Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-05-25
drawing room and TOOK him to see that

/ were alone. 1--WE cannot keep them
back any longer. You understandable
side door to be opened at Z o'clock. Ah,
who is this?"
They both turned. Steinmetz was
standing behind them, but he could
not have heard De Chauxville's words.
He closed the door carefully and came
forward with his grim smile.
"Just we three!" repeated Steinmetz.
"De Chauxville, you love an epigram.
The man who overestimates the fool
ishness Of others is himself the big
gest fool concerned. A lame horse
the princes generosity-making your
adieus. You should know me better
than that after all these years. No;
you need not look at the door. No one
will interrupt us. 1 have seer to that"
He turned to the princess with the
grave courtesy that always marked his
attitude toward her.
"Madamc," he said, II fully recog-
nize your c%leverness in raising yourself
to the position you now occupy, but I
would remind you that that position
carries with it certain obligations. 1t
is hardly dignifed for a princess to
engage herself in a vulgar love intrigue
in her own house."
at is not q vulgar love i%ntriguer.'
cried Eta, with blazing eyes. 81 will
| not allow you to say that! Where is
| your boosted friendship? Is this a
! sample of it,"
Karl Steinmetz bowed gravely, with
outspread hands.
Madame, that friendship is at your
service, now as always"
De Chauxville gave a scornful little
laugh. He was biting the end Of his
mustache as he watched Etta's face.
! For a moment the woman stood-not
the first woman to stand thus-be-
tween two fears, then she turned to
| Steinmetz. The victory was his, the
| greatest he had ever torn from the
grasp of Claude de Chauxville.
you know" she said, that this man
has me in his power"
You alone, but not both of US to-
gether," answered Steinmetz.
De Chauxville looked uneasy. He
gave a careless little laugh.
"My good Steinmetz, you allow your
| imagination to run away with you.
! You interfere in what does not concern
you"
| "My very dear De Chauxville, I think
not. At all events, 1 am going to con-
tinue to interfere"
Eta looked from one to the other.
| She had at the first impulse gone over
to Steinmetz. She was now meditat-
| ing, drawing back. If De Chauxville
kept cool all might yet be well-the
dread secret Of the probability of Sgd
ney scarborough being alive might still
be withheld from Steinmetz.
She had to decide quickly. She de-
| cided to assume the role of peace
maker.
IN. de Chauxville was on the point
of going" she said. "Let him 60"
an. de Chauxville is not going until
l have finished with him, madame.
This may be the last time we meet. I
hope it is"
De Chauxville looked uneasy. His
was a ready wit, and fear was the
only feeling that paralyzed it. Eta
looked at him. Was his wit going to
desert him now when he most needed
it? He had ridden boldly into the
lions den. Such a proceeding requires
a certain courage, but a higher form of
intrepidity is required to face the lion
standing before the exit.
Steinmetz turned to Eta.
"Princess," he said, will you now,
In my presence, forbid this man to
come to this or any other house Of
yours? Will you forbid him to address
himself either by speech or letter to
you again."
"You know I cannot do that" replied
Eta.
"Why not?"
Eta made no answer.
Because" replied De Chauxville for
her, 'the princess is too wise to make
an enemy Of me. In that respect she
is wiser than you. She knows that I
could send you and your prince to ST.
beria."
Steinmetz laughed.
"Nonsense" he said. Princess" he
went on, "if you think that the fact of
De Chauxville numbering among his
friends a few obscure police spies gives
him the right to prosecute you,y you are
mistaken. Our friend is very clever,
but he can do no harm with the little
that he knows Of the Charity league"
without going into affairs which do
not concern you" said the Frenchman,
answering for her, Il think you will
recognize that the secret Of the Chair
ty league was quite sufficient excuse
for me to request a few minutes alone
with the princess"
Princess" said Steinmetz, answer
NE before it is too late. Has De
Chauxville any other hold over your"
Eta nodded, and the little action
brought a sudden CLEAN to the French
mans eyes.
"If," said Stelnmetz, looking from
one to the other-"if you two have been
deceiving Paul l will have nc mercy,
l warn you Of that"
NJ