New-York tribune., 1906-06-10
l 0

Sterkoff was to be his. Under the most civil and
considerate form, he made as close prisoner
as the man he guarded. Evidently StenoVCs had
come to the conclusion that he could not ask
Markart to put great a strain on his conscience
The General however, seemed Kindly disposed
toward him, and indeed almost apologize
g have every hope that this responsible and,
fear very irksOme duty may last only the few
hours l mentioned. You put me under per-
sonal obligation by undertaking 1t, my dear
In the absence of any choice, Markart saluted
and answered: l understand my orders, General.
Stafnitz interposed Captain Sterkoh is also
aware of their purpOrt!
Stenovcs looked vexed Yes, yes; but | m sure
Markart himself is quite enough. 1t seems odd
that in the midst of such transaction as that IN
which he was engaged, Stenovics should have
found leisure or heart, to care about MarNart S
creeping in He shut Markart up only under the
strongest sense of necessity and with great reuct-
ance Probably Stafnitz had insisted in the private
conversation which they had held tOgether-Nlarkart
had shown such evident signs OF Jbblng over the
job proposed for Captain Hercules
Lepage's heart wrung, but his spirit was not
broken. Stafnitz's ironical smile called an answer
ing to his lips. 1t would console my feelings
if also were put in charge of somebody, General
he said. Shall l. in my turn, keep an eye on Dr.
Natcheff or report if the Captain here is remss IN
the duty of keeping himself prisoner"
Il don't think YOU need trouble yourself NJ
Lepage Captain Sterkoff will relieve you of re-
sponsibty." To Lepage, too, Stenovlcs was gentle
urbane, almost apoogetc
And how long am | to live General:
~ EOu in the enVIable position, NJ. LepaSe
of being able, subject to our common NOR
taltv, to settle that for yourself. Come, come!
we'll discuss matters again tomorrow night
or the following morning There are many
who prefer not to do things but VIII
accept q thing when it's done. They are not
necessarily unwise. have done no worse to
YOU than give YOU the opportunity of being F.,
one Of them. | think you will be prudent to i
take it. Anyhow, don't be angry; you must
remember that you have given us good deal of
trouble"
Between us we have killed the King"
Stenovics waved his hands in a COM
mseratng way Practical men mustn't
spend time in lamentng the past, he said.
Nor in mere conversation, however pleasant
Stafnitz broke in with laugh Captain Markart,
march your prisoner to his quartersi
His smile made the order mOckery. Markart
felt it, and a hatred of the man rose in him But
he could do nothing He did not lead Lepage to
his quarters but followed sheepishly in his prisoners
wake They went together into the little room
where Lepage slept.
Close quarters, too Captain" said the valet
There IS but one chair-et me put it at Your
service" He himself sat down the bed, took
his tobacco, and began to roll himself cigarette
Markart shut the door, and then threw himself on
the solitary chair heavy dependency of spirit
and confused conflict of feelings. He was glad
to be out of the work yet he resented the manner in
which he was put aside. There were things going
in which 1t well to have no hand. Yet
there not thing going on in which every man ought
to have hand on side or the other mot to do
it. but to be ready to accept it when done! He was
enough of soldier feel that there lay the worst
the meanest thing of all Not to dare to do it, but
to profit by the doing! Stenovics had used the
words to Lepage his prisoner. BY making him in
effect prisoner too, the General showed that he
applied them to the Captain also. Anything
seemed better than that-aye, it would be better
to ride to Praslol behind Captain Hercules! In
that adventure a man might at least risk his life
An odd world" said the valet, putting out his
cigarette smoke. Honest for prisoners and
murderers for jailerS. Are you prisoner