The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1903-01-22
A SINGULAR BET

other Captain DIhitre Warascoff of the
Russian army. The grand duke was
sitting behind an ebony desk; the cap
tain was standing before him.
Your TeaclIery is an objectionable
SIM" said Nicholas. 81 have advanced
your interests by attaching you to the
czars staff, thus opening to you a ca.
reef. 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 a. letter written in the cap
tain's handwriting and sighed by him.
The accused man started back, a sud.
den pallor overspreading his face.
abr. said Nicholas Jelly. when
confronted with evidence, your assur.
ance deserts you"
81 never wrote that letterp ,5
ut is in your handwriting"
$50 nearly like it that could not
tell it from mine. Nevertheless it is
forgery"
Nicholas eyes flashed. "Who would
be interested in. perperating such a
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
especially, owing to an accidental dis
covery | 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.
"One of them is my friend If | 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 a young man
named Pertof entered.
"How fortunate" exclaimed the com
er, ito find you two together! | have
heard that Warascoff is in trouble. and
! came to say to your imperial high
ness that any accusations against him
are absurd"
81 am sorry to say, Pertof, that !
have indisputable proof. Read that"
And he tossed him the letter he 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 /
am as likely to be accused as any one.
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-
vinced, concluded to fall in with his
friends humor. and, tapping bell, he
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 Warascoff
left his untouched.
"What's the matter. Dmitri" cried
Pertof isn't his highness' wine good
enough for your"
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
bet of 100 rubles even that within
thirty days / will be accused of some
conspiracy. I'll make another bet OF
100 to 1000 rubles that within sixty
days l go to Siberia and third bet of
100 to 10000 rubles that l am exc
cuted."
"You are triiing with serious mat
ters," said Nicholas uneasily.
mot 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"
81 will take that bet" said Wara.
scoff. with 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 a match
when. recollecting himself, he handed
the case to the grand duke. -
Nicholas took cigar from the case,