The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-01-25
AnOrange
BY IVAN wITKoWsKY

MY ueaF countess, lie Shlu, nave
come to ask favor. Knowing you to
be intimate with the imperial family,
that the empress esteems you highly,
should be obliged If you would use your
influence TO secure for my nephew a
commission in the navy"
"Colonel, you oyerrate my influence
] am not often hidden to the palace.
Indeed. fancy have been forgotten
there"
How can that be when Grand Duke
V. is to dine with you this evening"
''Who told you that?"
"Why. the dukes movements are al
ways known He informs the police
of his engagements in order that they
may provide for his safety"
DO the police consider publishing
his Whereabouts providing for his
safety p
"They have not published his COM
ing here. | was conyersing with one
of the police officials about securing
army. This man knows of my ac-
quaintance with you and said to me:
Grand Duke V. dimes with the count
ess today. If you see her and ask her
influence in the matter she will I'M
doubtedy secure a promise. Of the APP
pointment while he Is at the table
well my dear colonel. ! am willing
10 oblige you II find an opportunity,
but you must not rely too much upon
me. ! wish you were to be member
Of our dinner party. | would invite
you except that the grand duke, as
you know, must have list before
hand of other guests wherever he goes.
and now there is not time"
II have no especial desire to meet
him. But since you are to grant me
this favor is there nothing l can do
for your
Nothing that think Of"
~ have just received box of fruit
from the south. Would you like some
for your tablet"
Indeed | would. Fruit at this sea
son is not to be had"
II viii bring it before the dinner is
over"
"Can you not send it,"
send it, No. Do you suppose
would trust a servant with what can
not be bought for love or money? He
would either eat it or sell it and say
that he had been robbed shall
bring it myself What o'clock will
your dinner be served"
AT half past 8. We shall be ready
for fruit by half past 8, The grand
duke does not like to sit long at table;
he is a very busy man"
Michalovsky left her shortly before
the dinner hour.
$50 the police told my cousin that, |
did they? know better The police
do not tell such secrets. Alexis got 1t
elsewhere But where? He certainly
couIC not have got it from any of the
dukes household. The colonel would
not use it for any other purpose than
the pretended one. But the dukes life
is in danger every moment from revo-
lntionists. and If it is known that he
is to dine with me tonight he may be
either coming or going.
] will send messenger suggesting
that he stay away"
She wrote note stating that his ex-
pected visit was known and begged
him not TO come. But he replied in
person.
"Ah. countess" he said CALAMITY, "do
you suppose fear would cause me TO
forego the pleasure of dining with
vou?"
Did nothing happen on the way?"
Nothing"
But ! fear for your return"
Danish It from your mind | am
here to enjoy a pleasant evening with
rou. Let us throw fear to the winds"
They dined together. and during the
Inner the countess asked the duke for
he appointment as she had promised. /
AT whose request do you ask me for
his favor" he said after promising
he commission.
MY cousin, Colonel Alexis Michalov-
ky"
Colonel Michalovsky%
Yes. DO you know himr
Only as colonel Of regiment"
At the moment dish Of exquisite I
ut glass was brought in on which =
vas mellow fruit, surmounted by a :
lrge orange. The dish was set on
he table between the two, and the
ountess was taking the orange from
he top of the pyramid when the serv- 4
mt said to her:
Colonel Michalovsky begs that he =
nay speak to you moment 1t is
bout the appointment. He wishes to
hange his request" r
But the countess did not hear. On
liking up the orange she noticed :
mall spot where it had been plucked
rom the tree. She held the orange
nder her nose and noticed a pecul-
Ir odor. Then suddenly she saw a
ny fash such as might come from d
he fuse of irecracker There was e
eside her a finger bowl that had been r
laced on the table with the fruit. !,
he countess quick as a fash i'm
ersed the orange in the water White
J a cloth, she told the duke to run for
Is life. U
Not while you sit STILL" he said q
When the bomb was cut open by the c
,lice il was found to be an orange p
in filed with nitroglycerin. The fuse p
Id burned within an eighth of an 4
eh of the contents. m