Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-22
THE POWERS AND MAXINE.

You wouldn't ask that question if you
knew what know, he replied
| Was 1t bluff did he know-not mere
| ly suSpect-something?
| Il don't understand ysu," said quietly,
! though my lips were dry.
Shall l mention the word-document?
I he limited. Really, I'm sure you won't
regret it If you let me drive home with you,
mademoiselle.''
Il can't do that I answered. And
can't take you into my carriage here. But
I'll stop for you and walt at the corner Rue
Eugene Beauharnas. Then you go
with me until think 1t best for you to get
out"
Very we'll" he agreed. But send your
maid home In a cab: can not talk before
her"
Yes. you. can. She knows no language
| except French-and little English. She
always drives home with me-"
This was true. But II had been talking
to Eaoul would. perhaps, have given the
dear old woman her first experience Of be-
would not have minded. for she likes
Raoul, admires him a dream of a
young man." and already suspected what
l hadn't yet told her-that we were en-
gagged But with Count Godensky forced
upon me as companion l would not for
any consideration have parted with Mari
anne
Three or four minutes after starting
was giving instructions to my chauffeur
where to stop, and almost Immediately
afterward Godensky appeared. He got in
and took the place al my left Marianne.
silent, but doubtless astonshed, facing
on the little front seat
Now" exclaimed, please begin
quickly"
Don't force me to be too abrupt" he
said. Il would spare you If 1 could. You
speak as II you grudged me every moment
with you. Yet I am here because l love
you.
"Oh. please. monsieur" 1 broke in
You know I've told you that is useless
But everything Is changed since then.
Perhaps now even your mind Will be
changed. That happens with women some
times l want to warn you of a great
danger that threatens you. Maxine Per
haps, late as it Is. could save you from
1t If you'd let me-
Save me from WHAT" I asked. Tempo
rizing. You're very mysterious Count
Godensky. And I'm MAIDEN oiselle de Rem
gle except to my very intimate friends.
II am your friend always. Maybe you
will even permit me to speak Of myself as
your intimate friend when I have done
what hope to do for you in--in the matter
OF certain document which has disap-
peared"
I was quivering all over. But had not
lost hope yet; think that some women.
feeling as / did would have tainted. But
1t would have been better for me to die
and be out Of my troubles forever than to
let myself faint and show Godensky that
he had struck home.
BE quiet Be cool Be brave now, II
never again." 1 said to myself And my
voice sounded perfectly natural 1 ex-
claimed "Oh, the document again. The
one you spoke about when We first met to-
night. You rouse my curiosity. But /
don't In the least know what you mean"
THE loss of it is known" he said.
"Ah. it's a lost document"
"As you will be lost. Maxine, il you don't
come to me for the help I'm only too glad
m
what they are.'
wouldn't it be more to the point If you
told me what the document is and how 1t
concerns me?" 1 parted him, determined
to bring him to bay.
aren't you evadng the point far more
than L? The document-which you and I
can both see as plainly before our eyes at
this instant as though it were Inlet US
here-that document Is far too important
even to name within hearing of other
ears
'Mar,anne's? But 1 told you she can't
understand a word Of Russian"
"One can't be sure. We can never tell in
these days who may not be-a spy
There was stab for me. But I would
not give him the satisfaction Of showing
that it hurt He wanted to confuse me, to
put me off my guard, but he should not.
They say one judges others by oneself
I laughed. Count Godensky, If you
throw out such lurid hints about my poor.
not you who are the spy
Since you trust your woman so implicit
ly then" he went on, I'm tell you what
you want to know. The document l speak
of is the you took out of the foreign
office the other day. when you called on
yoUr-friend. Raoul du Laurier.
Dear mel" 1 exclaimed You say you
want to be my friend. yet you seem to
think am a kleptomaniac. 1 can't imagine
what should want with any dry old docu-
ment out of the foreign Office. can you?"
Yes. 1 imagine" said Godensky
drly.
pray tell me then. Also what document
it was. For. joking apart, this is rather
serious accusation"
IF 1 make any accusation, It's less
against you than du Laurier.
"Oh, you make an accusation against
him. Why do you make it to me?'
LAS a warning
'or because you don't dare make it to
any one else"
Dare! I haven't accused him so far be-
cause to do so would brand your name with
his"
All" 1 said. you are very con-
siderate."
II don't pretend to be considerate-ex-
cept of myself. I've waited and held my
hand until now because l wanted to see