,,out ,,of ,,russia ,by ,,crittenden ,,marriott ,,the ,,isle ,,of ,,dead ,,ships ,,the ,,fascinating ,,sargasso ,,sea ,,novel 8,chapter after chapter unfolds new and startling adventures40 --,philadelphia ,press4 8,a thriller from start to finish4 ,the book will certainly prove a delight to the lovers of romance and adventure40 --,san ,francisco ,bulletin4 ,,frontispiece ,,in ,,color ,,and ,,three ,,illustrations ,,in ,,black ,,and ,,white #abmo4 ,cloth1 #a4jj net4 ,j4 ,b4 ,,lippincott ,,co4 ,,publishers ,,philadelphia ,illustration3 ,,the ,,diver ,,commanded ,,her ,,to ,,report ,,at ,,once ,,to ,,the ,,inner ,,circle ,,of ,,the ,,brotherhood ,page #afe ,,out ,,of ,,russia ,,by ,,crittenden ,,marriott ,,author ,,of 8,,the ,,isle ,,of ,,dead ,,ships10 8,,uncle ,,sam',s ,,business10 8,,how ,,americans ,,are ,,governed10 ,,etc4 ,,with ,,illustrations ,,by ,,frank ,mc,k,e,r,n,a,n ,illustration ,,philadelphia ,,london ,j4 ,b4 ,,lippincott ,,company #aiaa ,,copyright1 #aiaj1 ,,by ,,crittenden ,,marriott ,,copyright1 #aiaa1 ,,by ,j4 ,b4 ,,lippincott ,,company ,published ,february1 #aiaa ,printed by ,j4 ,b4 ,lippincott ,company ,the ,washington ,square ,press1 ,philadelphia1 ,u4 ,s4 ,a4 ,,illustrations ,,page ,,the ,,diver ,,commanded ,,her ,,to ,,report ,,at ,,once ,,to ,,the ,,inner ,,circle ,,of ,,the ,,brotherhood4 ,frontispiece4 ,,like ,a ,,cat1 ,,the ,,woman ,,sprang ,,forward ,,and ,,caught ,,his ,,arm4 #cb 8,,pardon1 ,,mademoiselle6 ,i ,,must ,,speak ,,to ,,you ,,secretly40 #aci 8,,you60 ,,she ,,muttered1 8,,you ,,here60 #aih ,,out ,,of ,,russia ,,chapter ,,one ,the professor was pottering about his laboratory4 ,he called it a laboratory1 this work-room down in ,new ,jersey1 where he was peacefully ending his days1 but it was not such in the ordinary acceptation of the term4 ,the brightly burning lights shone on no apparatus for distilling evil-smelling gases1 no glass retorts1 no long lines of bottles4 ,what instruments it disclosed were of a kind more likely to appeal to a sailor than to a chemist1 though many of them would probably have seemed odd to both4 ,a lead-line with 8marks0 and 8deeps10 various scoop nets1 a long sectional aquarium in which various sea creatures moved1 barometers1 anemometers1 and other 8meters0 for measuring winds and waters1 a great globe1 and piles of charts1 were some of the articles the room contained1 for this was the workshop of ,professor ,shishkin1 the great ,russian physicist1 member of scores of learned societies1 and the ultimate authority on the waves1 winds1 currents1 flora1 and fauna of the ocean4 ,the ,professor had come to ,america about twenty years before1 bringing with him a young daughter1 a working knowledge of the ,english language1 and a profound acquaintance with the ocean4 ,he had secured a post in a small school1 from which he had gone from one college to another1 all the while growing in reputation until he came to be probably the best known physicist in the world4 ,when he came to ,america1 he was apparently about fifty years of age1 but where and how he had passed those fifty years he never told4 ,obviously1 he must have been a student if not a professor1 and it seemed strange that one with his attainments could have lived for half a century unnoticed2 yet of his early life no trace was to be had4 ,his name did not appear on the rolls of any of the great ,european universities2 and even after he grew to distinction1 no alma mater claimed him for her own4 ,deliberately he had cut himself off from his early life4 ,to him1 the past was dead4 ,but the past is never really dead4 ,its beginnings are untraceable1 and its ending must ever be unknown4 ,men put their finger on some turning point in their lives and say1 8,here this began10 or1 8,here that ended40 ,wrong in both assertions6 ,the beginning began long before1 and the ending will not end even when ,r4,i4,p4 is graven on their tombstones4 ,at the very moment when ,professor ,shishkin was congratulating himself on the peaceful afternoon of his life1 strenuous fate was on its way in the darkness of that ,march evening to call him again to action4 ,the avatar of fate was one who would attract attention even in ,new ,york1 that melting pot of the nations4 ,carelessly dressed1 dark1 with high cheek-bones and glowing eyes1 even the casual might pronounce him a fanatic who