Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1907-10-30
CHAPTER xxxv.
Tho Fight on the Staircase.

mo I9nI OF INC staircase
Had not Kuhn, been supported by
the other two his temerity would
doubtless have cost him his life AS it
was, Gornji of Montenegro leaped
toward him, drawn dirk in his hand.
Starva sent it spinning along the pol
ished floor.
Imbecile!" he Kissed. There is
none here who will be more loyal to
our cause than Otto Kuhn of Mace
donia. There is none who can help it
so much. He needs but to be con-
vinced. Is it not SO, comrade?"
81 ask only to go into the affair
with my eyes open," muttered Kuhn,
his voice trembling with rage and
fear.
But we will have no traitors
Gornji grumbled
'And if any have forced their way
into this meeting and are unwilling to
pay the price of admission, they must
be put out-yes, out of this world"
cried Ignatieff.
The four assassins most Jealous
ranged themselves side by side, facing
the three. Starva stood between them.
Patience, friends. What you say
would be quite true" he pleaded, eff
it were so. There can be no traitors
among us. No one may leave this
room tonight until he is committed
irrevocably to the cause. AS it is,
each man by his presence has COM
mitted himself. There must be COM
plete harmony among us. Ferdinand
is to die. But he and Alexander mere
ly lead the procession of ghosts. There
are others to follow them into .Hades.
And that is only the beginning of our
work. We shall find half of Europe
arrayed against us. The new republic
will have to fight perhaps for it's ex-
istence. We shall need money, and
comrade Kuhn has pledged his mil
lions to the cause"
But only on the condition that
England had refused to aid Ferdis
nand," interrupted Kuhn defiantly 81
say you have tricked me into commit
ting myself"
"And it," fiercely shouted Gortscha-
koff of Servia, "the British ambassa.
dor were actually living-if he could
promise what he has been vainly
asked, it could avail nothing now. Has
not Ferdinand heard the names of all
Of us? Can he not see us? Enough
of this vain talk. Gornji speak with
reason. We can have no traitors
among us. If Caesar fell pierced by
the daggers of SO senator's, Ferdinand
must be content with eight But
there can be no Sinking. Each man
must have hand in his DEATH
Cali in good time. But first of
all 1 would answer our skeptical
friend here. You say, Kuhn, that the
ambassador is living. If I show him
to you on his bier will you believe
me?"
Prove to me what you say" said
Kuhn, uneasily.
Il tell you that it is you who would
have been tricked had it not been
for my vigilance. Sir Mortimer Brett
has been dead these four days. With
his death ended the schemes of the
woman, the Countess Sarahoff, Fer
dinand's spy. But by one of those
jests of fate she found a ready tool
to aid her as a price for her caresses.
This tool of hers bears a marvellous
resemblance to the dead minister.
1t was he whom you saw this morn
ing and not Sir Mortimer He came
to this chateau with the Countess Sar-
ahoff to play the part of the English
minister. It was he who was to trick
have you to say?"
This sounds too improbable - be
believed without proof" Kuhn replied,
turning to the two men who stood on
either. side of him.
Il shall show you the proof" t4un-
dered Starva. his patience at an end,
and that before you leave this castle.
mold them all in the hollow of my
hand-the countess herself, her ac-
complice, and the kings messenger.
Now what have you to say?"
Show me this man who has trick
ed me, and I am with you heart and
soul" was Kuhn's response. . His
words were brave enough, but they
we're those of man forced into cor
ner. 1 told you that 1 wish only to
go into this affair with my eyes
open"
You see. friends" said Starva, "a
little patience was all that was neces-
sary. Our cofnrade needed but to
ba convinced. l shall satisfy his curl
osity without delay" He raised his
voice.. "Jacquesi"
The servant came forth from the
dining-room and stood silent before
him.
Jacques. go to the tower and bring
70 me the friend of Countess Sara
hof- You are armed? If he gives
you any trouble. call me-"
He will give me no trouble" said
The man, contemptuously. starting on
Ills errand.
Locke and / instinctively poised
ourselves to leave our hiding place to
greet Jacques when he should near
us.
Put when this man comes" object
cd Ignatieff, angrily. lis he to recog-