The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1905-06-23
SIC Sewers
HE,tRY SETON AERRlkAs
cossEisht lsA b. Harper 4 Brother,
CHAPTER XxxIu.

CHAPTER XVIII.
rTEINMETZ laid Eta on a sofo
She was already recovering
y. consciousness. He rang the bell
twice, and all the while he kent
hls eye on De Chauxville. A mick
touch on Etta's wrist and breast show
ed that this man knew something of
women and Of those short lived faint.
ing fits that belong to strong emotions.
The maid soon came.
1.-THE princess requires your atten.
don," said Steinmetz, still watching
De Chauxville. who was looking at
Etta and neglecHng his opportunities.
Steinmetz went up to him and took
him by the arm.
"Come with me,p he said.
The Frenchman could have taken
advantage Of the presence Of the serv-
ant to effect q retreat, but he did not
dare to do so. It was essential that he
should obtain a few words with Eta.
To effect this he was ready even to
face an interview with Steinmetz.
He preceded Steinmetz out Of the
room, forgetting ever to resent the
large, warm grasp ON his arm. They
went through the long, dimly lit pas.
sage to the old part of the castle,
where Steinmetz had his rooms.
"And now" said Steinmetz, when
they were alone with closed doors.
land now, De Chauxville, let us under
stand each other"
De Chauxville shrugged his Shout
ders. He was not thinking Of Stein.
metz yet He was still thinking of Eta
and how he could get speech with her.
With the assurance which had carried
him through many a difficulty before
This, the Frenchman looked round him,
taking in the details Of the room. They
were in tho apartment beyond the large
smoking roOm-the anteroom, as 1t
were. to the little chamber where Paul
kept his medicine chest, his disguise,
all the compromising details Of his
work among the peasants. The broad
writing table in the middle Of the
room stood between the two men.
"Do you imagine yourself in love
With the p%rincess" asked Steinmetz
buddenly. with characteristic blunt
ness.
III you like" returned the other.
III I thought that 1t was that" said
the German, looking ut him thought
fully, II would throw you out of the
window. II 1t Is anything else, 1 will
only throw you downstairs"
De Chauxville bit his thumb nail
anxiously. he frowned across the ia.
BILE into sStelnmetz's face. In all their
intercourse he had never heard that
tone o. voice; he had never seer quite
that look on the heavy face.
II have known you nov for twenty
I'VE years." went on Karl Steinmetz,
"and I cannot say that l know any
good Of you. But let that pass. 1t is
not 7 suppose, my business. The world
is as the good God made it. can do
nothing toward lettering it. I have al
ways known you to be q %scoundrel, q
fact to be deplored, and that is all.
But so o as your villainy affects
my own life, then, my friend, a more
active recognition Of 1t is necessary"
"Indeed!" sneered. the Frenchman.
"Your villainy has touched Paups
life, and at that point 1t touches mine,'
continued Karl Steinmetz, with slow
anger. "You followed us to Peters
burg; thence you logged us to the gov
eminent Of Tver. You twisted that
foolish woman, the Countess Lano.
witch, round your finger and obtained
from her an Invitation to Thors. All
this in order to be neal one of us. Ach!
I have been watching you. Is 1t only
after twenty-five years that l at last
eonvince you that I am not such a foo
- you are pleased to consider me-"
@You have not convinced me yet
put in De Chauxville, with his easy
laugh.
mo, but I shall do so before I have
finished with you. Now, you have moi
come here for nothing. It is to be neal
one Of us. It is not Miss Delafeld
She knows you. Is 1t IT.
He touched his broad chest with hi!
two hands and stood defying his life
long foe.
els it me that you follow? II 80,
nm here. Let US have done with
now"
De Chauxyille laughed. There wa
m uneasy look in his eyes. He dit
not quite understand Steinmetz. ~
made no answer, but he turned ant
looked at the window.
"Is It PaulY' continued Steinmetz. :
think not. I think you are afraid 0
Paul. Remains the princess. Unles
you can convince me to the contrary
must conclude that you are trying t
eet q helpless woman into your pow
-"
6teinmetz was standing with III
back to what appeared to be the onl
exit from the room. There were NV
ether doors concealed in the oake'
$780,