The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-08-27
he &anre and
Tbe Gamble
(Continued)
Dy Eleanor N. Ingram. @%c

ANo olIN hhC" thC u utu,
Iria and Allard nearly tempted me
to confidence. | deprived you of
the faintest hope of peace with me,
| left you to the snarling hate and
malice of the court; | even added to
ingratitude the last insult of men,
ace. Through it all you moved
steadily toward your goal. holding
your head above us all. have
learned, at last. II ! avoided you,
Feodor, it was because | felt my
courage failing before yours. If /
have spoken to you CURLY, it was
because | feared to say this too
soon. If refused to see you after
the accident last week, it was be-
cause | was sick with horror at the
nearness of losing you, because
was too near to ending the pretense
of months just before it's climax.
And had set my heart on standing
with you. thus, and defying even
this man to find an accusation that
| you have not answered. &c." he
took step forward and passed his
hand through Staniefs arm, the last
reserve swept away by his own
vivid energy. 80, together; now
speak, Dalmorov, before you leave
the capital What selfish motive or
hope led the regent today when he
came to me In the cathedral?"
At the two Dalmorov looked, at
tempting no reply. Not pleasant to
see was his face in that moment.
Allard, quiverng, radiant, found
room to pity the outgeneraled and
annihilated intriguer. .a
"Nothing?" insisted Adrian, the
voice so gentle to his cousin, merci-
less enough now. Nothing? Fec
dor, you see my plaything; never
again rate me SO low as to credit
me with such favorite. The man
who aspired to hold your place;
who fancied us both victims of his
clumsy intrigues; the man who
never even perceived the contempt
and dislike I scarcely troubled to
conceal, look at him. Dragged from
his shadows into the sun, facing
you. he has no longer one false
hood to offer"
Sire" interposed Stanief for
very compassion, himself INSTEAD
led by the happiness that makes
generosity easy. 81
Adrian turned on him swiftly. 4
"You? You, Feodor? Oh II
needed but that. Thank the grand
duke for his intercession.. Baron
Dalmorov. and CO."
The last humiliation was too
much. Sallow with defeat and bit,
ter modification, Dalmorov col
lected himself to strike the only one
within reach. the one through whom
alone he could wound the others.
eff it has pleased your imperial
majesty to misunderstood, | may
not say misuse, my devotion, must
submit" he said TREMENDOUSLY. 81
can do nothing else
mo, think not"
"Yet permit me to give last ser
vice due to respect for my sover
eign. My defense | leave to time
This nameless American whom il
has pleased his royal highness tc
place near your person. sire. is not
fit for such an honor. Rather he
should be in the Mines
Stanief started violently, his eyes
flashing to Allard, who kept his
cautioned sternly.
utter helplessness.
Take care, DalmorOv," Adrian
cautioned strenly.
The baron bowed.
"Sire. some months ago chance
called me to this investigation
There passed through the city a
gentleman who had visited the Call
fornia Allards year before this
man came here. The visitor de
clared that this was not the Allart
he knew. and no other member OIL
the family had alluded to another
absent one. Naturally anxious anC
alarmed, ! searched further The
officers of the Nadeja admitted thai
no one had seen the new secretary
until one night his royal highness
brought him hurriedly aboard. while
the yacht lay opposite an American
prison. At the exact hour OF his
arrival. the alarm was raised OF
shore of the escape Of a convict. Il
is a singular coincidence. sire"
1T is very uninteresting, baron
What of it,"
"Sire, only loyalty could make me
continue. | obtained some journal.
of that date and little later. The
prisoner who escaped was not re
captured; and out in California thu
gentleman died whose honorable
name this man claims. Give nj
time, long enough to send to Amer
lea, and l can find proof that YOU
imperial majesty's favorite compan
ion is the prisoner Leroy masquer
aiding as one who Is not living t.
contradict him. Why the grand dAkt
placed him here, it is not for m'
to say"
Twice Stanief had moved K
speak. and each time the restrain
ing hand on his arm had imposed
silence. %
Hush, Feeder; this is my affair,
ADRIAN said, divining the\rebelliol
at this last before it could tak'
speech. Baron Dalmorow, will
time you could no doubt make an,
proofs you desire; / have seen i
done. We close this subject today
Are you willing to relieve the bar
on's cares, Allard?"
So near the truth, and yet so IA
. from it, had the accusation gone