The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-12-24

"Well. you're a wonder!" in
pure admiration.
IAN appreciated compliment, ]
assure you. This is all in the
way of letting you know that we
have found out something con-
corning your movements. Now, to
come to the present. You ex-
pected to leave tomorrow. Why
are you staying over?"
Baron, l leave that to your
own distinguished powers of de-
duction," said Truxton gently. He
took a long pull at the straw,
watching the others face as he
did SO. The Baron smiled.
''You have found the young
lady very attractive" observed
the Baron. Where have you
known her before?"
81 beg pardon?"
at is not unusual for a young
man in search of adventure to
follow the lady of his choice from
place to place. She came but re-
Gently, l recall"
you think l knew her before
and followed her to Edelweiss?'
81 am not quite sure whether
you have been in Warsaw lately
There is a gap in your movements
that l can't account for"
King became serious at once
He saw that it was best to be
frank with this keen old man.
Baron Dangloss, don't know
just what you are driving at, but
I'll set you straight so far as I'm
concerned. l never saw that girl
until the day before yesterday. ]
never spoke to her until today"
"She smiled on you quite ia
miliarly from her window case
ment yesterday" said Dangloss
coolly.
"She laughed at me, to be per-
fectly candid. But what's all this
about? Who is she? What's the
game? l don't mind confessing
that 1 have a feeling she is not
what she claims to re, but that's
as far as I've got"
Dangloss studied the young
mans face for a moment and then
came to a sudden decision. He
leaned forward and smiled sourly.
Take my advice: do not play
with fire." he said enigmatically.
You-you mean she's a dan
gerous person? l can't believe
that, baron"
''She has dangerous friends out
in the world. l don't mean to say
she will cause you any trouble
here-but there is a hereafter.
Mind you, I'm not saying she isn't
good girl, or even an adventur-
ess. On the contrary, she comes
of an excellent family-in fact,
there were noblemen among them
a generation or two ago. You
know her name?"
mo. say, this is getting in
teresting!" He was beaming,
''She is Olga Platanova. Her
mother was married in this city
twenty-five years ago to Profess
sor Platanova of Warsaw. The
professor was executed last year
for conspiracy. He was one of
the leaders of great revolutions
airy movement in Poland. They
! were virtually anarchists, as you
have come to place them in
America. This girl, Olga, was his
secretary. His death almost kill
ed her. But that is not all. She
had a sweetheart up to fifteen
months ago. He was a prince of
the royal blood. He would have
married her in spite of the diff
ference in their stations had it not
been for the Intervention of the
crown that she and her kind hate
so well. The young mans power
full relatives took a hand in the
affair. He was compelled to mar
ry a scrawny little duchess, and
Olga was warned that If she at
tempted to entice him away from
his wife she would be punished.
She did not attempt it, because
she is virtuous girl-of that l
am sure. But she hates them all
oh, how she hates them! Her
uncle, SpantZ, offered her a home.
She came here a month ago, bro
ken-spirited and sick. So far, she
has been exceedingly respectful
to our laws. 1t is not that we
fear anything from her, but that
we are obliged to watch her for
the benefit of our big brothers
across the border. Now you know
why l advised you to let the fire
alone"
King was silent for a moment,
turning something over in his
head.
Baron, are you sure that she
is a Red?"
"Quite. She attended their
councils"
"She doesn't look it, pom my
word. I thought they were the
scum of the earth"
''The kind you have in America
are. But over here-oh, well, we
never can tell"
II don't mind saying she inter-
ests me. She's pretty-and 1
have an idea she's clever. Baron,
let me understand you. Do you
mean that this is polite way of
commanding me to have nothing
to do with herr"
llXn.. ,,..4 h.oa