The St. Mary banner., 1901-06-22
surprised at reaching the door Of the
house where he lodged without having
been accosted by any one.


Bobby was overjoyed at seeing him
and his burden, and the child kept his
thoughts from brooding upon the mes
sage he had received in the morning
by the laughter he made as he ex-
ploded the crackers in the bOn-bons,
and by his making 'Unkie" decipher
the notices he found therein, as we'll
as by dancing round the room with
colored caps upon his head and Anton's
stick in his hand playing soldier
After supper and more romping,
Bobby was put to bed in little room
adjoining the one that served Anton
as bed and sittinSroom, and the latter
was left alone to his gloomy rcflec-
tons. He dared not go out, for his
foe might be lurking for him around
the first turning but sat revolving in
his mind some plan of escape from his
pursucr. He even contemplated in
forming the police Of the message, and
the danger that threatened him.
He was no coward, but he knew we'll
the daring Of the men to whom the So
ciety entrusted the accomplishment of
their revenge, and that they would
stop at nothing to carry out Their
orders, for their own lives depended
upon their doing so.
He had sat an hour or more, when he
was reused by knock at his door. lie
at once rushed to it, but was too late.
for a man had entered. closing and
locking the door behind him.
II thought would save the land
landlady the trouble Of announcing
me-" he began, $50 have introduced
myself, as you see." Then, without
waiting to give the other time to re-
ply, he went on, Il suppose you know
me-" at the same time pulling off his
heavy beard and eyebrows, and dis
closing the face represented in the
portrait.
"Yes, l know you. Moritz," replied
Anton, in French, the language In
which the former had addressed him.
What want you with me-"
'The message I handed you this
morning will surely tell member OF
the society. You have been con-
demned for disobeyins our orders"
Anton did not reply, but quickly
pulled out a drawer Of the table at
which he sat.
"You need not look there" inter
posed Moritz. "The revolver was re-
moved from there this morning by
those in our employ, as well as all dan
gerous weapons of this character
showing him knife which that morn
ing had been secreted in another quar-
ter Of the room.
1T is useless for you to resist" he
continued, "for two of our confreres
are watching the windows from out
side in the Square, and if you move or
attempt to call for help will slay you
without further warning. Before you
die, however, the society has instruct
ed me to ask you few questions"
go on said Anton, doggedly,
watching every movement of the other,
and determined to fight when the de-
cisive moment arrived. He knew
there was no use in calling for help.
for that would simply mean putting
off the fulfllment Of the vengeance,
and it was almost certain from the re
volver incident that the people in the
house were In the society's pay, and
would not come to his assistance. how
ever much he needed them.
"The first question l have to ask
you," went on Moritz, 'is, why did you
disobey the society's orders to Kill
Marinsky?"
Because did not think he deserved
death, and"
Enough" interrupted the other;
"you set up your own judgment
against the verdict of the council-you
know what punishment the rules ac-
cord for that?"
Eyes, I do; but am bound no long
er by your terrible rules"
"The second question" continued
the other-but before he could get fur
ther the door behind Anton was softly
opened and childish figure in a white
night-robc with a pop-gun in his hand
stole into the room to Anton's side, In
auiring who the stranger was.
"Whose child Is that?" said Moritz,
hurriedly.
II do not know, replied Anton. land
Bobby himself does not know.
found him at the bedside of his dying
mother not far from here. She said
his father was a German, who had
been suddenly called back to the
Fatherland on some secret business
She would not tell me his name. She
was English, and had resolved to re-
main in her own country. Ill health
had broken her down, and as she lay
diving she made me promise to looR
after her poor orphan boy, for she
feared his father might never return
"What was her name" said Moritz
"Clara Roberts"
"Great Heavens! my wife!' ex-
claimed Moritz. ''They let her die, ano
now they would have me kill you VINO
hefriended her and have watched ovel
| nv little one. Hang them all; vii
not do it. Stradeski, thou knowest
would have killed thee in obedience t
their commands, but thy hand. maj
how can 1 do it? Together we vii
balk these bloodhounds of their ven
| 1eance."