The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1908-03-05
CHAPTER xxxv.
The EIaht on the staircase.

was Gornji OF Montenegro leaped
toward him. drawn dirk in his hand
Starva sent It spinning along the pol
ished floor
"Imbecile," he Kissed. There Z.
none here who will be more loyal to
our cause than Otto Kuhn OF Mace
donia. There is none who can help II
so much. He needs but TO be con.
WINGED. Is It not so, comrade?'
Il ask only TO go into the AFFAIR
with my eyes Open" muttered Kuhn
his voice trembling with rage and
fear.
But we will have no traitors
Gornji grumbled.
And n any have forced their wa.
into this meeting and are unwilling &c
pay the price OF admission. they must
be put out--yes. out of this world"
cried lgnatien.
The four assassins most Iealous
ranged themselves side by side. tecIng
the three. Starva stood between them.
Patience. friends. What you say
would be quite true" he pleaded. III
It were so. There can be no traitors
among us. No one may leave this
room tonight until he Is committed
lrrevocably to the cause. As II Is,
each man by his presence has com
mitted himself. There must be com
plete harmony among US. Ferdinand
Is TO die. But he and Alexander mere.
ly lead the procession Of ghosts. There
are others to follow them into Hades.
And that is only the beginning OF our
work We shall find half OF Europe
arrayed against us. The new republic
will have to fight perhaps for its ex.
istence. We shall need money, and
comrade Kahn has pledged his mil.
lions to the cause"
But only on the condition that
| England had refused to aid Ferdl
nand," interrupted Kuhn defiantly. Il
say you have tricked me into commit.
ting myself"
And H." fercely shouted GortschA
koff OF Servia, "the British ambassa
dor were actually liying-if he could
promise what he has been vainiy
asked. II could avail nothing now Has
not Ferdinand heard the names OF all
OF us? Can he not see us? Enough
OF this vain talk GornJi speak with
reason. We can have no traitors
among us. II Caesar fell pierced by
the daggers Of so senators. Ferdinand
must be content with eight But
there can be no Sinking Each man
must have hand in his death"
"All in good time. But FIRST OF
all l would answer our sKeptical
friend here. You say. Kuhn. that the
ambassador is living. II l show him
to you on bis bier will you believe
me2"
Prove to me what you say said
Kuhn. uneasily.
II tell you that Il Is you who would
have been tricked had It not been
for nay vigilance. Sir Mortimer Brett
has been dead these four days. with
his death ended the schemes of the
woman. the Countess Sarahoff. Fer.
dinand's spy. But by one OF those
| jests of fate she found a ready tool
10 aid her as price for her caresses.
This tool OF hers bears a marvellous
resemblance 10 the dead minister
Il was he whom you saw this morn,
ing and net Sir Mortimer. He came
10 this chateau with the Countess Sar
ahof to play the part Of the English
minister. II was he who was to trick
have you TO say?"
This pounds too improbable to be
believed without proof" Kuhn replied.
turning to the two men who s'oodpn
either side of him
Il shall show you the proof" thun
dered Starva. his patience at an end
"and that before you leave this castle
/ hold them all in the hollow Of my
hand-the countess herself. her ac
complete. and the kings messenger
Now what have you to say"
"Show me this man who has trick
ed me. and | am with you heart anc
SOUL" was Kuhn's response. His
words were brave enough, but the,
we're those of man forced into cor
ner. Il told you that ! wish only tt
go into this affair with my eyes
open"
you see, friends" said Starva. "a
little patience was all that was neces
sary. Our comrade needed but to
be convinced. shall satisfy his curl
usi;y without delay" He raised his
voice ".Tacques!"
The servant came forth from the
diDing-room and stood si.ent before
him.
Jacques, go to the tower and bring
TO me the friend OF Countess Sara
hon. You are armed? If he gives
you any trouble, call me"
HE will give me no trouble" said
the man. CONTEMPORARY. starting on
his errsnd.
Locke. and insthctively poised
ourselves TO leave our hiding place to
greet Jacques when ne should near
US.
But when this man comes" object
ed Ignatieff. angrily. IFS he to recog
nize all of us to crafty the curiosity
OF Kuhn? Unless he is to 60 with Fer
dinand-"
CTo BE CONTINUITY