The Washington herald., 1907-12-19

feel so lonesome and far away from
home, as if the Morava and the hills clad
with new-fallen snow were 50 distant,
that I could never breathe that cool, clear
breath again. So l rose and went out
Of the church, as one might IN my coun-
try. meaning no offense. Only the man
lived in another world, and. perhaps,
only read one-half UI mis- BiDie-not the
same half as our Pope Nicholas Kirin
who preached to us An eye for an eye,
and a tooth for TOOTH the very night
before ne led us down to make an end
of the last Turkish Colony on the Timok!
Next day I heeard the congregation
had taken it i'll. and called me heathen,
So little did they understand! Yet how
could they? I did not understand them
and they had never heard tell of Kate
rina, my little sister. nor felt about one
finger the tender clutch Of her little
hand. Bah, at times even am a weak
ling,
but not at otheIs-I will relate.
Il unscrewed and laid aside the steering
wheel Of the big Mercedes. 1t was be-
yond him TO repair it. and 1 hid the
gearing well. The other machine I left
all ready. and on the leather cushion Of
the seat. with some things of my own
as If put there IN preparedness for flight,
left the 'Ordonannce.' which / had re-
ceeived from the committee in Salonika
before I sailed. He could not miss seeing
II. The language and writing would
catch his eye.
Then 1 rode peaceably or on my cycle
"a good English-made machine that I
was sorry to leave behind TO rust in a
thicket But l had 20 give him time to
be gone
1T happened even as I had foreseen.
James Kahn had fought me Well. He
had shown me how TO see his wickedness,
and how to forestal ii. He had gone
away in a great hurry
''On his journey, or fight-more proper
~ Ooh, 1 know-I had thought OF alD
there had come on Kahn the fear Of
death, owing 10 misdeeds in early life
In his own native country. 1t is nothing
10 die-oh, nothing at all. only to cease
TO live-a twinge ike the drawing Of a
tooth. perhaps, and then the night sweep
ing up with wings of crape-nothing
more, That does not hurt. Therefore.
why should l wish merely TO kill James
Kahn?
"Ah, no-but to know ones self con-
demned TO certain death. TO watch, TO
wait, not 20 know where or when It will
strike-that is TO die really. That brings
the sweat out on a strong mans brow.
Nevertheless, l wasted no time. but
put the gear on the automobile I'm it's
place. For l was very expert with my
hands-far more so than the man Kahn.
was not afraid that he would get away
Only that perhaps he would find courage
to kin himself too soon-befOre / could
straighten accounts with him. ] took
in store OF petrol and start "a. He had
told me the way. 1t was a splendidly dry
night and there were only the hundred
miles or so before me which. had 1 wish
ed, ! could have soon burned under the
wheels Of my big Mercedes.
Il had map. also. but ] did not want
10 catch him too early. I wanted our
meeting TO be in place where there
would be only he and i-neither man nor
beast nor place Of refuge-only above the
God Of Vengeance. perhaps not so Ill
content with my work as the Kirktown
minister would have US believe For
even the most holy says Pope Nicholas.
must work my Instruments And a
Mauser is an instrument as good as an
other.
''As I say, 7 hung back in my chase;
fearful that the very sound of my Mer-
cedes behind might fright him and lead
him off the track. It would have spoiled
my intentions badly, if, for instance he
had taken refuge in some town, or even IN
an inn. He knew my mission. Fear sat
deadly upon him. His back was cold.
and his hands dripped. 1 could tell as
much by his driving For. being at leis-
ure. 1 could get of and look at his
tracks. Only going up the hills did he
steady his going. Elsewhere he was so
afraid Of making shipwreck OF his ma
chine and being left there. wounded and
helpless perhaps to wait for my coming
''Ah, had he only known, this last OF
the NegOtin, how careful ! was OF him
that is, till the appointed time. Not
hastily would I waste him or make an
end foolishly. Had he not led the laugh
ter that DAY when they drew a circle
about our home?
1T was at a certain little village that
runs down hill, then up again, clean,
whitewashed, and but for the hills about,
Dutch-like, that he made the turn
had been waiting for The name Of il is
on the map. Thereafter I knew that he
was at my mercy. So let him pass well
into the country, and then put the Mer-
cede TO her best pace, and from that mo-
ment Overhauled him yard by yard. He
heard behind the stOrming rush of the
big car. Presently he came into sight.
driving wildly, as I had fOreseen. his
head being turned over his shoulder half
OF the time.
II waived my hand at him and shouted
TO encourage him. as If It had been a
race-I with money upon him. But in
his blood there were the memory Of old
deeds condemning him-Or. at the least.
leaving him to my discretion. And he
looked for no better than death That
was what he had justly to expect, though
not exactly as he anticipated il, nor for
the same reasons.
Il ran the Mercedes at his. as IL to
pass, and 1 could see his head already
ducking low to avoid the bullet Then
maneuvered 70 take him behind at
full speed. in which case I would have
thrown him high in the air, even If
had not exploded both cars. But the
Mercedes ran little risk because of its
great size and weight. SO pleased was
with this play that the solitary house
called Clatteringshaws came too soon
in sight. He looked anxiously at the
dyke, at the little garden. at the shark
backs Of purplish-gray rock. But no
one came out at the noise of our racing
wheels. With a yell I rushed him. and
in a moment we We're past and out on
the moor again.
To RE C0NTTNTTFD To NfOPPOV