was living on his nerves and declare that some day the nerves would burn out and the man collapse4 ,at the door he gave his name to ,olga ,shishkin1 the ,professor's daughter1 now grown to womanhood1 and she took it to the ,professor in his laboratory4 ,the ,professor was puzzled4 8,maxime ,gorloff10 he repeated doubtfully4 8,i don't recall the name4 ,did he say what he wanted1 ,olga80 ,olga shook her head4 8,no10 she answered4 8,only that he wanted to see the distinguished ,professor4 ,he seemed very much in earnest4 ,he speaks ,english well1 but with an accent4 ,i think he must be an immigrant40 8,an immigrant6 ,eh80 ,the ,professor did not measure men by the price of their steamer passages4 8,well1 show him in4 ,i am always glad to talk with strangers1 especially if they are very much in earnest4 ,they usually have a new point of view and can teach me something4 ,show him in40 ,the man came in4 ,if a shade of disappointment crossed his face as he noted the ,professor's white hair and wasted limbs1 it disappeared as he returned the latter's courteous greeting4 8,i have come many miles to see you1 ,professor10 he declared quietly1 as he took the chair proffered4 8,so60 ,the ,professor preened himself with harmless vanity4 ,people often came many miles to see and consult him4 8,many miles60 he repeated4 8,that means so different a thing to-day than it did when ,i was young4 ,fifty miles were very many in those days40 ,the man ,maxime nodded understandingly4 8,and four thousand is many to-day2 yes6 ,moscow is four thousand miles away40 8,you come from ,moscow80 ,the ,professor's tone expressed only polite interest4 ,moscow was indeed very far from him1 mentally as well as geographically4 8,yes1 from ,moscow6 ,from the ,house of the ,seven ,feathers--,brother40 ,the ,professor sat rigid1 the smile fading slowly from his lips4 ,his hands slowly tightened on the arms of his chair until the knuckles showed white4 8,i--,i--did not catch--that is1 what--the ,house of the ,seven ,feathers1 did you say80 ,pity showed in the young man's eyes1 but he did not waver4 8,yes1 ,i said that--,brother10 he reiterated4 8,i--,i don't understand40 ,maxime leaned forward4 8,what shall ,i say to remind you80 he asked4 8,shall ,i recite the oath of brotherhood or call the names of the ,defenders of the ,cause8 ,shall ,i adjure you by fire or steel or rope8 ,i come from the ,house of the ,seven ,feathers1 ,brother4 ,make answer60 ,the ,professor's dry lips moved4 8,what is their color1 ,brother80 he asked1 the words dropping unwillingly from his lips4 8,red60 ,the man touched his hand to his forehead4 8,may they prosper60 ,the ,professor stroked his beard4 ,the first shock was past1 and the words came easier4 ,after all1 the visit could portend little4 ,he was too old4 8,very well10 he said4 8,i acknowledge the call4 ,what will you80 8,the ,brotherhood has need of you40 8,the ,brotherhood has no longer a claim on me4 ,i did it good service once4 ,i gave it my youth and my early manhood1 and ,i paid for it to the full4 ,that was twenty years ago4 ,for twenty years ,i have had no intercourse with it4 ,my obligation is ended40 8,so long as fire burns and water flows2 so long as steel cuts and grass grows2 till death and after it10 quoted the other softly4 8,but ,i am no longer a ,russian2 ,i am an ,american citizen40 8,adoption does not free a man from his mother's call4 ,your long exemption only adds to your obligation40 ,the ,professor moved uneasily in his chair4 ,fear was growing on him1 but he tried to shake it off4 8,i am not in sympathy with the present aims of the ,brotherhood10 he protested4 8,i have lived too long in the outer world4 ,no cause was ever helped by murder4 ,besides1 ,russia is not fitted for self-government40 ,maxime shrugged his shoulders4 8,we will not discuss it10 he declared4 8,the ,brotherhood calls you4 ,will you obey1 or must ,i first remind you of what it did for you twenty years ago1 just before you fled secretly by night from the palace of the ,grand ,duke in ,st4 ,petersburg1 bearing in your arms----0 8,stop6 ,stop60 ,but the man went on pitilessly4 8,twenty years ago10 he said1 as one repeating a lesson1 8you were known by the name of ,lladislas ,metrovitch4 ,you were a subordinate member of the ,brotherhood1 and rendered it good though not material service4 ,you were