Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-01-31
The Argus Daily Story
A Conspirator-By Carl Sargent Chase.
Copyrighted 1918. by Associated Literary Bureau

witch to discover If he had the news
from there that you have brought me.
Evidently he has heard nothing.
don't blame him for not knowing every
thing. and perhaps
The woman eyed him keeuly, waiting
for him to go on.
you may have been deceived. or
Again the emperor hesitated This
time the woman finished for him.
II am deceivinG you"
To this the car made no reioinder
Your majesty" continued the wom-
an. has asked me to name a person
high in your confidence whom | have
discovered as ready to find an opportu-
nifty to strike you. What would be the
result Of my doing so without indis-
putable proof OF my charge? | should
go TO Siberia and the man / would &C.
cuse would rise still higher in your
majesty's confidence"
why should | send you to Siberia
for having been mistaken"
Because to gain this mans secret |
have been obliged to pretend TO be in
league with him"
The czar thought for some time. then
said: Il can understand your position.
Should you accuse him without abso-
lutte proof he would bring a counter ac-
cusation against you, But If he had no
proof how could he damage your
should l accuse him he would
bring a dozen conspirators. pretended
loyal subjects OF your majesty, to
swear that l had confessed my guilt
to them"
well. what can be done In the mat
ter"
II have arranged plan. have noti-
/ fed the man who is near TO your maies-
tvs person and at the same time in
/ volved in the Berlin conspiracy that
! word has reached your majeSty's CHIEF
OF police that there is a plot Matching
| and that secret service men are looking
for evidence against him. There are
certain papers he wished TO destroy.
/ have persuaded him to keep them on
his person till the danger shall have
blown over could not have done so
had it not been that my name as a fell
low conspirator Is among them"
The car spent some time in thought
upon this. at the end OF which he said:
You may proceed with your plan.
l can see the necessity OF your being
implicated. II is possible that you may
have some hidden reason other than
your loyalty to your sovereign 10 de-
stroy 3 fellow cOnspirator. but it is not
probable. At any rate. my being in
formed beforehand that you have
found it necessary to pretend to be in
league with those you are hunting
gives you every advantage. l promise
you that only indiSputabe proof that
you were really ready to act against
me shall have any effect in prejudicing
me against you."s
I'm that case. your majesty, l am
ready to spring the trap. Send for
Count Vronskivitch."
Count Vronskivitch!"
"Yes. your majesty
What has he to do with the mat
terT'
This: He has been ready to intro
duce an assassin into your majesty's
presence"
The cZar Shuddered.
"Send for him to come to you, have
him searched. and you Will find in
eliminating papers on his person. New
ertheless l am taking a frightful risk.
So far as l know he has them with
him. | advised him to conceal them on
his person. but it is possible that
HE suspects your"
mo. your majesty. l have so blind
ed him that he shall not suspect me-"
"HowT'
Il have made him love me. and he
believes I love him"
- see. You are a remarkable wo-
man"
Again Vronskivitch was summoned.
On seeing Maria Nichoaevna with the
car he started.
Count" said the car sternly. 'you
are accused OF being In league with
these persons who have formed at
Berlin plot to assassinate me. It
is charged that the conspiratOrs are
relying on You to give their assassin
admission to me-"
The count turned livid and caught
at the table near which he stood.
Your majesty" he gasped, who
is my accuser"
Maria Nicholaevna."
: The look the count gave the woma n
j could not possibly be described in
] words
The cZar summoned several men,
= bers OF the police force on duty at the
palace. Vrouskivitch was searched.
and papers discriminating him and his
9 accuser were found. He made no de-
d Tense. Indeed. there was none to be
made. He was taken away and be-
/ fore sunset was on his way to Siberia.
g The czar Kept the discriminating pa
r pers himself that his spy might not be
a known as having been. or rather, sup
= posed TO have been. one OF the con-
- spiratOrs But his chief object was TO
prevent her being known as traitor
u to them Vronskivitch was not given
Is an opportunity to communicate with
r. any one except his guard. and the car
70 hoped that the secret would he kept.
II Maria Nicholaeyna rested from her
" work. remaining on an estate the car
II gave her one morning she was found
In her bed sta bred to the heart.