The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1900-12-22

N@-Na 4@
g urging him to attempt, or, at an.
events. eonnive at, the murder Of
Prince Sergins during his visit to Eng
land, a crime for which his appoint
ment offers such fatal facilities. Oh,
rire
She rose from her chair and
stretched ont her hands a~ppeaIingly.
II beseech you to Illustrate the.
princess schemes, and to save Rupert
from the consequences Of his fatal
fascination
sYou may rest assured that I shall.
do my BEST Miss Clough. both for the
princes sake and your own" I re-
piled. 1T would be dangerous to have
your brother removed from the posi-
ton to which he was gazetted last
night. Such a step would probably
p%reeipitate some horrible outrage on
the part Of the nihilists. I think I
may promise though, without boast
ing, that Capt. Clough will have little
opportunity for injuring his imperial
highness with the circumspect watch
that the detectives and I viii keep
over him.
''Thank you, thank you, a thousand
times" she said, gratefully. "That is
just what I wanted"
s'The obligation is on our SIDE" I
answered, smiling, as I ushered her to
the door.
I stood watching her drive off in
her smart little victoria, and then be-
gan to laugh at myself for the senti-
mental d~ay-dreams that were weaving
in my m-atter-of-fact brain.
But the laugh died out on my lips
as I considered the serious news that
Miss Clough had brought me. Her
impressions OF Princess olga Skoben-
Ii closely tailed with my own ex-
p~erience, as I knew that for years
the princess had been the terror and
bugbear Of the Russian police.
/ knew the princess in society, and
q sudden idea came into my mind
that I would call on her and see as
much as possible how the land lay.
I found her in her blue and silver
boudoir smoking Russian cigarettes.
She was surprised, and I fancied for a
moment alarmed, at my entrance.
'This is an unexpected pleasure, Sir
George" she said, smiling; you have
not been to see me for ages"
Business, my dear princess, bust
ness" I responded, taking the cup of
coffee that she had poured out for me.
81 am worked to death on account
of your compatriOt's visit. I only
hope that you nihilists will refrain
from troubling the poor chap while he
is over here"
The princess arched her dark eye
brows in well-affected surprise.
'Nihilists!" she repeated. "Oh, I
am only nihilist so far as it furnishes
a fashionable excuse for living in Eng
land. You know quite well that I
would not hurt a fly, much less q
prince of my own nction."
I thought this pretty good from a
woman who had stabbed with her
own hand the chief of the Ninth Sec
ton in her palace at st. Petersburg.
However, I only smiled and took out
my cigatette-case.
Won't you try some Of these? I
got them from Moscow this morning, -
interrupted the princess, handing me
her own case.
I took a gold-tipped cigarette and
lighted it. It proved a delicious
smoke.
"You like them?" said she, watch
ing me intently.
''They are fit for the gods, princess"
"Give me your case and I will fill
it for you"
/ handed over my silver case and
submitted myself to her generosity.
"Where is your gold case?" she
asked, when the other was filed. "The
one you keep for grand occasions"
'No, no, princess, you have been
quite liberal enough" 1 replied.
Not at ALL" she said. "You may
have the chance Of presenting it to
the prince, and / am sure he would
appreciate these ~cigarettes.'
And while I drank some more coffee
she filed the gold case also. We
chatted on Indifferent topics for some
time and then 1 took my leave, having
just said enough to Princess Olga to
show that I was on my guard against
her.
After leaving Princess Olga's house
I had just time for dinner and to take
a hanson to Waterloo. Here I Joined
the company who were to proceed by
special train to meet Prince Sergius.
They included the Russian ambassa-
dor, with several of his attaches, IS
detectives and officials of the secret
service, and several English officers,
among whom was Capt. Rupert
Clough.
During our journey down I took an
opportunity of rallying Clough on his
evidently low spirits.
"My word, Fraser" he replied, Bit
terly, 81 have enough to make me
miserable. I see no alternative be-
tween crime and dishonor and blow
ing my brains out. The latter appears
the more enviable course to pursue"
He gave a hollow laugh and stared
moodily out Of the window of the sa-
loon.
"Come, come" I said, "don't let
yourself get into this morbid state of
mind. If you tell me your troubles
/ perhaps I can see a way out of them"