married twice1 the second time to an ,american lady who had been the governess of your nieces4 ,you had one child by her4 ,you were well known for your scientific attainments4 ,one day you were arrested1 charged with sedition4 ,you disappeared4 ,your property was confiscated1 your household scattered4 8,three years went by1 during which you rotted in the dungeons of the fortress of ,st4 ,peter and ,st4 ,paul4 ,then1 by the aid of the ,brotherhood1 you escaped--old before your time1 broken1 feeble4 ,you sought for your wife1 your family4 ,you could learn little of them4 ,at last you heard that your wife was dead1 and that her child and yours was being brought up in the household of the ,grand ,duke ,ivan4 ,you did not dare to claim the child openly1 but1 aided by the ,brotherhood1 you stole her and escaped with her to ,america40 ,the ,professor raised his head4 ,his shoulders shook4 ,the forgotten horror of those by-gone days had all come back as if it had been but yesterday4 ,he was about to speak when the man interposed4 8,i have more to tell10 he said4 8,when you fled from ,russia you thought your wife was dead4 ,you were deceived4 ,she did not die until about a year ago40 8,not dead6 ,not dead60 ,the ,professor's face flushed red1 then changed to a ghastly pallor4 8,not dead60 he muttered4 8,no1 not dead60 ,the worst was over1 and the man hurried on4 8,there was much connected with your arrest that you did not know4 ,you believed that it was due to your association with the ,brotherhood4 ,you were wrong4 ,you were arrested because the ,grand ,duke ,ivan admired your wife40 ,the ,professor's shoulders shook1 but he said no word4 ,age dulls the capacity to feel2 cools the passions as well as the affections4 ,the old man had borne much2 no further shock could greatly move him4 8,you disappeared4 ,ivan was kind to your wife1 but declared that your arrest had been ordered by the ,emperor himself1 and that he could do nothing4 ,soon you were reported dead4 ,not long after he married her--morganatically1 of course4 ,she is not to be too much blamed4 ,she was penniless1 alone1 in a strange land1 with a child to support4 ,she married him4 ,when you stole your child you stole it from her40 ,the ,professor's dry lips moved4 8,i did not know10 he murmured4 8,no1 you did not know4 ,the fault was not yours1 but that of the system we are trying to destroy4 ,so much for the past6 ,now for the future4 ,will you obey the orders of the ,brotherhood80 ,maxime's voice dropped1 and he sat silent1 watching the older man dumbly fighting through the shock4 ,pity was in his eyes1 but relentlessness was there also--the relentlessness of the priest who pities the victim1 but does not drop the sacrificial knife4 ,patiently he waited for the other to speak4 ,at last the words came1 and ,maxime's face flushed with triumph as he heard them4 8,what does the ,brotherhood require80 the ,professor asked hollowly4 ,the younger man stretched out his hand to the great globe that stood beside him and twirled it on its axis4 8,in ,march1 just two years ago10 he began1 8the ship ,orkney sailed from ,london for ,st4 ,petersburg with five millions in gold on board1 consigned to the ,russian government4 ,it was the people's gold1 borrowed on the people's credit1 to aid in enslaving the people4 ,we swore it should never reach ,st4 ,petersburg4 ,we kept our word4 ,the ,orkney was wrecked in the night in the ,gulf of ,bothnia--no one survived to tell where4 ,russia long sought for it in vain4 ,we ourselves sought for it in vain4 ,but now1 at last1 a clue has reached our hands40 8,well80 8,it is not perfect yet1 but it will be4 ,marie ,fitzhugh1 our agent1 will be here in a few hours1 and will forge the last links4 ,her task is difficult1 but she will succeed4 ,by one means or another1 she will succeed4 ,i would have waited till she had finished her part before seeing you1 but ,i have been ordered to another duty and must leave to-night4 ,so she herself will send you word--perhaps to-morrow4 ,if not to-morrow1 soon after40 8,well80 8,if she succeeds1 we shall be able to go to the spot and get the gold4 ,if she fails1 we nevertheless shall know approximately where to look for it4 ,but1 as you are aware1 no vessel can dredge in the ,baltic without being watched4 ,we do not want to find the gold for ,russia to seize4 ,so