Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1906-09-13

not force another smile TO MS lips.
The brass rings of the portiere ratified,
and she was gone. But she left be-
hind peculiar tableau, tableau such
as is formed by those who stand upon
ice which il about to sink and engulf
them.
The two men stood perfectly still.
doubt not that each experienced the
same sensation, that the same thought
occurred to each mind though it came
from different avenues: love and
shame. The heart of the little clock ON
the mantel beat tick-tock, tick-tock; a
log cracked and fell between the irons
sending up shower of evanescent
sparks; one of the long windows CIV
ing out upon the veranda creaked mys-
teriously.
Karloff was first to break the spell
He made gesture which was eloquent
of his distaste of the situation.
Let us terminate this as quickly
as possible" he said.
"Yes, let us have done with it before
| lose my courage" replied the colo
mel, his voice thin and quavering
He wiped his forehead with his hand
kerchief. His hand shone white and
his nails darkly blue.
The count stepped over to the table,
reached into the inner pocket of his
coat, and extracted packet. In this
packet was the enormous sum of $780,
900 in notes of $1,000 denomination:
that is to say, 1S0 slips of paper re-
deemable in gold by the government
which had issued them. On top of this
packet lay the colonel's note for $4,000.
ct is true that Karloff never ac-
cepted money from his government in
payment for his services; but it Is
equally true that for every penny he
laid out he was reimbursed by Russia.)
Karloff placed the packet on the
table, first taking off the note, which
he carelessly tossed beside the bank
notes.
"You will observe that l have not
bothered with having your note dis
counted. I have fulfilled my part of
the bargain; fulfill yours. The
count thrust his trembling hands in
to his trousers pockets. He desired to
hide this embarrassing sign from his
accomplice. Annesley went to a small
safe which stood at the left of the fire.
place and returned with a packet some
what bulllier than the counts. He
dropped it beside the money, shudder-
ingly, as though he had touched a
poisonous viper.
"My honor" he said simply. "T
had never expected to sell it so cheap"
There was a pause, during which
neither mans gaze swerved from the
others. There was not the slightest.
not even the remotest, fear of treach-
cry; each man knew with whom he
was dealing; yet there they stood. as
If fascinated One would have thought
that the colonel would have counted
his money, or Karloff his plans; they
did neither. Perhaps the colonel
wanted Karloff to touch the plans first,
before he touched the money; per-
haps Karloff had the same desire, only
the other way around.
The colonel spoke
Il believe that is ALL" he said quiet
ly. The knowledge that the deed was
done and that there was no retreat
gave back to him a particle of his
former GOODNESS and strength of mind.
1t had been the thought of committing
the crime that had unnerved him.
Now that his bridges were burned a
strange, unnatural calm settled over
him.
The count evidently was not done.
He moistened his lips. There was a
dryness in his throat
"It is not too late" he said; 81 have
not yet touched them.
eve shall not indulge in moralizing.
If you please" interrupted the colonel,
with savage irony. "The moment for
that has gone by"
very we'll" Karloff's shoulders set
tied; his jaws became aggressively an
gular; some spirit O.. . his predatory
forbears touched his face here and
there, hardening it. 81 wish to speak
in regard to your daughter"
Enough! Take my honor and be
gone!" The colonels voice was loud
and rasping
Karloff rested his hands on the table
and inclined his body toward the colo
nell
Listen to me-" he began. "There
is In every man the making and the
capacity of great rascal. Time and
opportunity alone are needed-and a
motive. The other night l told you
that could not give up your daughter.
Well, 1 have not given her up. She
must be my WIFE"
"Must?" The colonel clenched his
hands.
Must. Tonight l am going to prove
myself great rascal-with a great mo-
tive. What is Russia to me? Nothing.
What is your dishonor or my own?
Less than nothing. There is only one
thing, and that is my love for your
daughter" He struck the table and
the flame of the student-Iamp rose vio-
lently. "She must be mine. minei |