Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-19

for sitting up awake or otherwise assuming |
needless responsibilities with an important |
captive, while drugs were cheap and certain.
At length made sure that Thurley was
wrapped in the folds and weavings of the
baneful stuff employed, she closed the door
upon her, went actively down the stars,
and strobe unexpectedly in upon three OF her
following, smoking in the kitchen of the
house over the dishes of their dinner.
Inasmuch as she nearly always approached
them in this stealthy manner, the three were
not unduly surprised. Pelevin quickly rose
from his seat and offered her chair. She
sat near the stove; for the night was cold
and the house leaked air like sieve.
49," she said, eying the men before her
with her penetrative stare, you are all con-
WINGED l know nothing of my business, and
are all of a mind to murder the girl and get
away?"
She had heard no more than word on
entering; yet had diagnosed the state of
their minds unerringly.
IL was not yet certain, said the one called
Max Il was willing the matter should be
discussed, with you to decide or at least
show cause for this dangerous delay
"Ah!' said Zagorsky. "You were willing
that 1.-The brains and all of this enterprise
should squeak like mouse at the confer
ence of lions?"
u
was not to be Immediately browbeaten into
his customary submission. ave shall pres
emily have the whole pack down on us, he
said. ave are not in Europe. They man.
age things differently here in America. Have
not reason to knows? We should be salts
fed to obliterate this much of the power and
oppression of Hertzegotha now-take no
chances of her escape-and work for the
Grand Duke afterward.'
@You mean murder and run-with our
business half accomplished" corrected Ia
gorsky inadvertently. at is your usual cow
ardly method. l say l shall get them both,
by midnight of tomorrow at the latest. As
for escape, chained logs do not vanish in
smoke through keyhole and reembody
themselves outside to roll away"
"She is bird in hand, insisted Jan, avert
ing his gaze from the ice blue eyes he dread
ed. "If you find the task too severe for deli
cate hands 1t is business that must be
done!"
do you threaten'' asked the woman
quietly. @Let one of the three of you dare
appear above the head of the stairs between
this hour and eight in the morning, or all
the three-if you have the courage among
your
aBut-eight o'clock" said Pelevin.. 4This
is very late"
IL sleep late answered Zagorsky. '"Have
l Inconvenience myself for years to bring
this capture about, only to disturb myself
for no good reason now, when at last l have
earned my mornings repose? l repeat
it, eight o'clock! The girl may sleep till
nine."
Jan continued sullen and welded to his
topic "Instead of, the Duke appearing at
the broken mill, you will have a posse at our
heels. And, even though it may be different,
what purpose does it serve to keep the Prin-
cess here alive?"
Several purposes, best known to myself,
answered the woman leader of the business.
aEven you should perceive there may be
final necessity of showing this girl to the
Duke at the window of the mill, before he
will enter the trap"
@But, mark my word, he will not come
alone" insisted Jan. zone potentate in the
grave is worth two in Gordon of police
Think you Hochhaus is unwary? Think you
Wilhelm goes about unprotected, free
to blunder to our trap?"
Max took his pipe from his mouth. @He
is still in hiding from Wenck and the Baron,
he supplied. ale is little minded for more
coercion, here in the land of the free"
II have only one question to ask" said
Zagorsky calmly. "Who engineered this
capture of the Princess, who brought about
its success, who have been the failures here