The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-11-03

tains his senses. Jones came in the door
with unusual speed.
"Say," he demanded of Bacon, "what in
blazes did you write to that Russian1 He's
coming here OH the run"
"Jones," commanded Bacon, "this mat
ter is out of your province. Will you
kindly step into the adjoining room5"
The stupefied Jones skunk out of the
room. Charrington started to speak but
Bacon, getting to his feet like shot took
command of the situation by sheer force of
energy Like flash he whirled on the girl
"When Strolboff comes in the door" he
jerked out, you scream and start for him.
Charrington, you grab her when she starts
for him, and I'll close the door. Then you
hold the grl-and you with jerk Of the
head toward the waitress-"just weep your
eyes out. Charrington, you leave the Rus
sian to me, and for the love of Heaven,
don't either of you speak unless ask you
something. Just follow my leadl"
Hurrying feet, evidently clad in heavy,
military boots, sounded outside the door
An instant later chastened, scared looking
Russian officer stood before them. Yvette
emitted piercing scream, leaped to her feet
and fairly hurled herself across the room;
Charrington awkwardly but effectively
checked her. The Russian, very pale, NUT
tered something in his own tongue and tried
to back out the door, but Bacon shut it
quickly behind him. Yvette sank back
into her chair sobbing
"M. Strolboff," Bacon began in low,
solemn tone, " to say that am panied and
shocked by what this woman has told me is
putting it mildly"
81 will explain" stammered the Rus
sian.
"There is no call for explanations" re-
turned Bacon. 81 cannot but believe what
she has told me. I" Bacon paused with
feeling OF sudden heplessness. This
playing in the dark had its disadvantages.
Fortunately the Russian was sufficiently
frightened to bridge over the gaps. ~
"It was mistake, he said rapidly % tile
girl in French Bacon drew long breath
when he did not speak Russian), "a horri-,
BILE mistake. / thought him dead-I swear
to you did. will make amends"
"This is matter" put IN Bacon
gravely, (which M. Strolboff and myself
had best discuss in private"
He walked quickly to the door of the
inner room, opened it and bowed to the
Russian. Strolboff walked through, and
the door closed. For fifteen minutes Char
rington and the girl sat silent in two corners
of the Office. From time to time they
heard the muffled sound of voices At
length the door opened and the Russian
came out, followed by Bacon.
Madame" announced Bacon, "you
may rest assured. have convinced M.
Strolboff as to what is his duty in this mat
ter, and l shall see to it that your rights are
protected"
With heavy dignity he turned to Char
rington.
"In the course of affairs diplomatic" J." he
continued, ait sometimes occurs that per-
sonal matters lend themselves to the solu-
ton Of graver problems. M. Strolboff has
sinned against the woman too deeply to
make complete reparation. Here in this
isolated place we are far from justice.
may have presumed too!much, but have
taken it upon myself to be the judge-as
man to man. There was no lodging the
fact that M. Strolboff should be forced to do
something. We have finally arrived at the
conclusion that he will allow M. Charring-
ton TO embark the Russian peasants
and that the ;9air will be considered
closed"
Bacon bowed gravely and opened the
door. The Russian bowed, shot a quick
glance at the woman, and sidled out.
Ms.*S *NE* HS* *E'" ss. -
From the squat, ugly funnel of the
"Boric," clouds of black smoke rolled out
and spread heavily over the empty harbor.
The frowsy heads of the Russian peasants
lined the rails, and cheerful faces grinned
down at Bacon and Charrington who stood
on the pier below
Naughty seven and ninety eight"
chortled Bacon, "it's combination too
big for Russia"
Charrington pumped him steadily by the
hand as the gangplank commenced to slip.
"I'll see to it that d digni6ed version Of
the inside history of The Valny Affair."
goes into the right ears" he promised.
"You're born diplomat, Frederick, and
you're going up. You just leave things to
me. I'll have that red ribbon across your
dress-shirt or my names not Billy Charring-
ton"
Bacon, kicking his heels against the great
stone pier, watched the smudge from the
steamer die on the horizon. He looked AZ
the skeletons OF the dredges, the long
stretches of waste land, the bare, harsh OUT
lines OF the hills and the great dome of emp-
tiness. He whistled happily and filed his
pipe. AS he inhaled the first puff. he
grinned happily to himself and with one
finger traced diagonal line across bie eh;rtL