The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-02-05

gnu" GU are " DctiAy hAhN1 '-AN-
you propose, Mr.. Dubraxnik?"
| replied deliberately:
Il have thought of joining the Mill
lists, but I have reconsidered the ques-
ton as impracticabIe. Therefore, / have
decided that you must leave Russia.
81? Leave Russia? Ordered away by
your
Yes, princess
She laughed wildly.
DO you think that l am weak thing
TO be ordered about like that by q man
whom / never saw until last nightZ
Beware, sir. lest you make me regret
that the bullet did not do its work more
effectively. / am a princess; have
wealth. power influential friends; do not
think that the Car would believe what
you would say. when he heard the story
that ] could tell him.
I shrugged my shoulders carelessly.
1t was my purpose to anger her to the
point of madness, for in that way alone
could l hope to draw her out to the
fullest details.
"If l thought that you were sincere
in what you say now, it would make
my unfortunate duty more simple l
said.
your dutyr' What is your duty? To
betray woman?"
precisely that.
And you would do that? Your
IF the alternative fails, yes
Again she rose from the couch. She
came and stood near me. and then, with
infinite sco~n. impossible to describe,
said slowly:
Il think our interview is at an end,
/ Mr. Dubravnik. for there is evidently
nothing to be gained by it. I much pre-
| fer to choose my friends among those
whom you call assassins than from fire.
quenters of the palace, if the others are
like you
| l rose also, and bowed coldIy.
| AS you will, princess.''I said Il
promised to keep your secret twenty
four hours. You have still ten hours
| in which to do one of three things to
obviate the necessity Of betraying you.
| '3IndeedH' haughtily.
THE easiest one will be for you to
notify me of your intention to depart
from the country. The second, quite as
effective, was suggested by yourself last
night when we talked of suicide The
| third will, perhaps, prove more con-
genial than either Of the others: YOU
can have me murdered"
/ bowed. and started toward the door.
but she barred the way before I could
| reach it.
You shall not go,' she cried
No? Is your brother Ivan here to
complete the work so badly begun,
princess?''
| For a moment she gazed at me in nor
ror, then. with a sob in her throat. she
stepped aside and sointed at the door.
Go" she said. Il should not have
detained you" Then, as I was about
to take her at her word, she burst into
a passion of tears. At the same instant
she ieaped toward me, and Selling me
with both hands, Grew me back again
into the cabinet.
tNo-no-no-no!'' she cried ..You shall
not goi Don't you know that you would
be shot down at the door of my house
or at best before you had gone hun
dred feet away from it? Have you
forgotten that your appointment with
me today was known by those who have
decided upon your death? VIII you
force me to acquiesce in your murder
even though you believe me capable OF
, committing it?"
l knew that what she said was un.
doubtedly true. for had neglected ms
usual caution IN not providing for ar
emergency of the kind; but l pretended
| to be incredulous.
/ But I cannot remain here indefinite
: ly, princess, / said.
lit is the only way to save your life
/ II you leave here before I have seer
those who would kill you, you will no
: live fifteen minutes after my door closes
= behind you. oh, 1 beseech you, TAX
the oath; promise me that you will TAX
r the oath. and let go and tell m,
= friends that you will do So
g DO you suppose, even then, that the,
3 would believe you, and spare me?''
. Yes; oh, yes, l would give myself a
hostage for your honor. My life woul
. be forfeited, too. if you should not kee
;. | the OATH
4 / hesitated. The opportunity wa
alluring in one way, for 1t would ren
der the entire organization like an ope
book to NE Still. there were othe
d things to be considered.
The danger that l would thus fncu
/. might render impotent the entire fabri
O that l had constructed with so niue
care; and. truth to tell, I could nc
|, bring myself TO the point OF utilzin
n a woman's confidence in order ultimate
! " to betray her and her friends
Il cannot take it, I said calmly.
-, "rhink. Think she exclaimed
n AZ have thought. / cannot do it
q sit down again, Mr.. Dubravnil
There Is no danger as long as you rt
main here / wish to tell you som,
thing. l want you to know why l al
a Nihilist; then, perhaps. you may /
- of different opinion"
: l obeyed her. and she resumed her %
sition on the couch, but her entire mar
=, ner had undergone a change. The cor
/, tempt. the scorn. the anger, had all die
- out of her face, which now assumed
- retrospective expression, and her eye
had in them dreamy far-away ligh
. as though she were living in the pas
~ while she recited the strange tale tn:
thrilled me as nothing else ever had,
-. ever has done.
Il have heard" she began, that yt
Yourself have seen some of the horro
of Siberia, hut 1 doubt ii. l do not eve
believe that you are n Russian, and
. be perfectly frank, | do not believe TIL
- your name is Dubravnik, ! am of Il
,. opinion-and ] did not think of it uni
- since the commencement of this int
- view-that You are not what YOU see
to be- and that your mission IN Russ
:" is in some way connected with the so
III evnfueut police: that YOU are more ths