Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-10

the open door and could not get the resemblance
out of his mind.
Supper, gentlemen!" said Sterkoff with malevo-
lent mirth. The doctor can't join you He's a
little upset and keeps his bed good appetitel
l trust not to be obliged to disturb you again
tonight"
Markart had come in by now, but he was too
surly and sore to speak. Without word he
pumped down into chair by the table and rested
his chin on his hands, staring at the cloth
1t was left to Lepagee to bow to Sterkof and to
express their joint thanks. This task he performed
with sufficient urbanity. Then he broke into
laugh They must think it odd to you carry
ing dishes and bottles about the Palace Captain
Possibly agreed Sterkoff. But you see, my
friend, what they think in the Palace doesn't matter
very much, as long of them get outside.
Oh, none of them spends the evening out?
attack of influenza and DR.. Natchef is in attend
ance? 1t would be unfeelng, Lepage."
Horribly. Captain! Probably even the sem
tries would object?"
Its possible they would" Sterkoff agreed
again. He drew himself up and saluted Markart,
who did not move or pay any attention. Good
seemed more cooked on one side than ever.
LePage babe him Goodnight respectfully;
INJURED longingly: "Ah il could knock that ugly
mug the rest of the way OF lis shoulders"
He treated Markart with No less respect than he
had accorded to Sterkoff he would not hear of
sitting down at table with an officer but insisted
on handing the dish and uncorking the wine.
Markart accepted his attentions, and began to eat
Some wine, Captain, some wine to cheer you
up in this tiresome duty of guarding me! cried
Lepage, picking up bottle in one hand and glass
\ in the other. oh but that wry-necked
* fellow has brought you dirty glass!
* A moment, Captain! II wash it. And
off he bounded-not waiting to
set down the bottle-into the little
beyond.
His brain was working hard now,
marshaling his resources against his diff
- culties. The difficulties were thirty feet
- to fall, Sterkofs sentries, the broad swift
go current of the Krath-for even in normal
81 times there was always sentry on the
"a bridge-then the search for Zerkovitch
IN in Slavna. His resources were mat
"a tress pair of sheets, vial half full
- of the draft which DR.. Natcheff had
prescribed for the King.
- It's very unfortunate, but I've not
& the least notion how much would kill
him. thought Lepage he poured the
Va medicine presumably strong sedative
into the wine-glass and filled UP with
g wine from the bottle Ster1of had pro-
vided. He came back, holding the glass
aoft with a satisfied air Now it's fit
for a gentleman to drink out Of, said he,
as he sat it down by Markart's hand.
The Captain took it up and swallowed
r5sgas the contents at gulp
Ugh! Corked, 1 think! Beastly, any
howl" said he.
They poison us as well as shut us
upl' cried Lepage in burlesque anger.
Try the other bottle, Captain.
The other bottle is much better, ;" said
Markart, and he drank pretty well the
whole of it, Lepage standing by and
watching him with keen interest 1t
distressing not to know exactly
how much of the Kings draft would
kill; it had been necessary, though, to
err on the safe side-the side safe for Lepage,
that is.
Captain Markart thought he would smoke his