The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-21
By a Hairs Breadth
Thrilling Tale of s~tl,L in
Secre
CONTINUED FROM YESTERDAY
By II 9 q d O n Hill

Indeed, l render thousand thanks,
Miss Metcalf in advance" said Boris cour-
teously, adding as he walked on beside the
girls: us it permitted to inquire In what
way l am indebted TO you?
Once more Laura related what sne ldu
just told lima again going no further tnah
DeiayaFs use of Dubrowskis name. Sne
was glad of the chance, for. as she told
to suspect a niger in the fence, ana she
was curious to know whether the American
had any tbs T real 'sie to sn,m
"Delaval2 Delaval?" he repeated. tapping
his forehead. Il never heard the name ana
certainly do not know the man. he must
have been an impostor with some DaSe ue-
sign. / cannot thank you sufficiently, MISS
Metcalf. for saving me from consequences
which might have resulted from no fault VI
mine.
1t was Laura's turn to be puzzled-at a
scornful smile lowering round Ilma's classic
mouth-but she merely made light OF ner
dealings with the American, and tried 10
stop the ELUSIVE thanks which, howeveI
Boris continued to shower upon ner SUI
denly. as they were passing the postonlce'
he came TO a halt. saying that he mad 10
call for a letter. hut that if they would ex-
cuse him for minute he would esteem IL
the highest of honors to escort Miss Met
calf home
Still bent on keeping up appearances.
lima replied that they would wait and In
little the time specified he was seen
coming out, replacing in its envelope iet-
manner and even his looks had changed en-
tirely. red anger spot glowed on each
cheek. and a gloomy scowl contracted ms
brow. So obvious was the alteration In MIN
that lima said
II hope you have not had bad news?'
Eyes, if to learn that have been made a
fool of through meddling interference is
bad news" he blurted rudely, glaring at
Laura pointedly that she could not mis-,
take his meaning any more than she wouiu
refuse his challenge. Poor lima. So he's a
hO,1 aft for all thought.
she said ,
You have perhaps heard. monsieur. that
Colonel Delaval was, after all, perfect
gentleman-an equal of your own?
Il have heard that he was Accredited 10
me by-oy a friend to whom his dismissal
in 5nss wa rSughy Ths letter Which
from one of the highest of the Russian no
bility, vouches for him and asks me TO DO
all in my power for him should ne apply 70
me in Breslau. Your friend is well-nigh as
| suspicious as yourself. lima"
He was rapidly losing control of himself,
and in shame and sorrow lima tried 10
| draw Laura Metcalf away But the English
| girls temper was aroused. Knowing what
| she did, she was not going to brook open
! insult from one for whom she had risked
| so much, on the score or a dynamltard
| Responsibility"
ALLOW me to tell you then, monsieur,
that the sooner you give your noble friend $
| name to the police the better" she rejoined.
'We-my friends and 1-were not going 10
| mention il, for Ilmas sake, but now you
! had better be Informed that your friend
| American friend, before he was turned out.
| placed an internal machine In the chimney
| of his bedroom. That room backed on the
| Tsar's apartments
lima uttered low cry, and laid her hand
| beSeechingly on Laura's arm. ;
| Heed him not. dear, he is not himself,
she pleaded. II have tried so hard to save
| him. but he will not let me. If this were
known and could be proved, as l quite be-
| heve IL would mean death or exile
Laura gulped down her wrath, and re-
| lapsed into English.
| II shan't split you poor darling she re-
| piled. After the fuss had TO get the thing
| safely out of the house l couldn't stand any
nonsense about Delaval, but ii shall never
| go beyond us three-and two good friends
She reckoned without Dubrowski. how
ever. The aspersion on the writer of the let
ter had famed his passion TO white heat
and he was evidently about TO repeat his
insults direct when he saw a chance OF
varying his method. They had stopped II
an open space where three streets met un
| der a group of trees, and at that moment
he caught sight of Volborth crossing the
road towards them, arm in arm witt
| Fortescue. He did not know the latter, bu
his rage had vanquished good breeding.
Here. Paul!' he cried, excitedly "YoI
write romances. Here's an English youne
| lady with an imaginative mind who SHOULD
| furnish you with good material. She ha:
found a beautiful mares nest about al
American who, after getting into the hous'
! next the Stadthaus, left an Internal ma
| chine against the wall of his Majesty
apartments. This desperate criminal bore
an Introduction to myself, mind you. How'
that for a likely tale?''
There was little fear of Laura recogniz
ing the fussy German of the previous nigh
in the polished gentleman who mildly re
Piled
1T would be a pleasure to work out sucl
a realistic plot. Who knows but / may TT.
some day? But, seriously, my dear Boris
this is not a tale. whatever its foundation
that you should shout from the housetops
You ought TO know our Russian method
better 1t would not be pleasant for you
a breath of this disturbed the keen nostril
of the section.
"See to Mademoiselle Vassili!' crie
Fortescue. springing forward just in tim
to save lima from falling. She was quietl
fainting against the circular fence that pro
tected one of the municipal trees.