Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-05-25
after twenty-five years that l at last
convince you that I am not such q fool

| convince you that I am not such a fool
MS you are pleased to consider mel"
"You have not convinced me yet"
put in De Chauxv1lle. with his easy
laugh.
mo, but I shall do so before I have
finished with you. Now, you have not
come here for nothing. 1t is to be near
one of us. 1t is not Miss Delaf1eld.
| She knows you. Is 1t 1T
He touched his broad chest with his
two hands and stood defying his life
long foe.
us it me that you follow? If SO, 1
am here. Let us have done with it
now"
De Chauxville laughed. There was
an uneasy look in his eyes. He did
not quite understand Steinmetz. He
made no answer, but he turned and
looked ut the window.
"Is it Paul?' continued Steinmetz. II
think not. I think you are afraid Of
Paul. Remains the princess. Unless
| you can convince me to the contrary I
| must conclude that you are trying to
| get a helpless woman into your pow
err"
Steinmetz was standing with his
back to what appeared to be the only
| exit from the room. There were two
| other doors concealed in the oaken
| panels, but De Chauxville did not know
that.
II am waiting" said the German,
"for you to explain your conduct"
"Indeedv" replied De Chauxville.
'Then, my friend, you will have to con-
tinue waiting. I fail to recognize your
right to make inquiry into my move
! ments. Kindly let me pass"
Steinmetz was getting calmer. There
| was an uncanny hush about him.
"Then I am to conclude" he said,
| that you came to Russia in order to
| prosecute a helpless woman. Her in
/ nocence or her guilt is for the moment
| beside the question. Neither is any
business of yours. Both, on the con
trary, are my affair. Innocent OR
guilty, the Princess Howard Alexis
must from this moment be freed from
| your persecution"
De Chauxville shrugged his Shout
ders. He tapped on the floor impa.
tiently with the toe of his neat riding
boot.
"Well," he said. "Let me pass"
"Your story Of Sydney Scarborough"
went on Steinmetz coldly, twas a good
one wherewith to brighten a panic
stricken But you brought it
to the wrong person when you brought
it to me. Do you suppose that I would
have allowed the marriage to take
place unless I knew that scarborough
was dead?"
"You may be telling the truth about
that incident or you may not" said De
Chauxville. "Rut my knowledge Of the
betrayal Of the Charity league is SUI.
fcient for my purpose"
EYES," admitted Steinmetz grimly,
you have information there with pos.
sibilities of mischief in it. But I shall
discount most Of it by telling Prince
Pavlo tonight all that l know, and l
know more than you do. Also, l in
tend to seal your lips before you leave
this room"
De Chauxville stared at him with a
dropping lip. He gulped down some
thing in his throat. His hand was
stealing around under the fur jacket
to a pocket at the back of his trousers.
LET me out!!' he Kissed.
There was a CLEAN of bright metal
in the sunlight that poured in through
the window. De Chauxville raised his
arm sharply, and at the same instant
Steinmetz threw a book in his face. A
loud report, and the room was full of
smoke.
Steinmetz placed one hand on the
table and, despite his weight, vaulted
it clearly. This man had taken his
degree at Heidelberg, and the Germans
are the finest gymnasts in the world.
Moreover, muscle, once made, remains
till death. 1t was his only chance,
for the Frenchman had lodged the
novel, but it spoiled his aim. Steinmetz
vaulted right on to him. and De Chaux-
Vile staggered back.
In a moment Steinmetz had him by
the collar; his face was gray, his heavy
eyes ablaze. If anything will rouse a
man, it is being fired at point blank
at a range of four yards with a re-
volver.
"Ach!" gasped the German. you
would shoot me, would your"
He wrenched the pistol from De
Ch%auxville's fingers and threw it into
the corner Of the room. Then he shook
the man like a garment.
"First," be cried, "you would kill
Paul, and now you try to shoot me!
Good God, what are you? You are
no man. Do you know what I am 60
ing to do with you? I am going to
thrash you like a dog!"
ITO BE Continued