we come to you for help40 8,what80 ,amazement showed in ,professor ,shishkin's face and voice4 8,are you serious80 he demanded4 8,why not8 ,you have spent a lifetime studying the sea4 ,you have made a specialty of the ,baltic4 ,you have won a great name by your work there4 ,what more natural then than that you should revisit your chosen field8 ,what more natural than that you should take divers with you to explore the sea-bottom8 ,you1 and you alone1 of all the ,brotherhood1 can do this without suspicion4 ,you1 and you alone1 can get the gold safely on board after it is found40 8,but----0 8,there are no buts when the ,brotherhood speaks1 and it has spoken4 ,if the task be difficult1 the more honor in accomplishing it4 ,a ship will be provided1 manned1 and equipped4 ,your sole duty is to prepare such apparatus as you may need for your scientific work1 and to spread abroad the alleged object of your trip4 ,probably you had better send an announcement of it to the newspapers4 ,of course you will not do this until ,marie notifies you40 8,very well40 8,one thing more10 went on the messenger1 gravely4 8,i am instructed to command you to take your daughter with you4 ,her presence will add force to your declaration that the trip is purely scientific40 ,the ,professor shook his head4 8,i cannot do it10 he declared4 8,i cannot and will not take ,olga to ,russia1 under any circumstances4 ,you know why40 8,the ,brotherhood commands it40 8,i will appeal40 8,there is no appeal1 as you know40 8,then ,i refuse40 ,the man sprang to his feet4 8,refuse1 do you80 he cried1 in a sibilant hiss that seemed to fill the room4 8,refuse8 ,have you forgotten the penalty of disobedience8 ,have you forgotten the oath you took8--#8,if ,i fail in obedience1 may ,i be cut off1 ,i and my children and my children's children1 and my name live no more forever4' ,do you remember1 ,professor ,shishkin80 ,the man paused1 and his voice changed4 8,believe me1 ,i am sorry10 he murmured2 8but ,i1 like yourself1 am a subordinate4 ,it is the ,brotherhood that speaks1 not ,i4 ,and the ,brotherhood speaks for the people--do not forget that--speaks for the great1 inarticulate ,russian people1 struggling to burst their age-long shackles4 ,while we sit here1 men are sacrificing their lives and women their honor for the cause4 ,who are you to hold back8 ,no harm will come to your daughter1 but even if the risk were ten times greater1 still she must take it4 ,you and she both owe it to ,russia40 ,he paused4 8,what shall ,i say to the ,brotherhood80 he demanded4 ,the old man bowed his head4 8,i will obey10 he muttered4 8,i must obey4 ,i have no choice40 ,,chapter ,,two ,alston ,caruth lived in the ,chimneystack ,building4 ,when he returned to his apartments at midnight on the day of ,gorloff's visit to ,professor ,shishkin1 he found ,marie ,fitzhugh1 agent of the ,brotherhood1 awaiting him4 ,she had risen at the sound of his key in the lock1 and stood facing him1 externally cool and self-possessed1 but with apprehension shining in her soft dark eyes4 ,her fingers trembled as they rested on the edge of the table1 and her color came and went4 ,a close observer would have said that she was frightened half to death4 ,caruth1 however1 was not a close observer2 at least1 not at that moment4 ,amazement showed in his eyes as he snatched off his hat and whipped the cigarette from his parting lips4 ,his fresh young face1 flushed from the gaiety of the evening1 looked almost boyish in its confusion4 ,his obvious embarrassment seemed to restore the girl's balance4 8,mr4 ,caruth80 she inquired1 with a slight movement of her head4 ,caruth nodded4 ,for the moment he was beyond words4 ,her soft1 musical voice and air of refinement impressed him1 despite the unconventionality of her presence in his rooms at that time of the night1 and his attitude became even more respectful4 8,yes10 he stammered2 8,i am ,mr4 ,caruth4 ,what can ,i do for you80 8,i am ,miss ,fitzhugh4 ,i have come four thousand miles to talk with you1 ,mr4 ,caruth4 ,your valet was kind enough to let me wait1 though he was clearly horrified by my desiring to do so4 ,will you not sit down80 ,caruth hesitated4 ,of medium build1 clean-shaven1 correctly dressed1 he might have stepped out of a ,gibson drawing4 ,every detail was present1 even to the strong chin and the firm mouth4 