Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1908-03-13
? BY ID. G. Murray

Not yet, sir, | expect him momentar-
ily."
I'VE must save the lad Wrobleskof."
"You will save him, dear sir" cried
Wroblewskof. "IIe will listen to you;
lence for awhile. Once or twice the
spys lips moved. but he did not speak.
He cleared his throat with a rasping
sound, and arose from the seat he had
taken. "A cup of coffee. dear sir? I'm
just about to order it."
Thank you. Yes"
There was a lingering indecision be-
tween the words. and the spy stood be-
hind his intended victim with his hand
upon the bell pull, waiting while he might
have counted three He had scarcely
ever found a pause in his speech so long.
lie rang twice, one pull followed swiftly
and sharply on the other.
Coffee for two-black coffee"
The notable scheme was well upon its
way now, and the spy's pulses beat quick,
and his throat and tongue and lips were
dry, and felt hard like wood. The cof-
fee came, hot and fragrant. Dobroski
drew his cup beside him on the table. 1t
seemed an age before he slipped. The spy
had already put his lips to his own cup.
and could detect nothing strange in the
flavor of the liquid.
At that instant a curious burning pang
shot across the spy's stomach, and sec
ond later a feeling of nausea rose within
him, like that he always experienced even
in the smoothest weather when he pass
ed between France and England. Dob
rosk shifted uneasily, and took a drink at
his coffee
Il can afford to escape the rest" said
the spy to himself. But it shall be
mine to open the ball" He began to walk
up and down the room, and suddenly
threw window open. Dobroski turning
to look Mt him, saw that he was rubbing
at the bottom Of his waistcoat with both
hands, and that he wore Disguised and
almost indignant look.
What is the matterw asked the old
man, rising. you are in pain?" He ad-
vanced toward his betrayer; but as he
took his first step he paused and flushed,
laying an outstretched hand upon his
breast.
IL am on fire." said Zeno. II am
sick. l loathe myself"
II, too" said Dobroski, quietly, "feel
a sense of burning and sickness"
1T is the coffee" cried Ieno. I'VE
have both taken it. There is something
unwhoesome in the coffee"
The old man sank back int his chair,
white and trembling. you have drunk
more than l." cried the spy, as If in a
paroxysm of regret and fear. you're
i'll. All dear sir, you're i'll. He is Ill.
He is dying. All the doctor. There is
doctor on the second floor. What d
providence p
He rang the bell, and then rushed to
the door and tore it open.
''The doctor % he shouted. "The doc
tor on the second floor Tell him to
come here Quickly quickly"
A door opened below, feet ran rapidly
upstairs. A man presented himself, strug
Cling into a respectable professional
frock coat as he entered the room.
What is the matter?" he demanded
my friendl" cried Zeno; 'the dear
est. He is dying. And l also. We have
taken poison. The coffee"
He threw himself upon the couch ant
contorted his body, as if he were il
| agony. Dobroski sat white and still, witt
both hands trembling on his chest, anC
great beads of sweat running from hi
forehead. The newcomer tasted thu
coffee, and spat II out again, with VIZ,
face. Dobroski watched him collected,
and inquiringly;
'Yerdigris," said the doctor "Anothe
example of the folly of the copper kettle
l will put you both right in a moment.
He ran downstairs, and presently return
ed with tumbler in either hand.
your antidote. sir" he said, in
business tone to Zeno, and then advanc
ing to Dobroski set one hand below tn
old mans head and with the other he'll
the draught to his lips. Drink this, sir
1t will scothe yeu at once"
He went quietly from the room. bu
did not trouble himself to descend int
the kitchen. He occupied himself instes
by looking over the contents Of a smsl
black handbag. which held among othe
things Ave or six blue walls with glss
shoppers. and a hypodermic syringe in 1t
case. This last he examined with srea
at - .-fr l..