Evening star., 1912-09-01

She'll not give the signal" he CTed
Tie her and gag her-quick! III settle
with hcr!"
She did not resist; but submitted meekly
to being overpowered. Only her eyes looked
reproachfully into those OF Benjamin
"Conlra,les,7 called the young man ex-
ultantlv, we have half an hour before the
police break down the door.
Slipping over 10 cupboard, he lifted two
wincgasses off a shelf The contents OF
the green vial he divided between the two
glasses.
Ten years ago, h said slowly, ennpha-
sizing each syllable, I'VE agreed that if one OF
the Central Committee, either inadvertently
or through design. betrayed the cause, he
was to die. We did 1t SO that 1t would avail
no one 10 claim that the betrayal was aCcl-
dental. | am not to be absolved from that
agreement.
He smiled toward the wornan,-a smile
that contained all the bitter flavor of a cor
rodirg acid At the same time he held the
two wineglasses up to the light.
without her, life isn't worth while, he
pursued, his face set in an expression of grim
resolve. with her, it is impossible Since
we cannot be welded in life, we shall be
united in death" He paused and turned
away his eyes with an air of resignation, till
with slow shrug, he added, leave US alone
for fifteen minutes. When you return shall
have expiated my betrayal. And She
He broke off sharply and waved them toward
the door in token Of dismissal.
A CROSS the street the four men grouped
themselves at the edge of the sidewalk
A shaft of pale moonlight cut the roof of the
opposite house, investing 1t with sllvery radl-
ance Only the occasional rattle of a passing
car now disturbed the silence of the night
The minutes passed with aggravat1ng slow
ness, as if retarded by ball and chain. Not
a word was said-;is if comment on the TRACE
dy hat was being enacted in their temporary
absence could only be a proclamation. So
they stood, vague, shadowy figures, appre-
hensively nervous, their agitated brains con
juring up the gruesorne spectacle that the1r
eyes must presently meet.
"Come-it is time!7 finally whispered Jar
kov.
With leaden feet they retraced their steps,
pausing in a fever OF dread before the door OF
Benjamin. S apartment. Not sound came
to relieve their strained hearing. With start
ling suddenness Jarkov unlocked and threw
open the door The four men entered, tlmor-
ouslv, unsteadiy. One moment of anxious
survey, and the dread depicted on their fea-
lures was succeeded by look of utter amaze
ment For an instant they feared that their
senses were deceiving them.
The two glasses, with the green fluid ur-
touched, were on the table. And IN the chair
against the wall sat Olga, the bandages re-
moved from her hands and mouth while at
her feet knclt Benjamin weeping silently,
his head buried in the folds of her coat.
What does this mean?' demanded Jar
kov.
At the sound OF that stern command, Ben
iarnin leaped to his feet and embraced the
doctor in paroxysm Of joy. "You were
wrong.7 he shouted in the manner OF a de-
lighted schoolboy. There IS no traitor
among usi'
BAH" Jarkov pointed contemptuous
forefinger toward the woman. Everything
else the police might have learned on the
other side; but about the money-nothing!
You are right agreed Olga, rising and
advancing toward Jarkov. ",rhey knew
nothing Of it. They know nothing of it to-
day." She offered a sheaf of papers "There
it is-express orders and bank drafts-seven
million rubles! had received information
that you were being watched; SO | kept the
money-kept it while went to St. Louis on
another secret mission.
Iarkov stood as though suddenly petrlfied.
Then the loyalty of the daughter OF Polish
nobleman withstood even the ISLANDERS and
attacks of her associates" he exclaimed ad-