The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-03-22

|
You swear this is true?"
ct do"
She booked straight into his eyes as
# she would read his soul. For a mo-
ment she stood rigid. and then sud-
denly she was alive with a movement
so swift that Vests eyes could not
follow it.
| "Liar." she cried. and at the same
instant a revolver cracked, fred nj
aim point-blank, West thought. He
nadN no time to utter sound and II
he moved at all it was involuntarily
until something struck him and sent
MIN staggering across the room. II
was mans body which struck him as
1t fell to the floor. He had heard no
| sound, but the woman had seen the
man come from between the curtains
bent on m; rider. and had fired at him
| across Vests shoulder. He lay quite
stlll, shors dagger still grirped in his
| hand. West realized that the woman
had saved his life and at the same time
she had taken her own revenge
That was Demetrius Braska who for
his own ends lied to me-" she said
And objected to my telling you the
truth said West. bending down to look
into the mans face. 1t was the violin
| ist who had led the orchestra at Lady
/
| front door-bel1 rang.
| Are there any more like him in the
house?" West asked. pointing at the
dead man.
| mo"
will you allow me to take care Of
that revolver"
After moments hesitate she gave
1t to him.
II viii open the door," he said.
The girl had saved hts life. and in
stinctively he was protecting her
against the result ,of her action. He
was not afraid of the duke, but he was
very anxious the siatternly woman
should not know what had happened
not yet at any rate There was no
knowing what interest she might have
In the dead man.
The duke wa armed and prepared for
surprise; West saw that the moment
he entered. without a word he closed
the door and led him to the room at the,
back. Elska Maloski swept him a
deep courtesy, ana as he acknowledged
it he saw the dead man on the floor.
| Il shot him." she said calmly. IT will
| tell your highness why"
| I am General Rasiloff. Your mes
sage"
mo. no. you are Duke Paul" said
has told me-"
The duke looked at Valentine west
and then caught sight Of the glove
| lying on the table.
| us this q trapr he asked. ana II
was quite evident he was ready for
emergency.
1T was" said West. There lies the
man who brought you the glove toniaiit
at Lady Hanson's."
'Demetrids Braska who lied to me"
said the girl excitedly 1T will tell you
| about him and about General Rasilor
Michael Rasilon. When was a child
| there was discomfort. revolution in
Poland; it is often the same. Nv
father was in it. my mother. too, /
i think. This Michael Rasiloff was also
i one with them at first. then turned
traitor. and was afterward one of those
sent to suppress the rising. There are
horrible stories told OF his doings OF
one I know. My. father was killed in
street fighting; my mother. with many
others, was arrested. This Michael
Rasiloff was in love with my mother,
what he called love. and because she
| would have nothing to do with him she
| was. at his instigation. most foully
| treated. dying at last under the whip"
| Il know the man." said the duke. 1T
is a common name. did not think
of this man when I adopted It,"
HE was in high favor" the girl went
on. mot to be punished; but I vowed
to remember, and some day pay my
mothers debt. The resolve has been
with me always. Even at my moments
of greatest triumph, when an audience
has gone mad at my song. 1t has been
with me. The man lying there became
| my friend. Persecution had made him
fee from Russia to England-he said
| So but he may have lied In that too
| and he was full of sympathy for me
He had a plan to get General Rasilon
to this country. There was certain in
| formation the general wanted concern
| ing plotters in Russia; he would go
anywhere to get that information. II
wrote a letter, putting a sign to II
| which Demetrius said the general
| would understand. I said / could give
him the information he wanted, tina:
| he must come to London; that atAsorn
function or other. or in some other way
| he would receive Iady's long glove Ir
the finger OF which he would fnd Tho
appointment. IL was the scheme o
Denetrius. and II pleased me- I waitef
for him tonight Had General Rasiloff
come he would be lying there instead OF
Demetrius. Had your hIghness come
instead OF this gentleman you wou,j
have been lying there. I have never
seen you; ] should have taken you for
the general whom I have never seen
either. God. To think of IT"
Tt seems. sir. you have saved my
iife.' said the duke. turning to West
And the lady has saved mine"
Who is this man who is q, anxious
70 make an end Of me-" and the duke
stopped TO study the face Of the violin
ist- mo. do not know him"
The police may find out something
abou. him. said West. Il imagine you
have SO nearly got the information you
require. perhaps without being aware
of II. that this man. undertaking how
dangerous you were. employed this
method OF removing you"
7 should be glad 70 know who you
are. sir There is still much do not