The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1900-02-16

my saying go, you don't deserve your
good luck today, That chase was the
crndest thing in shadowing ! ever heard
Of and ought to have ended In utter
failure. and now you wish to pay 5000
rubles for a secret (if he really has one)
which we can easily extract for moth,
ing, 1t ia ridiculousl"
Poor Borofsky was a little put out, II
seemed, that all the luck had gone my
way and not his, II was rather hard
apon him But there was only one
course open to me,
II have promised the fellow his
five thousand" l said. "He wanted
ten thousand, but l beat him down the
other five thousand by threatening him
with Andre. | dare say we could squeeze
the information out of him by brighten.
ing him, as you say, but it's just as we'll
to have his good will, We shall be more
likely to learn the truth"
"Oh, don't tiatter yourself, laughed
Borofsky scornfully HE will tell you
what he chooses-no more and no less.
and the more we brighten him the more
he would feel inclined to divulge.
"He shall have the money" | per.
sisted, ''because l have promised I'll"
VERY good" said Borofsky. shrug,
ging his shoulders. III you prefer II
so. 1t 10 Your money you are throwing
into the gutter, not mine. It would
not be your fault II | were to 60
straight to Andre now and tell him we
had caught this little rascal and knew
all his secrets
"Borofskyr interrupted him
"You shall do nothing Of the Kind
When | have performed my engage.
ment with the student, we will consult
again, but meanwhile you shall not
breathe a word of all this to Andre
You are a very good detective, Borof.
sky, but you require to DO more of IN
English gentleman In some matters,
You don't understand the meaning Of
the words 'noblesse oblige,
Borcfsky flushed, but replied with
assumed indifference
"Not being one of the noblesse, |
may be forgiven |" he laughed, "But
60 your ways, spend money how you
like, 1t does not matter to me, Only
don't let this rascal 60 until we have
verified his information, Meanwhile
shall not tell Andre, since you desire
secrecy"
II insist on secrecyr" l said. lex.
Gus me, Borofsky, but l will have my
way In this. However. l shall take
your advice about retaining my prisoner
for awhile, That Is a good Idea, and !
thank you for It,"
Then I returned to my prisoner.
wrote out the check and handed 1t to
him; further, l made out, at his dicta.
ton, the form Of guarantee he required
that, In 40 far az ! and my household
were concerned, the secret Of his pres.
ence in this house and Of his connec
ton with certain affairs presently to be
mentioned In private conversation
should never be revealed.
Then came the crucial moment.
Nov, my friend" l said, doing my
best to maintain a decent display Of
calmness and dignity, though. as a mat.
ter Of fact, my knees shook and my
hands as we'll, and my tongue was dry,
and my heart and pulses were all
a.throb with the tension Of the mo.
ment.--"now my friend, | have per
formed my share Of the agreement, The
time has come for you to perform
yoursl'
"Goodr" said the student. II see
that | am dealing with an honorable
man. and you shall zee that you are In
the same position, My story may DO
a long one, A bottle Of that very
delicious wine which wal served to me
with my meal would assist both reoite1
and listener. Shall l ring the bellP'
Another Ave minutes Of agonizinR
suspense,
The little wretch waited for tho
wine. | could have kicked him, with.
out mercy, into a pulp. Then he poured
ont q glassful for himself and another
for me. drank half Of his own, sighed,
finished his glass, %replenished II, set II
down at his elbow, settled himself IN
bis chair and said
lyon are anxious to get to business,
| zee, Well, | will put you ont Of your
misery In one word, know where your
Ia, and, for all | know to the
contrary, he Is alive and well
"Thank Cod" | calculated, Where
ID hef Tell mel Can | get at hims'
"Hush" Le said. "You 20 too fast
70 IL a good story, nad shall enjoy
II from the beginning