The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1915-03-26
Do you think there is poison in

\ There is poison in It, so be care.
full how you handle it," she said.
The policeman accepted 1t gingerly
and dropped 1t into his capacious
pocket. 1t tinkled as 1t fell against
the handouts.
Before you take me away | want
you to let me see my man."
Il can do that"
At that moment the other police
man broke in the door.
"All right. Dolan; she's given up
the game"
"She didn't kill the man after all"
said Officer Dolan.
Hes alive?" she screamed.
Yes; and they've taken him off 10
the Tombs. Just scalp wound. He'll
be all right in day or two"
"Alive!" murmured Olga. She had
not killed the man she loved, then?
And If they were indeed taken to 81.
IBERIA she would be with him until the
end Of things.
With her handsome head proudly
erect she walked toward the door. She
paused for moment to look at the
portrait OF Hargreave. Somehow it
seemed to smile at her ironically.
Then on down the stairs, between the
two officers, she went. Her glance
travelled coolly from face to face and
stopped at Florences. There she saw
pity.
You are sorry for me?" she asked.
skeptically.
90 yes! forgive you" said the
generous Florence
Thanks. Officers, am ready"
So Countess Olga passed through
the hall door forever How many
times had she entered II, with guile
and treachery in her heart? 1t was
the game. She had played it and lost,
and she must pay her debts to Fate,
the fiddler Siberia The tin or
lead mines, the ankle chains, the
knout, and many things that were far
worse to beautiful woman. Well,
so long as Braine was at her side she
would suffer all these things without
a murmur And always there would
be chance, a chance!
When they heard the taxicab rum.
BILE down the driveway to the street
Hargreave turned to Florence.
Come along, now, and wen have
the bad taste taken off our tongues.
To win out is the true principle Of
life. 1t takes off some of the tinsel
and glamour, but the end is worth,
while"
They all trooped up the stairs to
Florence's room. So wonderful is the
power and attraction of money that
they forgot the humiliation of their
late enemies
Hargreave approached the portrait
of himself took it from the wall,
pressed a button on the back, which
fell outward. Behold There, in neat
packages Of a hundred thousand each,
lay the mystic million! The specta.
tors were awed into silence for mo-
ment. Perhaps the thought OF each
was identical-the long struggle, the
terrible hazards, the deaths that had
taken place because Of this enormous
sum Of money.
A million. sometimes called cool,
why nobody knows! There it lay,
without feeling. without emotion; vel
low notes payable to bearer on de-
mand. Presently Florence gasped,
Norton sighed. and Hargreave smiled.
The face of Jones (or Jedson) alone
remained impassive
A million dollars is a marvellous
sight. Few people have ever seen 1t,
not even millionaires themselves. I
dare say you never saw it, and I'm
tolerably certain never have, or
will! A million, ready for eager,
careless fingers to spend or thrifty
fingers to multiply! What Correggio,
what Rubens. what Titan could stand
beside 1t? None that wot of.
Florence. that is all yours, to do
with as you please. to spend when and
how you will. Share II with your hus.
band to be. He is a brave and gal.
liant young man and is fortunate in
finding a young woman equally brave
and gallant. For the rest OF my days
| expect peace. Perhaps sometimes
Jones here and will talk over the
strange things that have happened;
but Wen do that only when we haven't
you young folks to talk to. After your
wedding journey you will return here.
While live this shall be your home.
| demand that much Free! No
more looking over my shoulder when
| walk the streets, no more testing
windows and doors. am myself
again. take up the thread laid
down eighteen years ago. Have no
fear Neither Braine nor Olga will
ever return. Russia has grip Of
steel"
Three weeks later Servan, the Rus.
sian agent, left for Russia with his
three charges-Olga, Braine and
Vroon 1t was long journey they
went upon, something like ten weeks,
always watched, always under the
strlctest guard. compelled to eat with
wooden forks and knives and spoons.
Waking or sleeping they knew no