The Indianapolis journal., 1904-03-26
CONTINUED FROM YESTERDAY

door where Boris Dubrowski, already dis
mounted, was vainly trying TO make the
old Scotch butler understand his best
Partisan.
He has not seen me like this; am
Winckel again." whispered Volborth. or
fer TO interpret for him..
Pardon, monsieur, but perhaps you Will
allow me TO translate your wishes, SAID
Fortescue in French, raising his hat as ne
advanced. and wondering if Boris would re-
member their meeting in the street AT
Breslau. But the Tsar's aid-de-camp had
been much too angry on that occasion 10
note strange faces, and he returned the
Englishmans salute without sign OF
recognition.
But certainly, monsieur; accept your
kind offer with gratitude he replied.
was trying TO convey 10 this worthy serVl-
tor that | bear a letter from her Majesty,
the Empress OF Russia, which l am com com
manded to deliver in person to her MajeSi M5's;3i
ty maid of hOnOr-MademOiSelle Nassln
who is a guest of Sir Metcaf."
Fortescue with the privilege of future
son in law, signed to a groom to take the
horse to the stables. Il will myself con-
duct you to Mademoisele Vassih mon
sieur," he said. II left her but a few
minutes ago on the tennis lawn And
turning to Volborth he said hurriedly in
English. will you waltz
NO" was the reply. Il only came to
warn you If you take as much care OF
yourselves as will be taken of you by
others all will be we'll" And with clumsy
bow that included Dubrowsh and the
servants, the disguised police agent turned
Chatting trifles, Fortescue led the aid
de-camp through a maze of flower beds
to the edge of the greenSward, where lima
seated in a hammock chair at Lady Met
calfS side, made a conspicuous hgure
among the group OF spectators. The fact
of Dubrowski being on duty relieved him
of some of the awkwardness of his position.
and he marched up to lima with confl-
| dence lent by the imperial mandate.
i bring you this. mademoiselie' from
eft w no
sabretache. II am commanded TO await
your reply"
Though Lady Metcalf had never met
DubrOwsH she knew him perfectly well
by sight. thanks to her post of vantage
at Breslau. and she wondered why lima
did not introduce her fiance. Instead OF
been asked and given, the maid of honor
broke seal and applied herself 10 the pc
rusal of the letter. DubrowsN had fallen
back few PAGES. and though the observed
of all observers, was chatting with we'll
bred ease to Fortescue. The latter, pos
| sessing the knack of attending to two
and he noticed a deep crimson flush spread
! ing over the fair young face. She had
not nearly finished when she began to bite
her lips with annoyance, and by the time
she came to the signature her brows were
! contracted in a frown.
But for her there was no appeal from
| the will of the writer, and quickly master
| ing herself she passed the letter TO her
| hostess.
| This concerns you dear Lady Metcalf,
she said. forcing a smile. ut really rests
with you TO answer her Majesty"
| Lady Metcalf adjusted her gold pinSe-
nez, and commenced brave struggle with
| the imperial French. ForJescue, still as
| similating all that occurred, observed that
! opposite effect. She flushed it is true,
but 1t was with obvious pleasure, and
| soon her old face was beaming with de-
! light. The baronet's wife was tie daughter
| ~ ma ia vhn
what late in life, had struggled with indif-
| ferent success to inaugurate a county
family, and a direct request from a
| to the manner born.
"Of course. my dear it will be the
greatest pleasure as well as honor TO carry
| out her Majesty's gracious wish" Lady
] Metcaf said reverentially, handing back
| the letter. James, where are you, James p
she called out, dislodging her husband from
another group of guests "Oh here you
are" as he came up obediently. isn't
this too sweet of the Tsarina She has
written to Mademoiselle Vassili to say that
| she is sure she cannot enjoy her holiday
unless Captain Dubrowski Is with her. He
has brought the letter. and If we can take
him in for the night her Majesty suggests
| that we might send for his things. You had
| better order the dog-cart out at once"
Sir James Metcalf's ancient lineage placed
| him above suspicion of Snobbery, but he
had the true Highland hospitality, and
cordially assented without second
| thought. He vanished in the direction OF
| the stables without even waiting 20 be
| introduced to his new guest
| The interval had given lima tine to get
| herself under control, and guessing from
| knowledge of her imperial mistress's
ways that Boris had not been informed OF
! the nature of his mission she did the best
thing possible. She beckoned him to her
| and put the Tsarina's letter into his hand
simply saying, in French
| Lady Metcalf Is good enough to find room
Fortescue, while sympathizing with the
| awkward position in which lima was
placed, was amused we'll as interested in
the little comedy that was going forward
and he studied Boris as he read. The
young officer was very grave till he came
to the end. then he handed the letter back
| with a courteous smile and a request tC
be introduced to Lady Metcalf.
There is good stuff in the lad yet, which
shows that the evil influence has slack
ened," the attaches mental comment
and, though he knew it not there was al
that moment born in his brain the germ
| of an idea that was to mark the differenc,
| between life and death to some
The two principals having so comporteC
! themselves as to save a contretemps
| everything on the surface went smoothly
Boris was introduced right and left, anc
made much of. while lima gallantly played
her part of being quietly pleased at hi.
arrival Luckily for heI the people stay
ing at Blairgeldie were of the class wh,
hold that loverlike behavior in a betrotheo
couple is bad form, and the last thin,
that was expected of her was to monopo
lize Boris. The most difficult moment WA
showed undisguised astonishment: bu
Fortescue at hand, and leading he
aside quickly explained the position Or
which the daughter of the house went up
and, on the strength of their previou
strange meeting at Breslau, welcomed tn
new guest as though the scene in the stree
had never been. The bronze on the youn,
Russians cheek deepened a little as the,
shook hands, showing that the incident wa
not forgotten, but the keynote for all
round civility had been struck, and it pre-
vailed.
At the earliest opportunity Laura an,
Fortescue Strolled away together and sh
confirmed Volborths account of what ha,
befallen her. Amid the familiar flower
and shrubs of the old Scotch garden wit
the gray walls of her childhood's hom
in the background, the girl was not cas-
to persuade of her Danger and Fortescu
had to speak rather more plainly thai
he had intended. She wasn't going I
funk a lot of skuikers who had bolte
from one mans pistol at Boulogne, sh
protested; and IL was only when he pOinte
out that the flight of the Nihilsts o
that occasion was not due to cowardice
but TO a desire to preserve their leade
for future mischief that she looked grave
! Even then she was not serious long
But there is the ubiquitous Herr Winck
el as a protector" she said And b
the way, what is Herr Winckel and no,
is it that he is on Deeside now? / can pu
two and two together, You know 1t ism
| coincidence"
was a coincidence" replied Fortescue III
is a secret service man, on a mission 70
his government connected with the Tsar'
tour and he knows a good deal Were
not for him, and my confidence in his vic
ilance, l should put the English police o