Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-06-05
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
A SINGULAR BET
IOriginaSl

| or the Winter palace in ST. Petersburg.
the one the Grand Duke Nicholas, the
other Captain Dmitre Warascoff of the
Russian army. The grand duke was
sitting behind an ebony desk; the cap
tain was standing before him.
your treachery is an objectionable
SIM said Nicholas. II have advanced
your interests by attaching you to the
cars staff, thus opening to you a ca
reer. You have repaid me by joining
this diabolical conspiracy against his
majesty's life"
81 have notr' exclaimed the captain
Indignantly.
81 have the proof"
LET me see it,
The grand duke held before the
young man letter written in the cap
tain's handwriting and signed by him.
The accused man started back, sud
den pallor Overspreading his face.
"Ahp' said Nicholas Jelly. when
confronted with evidence, your assur-
ance deserts YOU
IL never wrote that letter.
at is i'm your handwriting"
$50 nearly like 1t that ! could not
tell it from mine. Nevertheless it is q
forgery"
Nicholas eyes flashed. "Who would
be interested in perpetrating such.
villainy?"
81 cannot imagine. Stop! Let me
think. Can it be that they are trying
to get me out of their way?" He paused
in deep thought.
"What do you mean"
81 suspect certain men, certain man
/ IIxr 70 fol IiS.
covery l recently made of an attempt
not on the life of the car. but on yours.
1t may be that. thinking l would in
| form upon them. they have determined
| TO forestall my information"
Whom do you suspect? asked Mich
olas. changing color.
lone of them is my friend. If l ac
cused him. it might be wrongfully.
would rather go to Siberia than harm
| him if he is innocent"
You will go to Siberia If you do not
give me his name"
''Then | will go to Siberia"
The door opened, and young man
named Pcrtof entered.
How fortunate" exclaimed the COM
or. Ito find you two together! l have
heard that Warascoff is in trouble and
l came to say to your imperial high
ness that any accuse tons against him
are absurd"
Il am sorry TO say, Pertof, that !
have indisputable proof. Read that"
And he tossed him the letter lie had
shown the captain. Pertof read it and
flung it aside contemptuously.
The capital is full of plotting" he
said. 81 believe no accusations. for |
|
Dismiss this matter from your mind.
Nicholas. We three are intimate
friends. None of us knows how soon
he may fall victim to intrigue.
Therefore let us not worry, but enjoy
what of life remains to us. Bring out
some of that wine | tasted when we
were last together and let us make
merry"
The grand duke. though not con
WINGED. concluded to fall in with his
friends humor. and, tapping bell, lie
ordered the wine. Pertof raised his
glass and said:
LET us drink to Russian life-short,
but merry"
Pertof emptied his glass; the grand
duke slipped his; Captain Wsrascof
left his untouched.
whats the matter. Dmitri?" cried
Pertof Isn't his highness' wine good
enough for you?'
81 cannot drink under accusation"
you're squeamish, man. Whoever
troubles himself at being suspected or
even accused in these days is in dan
ger of nervous collapse. I'll make you |
a bet of 100 rubles even that within |
thirty days I will be accused of some |
conspiracy. I'll make another bet of |
100 to 1000 rubles that within sixty |
days | go TO Siberia and third bet of |
100 to 10000 rubles that l am exc
cuted.'
'You are trifling with serious mat |
ters," said Nicholas uneasily.
Not at all. We are all in danger. |
and If l could make the last named
bet it would be an insurance on my |
life for my family"
AZ will take that bet" said Wara-
scoff. with n singular look in his eyes.
"Done." said Pertof. taking his hand.
The grand duke looked at both men as
If he thought they had taken leave of
their senses.
Pertof took a cigar case from his
pocket and was about to strike match
when. recollecting himself. he handed
the case to the grand duke.
Nicholas took a cigar from the case,
struck match and lighted it. He had
taken but few whiffs when Dmitri
Warascoff made leap for him.
snatched the cigar from his lips and,
raising window sash, threw it out
Nicholas looked at him angrily for
the apparent insult. In few sec
onds an explosion was heard in the
court below. All stood mute for
awhile. Then Warascoff. pointing at
Pertof. said:
"There is the man. your highness,
who forged that letter. l overheard
him speaking with some suspicious
persons upon the subject OF an explo-