Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1908-09-03
CHAPTER XIV.
. Love, the Conqueror.

vanquished him utterly, for when
Chris9abel was alone in the concrete
passage he had only TO move a small
lever d 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
his 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
fight 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
eyything was in his favor, for Christa
bells death might easily have been
made 10 wear the appearance Of acct
dent, 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
or 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 p0werleSs. The thing was
easy, vet impossible@
1T was a joke, he said to Christa-
bel. as he opened the door. L hope
you were not frightened"
No" she replied; why should
have been?"
'Ch. no reason in the world" he
said looking away from her to the
steel 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: III 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
Dmitri, lis what Katia designates my
Bluebeard's chamber. 1t is my labor
atory." He paused. and his glance
now fell full upon her ut is in there
that the ingredients are mixed which
makes 'SistersOn's cement differ from
all other cements." He paused again,
aud his eyes searched her face.
yes said Christabel, 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 10 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
ed" he said, still scrutinizjng her mar
rowly
"A valuable secret" she responded,
lightly, wondering why he was staring
go hard at her.
Yes" he said, and there was
sudden fierceness in his tones that
made her look at him, Whereupon he
repeated, Yes" but more gently. ut
is q valuable secret he went on, 'and
you will not be surprised that among
other precautions we take to prevent
it's being stolen from us we do not adj
nit any one into our laboratories. [
alone in Sulia use this laboratory; I
alone in Sulja"-here his voice had a
curious sound OF menace in it-"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"
peplied Dmitri 'There is a similar
chamber, approached in the same way
as 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
ness alone
"You fear that the secret may be
stolen?" asked ChristabeI, thoughtful
1y, looking away from him; her mind
had gone back TO the time when she
had heard how lit had been stolen by
the original thief. Sir John Sisterson.
'Tt is natural. is it not?" asked
Dmitri.
ST suppose so,' assented Christabel,
indifferentiy.
Dnlitri gazed at her, and he had the
air OF a man who was in two minds,
but he said to himself, "It is because
she is a great actress, a clever woman
that she does not give herself away
And he admired and loved her the
more, considering she played her role
OF innocent superbly. War had
come into his heart again as he had
spoken to her of the secret-this Sc
cret which he believed she knew; but
Love had beaten it once more.
ooh, we take precautions" said
Dmitri. Let me tell you what they
are as feel certain they will Interest