The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-03
others passive. International counter.

otHeI passive u1IeI1Otlo4id1 codIten-
rs it so, Captain Mazanovitch?
Then viii take the prisoner off your
hands,
The little man spread out his palms
with an apologize, depreeating ges-
ture. His eyes seemed closed--or
nearly so. He seemed TO see nothing;
he looked at neither Valcour nor my
self. But there was something about
the still white face, WITH It's frame of
iron gray, that compelled a. certain re
spect. and even deferences
1T is greatly to be regretted he
said, gently; and it grieVes me to- be
obliged to disappoint you, Senior Val
cour. But since this man is q prison.
er of the policeZa state prisoner of
some Importance, q belieYe-it is inn
possible to deliver him into your
hands"
Without answer Valcour stood mo-
tionIess before us, only his mobile
face, and his white lips showing the
conflict of emotions that oppressed
him. And then 1 saw a curious thing
happen. The eyelids of Mazanovitch
for an instant Enclosed. and in that
instant so tender a glance escaped
them that Nalcour trembled slightly,
and touched with a gentle, loving ges-
ture, the elder mans arm.
It all happened in a flash, and the
next moment I could not have sworn
that my eyes had not deceived me. for
ValcOur turned away with a Sullen
frown upon his brow, and the captain
seized my arm and marched me to the
door FiggOt and Marco following close
behind.
Presently we regained our carriage
and were driven rapidly from the
morgue.
This drive was longer than the first,
but during it no word was spoken by
any of my companions. I could not
help staring at the closed eyes of Ma
zanovfteh. but the others, I noticed,
avoided looking at him Did he see,
wondered could he see from out
the tiny slit that showed beneath his
lashes?
We came at last to a quiet street
lined with small frame houses, and
before one of these the carriage
door with a latchkey and ushered US
into a dimly lighted room that seemed
fitted UP as study and Office combined.
Not until we were seated and sup
piled with cigars did the little man
speak Then he reclined in a cush-
toned chair, pulled at his cheroot, and
turned his face in my direction.
Tell me all you know concerning
the vault and the ring which unlocks
| it, he said, in his soft tones.
I obeyed. AfterWard Eiggot told of
my meeting with the minister Of police
and of Paola'S order to him and Marco
/ to escort me to Rio and to place the
/ entire matter in the hands ofMazano-
witch.
The little man listened without COM
/ ment and afterWard sat for many min
utes silently smoking his cheroOt
1T seems to me-" said I. at last
that the death of Senhora de Mar
and especially the fact that her ring
/ finger has been severed from her hand
/ points conclusively to one reassuring
fact; that the ring has been recovered
4 by one of our band, and so the Cause
| IS no longer endangered. Therefore
my mission to Rio is ended, and al
that remains for me is to return. to
Cuyaba and attend to the obsequies OF
my poor friend de Pintra."
Marco and Figgot heard me respect
fully, but instead of replying botf
gazed questioningly at the calm face Of
Mazanovitch.
THE facts are these, said the lat
ter. deliberately; "Senhofa de MAJ
fed with the ring; she has been muir
dered, and the ring taken from her
By whom? If a patriot has 1t, we shal
know the truth within fifteen min.
utes. glanced at a great clock tick.
ing against the wall. Before your ar
rival ne resumed, st had taken stem.
to communicate with every patriot ii
Rio. Yet there were few able to rec
ognize the ring as the key to the see
ret vault and the murder was com
mitted fifteen minutes after the traii
left Cruz"
started, at that.
4sWho could have known % asked
. The little man took the cigar from