The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-24
By a Hairs Breadth s.i 80 = c. :.
Thrilling of with in he
CONTINUED FROM YESTERDAY
By ii a d O n Hill

81 have not the code or the telegram
with me- he replied feeling his pistol with
the hand which he had kept in his pocket.
A second later the weapon was out and
leveled straight at the beautiful head OF
the princess, as in response TO her signal
half a dozen men filed the doorway. They
were venomous-Iooking ruffians of the con
tinental anarchist type. and held knives in
their hands.
Keep your ruffians back or you are
dead wOman!" cried Fortescue. Hands on
leader shot,' he added as the Irish-Amer-
lean began TO tumble at his hip. Now see
here. he went on, speaking in French so
that those ar the door might understand,
1T Is very probable that all you people Will
succeed in killing me, but on one point
quite decided. At the first movement
towards that amiable intention-at the lift
ing of finger-I send bullet into the prin-
cess"
If ne had been lax in taking care of him
self at the outset. his promptness now
of the situation. With that shining barrel
threatening the most important life in the
room he had got the whole gang ',bailed
up. The bearded veteran was glbberlng
like an ape and Delaval muttering oaths.
Olga Palitzin alone preserved her calm.
You are brave and capable man, MI
Fortescue," she said, too brave and clever
TO go hence alive l regret ii on some
grounds, but L must employ other means
TO put an end TO this deadlock" And rails
ing her voice. but still in the same unim-
sian TO the men at the door. What she SAID
was unintelligible to Fortescue, but the re-
suit was Immediately apparent in the slam
ming of the front door, followed by the
sound of wheels. He gathered that mes
senger had been dispatched on some errand.
and that his waiting cab had been used for
the purpose.
I'm the meanwhile, and In any circum-
stances, the same conditions prevail he
said. AT the first sign of violence l IRE.
So the minutes sped by, FOrtescue cover
DrincpSS three
leaders at the table whispering, and the
men in the doorway lingering their knives,
but one venturing TO alter the grouping
of that strange party.
About the time that Fortescue raised
his weapon Laura Metcalf was saying good
night to her mother who was retiring for
the night. Then, being like all nice girls
an inveterate novel reader. she settled
down TO pass the time till her lover S re-
turn over the joys and sorrows of her
hero and heroine of the moment She had
read for perhaps half hour when a
waiter announced that a messenger from
Mr.: Fortescue was inquiring for her;
'Show him up instantly" she said, toss
ing the book aside, and minute later she
was trying 10 understand he bad French or
an understood man with shock head OF
hair topping most forbid ling countenance
THE monsieur wants me TO bring him the
papers? Is that what you mean? she sald'
| cycling him sharply What papers?
This was poser which. 1t seemed, could
only be met by inarticulate gurglings.
Where is Mr. Fortescue-in the Rue St.
| Pol?'' Laura asked quickly. 1t was not like
| her sucking ambassador" to set her SUCH
| a task at that time of night. and she be-
came conscious of vague uneaslness about
him which was not lessened by the evil
| smile with which the man replied In the
| affirmative
Very well. then, 1 will come" she said.
You have cab? Good Go downstairs;
| 1 will follow Immediately"
| Running TO her room for cloak and hat,
| she was down in the hall at his heels. and
entered the cab. by the way which was not
| the one which had brought the messenger
Throughout the drive she did not speak.
| not because she was in the least afraid of
| her unkempt companion, but out or an
innate aversion from him. The man smelt
| of drink and some vile compound of tobac-
CO. Only when they drew up al the door she
asked not liking the look of the house
| The Princess Palitzin is here?"
moment later when the front door
snapped behind her, she found herself IN the
| narrow hall. with a group of forbidding-
! looking men clustering round doorway
| They parted right and left for her 10
| enter. which she did without hesitation
and then they closed up in solid phalanx in
| the rear as the tableau of her lover with
! his pistol aimed at the head OF the prln-
! cess was revealed Fortescue, out of the
corner of the eye which he was keeping
on the door, saw with a thrill of horror
| undoing DelaValS hand began to tumble
again. That braced Fortescue and he
steadied his pistol Olga was the first to
you have brought the papers, Miss
/ Metcalf?''
Laura laughed in her most engagingly
| impudent manner. WAS IL likely?' she
| said. II wanted to see what was up first.
| and it seems well that l took the pre-
| caution. Are you the person who has
made the mess between lima Vassili and
| Captain Dubrowskl? If so you'd better
let her have it, Spencer, and end this
| tomfOolery."
The three heads at the table bent low
| together in conclave, and Laura moved TO
| Fortescue'S side.
Leave il to me darling" he murmured.
I'm going 10. You appear to have got
the drop on her, as the Yankees say was
| the reply.
And then suddenly, while the whispered
| conference was still in progress, an inter-
| ruption occurred. The front door snapped,
| there was a stir among the rascals at the
| room door, aud a handsome, wild-ey ed
| woman pushed through them. MurmurS of
| "Anna-Anna Tchigorin'' arose.
"Efface yourselves-if YOU have the
| means" she cried in French. II have come
| to you straight from prison, and only here
| at the door-I find that | am followed.
the spies of the section are outside. Our
| future movements will be traced"
Retire all, and rendezvous at Center 81,
| said Olga rising with d nervous look at the
| revolver which never wavered from her
| head And ten seconds later, save for
| Laura and Fortescue, with his pistol still
| pointing at the door whittier its aim had
| followed the exit of the princess. the room
was empty. Somewhere at the back a
| door banged, and all was silent.