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

| InuCn WOF6G IMAM ltSSlls
Then you were not really in earn
est?" the sternness melting from his
face.
No" she protested eagerly, 81 only
wished to try. The paper shall be
burned unread"
Il knew 1 could trust you" he re-
piled joyfully. "Natascha, dearest, l.
too, was but testing. The name l
wrote was my own" He stopped, for
her face was deadly white and her
eyes dilated with terror as she gazed
past him into the room.
Turning, he saw Vladimir Mirskoff
reading the fatal paper with a quiet
smile of satisfaction on his face.
The chief Of police carefully re-
folded the paper, saying, Paul Go
you, but this leave me no choice"
Indeed he is innocent" cried Ma
tascha, imploringly. ut was only a
Jest"
A Last Appeal.
"A singularly unfortunate one"
why try to undo the effect Of your
work." asked Paul, soornfully.
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 was playing. Indeed, 1 would
have burnt that paper. Say you be-
leve me?"
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
moment? Never" Then addressing
himself to Vladimir, Il suppose It is
useless to tell you l have never be-
longed to any revolutionary society
in my life? 1 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 tale
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 rellnquish his prey, other
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 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 I 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. Il am the
woman, and here are the bombs"
The man stared at her, too sur
prised to speak, then Vladimir said
stiffly, lis this also some Jest, ma
dame?"
ut Is deadly earnest" and, taking
a china orange from it's 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 foollng," he said,
roughly. II do not believe you" and
he made step toward her.
stop" she cried, holding out the
orange on the palm of her hand. eff
you move l 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,
! 81 refuse"
Then as It lie a choice between ST.
IBERIA and DEATH 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
!
not chosen well?"
Yes; a thousand times sooner
death with you than life II 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-
lions. Give Paul Goveski his paper"
Vladimir complied, and Paul
| watched 1t burn while NRtascha con-
| tinued: Now write an order for
Boris release and make out our
passports" Then. when he had done
! so, In return, If you give me your
word to DO nothing till midday to-
morrow, l will leave my china fruit
| exactly as thav are Won ran gAoroh