Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1934-11-17

Accredited to cut my throat, belize
Search him. devil take you'll"
Poniatowsld submitted. He was YEA
ponless. "You see, Highness"
His Highness was pulling foolishly at
his neither lip. The woman spoke.
"Peterkin, you're bltrnderer. Listen
...
He obeyed her reckoning finger, for
the empire over him Of this, his latest
mistress, was already firmly established.
She took him playfully by the ear and
drew it down to the level of her lips.
She whispered into IL ct length. Know
ing her malice, Poniatowslxi watched IN
dread. In deeper dread he heard the
mans explosion OF sneering laughter
and the exclamation: "Catherine!"
Then with arms akinbo and feet
planted wide, the Grand Duke was con-
fronting him again and laughing into
his face.
aren't you a great fool not to take
me into your confidence2 Thousand
devils. mani Did you think I play the
Jealous husband2 Do you think that
is why I set guard7
Whatever the object, Highness, the
dispositions bear witness to high mill
tary talent"
The Grand Duke purred under the
gross flattery.
7 am a soldier, my friend. not a
trifler."
He drew Poniatowsld forward 10 the
table. The Voronstoff's coarse, vivid /
lips smiled welcome. NOV that we
understand each other; now that we're
good friends, you shall stay to supper.
Wen make you q party. Waltz"
He strutted out OF the room, with a
cackle Of laughter. With q cackle Of
laughter he came to the bedside Of the
Grand Duchess
Get upl" he ordered. you're want
ID. Get upl"
It was not the first time that she
mad been aroused to witness bis buff
'ooneries. She knew from experience
hat If she displayed reluctance she !
would be cursed IN obscene barrack-
DOM terms, and even cuffed. She rose
It once, a woman Of middle height, stiIl /
beautifully shaped. although by now,
n this, her 2sth year. inclining TO !
'lumpness. Her skin was Of a dazzling I
Vhiteness and her face, with its aqui- !
Inc nose, fine dark eyes and lofty Z
ROY, from which the llrxuriant chest I
tut hair was now drawn back, was &
Iandsomely attractive. i
Whatever her emotions, fear did not j
ouch her until IN that island Of light .
bout the cleaning table she beheld
oniatowsld standing straight, tense. b
Peter leered upon her stupefaction. d
To table, Madame. TO table. Here 4
e are al friends" ii
Then Catherine thought she under Il
God. A cynical bargain was being =
'rced upon her. She was to bend her a
roud neck to the Vorontsoff, whom b
Itherto she had refused to tolerate, y
exchange for q complacency that q
ade P0niatowsi1 safe. N
For her dear lovers sake, for an hour n
ID more. like q somnambulist, she
aged her part IN that queer supper r.
lrty; and PonistowsAd constrainedly y
lowed her lead. ascribing the oddness q
the situation TO the eccentricity Of Re
3 host. 3,
At last. as daylight was beginning to a
ter through the curtains the Grand 81
IKE scrambled to hts feet. He was ri
~ drunk. Blear-eyed he blinked at be
e Grand Duchess and the young Pole. er
nay chiidren.s he hiccoughed z ~
at think you need US. Nor we you "a.
he reeled out on tina arm Of hts mis- wu
rs. The door slammed SO that the 50.
ndows ratified Then there was COM
lte silence. M
III
rnat vas me Last OF PouiatowzkdsI -