we were rid of Andre. 1t was
exceedingly unlikely that he would ever
favor us with his presence again-nay,
it was probable that the police would
put it out of the question by laying
hands upon him before he could escape
very far. If they did so they would not
let him 90 again, poor wretch This
time his departure for the east would
be final.
NV 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 it from start to
finish. 1t was to be hoped such as he
would be mercifully judged, for indeed
he had never chancel Who could
blame him2 Not I for one. On the con-
trary, I felt grateful enough toward
him, for how in the world should we
ever have attained the end, which now
loomed we'll in view, but for his good
ofices9 He had been very aggravating
in the manner of giving his informa-
tion. he had been foxy and avaricious,
and, of course, from the point of view
of good or bad faith toward his friends,
his conduct had been treacherous and
atrocious: 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 sleepingf l
wondered. God grant that he suffered
none of the terrible anguish Of suddenly
awaking to see 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 go that he could neither move
nor cry out.
Did l dream, or was that the figure
of a man standing in the doorway
which led into the bedroomf
For moment I imagined that it
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, 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 nephew! 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 !"
1 was too frightened-there is no 9th
er word-I was too terrified to speak.
Horror and surprise kept my tongue
tied to my palate. could not have
spoken. if my life depended on it, dur
ing that first minute or two.
"You are surprised to gee me, I per-
ceive," be continued. ~ am aware
that am unlimited. Probably you be-
lieved ME to be out of town-nicht
wahr3"
made no reply.
81 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 III
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. /
did not know what course to take.
"You Internal murderer" now
muttered from between my dried up
lips. "You shall never have farthing
from mel"
"Oh, ohr' he said. "For shame
What grudge your own uncle a thou
sand or two from your aff1uence? Be-
ware. undutiful nephew. lest I take an
uncle's privilege and chastise youp'
"You dare not shoot that thing off,
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."