The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1915-04-22

q window, and leaped out. 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 again by the furious
reporter. A hand-to-hand fight fol-
lowed; and the clean life of the re-
porter told.
There. my angelic friend, 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 It: not to kill but to disable.
You and your precious countess will
sail tomorrow morning for the Baltic,
and from there you will 60 to the lead
mines" He dragged his prisoner to-
ward the house.
"Your troubles are over, my child"
said Hargreave, as he pressed Flor
ence to his heart
And mine have begun" murmured
the countess. But I have still one
shot,"
The police stood encircling her.
Calmly she opened her handbag and
took out ,er handkerchief. It was
E thick and heavy silk one. Swiftly
she unscrewed tn Up OF her walking
stick lit will be cen now that the
carrying of it was not an affectationD,
extracted vial and threw it violently
to the floor. An overpowering sweet
odor filled the room. Jones, knowing
how deeply versed Braine was ia ORR
entail poisons and narcotics, made
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 man. This was the end :.
Russia! The horrors of the cold and
the deadly damps Of the mines :.
forever!
Jim, still holding the battered con-
spirator, watched her flight in amaze
ment He could not underestimate
he pushed Braine into the library and
the vanishing odor assailed his nos
trils. What these fumes were he new
er knew, but they proved to be transit
tory. Five minutes suff1ced 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 fu-
ture held, readily preferred a long
prison term in America to the horrors
of Russian exile.
your certificate has been de-
stroyed," said Servan, land the state
department 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 OF its hands"
And because" added Norton, 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 long
and useless trial. It was long run,
old top; but right is right. And by
the way, want you to meet Mr.. Jed
son, formerly of Scotland Yard"
He indicated Jones, who started.
YES" went on the reporter, Il rec