The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1905-11-03

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self"
You think" returned the lady. that
l am fit for nothing better than pretty
speeches and compliments and fora
o~fferingsY
81 do" he said quietly.
"And yet you offer me your friend.
ship?"
He bowed in acquiescence.
"Why?" she asked.
"For Paul's sake, my dear lady"
She shrugged her shoulders and turn
ed away from him.
"Of course she said, at is quite
easy to be rude. AS it happens, it is
precisely for Paul's sake that l took
the trouble of speaking to you on this
matter. / do not wish him to be trou
bled with such small domestic affairs.
and therefore if we are to live under
the same roof l shall deem it a favor if
you will, at all events. conceal your
diSapproval of me-"
He bowed gravely and kept silence.
either cheek, looking into the fire until
the door was opened and Maggie came
in.
SteinmetZ went toward her with his
grave smile, while Eta hid Il face
which had grown haggard.
Maggie glanced from one to the 9th
er with frank interest. The relation
ship between these two had rather
puzzled her of late.
well" said Steinmetz, land what OF
st. P~etersburg?"
Il am not disappointed" replied Mag
gle. at is all l expected and more.
Everything interests me-"
1--WE were discussing Petersburg
when you came ill.," said Steinmetz.
drawing forward a chair. 1.-The prin-
cess does not like it. She complains of
nerves"
Nerves. exclaimed Maggie, turn
ing to her cousin. Il did not suspect
you of having them"
Eta smiled a little YEARLY
zone never knows" she answered.
forcing herself to be light, what one
may come to in old age. l saw a gray
hair this morning. l am nearly thirty
three, you know. When glamour goes.
nerves come"
Paul took me out in a sleigh this
morning" went On Maggie, in her
cheerful voice. 81 liked everything
the policemen in their little boxes at
the street corners, the officers in their |
fur coats, the cabmen, everybody. Their
is something SO mysterious about them
all. One can easily make up stories
about everybody one meets in Peters
burg. 1t is so easy to think that they
are not what they seem. Paul, Eta,
ever you, Herr ~Steinmetz, may not be
what you seem"
eyes, that is So" answered Stein
metz, with 4 laugh.
You may be a nihilist,' pursued
Maggie. you may have bombs con-
cealed up your sleeves; you may eX-
change mysterious passwords with peo-
pie in the streets; you may be much
less innocent than you appear"
Cali that may be So" he admitted.
You may have a revolver in the
pocket of your dress coat" went OF
Maggie, pointing to the voluminous
garment with her fan.
His hand went to the pocket in ques-
ton and produced exactly what she
had suggested. He held out his hand
with a small silver mounted revolver
lying in the palm of it.
even that" he said, may be So"
Maggie looked at it with a sudden
curiosity, her bright eyes grave.
"Loaded?" she asked.
Eyes"
"Then / will not examine it. How
curious! l wonder how neal to the
mark l may have been in other ways
81 wonder" said Steinmetz, looking
Eta. And now tell US something
about the princess. What do you sus-
pect her of"
At this moment Paul came into the
room, distinguished looking and grave.
Miss Delafield," pursued Steinmetz.
turning to the newcomer, lis telling us
her suspicious about ourselves. l am
already as good as condemned to Sibe-
ria. She is now about to sit in judg-
ment on the princess"
Maggie laughed.
Herr Steinmetz has pleaded guilty
to the worst accusation" she said.
ION the other counts 1 leave him to
his own conscience"
Anything but that urged Stein
metz.
Paul came forward, and Maggie
obviously avoided looking at
him.
Tell US of Paul's crimes first" said
Eta, rather hurriedly. She glanced at
the clock, whittier Karl Steinmetz's
eyes had also Travelled. {
ooh, Paul" said Maggie, rather in
differently. Indeed it seemed as if her I
ightness of heart had suddenly failed +
her. well. perhaps he is deeply in '
-olved in schemes for the resurrection /
If the Polish kingdom or something of t
hat sort"
THAT sounds tame put in Stein t
metz. Il think you would construct Il a
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