Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1908-08-13
CHAPTER XxlI.-Continued

TO get rid Of her altogether 1t was
fortunate. he unused, that she was go
ing almost Immediately to Russia;
there, at all events, she would not
meet Forde, and it was a country
where things-sO he expressed in his
houghts-sometimes happened. 1t
was a land where disturbances were
chronic; and who could tell what
might come to pass?
And it was now that great idea
struck him, by which it was more
than possible he might be never again
troubled by Christabel And the more
he considered it the more feasible it
seemed By this time not only had
Mary heard from Katia Anatovitch
that she would be most welcome, but
he also had received telegram from
Dmitri saying that he was on his way
to London, and hoped to be in time
for Sir Johns funeral. It was ON the
Russian that Six Maxwell now leaned;
he it was who was to carry out his
great idea.
The next four days passed quietly
and peacefully at Hans Square.
Mary and Christabel made ready
for their approaching departure, and
saw but little of Sir Maxwell nor
troubled themselves about the spy,
who, however, was still in the house.
Lady Sisterson kept to her own
apartments, and would see only her
most intimate friends When Mary
told her that she was going to the
Anatovitches, and was taking Christa
bel with her to Russia, she signified
that Mary could please herself, and
was not sorry that that woman as
she styled the nurse, was leaving the
country for a time: she was hard and
cold and bitter.
DR. Flint had gone, with handsome
check from Sir Maxwell in his pocket,
to continue elsewhere, no doubt, the
study of his speciality, the human
brain.
Philip Joyce had called to say good
by to his sister He had seen Nor
man, who told him that Christabel
had again refused to marry him, and
he was greatly yexed with her. But
he had a robust faith that the lovers
would some day be united, and he did
not refer to Norman, except casually.
in taking farewell of Christabel He
did say, however. that he wished she
were not going to Russia, for in his
typically British opinion it was a hor-
rible country of Nihilists, bombs, as
sassinations, oppression, secret DO
lice, any tyranny generally With
this in his mind he made her promise
to write to him once a week without
fail, rain or shine" as he put it.
On the morning of the sixth day
after Sir Johns death-the day of the
funeral-Dmitri Anatovitch arrived in
London and on Sir MaxwelPs pressing
invitation took up his quarters at IS
Hans Square; Dmitri was for going to
hotel, but Sir Maxwell would not
hear of it. The funeral took place
early in the afternoon Later Sir
Johns will was read, and its provis-
ions were such as might have been ex-
pected-there was nothing eccentric
or unusual in its terms. To Sir Max
we'll was bequeathed the entire colos-
sal fortune with the exception of large
annuities to Lady and Mary Sisterson,
and some small legacies to servants
and others, among the latter being
William Cross, 'for long and tried
fidelity Nothing was left to churches
or charities, a fact which delighted
the heir. There was nothing remark
able about the will except that it was
dated ten years back, and that it had
no codicil. Sir John, people said, had
known his own mind, and had not
changed it.
In the evening after dinner Sir Max
well and Dmitri Anatovitch were alone
together in MaXwells room The Rus
sian had already congratulated Sir
Maxwell on the enormous wealth to
which he had succeeded and had said
he was pleased to hear that Miss Sis
tersOn was to be the guest of Katia at
Sulja. He had also heard with some
thing more than pleasure that Nurse
Joyce was going with Mary Sisterson,
but he had not alluded to this circum-
stance In his conversation with Sir
Maxwell
The latter was thoughtful and quiet,
and this Dmitri considered was no
more than natural. In their talk
there were frequent and long pauses;
the hour grew late. and Dmitri was
about to excuse himself on the plea
that he was tired after his journey
across Europe, when he saw from
Sir MaXwelPs increased gravity of
manner that there was some subject
that burdened the thoughts of his new
chief Therefore he waited
There is something | wish to say
to you NJ. Anatovitch." said Sir Max
well, at length, "and it is of a particu-
larly confidential character
II am honored,' said Dmitri, as Sir
Maxwell looked at him with keen,
hard eyes.
Since you were last here something
has Notwithstanding of the great
est Importance to us. | am not refer
ring to my fathers death; the thing of
which l am about to speak is, in
way, hardly less important"
Indeed" exclaimed Dmitri' much
impressed. ct must be very impor-
tant What is it, may I ask" he in
quire. as Sir Maxwell did not immedi-
ately continue.
what would you say, NJ. Anato-
witch, if told you that the secret on
which our business and it's success are
based are no longer a secret? mean
the secret-the great secret-that you