Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1903-12-02
A SURPRISE
toriginal.J

! 1900 ~ PC7'7NfplSNA u AttiE ihNtilCAl- llCb
husband admired her vigor Of brain,
but was 4ot sure that it was leading
her in safe char lels. However. the two
We're very happy together, and fortune
smiled on them.
One day Scaroff received terrible
| shock. Among a number of intercepted
letters that had fallen into the hands
of the police and were laid before him
was one written by his wife. 1t read
| Bring II to the rear door at II o'clock
| tenight-that is. IL the emperor's trip has
! been begun as announced on that day. If
the trip is postponed act accordingly
Scaroff was unnerved. 1t was plain
that his own wife was in league with
nihilists to assassinate the car. After
awhile he tapped a silver bell on his
desk. An attendant entered, and the
chief directed him to pass the inter-
cepted letter Then he ordered his car
rage and drove to the Winter palace.
Your majesty" he said as soon as
admitted to the emperor. Il beg that
you will excuse me from attending you
this evening"
why so, princef"
"My spies have intercepted letter
indicating that bomb is to be deliv,
cred to certain person at IL o'clock
on the eight of your departure. 1t is
doubtlesA to be used on your return.
Your majesty will be safe, at least,
from this danger on your outward jour
ney, and | wish to attend personally to
the capture of the bomb and its bearer
myself. l consider it too important a
matter TO leave to any one else"
''As you think best, prince
Scaroff returned to his house at
o'clock, threw some things into his
valise and bid his wife goodby. She
had known that he was to accompany
the CART was his custom to do so
whene%er his master journeved-and
there was no surprise.
1.-THE trip not being put off, pre-
sumo there is no suspicion of danger"
remarked the princess.
"None whatever"
Without looking at his wife he start
ed to CO. He had reached the door
when he heard her call him:
"Sergius"'
He turned. She was looking at him
reproachfully.
You have forgotten"
pardon me, dear My mind is pre-
occupied These nihilists who are con-
stantly conspiring against the life Of
the car keep me always thinking"
He returned and kissed her.
How cold your lips arew she said.
Something is wrong A blow is sure
to fall somewhere before morning.
Some person or persons will go to the
scaffold. | wish you were engaged in
another occupation"
THE chief horror of 1t is that we
officers of the police never know when
it will be our duty to turn over to the
executioner some one near and dear to
us. Last week one of my deputies was
obliged to arrest his own sister,"
Dreadful"
The prince passed out. Well might
his wife call his lips cold. 1t was
wonder that he could control himself
as well as he did. since he was going
to watch for bomb to be delivered to
his own wife. Starting in the direction
of the railway station, he soon gave
his coachman orders to turn and drive
to his private office. which was sepa-
rate from that in the headquarters OF
police There he dismissed his car
rage, telling his coachman that he
would go to the station later and on
foot. Entering his office, he remained
there till the clock struck 10, then
emerged, disguised as a peasant, and
directed his steps to his own house.
Taking position near by where he
would be unobserved, he waited and
watched.
At quarter to II man came down
the street and without looking about
him to see if he was watched was max
ing straight for the rear door when
hand was laid on his shoulder, and
one in rough peasant garb covered him
with a revolver. His captor led him
to a short distance from the house, put
him into a carriage and the two were
driven to the private office of the chief
of police. AS soon as they were alone
in the office Scaroff threw off his peas
ants costume and revealed his iden-
tity.
"valevitchr' he exclaimed.
The other stood mute.
Il told my wife tonight that the hor-
ror of my career was never knowing
when we must arrest some one we
know-some one dear to us. Put down
the bomb"
Valevitch the brother of the princess,
placed the box on table. Sergius APP
preached ii and put his ear to it.
"Oh. heavensw he exclaimed bitterly.
ut is so. hear the click of the clock
work that is 10 regulate the explosion
You, Yalevitch, to lead your own sister
to the scaffoldp'
Valevitch stood meekly looking at the
prince with peculiar expression; then
he went to the box, drew sliding
cover and took out clock of antique
workmanship.
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