Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1905-1906, 1906-01-15

And play, If you so DESIRE our bust
ness is such that your music will be as
pleasure added"
Her father nodded but he could
not force another smile to his lips.
The brass rings of the portiere ratified.
and she was gone. But she LETT be-
hind a peculiar tableau, tableau such
as is formed by those who stand upon
ice which is 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 textbook, textbook; n
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.
Karlof 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.
Eyes. let lis have done with 1t before
I 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 81 900 denomination:
that is to say. 100 slips of paper re-
deemable in gold by the government
which had issued them. On top of this
packet lay the colonels note for $50. 900.
ct is true that Karloff never ac-
copied 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 I have not
bothered with having your note dis
counted. 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 packet some
what bulkier 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 1t so cheap"
There was 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 Karfoff 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
81 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 nnd strength Of mind.
It had been tho th0"~ht Of committing
the crime that hod un1ervad 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
drrnees in his throat
~ is not too late" he said: "I have
net -"t touched them
we "Noll not indulge in moralizing,
If yo" rlo"So Interrupted the colonel
with savage iro7v The moment for
that has core by"
Very we'll Karlorf's shoulders set
tied: his Jaws became rcSsively an
gular: some spirit of his predatory
forbe9rs touched his face here and
there. hardening it. 81 wish to speak
in regard to your daughter"
"Ero""", Take my honor and be