The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-16
Copyright by
Dodd,
Mead O. Co.
By a Hairs Breadth ~si - q Co. =,
Thrilling Adventure Dealing with Life the Russian
Secret
B y II G a d O n Hill

TO hang himself-and the others. Poor
Ilmai Constantine Vassili would rise from
his grave before Plevna did he know that
mis- daughters affianced was within the
sadly. See here Volbcrth." ne added more
briskly after pause, why not give me
young man a Chancellor the sake OF the
girl. Tell hin-I will do it, If you approve
what have already been the consequences
OF his infatuation for the Palitzin, and
warn him that he is in danger of losing
his liberty and his life. He would be likely
10 turn round and hate her, and crave
Ilma's pardon. ii the imbecile knew that
he was simply being used as a tool"
That Is quite true, your eXcellency,
replied NOlborth coldly, but / want him
for a tool myself-tO lead me to the
others"
the breaking Of that true heart com
mented LobaDof with a deprecatOry shrug.
The Third Section is not concerned with
such matters, Volborth returned. And
there is the question of publicity. In his
present frame OF mind Boris Dubrowsh
is in the nature of high explosive and
to tackle him openly in that way might
lead 10 revelation of the Tchigorin at
tempt, which ii is imperative TO spare the
Tsarina He would never believe that the
princess was incTiminated without proof,
and We could scarcely furnish him with
fire.
THAT consideration outweighs the 9TH
ers, Lebanon reluctantly assented. y on
are a ruthless player, Volborth, but it is
the right game, grant, to sacrifice the
pawns 70 save the queen. Yes, in your
place l should do the same; though L
imagine that l should pity the pawns
little more than you do my friend. Have
it your own way-and good night"
And gnawing his gray mustache. the
prince took up his pen and resumed MS
work. little thinking that in allowing his
devotion to the Empress to Vanquish his
private sympathies he had sealed his own
fate.
Volborth went out. well pleased WIFI
the result of the interview, for he had
carried his point in the face of greater
opposition than he had expected. There
is no doubt that he honestly valued the
sage old minister's advice, but il is open
to conjecture whether he would have
guard himself by imparting his confidence
10 some one high in authority who would
be able to testify to his good intentions
in the event of his policy of letting Du-
very catastrophe which he was straining
every nerve to prevent. That there was
a risk of this he was aware, but 1t seemed
lesser one than losing touch of the con-
spiTators, and he never forgot that he
was charged not only to preserve the lives
of the Tsar and Tsarina, but also to save
them the horror of knowing that they
were logged by desperate criminals
On leaving Prince Lobanofs apartments
Volborth made his way to the wing occu-
pied by the suite and entered the grand
salon. In view of the military spectacle
to be held in the morning, and of the COM
mencement of the long railway journey
10 hleu, lie expected TO ma tnat most
of his fellow-travelers had retired to their
own rooms, and in this he was right. There
were only two persons in the salon. Not
by the culver of an eyelid did he show
any emotion, but they were just the two
people in all the world whom at that mo-
ment he would have least expected, and
most wished, TO find together and alone.
Facing one another from either side of one
of the huge freplaces stood Boris -Du-
brOwski and lima Vassii.
Volborth always half cynically deSpised
l. 4
most degrading duty-that of eavesdrop-
ping-and he was therefore not sorry that
both saw him before he had taken two
steps from the door, But in that brief
interval he had been quick to note that
their attitudes and expressions were the
reverse of the lover-like, and he shrewdy
suspected that he had interrupted a quar-
rel. Directly Boris saw who the newcomer
was he burst into a fit of laughter more
jeering than mirthful, and Volborth at
once conceived the idea that he himself
was the cause, or at least the subject of
their pickering.
See! here comes this terrible schemer,"
cried Boris boisterOusiy. Come in, Paul.
and face the accusation that mademoiselle
repeats against you. Know then that she
insists that you are police spy, and that
you have evil designs upon myself-aye
that you Unanswered me into duty to-day
as to have the handling of that tele-
gram. Refute the charge, monsieur. or
prepare to meet me at the point of the
sword"
Volborth affected unrestrained amuse-
ment at his mock heroics. and, adapting
his tone to the young aid-de-camp's mood,
exclaimed
What would you challenge member
of the Third Section who is your track
for the most mysterious crimes? That
would indeed be novel manner of dealing
with the Section" Then turning to lima
in whose proud face dsdain and fear were
struggling for the mastery, he 50 ID with
theatrical solemnity, IF you have made
this charge mademOiselle, | shall have to
POlitenpSS would m
to refute anything you had said, however
L might vince under it"
Intuitively he grasped the situation lima
had been warning Boris against him, and,
the warning having been first scornfully
rejected, now being ridiculed before
her face. This suited the line upon which
he meant to work, which was so to divide
the two that llma'S influence upon his
future dealings with Boris would be re-
duced to a dead letter. Whether the girl
guessed his intention or not. she made a
gallant effort to Illustrate it.
Captain Dubrowski takes jest for ear
nest she said. HE is fatigued after at
tending his Majesty, and he is in il-humor
through not having met with good sport.
/ was but playing with him when | babe
| him beware of trusting you with his CORES
pondence."
Volborth could not help paying a silent
tribute to her nerve and cleverness. Vflely
as her betrothed had just treated her in
| laughing at her warning before a third
person, and that person the very man
against whom she was setting him on his
| guard, she was yet, for the sake of not
| exposing her hand, willing to retract her
| words. He knew well what sacrifice that
meant to one of her nature. But though
he could admire he would not spare The
| quarrel must be fostered at all hazards
My dear mademoiselle. pray do not take
| me seriously" he laughed, ''or, for the
| matter of that our dear Boris either.
never dreamed but that you were only
making fun of me-both of you. / am wei
aware that the nature of my scribe's du-
| ties makes me fair game for all you cour-
/ tiers and soldiers. But talking of police
agents, I just now heard a good thing
| about Restofski at the concert. Ii was told
me in confidence, so if | regale you with
/ IL, il must not go further"
lima had shown signs OF leaving the
| salon, but at this she leaned again against
| the fireplace, scanning Volborth's face
| with eyes that strove hard not to be started
| Let us have it. Paul." said Boris, with
| a careleSsness that was unmistakably
| genuine. I'VE shall not compromise yoU
| by making it public"
| 'You are neither of you likely to-
| chuckled Volborth inwardly. as, with al
the air of imparting joke at the expense
| of one absent. ne proceeded
| "A few moments before the overture com
| menced. Restofsk, who as usual was hov.
| erng here. there and everywhere was in
| him letter which had only then been de.
| livered at the palace. Figure to yourselye:
| his surprise. his horror-what you will
| when, on tearing it open he found an anon
| ymous warning against a lady who haC
| been added at the last moment to the Rus
| sian chorus. What this terrible femaI,
was going to do was not specified bIt
Internal machines gripped poor Restofsk
| for their own ANYHOW he flew habtod ~.