The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1912-11-08

midst OF which the bust In bronze
rose darkly upon Its pedestal. A min,
ute. and then the eye OF light winked
out. fickered, explored the pools OF
shadow, and finally steadisd on the
wall as three men moved from the
room beneath us, following one by
one. A second lantern came into play,
and before our eyes commenced a
search, such as I could have hardly
credited. 30 swift, methodical and
thorough were its methods. The cush-
ions were probed with long pins, the
cracks of bare boards, and the nails
that held them In position. were stud
led each In turn, the plastered walls
were sounded inch by inch, the locks
Of desk and drawer were picked with
the ease Of mechanical knowledge.
We heard It before the men below.
the faint patter, patter on the road
outside Of a runner in desperate haste.
The footsteps grew silent, and In the
pause there must have come q sound.
audible to them though not to us. for
the lantern slides were shut down
like the swapping OF teeth, and the
men vanished into the gloom. Only
the moonlight remained. bathing the
Nero In its gentle beams. Il glanced
at Peace. His expression was one of
beatifcp enjoyment. but his whistle
was at his lips. az Iy.s9
I could not see the entrance door,
so that the struggle was well!nigh
over before I knew II was begun. The
stranger fought hard, as. I judged
from the scuffling thuds, yet he raised
no err Of help Then the eyes of tho
lanterns gIowed again and they led him
into the center Of the studio with the
CLINT Of steel marking the handouts
on his wrists. 1t was Greatman-the
fox that had run into the den OF the
wolves! W
And SO, mon ami. you play double
game"
It was not until he spoke that I re-
allied that could hear what went
forward within. The big ventilators
above me were open. and Nicolin-for
It was heidi not modulate his voice.
1T Is you that killed him." cried
the prisoner, raising his fettered
hands. you that have betrayed me.
Murderer and liar that you are"
His frail body shook to the fury
that was on him; but the Russian
in his black beard, stroking 1t
with his hands.
Il had almost forgotten" he said.
1T may be that you have some cause
of complaint against me. But now
that you are here. you will doubtless
be kind enough to save us trouble.
Where. my good Knoll. are the bombs
do you think / shall tell your
Remember. Amaron is dead. They
will not 80 TO Paris now. Do not be
foolish. Show me, the hiding place.
and no harm shall come to you"
NO" Iis, a,t,,....
Then you will return to Russia.
Tho Odessa forgery will carry you
there by English law-but, remember.
1t is for something more than forgery
that you will have to answer when
you arrive"
There was a silence. and then Nico-
lin spoke again-two words.
''Sagalien island"
Il shall not 20 there" said the pris.
oner, simply. Il shall not 60 there
Nicolin the .spy, Nicoiin the murderer
and liar!" t.2t 'toF JfE ; rit
Then you win achieve = miracle.
For, az the Cnsr rules. before week
Ia out you will be ON the sea, and
within a month-stop him, stop vhim!"
He. had sprung from fthsmt with
bound like that Ola Wild beast. and
with his fettered hands had grippsd
the shaft of the bust OF Nero. swing
Ing 1t high above his head. For part
Of a second a. . dim might seize the
! saw him satand In the
moonlight with mat cruel face In
bronze rocking above his own white
lace In flesh and blood beloy; yet, AZ
|. remember It, there was, neither, fear
nor anger in his expression. And then.
RS It were. the shutter clicked, for
Peace dealt me SO violent blow that
1t sent me rolling down the roof into
The darkness. And as tumbled head
long from the ledge, the whole air
seemed to burst into fragments about
me-a mighty concussion that left me,
shaken, bewildered, amongst
he broken tiles and falling fragments
)n the ground below
was In my most comfortable chair,
with old Jacob washing the cut on my
head. and the inspectors nimble fin
gers twisting a bandage before quite
realized that l had escaped that great
explosion. Vaguely. as In a dream,
that two men. presurna-
ply Peace and the serjeant, had
ragged me to my feet. had knOtted
I handkerchief round my head. had
pushed me over the wall, and finally
lifted me into a passing cab-all with
1 mad haste as II IL were we who had
been the criminals. Anyhow. I was at
nome. which was of the first impor-
aDce to me at the moment
What blew up, Inspector" asked,
aintly.
The dynamite hidden I'm the bust
but don't ask questions"