The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-20


door. This duty the police would be sure To |
supplement by diigent inquiries after the |
baroness late guest, and Laura at once |
grasped the terrible significance which her |
discovery would have for lima Vassili. In |
self-protection, if not for the sake of truth
say that Delaval gained access to her house |
as a professed friend of Boris Dubrowsh.
That will never do" she thought 4
must get the thing down myself rather than |
that Perhaps / could take out the works |
and snuggle 1T away-after making 1t
harmless"
She sank down on her knees again and
thrust her hand up the chimney, but though |
she could just touch the end or the port ]
manteau her arm was not long enough to |
end
Once more she rose. this time nearly in
despair. At the same time the cathedral
clock led off the concert of chimes from
Breslaus many churches announcing the
hour of one. In eight hours the Tsar and
Tsarina would be refreshing themselves
after their long journey on the other side
of the wall.
Il will not have the police called, but 1
must have help" she told herself Its a
case for bribery and corruption. but whom
can find To corrupt at this time of night?
] cannot fetch Spencer TO help me. His
career in the public service would be ruined
II he were mixed uD in this. Besides, the
thing might go Off
She walked abstractedly to the window.
and drawing aside the curtain looked down
into the silent street. The roadway was
quite deserted. and the only pedestrian in
sight OH the pavement was one of the
guardians of the peace whom she wished to
avoid. Stay, thought Surely! There a
man leaning against the pedestal of the
nearest of the gas clusters in front of the
Stadthaus, and he was watching the Won
Lindberg mansion. Even as she looked he
turned his head little, and the rays from
one of the lamps falling full on his face shes
recognized him at once as Herr Winckel,'
Spencer ForteScues German friend.
What earth can he be doing there?"
she murmured. He must be using the
lamp post as a stepping stone to his hotel
after dining too freely. fear. But no. He is
sober enough; he has seen me, and is look
ing up at the window. If only 1 felt sure
that he was TO be trusted"
She drew back a little, remembering that
her candle made her as visible 10 the man
below as he was to her. Then with quick
impulse she went forward again and beck
oned. pointing to the front door, and trying
TO indicate that she was coming down. Her
gesture was acknowledged with nod, and
as she disappeared from the window she
saw the midnight lounger quit his post of
vantage. Two minutes later, after a strug
gle-aS silent as she could make it-With
the baroness bolts and bars, Laura was
facing Herr Winckel' on the doorstep.
IF you are real friends with Mr.. Fortes-
cue / want your help" she whispered Its
nothing to do with him. but I'm engaged to
him, you know. and If you do me a good
turn you do him one. eh?'
ITO serve Mr.. Fordescue will only lees
pleasure be than 10 serve his promised
wife" replied Yolborth.
Come in, then, and. step softly" she
whispered, closing the door and leading
him into the dining room, where she in
spected him critically by the light of her
candle Il think you are strong enough
she said, but how about your pluck? /
hope you are very brave"
You try me and see. Germans is not
gowards,' replied Volborth, tapping his
chest.
There was something quietly assured i'm
the tone which. despite his elderly make
up and fantastic English won the girls
confidence, and she proceeded TO take him
at his word. IL is doubtful if in all the great
police agents experience he ever heard a
communication that SO astonshed him. The
revelation itself. though he was on the look
out for something of the kind. suffi-
GENTLY startling. but il was the manner in
which IL was made that nearly took his
breath away. If this self-possessed young
lady lady in the pretty pink dressing gown had
box OF millinery she could not have shown
less excitement.
There Is an Internal machine in the
chimney against the Stadthaus wall, and /
can't get Ii down." she began. eff you will
come up-yOu must take care not to wake
full. Your arms are longer than mine"
"Ach, then yourself have tried?" said
Volborth, nearly forgetting his German
English in admiration. How know you the
machine to be infernal?'
We'll. people don't shove portmanteaus
with clocks In them UP chimneys for moth
ing.when there's big-wig like the Tsar
putting mp on the other side, said Laura.
Il have seen and touched it. l tell you"
'But this is an affair of the police. Why
you not them call?''
Yes, you have. right to ask. but it's
wasting a lot of time" sighed Laura. BE
cause Ii must be kept dark. Herr Winck-
ell she went on emphatically. Russians
are perfect beasts-all except one. possibly
two-and for the sake of those two I want
TO prevent any nasty sneaks of Russian
spies from poking their noses into the bust
ness The man who put the portmanteau
there got into the house by using the name
of an officer who is engaged To my dearest
friend Why. you heard me telling Spencer
this afternoon There would be the dickens
to pay for Boris Dubrowski if the Russian
authorities ferreted it all OUT
"Ach, yes. and | am TO help you place on
the ferrets muzzle." said Volborth with a
grim smile curling the corners of his mouth.
lead on. Miss Metcalf. come with you"
they stood before the fireplace in Delavals
room, when Volborth took the candle from
her and waited
well. why don't you go on?" said Laura.
Don't tell me you're going TO funk. there's
q dear soul"
Yes I vunk as you call him. for you.''
replied Volborth. wondering if all English
girls We're cast in this mold You To the
end of the house must go-var away. There
may be accident
For the first time Laura showed excite
ment. and il took the form of righteous in
dignation. That's all tommy" she said
relapsing into her best emotional! slang
tleman like you into job of this kind to
let you stand the racket by yourself? You
bursts expect 1T will be as bad at one end
of the house as the other
She had raised her voice a little. or il is
probable that Volborth would have pro-
tested further But for his own very differ
ent reasons he as anxious as she was
10 remove the portmanteau secretly. and
he feared that an argument with lady of
such spirit might arouse some light sleeper
Turning away. he imperceptibly crossed
himself and tackled his task.
For five minutes little else was to be seen
of him but his back and legs and his left
hand holding the candle. Laura remained
By the bed, watching him. AT first his body
was very still. but after awhile ii began To
sway. then TO sink downwards and one
shoulder reappeared. AT this moment she
heard him say
Take the candle. 1t is coming down. L
want both hands.
She few TO his assistance, and gingerly
and inch by inch he steered the heavy pack
age down into the CRATE. To lift il thence
onto the hearth rug was comparatively
easy. Neither of the strangely assorted
pair spoke word, for each knew how
much depended on the next few seconds
yolborth produced bunch of master keys
and. the lock being of common make ne
raised the lid at the third attempt, showing
the Interior 10 be divided into "a large and
a small compartment In the latter the
works OF an American clock were ticking
tachment: the larger compartment was
closely packed with squares OF an opaque
substance.
Still in silence, volborth, after a keen
scrutiny. placed his thumb under the per-
et1ssiou hammer and with his other hand