Evening star., 1911-06-04

caret tnged face like fighting cock preparing for battle
lmn not afraid oft, reoined the woman very quietly.
The Russian raised the hammer OF his revolver; but
still the did not vince.
You can't murder me here in the heart of Washing
ton, you know It's quite out of the question. You
seem to forget they don't do such things in hotels like
this And you seem to forget who ami
There the slightest touch of scorn on her lips
she leaned back against the safetop. The note of
dersion in her voice seemed to sober her enemy. The
Russian stared at her for several seconds then his
slowly sank to his side He looked down at the revolver
doubtully, and then up at the woman again. Then he
dropped the frearm into his dressing Jacket pocket.
Then he laughed aloud showing the white of his teeth
through the thick dark beard 1t was not altogether
pleasant laugh.
"You are right" he acknowledged, with his ironic
bow. at would be foolish 1t would be $3.50 unneces
sary. And there are other ways'
His return to unctuous good nature seemed to perturb
the woman confronting him. "What other ways?' she
less calmly demanded
The Russian by this time medtatvey
srokng and caressing his mustache Her eyes wdened
little as he slowly stepped toward her. @That you
shall sce! he answered with insocnt languor that
made her suddenly glance about the again, as
though overlooked of escape might present
itself to her Then she stared back at her enemy for
by this time he was quite close to her.
SHE stepped from in front of the safe as his hand
- went out to catch at her. She lodged away from
him. until her back was against the wall directly be-
meath the milky -gobed electric light Skeel, he
her under that revealing glare, surprised at her
youthfulness. He had thought her woman touched
that she little more than girl, girl who at any
other time would have been archly of herself redo
lent of the loyaties and the illusions and the audaces
of untred youth
"Dont dare to touch mel" she cried desperate and in
dignant. "Dont dare!" And again, he heard that
fooshy gs cry, Skeel astonished at the thought
of her youthful blindness
II will dare much than that" said the Russian
calmly studying her face under the strong light He too
was not insensible of its beauty. His palor suddenly
increased. OF the faces, Skee saw, the mans
the winter.
"You forget" cried the girl against the wall,
tha word that telephone will bring officer
to this room, dozen men to that door!" She
frightened now but still courageous.
"No word will go that telephone" corrected the
in front of her. He folded his with the nso
lence of assured superiority. His captive cast quick
glance toward the window. She breathing quicker
and harder by this time.
"There hundred friends of mine under this roof,
in this hotel she cried her voice rising higher and
higher, "a hundred men who would make you
for this insult, hundred who'd knock down that
door and drag you off where you belong Do you hear?
And if you inch closer I'll call for help"
The bearded man in the rough haired dressing jacket
raised deprecatory hand. "You are a clever young
woman" he said, quietly that Skee could scarcely
hear him; "but is not to enter you have
DONE 1t wise to break open locked safe. 1t is
wise to steal however much you may desire what
you have stolen"
"That would be good thing for you to remember