The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-22
CHAPTER VIII.

The inspector having accepted the invita-
ton, Fortescue ran up to Lady Metcalfs
apartments aud excused himself from
lunching in the private sitting room which
she had ordered. His plea of having met
friend sufficed for the elder lady, but Laura
followed him out on to the landing.
Il hope you haven't met another ques-
tionable friend like that NJ Volborth," she
said. But seriously, Spencer. could not
understand you III the train. / was afraid
you were going to give Captain Dubrowsk
away to the princess
IF 1 went by the favorable impression
she has made you, little girl. there
wouldn't be much harm in that" Fortescue
replied tentatively.
She hasn't made any particular impress
sion on me except that she is a bit of a
cat" returned Laura spitefully. Il be-
friended her as l would any one who was
being bullied by those beasts of Russian
police Spies but wasn't best pleased with
the way she took to obliging you, SIR"
Then with a quick change of manner came
the question, You had some deep motive
in telling her about the suspected implica-
ton of staff officer?"
Eyes, / had q motive" said Fortescue
wits of yours half guessed already. l had
a reason for thinking that through this
Princess Olga Palitzin-no matter how-the
news would be conveyed to Ilma's rival that
Dubrowski is under suspicion. You see the
effect? The unseen charmer, who has the
young cub in her tolls, WILL if 1 am correct,
cease to use him as a medium in the dam
gerous movement of which the Russian
police have WIND
You will certainly have the Paris en-
bassy some day if you go on like this" was
the complimentary reply. Il thought YOU
were playing game but that was a stroke
of genius. How delighted lima would ber'
Il must run away before you turn my
mead with hattery Besides, l am keeping
my friend waiting.
zone word" persisted Laura following
him 10 the stairhead. Isis this Palitzin
woman the fiend who is behind lima S
trouble2'
"A member of the same family, dear"
replied Fortescue, and he ran down the
stairs before the question could be fol-
lowed up, fearing that if his spirited little
sweetheart ferreted out the whole truth
there would be a scene in the event of her
meeting the princess while in Boulogne.
lie found that Inspector Melton had Sc
cured seats in the public restaurant and
was not only willing but eager to return
to the subject of Delaval. The reason was
soon apparent. True TO his secretive tao
! tics Volborth had not enlightened the Eng
! lish detective on the intricacies of the
! purely Russian phase of the plot, and Mel
| ton was naturally anxious to know all that
! Fortescue could tell him. This was prac-
! tically nothing, for in the absence of per-
mission Fortescue did not feel justified in
! disclosing what he had learned as conse-
! quence OF private friendship. The news of
/ Anna Tchigorn's release only served to
/ increase Melton's ire.
Thank Volborth for nothing" he said
angrily. IF this precious Russian caravan
wasn't coming to England lie might play
a lone hand and welcome but how are we
| to be responsible over the channel if he
| keeps back the essence of what he knows.
Anna Tchigorin doesn't concern me. She
is too we'll known a criminal to dare set
| foot in England. 1t is the unknown. and
! therefore most dangerous ones like this
| De.aval that | want TO get at. Just see
| what piece of work Nolborth's not writing
| the attempted outrage at Breslau has
/ led to-.
And the inspector went on to relate that
his attention had first been drawn to De-
laval by seeing him in the company OF GER
! tain notorious Irish-Amerieans at Antwerp
and that on that account he had followed
him 10 BreSlau, where he should have
communicated with the German police on
the first occasion had not the man left
| again Immediately for BoulOgne. There he
remained for a few hours only before start
! ing again for Breslau. with nearly the same
! result, except for MeltOn's meeting with
Volborth. who, however. had been more
| inquisitive than communicative.
Again Delaval had doubled back to Bou-
logne with Melton closely shadowing him
! and on the morning after arrival he had
| aStoPished the detective by aCcosting him
| In the street. He was aware, he said that
| he had been followed through associatine
| with well-known bad characters, but thai
| he wished 70 withdraw from that associa.
| ton before he was dragged into crime and
| that in consideration of being allowed &c
/ return to America he would give Melton
valuable information about his late com
rades, who were expected shortly In Bou.
| logne, preparatory 10 embarking on a series
Of criminal attempts in England. He ex.
planned his visits to Breslau by a desire tc
test whether he was really being followed
by detectives.
The information he gave me was Ger.
tainly startling. and fitted in with what
had from other sources, said Melton $50
/ saw him into the train al Havre, whence
he was 10 sail: and, when you exploded thi.
bombshell under me, 1 was waiting here Ill
the others turned up at Antwerp
And what is your theory now?" For
tescue asked.
THAT he gave away his pals in order 4
get clear and take a hand in a fresh at
tempt on the Tsar." the reply. III,
would hardly have dared such treacher,
on his own initiative. | expect he got tn,
tip TO act so from the chiefs OF his organi
zation. OF which he was probably a NOR,
valued member than those whom he be
trayed. They were undoubtedly dangerou.
once. but report says they mere bar
loafers now. IL is quite conceivable tina
the heads of the conspiracy may have beer
BY using them as a red herring TO draw u.
off the really dangerous characters"
ITO lie Continued To-rlorrowl