Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-10


you, but this leave me no choice"
Indeed he is innocent" cried Ma
tascha, imploringly. 1T was only a
jest"
A Last Appeal.
"A singularly unfortunate one"
why try to undo the effect Of your
work?" asked Paul, scornfully
mo wonder you despise me-" she
said humbly. Listen, Boris has been
sent to Siberia unless 1 could obtain
from you the name of one Of the Lead
ers in this plot. They are only as
sassins and deserve no mercy. But
you showed me the baseness Of the
part I was playing. Indeed, would
have burnt that paper. Say you be-
lteve meg"
But her appeal left him unmoved,
and his voice was as cold and hard
as the ice in the streets outside as he
his friends would repent at the last
moment2 Never" Then addressing
himself to Vladimir 81 suppose 1t is
useless to tell you l have never be-
longed to any revolutionary society
in my life2 l suspected madame was
being made a tool of, and wished to
find out; that was all"
Quite useless, and / should advise
you think of a more plausible stale
for your defense" Then to his host
ess, Madame, wish you good even
ing"
But Natascha had regained her self
control. She was fighting against des-
perate odds for all that made life
worth the living. Entreaty was use
less If the man before her was to be
forced to relinquish his prey, other
means must be used, and suddenly
the inspiration came.
Turning to Vladimir, she said very
quietly: You spoke of a woman who
had concealed a deadly explosive for
charging bombs. What if / were to
tell you her name?"
Then you may ask what you will"
MY price is Boris's freedom and
the destruction of that paper"
You, woman, to betray another
woman!" cried Paul. Il refuse to be
saved at such price"
Twice Baked.
And 1 refuse to pay it," added
Vladimir, decidedly.
Natascha looked at him in dismay.
Refuse"
Yes. Why buy what can have for
nothing? Sent to prison as a suspect,
you Will soon tell me all want to
know"
You scoundrel!" exclaimed Paul.
and Natascha glanced at him CRATE,
fully as she said, II will tell you
now" opening one of the glass doors
Of the cabinet containing her famous
collection of china fruit. II am the
woman, and here are the bombs"
The man staraH az
prised to speak, then Vladimir said
stifly. rs this also some jest, ma
dame?"
1T is deadly earnest" and, taking
a china orange from its shelf, she held
1t carefully in both hands. What is
there to arouse suspicion in the fad of
a society lady for collecting china
fruit and what safer place in which
to store bombs than a drawing room
frequented by the chief Of police?'
Enough of this fooling," he said.
roughly. Il do not believe you and
he made a step toward her
Stop" she cried, holding out the
orange on the palm of her hand. IF
you move | will convince you of the
truth of my tale only you are not
likely to live to acknowledge your
error"
What do you want me to dor,
Return that paper. Write an order
for my brothers release and pass
ports for the three of us by the mid
night train to Paris
Il refuse"
Then as it is a choice between ST. !
IBERIA and death, I shall drop this at
your feet, and there will be no one
left to explain the accident that
wrecked the house of Natascha Alex |
androvna and involved the highly es-
teemed chief Of police in so terrible a |
fate Then, turning to Paul, Have |
not chosen well?"
Yes; a thousand times sooner
death with you than life If we are
parted" And the look in his eyes |
told her that the peril in which they |
stood had blotted out all misunder- |
standings, but she only said calmly: |
The Victory.
Does your excellency still refuse? ?"
Il will do what you require" he |
yielded sullenly. Put that thing
away"
When you have fulfilled my condi-
tions. Give Paul Goveski his paper"
Vladimir complied, and Paul
watched it burn while Natascha con-
tinued: Now write an order for
Boris release and make out our
passports" Then. when he had done
so, In return, II you give me your
word to do nothing till midday to-
morrow, l will leave my china fruit
exactly a |