Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1905-1906, 1906-02-15

"And play. if you so desire: our bust
ness is such that your music will be as
a 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 left 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 tick-tock, tick-tock;
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-
teriouslv.
Karloff was first to break the spell.
He made a gesture which was eloquent
of his distaste of the situation.
LET us terminate this as quickly
as possible" he said.
Eyes. let us have done with it 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,
600 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 $40 900.
ct is true that Karloff never ac-
copied money from his government in
payment for his services: but 1t 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. 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 packet some
what bulllier than the counts. He
ingly. as though he had touched
poisonous viper.
my honor he said simply. 81
had never expected to sell it 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 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.
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 coolpess end strength Of mind.
It had been tho tho""ht Of committing
the crime that bod unnorvad him.
Now that his BRIDGES wore burned, a
strange. unnatural calm settled over
him.
The count evidently was not done
He moistened bis lips There was a
dr"ness in his throat
''i Is not too late" he said: 81 have
net - touched them
''Vo eh"ll rot indulge in moralizing.
If YOU rla"ec Interrupted the colonel
with savage irorv The moment fer
that has gone by"
Very well" Karlnf's shoulders set
tied: his Jaws became agcrcssively an
enlar: some spirit of his predatory
fortears touched his face here and
there. hardening it. 81 wish to speak
in regard to your daughter"
"Frcr~", Take my honor and be