The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1908-09-04
CHAPTER XIV.
Love, the conqueror.

lnSenSlDly DmltrlS QetefmlnaClOn
had been undermined; now Love had
yanquished him utterly, for when
ChristabeI was alone in the concrete
passage he had only to move small
lever fraction of an inch and she
would have died at once. .
Yet he was conscious that time was
passing-that it was time he should
carry out that frightful resolve of his.
Only that very morning an English
mail had come in, bringing letters to
him from Sir Maxwell Sisterson, and
in one of them was the suggestion,
made designedly with some obscurity
IN its phrasing, that it was time.
There had been letters, too. for Chris
label from her brother and her lover
both of which he had confiscated. In
lis letter Norman Forde had wonder
ed why he had never heard from her
since she had left England, and re.
minded her that six weeks had passed
by. Dmitri was we'll warned of the
eight of time.
Yes, it was time that this thing
should happen-if it was to happen
Never could there have been a better
opportunity than had been put in his
way by the chapter of accidents. Ev-
erythlng was in his favor, for Christa-
'bers death might easily have been
made to wear the appearance of acct
cent, too. 1t had been in his mind
for it was in no Joking. mood that he
had shut the door upon her: it had
been his purpose to pull the little lev
err and to make an end of her. When
the moment came he found that he
could not do it; Love held his hand
and he was powerless. The thing was
easy, yet impossible.
''It was a joke" he said to Christa-
bel, as he opened the door. Il hope
you were not frightened"
"No," she replied; why should 1
have teen?"
''Oh, no reason in the world" he
said. looking away from her to the
tteel door His voice was now firm.
They were standing in the passage
Of concrete. and the door which had
been closed upon her was open. AS
Dmitri had entered by it she had OBJ
served that it was very thick and was
covered with some sort of felt; above
her head she saw ruled as it were, on
the ceiling of the passage two black
lines which suggested an exit or out
let; in front of her was the steel door,
at the top OF one of whose sides was
something bright and shining in a
strong wire cage.
Beyond the steel door," continued
Dm.tri "is what Katia designates my
Bluebeards chamber 1t is my labor
atory." He paused, and his glance
now fell full upon her. 1T is in there
that the ingredients are mixed which
makes 'Sisterson's cement differ from
all other cements." He paused again,
and his eyes searched her face.
Yes" said Chrstabel civilly, but
evidently not much impressed. She
was barely listening, in fact, to him.
He could not fail to see that what he
was saying seemed to have very little
interest for her.. "She is an actress,
like all women" he said to himself,
but he tried her once more.
These ingredients and the way in
which they are combined form the
secret on which our business is found
rowly
"A valuable secret" she responded,
lightly, wondering why he was staring
90 hard at her.
Yes" he said, and there was a
sudden ferceness in his tones that
made her look at him, whereupon he
repeated, EYES," but more gently. ut
is valuable secret" he went on, "and
you will not be surprised that among
other precautions we take to prevent
its being stolen from us we do not ad-
init any one into our laboratories.
alone in Sulja use this laboratory;
alone in Sulja'-here his voice had
CullOuo oOuuu VI uSudCS III KNOW
this secret"
"You trust nobody, remarked
Christabel, more to break the pause
which followed on Dmitri's last words
than for any other reason.
I'VE trust no one-but ourselves"
replied Dmitri. There is a similar
chamber, approached in the same way
rs this is, in all our works in England
and elsewhere in Europe and Ameri-
ca. and in each case the chamber may
be opened by the heads Of the bust
uess alone"
"You fear that the secret may be
stolen?" asked Christabel, thoughtful
y. looking away from him: her mind
had gone back to the time when she
Had heard how it had been stolen by
the original thief, Sir John sisterson.
1T is natural, is 1t not?" asked
Dmitri.
II suppose So" assented Christabel,
lDdi6erently.. s.i
81 Dmiti gazed at her. and he had the
sir Of man who was in two minds,
but he said to himself. TT is because
-