Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-06-20
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XXX AW0at/1Wc NJ
ITO say the truth. the word 'mur-
derers'' seemed to Captain
Markart more than q little
harsh. To use 1t was to apply
to Kravonian affairs the sterner stand
ards Of more steady going. squeamish
countries. A coup d'etat may well In
volve fighting. Fighting naturally In
cludes killing. But are the promoters
Of the coup therefore murderers? Muir
derers with a difference. anyhow. &C
cortling to Kravonian ideas. which
Captain Markart was inclined to share.
Moreover, coup d'etat Is war. The
suppression Of information is legitimate
in war. If the Prince Of Slavna could
not find out for himself what had hap
pened in the palace, were his opponents
bound to tell him? In fact. given that
an attempt to change the succession in
your own interest was not a crime, but
q legitimate political enterprise. the
rest followed.
Except Mistitch! 1t was difficult to
swallow Mistitch. There was mix
ture of ingenuity and brutality about
that move which not even Kravonian
notions could easily accept. If Stat
nitz had gone-nay, If he himself had
been sent-probably Markart's CON
science would not have rebelled. But
to send Captain Hercules-that was
c0gging the dice! Yet he was very
angry that Stenovics should have di-
vined his feelings and shut him up.
m ic<r tod hi
well as his conscience. There lay the
deepest hurt to Markart's vanity. 1t
was all the deeper because in his heart
he had to own that Stenovics read him
right. Not only the brazen conscience
was lacking, but also the iron nerve.
Getting no answer to his unpleasant
~ pointed question. Lepage relapsed
into silence. He stood by the window,
looking out ON the lawn which sloped
down to the Krath. Beyond the river
the lights Of Slavna glowed in the
darkening sky. Things would be hap
pening In Slavna soon. Lepage might
well look at the city thoughtfully. AS
fact; however. his mind was occupied
with one problem only-where was Ter
kovitch and how could he get at him?
For Lepage did not waver. He had
taken his line.
Presently. however, his professional
instincts seemed to reassert them
selves. He opened cupboard In the
room and brought out a clean pair Of
sheets. which he proceeded to arrange
on the bed. Busy at his task, he paus-
"a to smile at Markart and say: 1--WE
must do the best we can, captain. Aft
ef all. we have both camped, expect!
Here's the bed for you-you'll do fine
IT," He went back to the cupboard
and lugged out q mattress. "And this
10 for mer-the shakedown on the floor
which use when ! sleep in the kings
yoom-or did use, l should say. In my
Judgment, captain. it's comfortable to
% to bed on the door. At least one
can't fall" s A..
1t was 8 O'Clock. They heard the
outer door Of the suit Of rooms open
and shut. A man was moving about In
the next room. II they could Judge by
the sound Of his steps he also paid DR.,
Natcheff brief visit. They heard the
clink Of dishes and Of glass.
"Dinnert' said Lepage. "Ah, that's
not unwelcome! Have permission r
Markart nodded. and he opened the
door. On the table In the sitting room
was a savory dish. bread and two bot.
ties Of wine. Captain Sterko6 was
Just surveying the board he had spread,
with his head on one side. There was
nothing peculiar In that His head
was permanently stuck on one side-a
list to starboard- since the Virgin with
the lamp had injured the vertebrate Of
his neck. But the attitude, together
with his beaked nose. made him look
like particularly vicious parrot. Mark
art saw him through the open door and
could not get the resemblance out Of
lis mind.
Supper. gentlemen!" said Sterko6,
with malevolent mirth. 'sThe doctor
can't Join you. He's little upset and
Keeps his bed. A good appetitel
trust not to be obliged to disturb you
again tonight"
Markart had come In by now, but he
was too surly and sore to speak. With
~ pumped down