The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1915-06-10

library. Olga entered leisurely.
Both of them!" yelled Braine ex-
ultantly. Both OF them together;
what luckii"
There was a sharp, fierce struggle;
and when II came to an end far
greave wa trussed to a chair.
All, so we meet again, Hargreave!"
said Braine.
Eargreave shrugged. What he
wanted was time.
"A million! We have you. Where
n II, or I'll twist your heart before
your, eyes"
Father. forgive mel"
II understand, my child"
Where is it," Braine seized Flor.
ence by the wrist and swung her to-
ward him.
Don't tell him, father; don't mind
me" said the girl bravely.
Braine, smiling his old evil smile,
drew the girl close. II was the last
time he ever touched her.
Look" screamed Olga.
Every one turned, to see Jones' face
peering between the curtains. There
was an ironic smile on the buffers
lips. The face vanished.
After HIM" cried Braine, releasing
Florence.
After HIM" mimicked a voice from
the hall.
The curtains were thrown back sud
denly. Jones appeared, and Jim and
the Russian agent and a dozen police
e Tableau!
Braine was the only man who kept
his head. He 1oored Norton, smashed
a window, and leaped ont. The blow
dazed Norton, but he was on his feet
almost Instantly and followed Braine
through the window. Across the lawn
the two sped, with an exchange OF
shots which emptied both automatics
but did no damage. Braine headed
for his auto. He jumped In, only to
be hauled out gain by the furious
reporter. A hand-to-hand fight fol-
lowed; and the clean life of the re-
porter told.
There. my angelic friend, l believe
that the game Is up. There is one
shot left in this automatic. II you
make any attempt to escape, I'll let
you have 1t: not to kill but to disable.
You and your precious countess will
sail tomorrow morning for the Baltic,
and from there you will go to the lead
mines" He dragged his prisoner to-
ward the house.
Your troubles are over. my child"
said Hsrgreave, as he pressed Flor
ence to his heart.
And mine have begun murmured
the countess. But | have still one
shot"
The police stood encirclins her.
Calmly she opened her handbag and
took out her handkerchief. It was
a thick and heavy silk one. Swiftly
she unscrewed the top of her walking
stick cit will be seen now that the
carrying OF ii was net ar affectationD,
extracted a vial and threw it violently
TO the floor. An o~verpowering sweet
odor filled the room. Jones, knowing
how deeply versed Braine was In orr.
entail poisons and narcotics, made a
desperate but futile effort to tear down
a curtain to throw over the liquid; but
even in the effort he felt his senses
going. The last he was conscious OF
was a hooking laugh.
But the entrance of jim, dragging
Braine after him, shocked all the BAN
ter out of the countess. She turned
and rushed madly for the stairs, with
out having the least Idea how she was
to manage an escape from the upper
stories. She had thought Braine free.
AS she flew up the steps all the past
returned, all her warnings to that stub
born a This was the end Il
Russia. The horrors of the cold and
the deadly damps OF the mines i
forever!
Jim, still holding the battered con-
spirator, watched her flight in amaze
ment. He could not understandable
he pushed Braine into the library and
the vanishing odor assailed his nos
trils. What these fumes were he new
err knew, but they proved to be transi.
tory Five minutes suficed to bring
all back to their senses. For the while
they forgot Olga.
This man is mine," said Servan,
nodding toward Braine.
Hes yours without charge" said
Jim.
I'm an American citizen" said
Braine, who. realizing what the flu
ture held. readily preferred a long
prison term in America Il the horrors
of Russian exile.
Your certificate has been de-
stroyed." said Servan, land the state
considers your papers void
because you obtained them under false
oaths. You are an undesirable citi-
zen; and the republic Is happy to learn
that you will be taken CT It's hands,"
And because" added Merton. you
have laid too many mines In the black
mailing business. and the government
does not propose to have them made
known to the public through q long
and useless trial. II was a long run,
old top: but right IL right. And by
the way, | want you 10 meet Mr.. Jed
son. formerly Of Scotland Yard"
He indicated Jones. who started.
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