The Washington herald., 1909-03-14

oh Air. 14e
duh and melancholy eyes had lighted with an al,
most feverish expression hope; his fists bs6 n
elnehed he chewed his cigar with passionate =
energy. For an instant only he hesitated Then
seizinE the hand OF Nj Evans IN an even fervld
grasp he replied solemnly: 7 Will"
Two days after the remarkable conversatio, ba a
tween Mr-- Evans and NJ. Featherstone the latter
gentleman allghtei from train at Cincinnati and
al once proceeded TO quiet hotel not far from the
station There he made number Of preparations
strangely like those customarily undertaken nv one
contemplating sucide-bathed and dressed with the
utmost care. arranged All his personal effects in per
feet order and left number OF vaedctory letters on
his bureau Then after ringing for cab ne placed
loaded revolver in either pocket Of his overcoat and
left the hotel half hour later he was sroping
his way up the jimy lighted sta.r-ay OF A tenement
IN the quarter Of the city occupied by the poorer
foreign element
At a door the top Mr Featherstone halted
knocked in particular manner and presently found
himself admitted 10 apartment OF the bun,bIAs-
description. lighted only BY a lamp hung from, tba
smoky ceiling. Seated alone at a small table under
the lamp and occupied in the careful whetting OF q
venOmous looking poinard. a young man Of
extraordinary beauty His black. curling locks Gins
tered about brow OF almost marnoreal pallor. his
dark, lustrous glowed though from some nm
quenchable inward fire. yet had in them also Ger
tain feminine softness the contour OF his deIcatel
chiseed features conveyed expression at once OF
gentleness. Of refinement. and Of intrepidity
He looked up TRANQUILITY at his visitor yet neither
spoke nor checked his curious occupation. and FOR
~
beautiful Honess had once seen laziIv licking ba-
long talons. 1t different sort Of person that
he had expected to fnd-some frowsy addIe pated
fanatic-and he was at loss
Good evening he ventured The youth inclined
his head gracefully, and in low, soft voice that be-
trayed only slight foreign accent replied politeIv
Good evening. monsieur. From your knock I Dre-
sumo you TO be OF Pray have the goodness
TO be seated"
Mr.. Featherstone thanked the young man with
his haotual urbanity and took the only other chair IN
the room Mr.. Evans (who had gone TO washington
on similar misson) had supplied him with the in
formation which had enabled him to plav the mart
OF fellow anarchist and had instructed him to keen
UP the masquerade until the enemy had confessed
his murderous intention, then TO challenge and kin or
be killed.
Yet almost instantly on seeing this strange vet
charming youth-so different from the hateful
seized by a fierce repugnance for the task TO which
self And it therefore not without considerable
reluctance that he commenced to carry out his in
strUetions
q understand" said he. " that I am In the pres
ence OF Paul Arnetskoi."
The young nodded without speaking
And that you are about to strike blow for the
causeg~
This time the youth betrayed more animation.
" Yes" he replied COMPRISING his lips. Tomorrow
evening lie is said be a corpulent person. Tell
me- do you think this long enough?"
Pronouncing this heartless speech, he held IN
the weapon for his visitor TO inspect. Mr. Feather
stone felt cold shudder crawl like water down his
spine for the dagger evidently specimen oriental
craftsmanship In itself horrible thing The
hlt wrought OF green bronze in the form of a
serpent whose snuous body coed upon itself in hide