Evening star., 1911-06-04


beard
4And know who you are!' she went on ignoring his
interruption "You not Count Scrgus Pobloh!
You not Count at all! Your real name is not
Pobloff! And that is not your wife! She
your wife She is here doing the same kind of work
that you doing'
"And what is the nature of that work." calmly in
quired her torrnentor.
"To get War Department information by theft or
trickery Count Pobo! To steal buy facts that be
long to Navy Department, just as you stole the
buepnts of coast Notifications from the private
desk of Brgadier General Carey"
"And who is Brigadier General Carey?" mildly in
quired her still smiling opponent.
"IIes the Chief of Engineers, you very well know!
the woman's quick retort.
"And what is Brigadier General Carey to you?" was
the next inquiry from the bearded figure.
The woman he faced seemed no longer shaken with
fear sort of second wind of forttudc of clear ght
edness had come her. She able to meet her
enenv's glance, flash by flash "He's my fahcr!' she
exclaimed refusing to shrink back the mockingly def
crentlal figure came step or two nearer And know
just how and when those papers were taken from his
private desk! And know they brought to this
room, and are in this room now.'
THE Russian no longer smiling. He continued to
stroke his beard, slowly and meditatively. "And
what else do you know? he inquired His eyes travelled
the safelock, though his mind pondering from
just what quarter she had learned the secret OF its
bnation.
a know you have the official reports Of the Hampton
Roads proiectile tests and the Navy Departments
secret photographs of the Katahdin plate expert
ments! And know that as spy can be given ten
years imprisonment for dealing in information about
She seemed to puzzle him, though it was obvious he
making every effort to conceal his actual feelings
Skeel with his eye glued to the door chnk, waited for
the next move
"And how do YOU know have these reports and
photographer calmly demanded the foreigner
Because have just taken them from this safe of
yours the womans resolute answer
He looked at her with his first show of anger "And
you intend to keep them?' he demanded
The woman's hand went up to her bosom instinc-
have to have
her defiant retort. "Theyre not yours! They never
yours!'
@You are veree mistaken" was the others quick an
swer. "Ths is my Everything in it is mine.
And shall see that it remains mne!"
The woman's resoute young face took on
preston of almost chidlike stubbornness Her color
had come back her. touching her with look girsh-
ness that surprising to the watching Skecl. "You
can't do tha she declared with the cloak already
"Pardon Mademoiselle' murmured the Russian
with his impassve shrug 1But there other things
that cannot be done Ladies, however charming they
may be, cannot enter private rooms and rifle safe!'
"You hire other people to do it for you!" cried the
@You haven't the courage to do it with your
own hand!'
The Russian laughed Then he reached down into
the right-hand pocket of his dressing jacket. little
shver sped up and down Skee tired legs he realized
that the bearded foreigner reaching for his revolver
Consider the man in the camelhair jacket was say
ing in his calm and lrOnc perfunctorness "The
of the room might return unexpectedly In the dark
he might the figure at the safe. "A burglar
thief he night conclude So! Is it not natural that he
should do it in a emancipation as this?"
THE Russian as he spoke, backing slowly toward
the hall doorway. He moved away from the
who still stood in front Of the open safe veering
off until he caught at the green velour curtain with his
left hand. Then he quickly lifted the revolver from his
pocket and pointed it directly at the woman in front of
him. She blinked at it little, Skecl could see but she
Mid not shrink away from where she stood.
"So." said the Russian with sudden and nexnected
6hange of manner. His voice had become different
almost he went "Every paper YOU have
everything you took from that safe put down on that
chair beside you'll Everything once, or l shall kill
you where you stand!'