8,it is late10 he suggested1 glancing at the clock1 the hands of which stood straight upward4 8,i am at your service1 of course1 but perhaps to-morrow----0 ,the girl smiled1 a trifle wearily4 8,one does not come four thousand miles for a trifle10 she answered4 8,the convenances must yield to necessity4 ,i must talk with you to-night40 ,caruth bowed and seated himself across the centre table from her4 ,though his surprise had not abated1 he was rapidly regaining his self-possession1 and as the girl resumed her own chair1 he leaned forward a little1 studying her thoughtfully1 noting the anxious lines about her youthful eyes and mouth4 ,although her ,english had been excellent1 she did not impress him as being of ,american nor yet of ,english birth4 ,an alien air clung intangibly about her and about her costume1 which1 even to his masculine intelligence1 bespoke the work of a dress-maker of more than ordinary skill4 ,she was plainly a lady4 ,had it not been too amazing1 he would have guessed that she must be a person of distinction in her own land--wherever that might be4 ,that she was beautiful seemed somehow not surprising2 that she was very young did4 ,what could such a woman be doing alone in his bachelor rooms at that hour of the night4 ,disguising his wonder1 he sought to carry off the situation4 8,you are tired80 he questioned gently4 8,i'm afraid ,i kept you waiting a long time4 ,i'm sorry4 ,i didn't know4 ,can't ,i offer you something to eat or drink1 ,miss ,fitzhugh80 ,slowly the girl nodded4 8,i'm glad10 she breathed1 half to herself4 8,they told me ,american men were like this1 but ,i could scarcely believe it4 ,in ,europe it would have been very different4 ,i am proud of my half-cousins40 ,she paused2 then answered his question4 8,thank you10 she said4 8,i will take a glass of sherry and a biscuit40 ,caruth touched the bell4 8,sherry and crackers1 ,wilkins10 he ordered briefly4 ,not until the tray had been set before them1 and the valet had gone1 did either of them speak again4 ,caruth was slowly awakening to the fact that the beauty of the woman before him was not ordinary4 ,it was not alone the perfection of her features that appealed to him4 ,every detail about her was artistically perfect4 ,her coloring1 the poise of her head1 the slim roundness of her taper fingers1 the iridescent gleam of her brown hair beneath her wide hat--all satisfied his somewhat critical taste4 ,suddenly he realized that he was staring1 and1 dropping his eyes1 he forced himself to speak casually4 8,your half-cousins80 he queried1 answering her lead4 8,you are1 then----0 8,american8 ,yes6 ,on my mother's side1 but my father is ,russian1 and ,i have never been in ,america until to-night4 ,i like it1 ,mr4 ,caruth10 she ended--8what ,i have seen of it4 ,it rests with you to confirm my opinion40 ,caruth questioned her with his eyes4 8,yes80 he answered politely4 8,i hope ,i shall be able to do so40 ,for a moment the girl did not speak4 ,her bosom rose and fell a trifle faster4 ,she crumbled her cracker nervously1 and her hand shook slightly as she lifted her glass4 ,caruth1 silent1 attentive1 awaited her pleasure4 8,ten days ago10 she said1 at last1 8a letter was mailed to you at ,stockholm in ,sweden4 ,it was not intended for you4 ,it was sent to you by mistake--a mistake realized within a few hours after it had been posted4 ,an effort was made to recover it1 but it had already started on its way4 ,its progress has been traced carefully4 ,it left ,brest on the steamship ,latourette1 which reached quarantine here at eight o'clock to-night4 ,it may be delivered to you at any moment40 ,caruth glanced at the clock and smiled4 8,i fear you are mistaken10 he objected4 8,even if this letter reached the post-office to-night--which seems to me doubtful--it will not be delivered until to-morrow--unless1 of course1 it has a quick delivery stamp on it40 ,the girl nodded4 8,it has a quick delivery stamp on it10 she rejoined promptly2 8and if ,i understand your post-office methods1 it will be delivered very soon4 ,the mail-bags left the ship when ,i did40 8,you crossed on the same vessel80 8,yes4 ,special arrangements had been made1 and ,i was permitted to come up to the city on the tug that brought the mail4 ,i came straight here and have been waiting ever since4 ,the letter has not arrived yet2 therefore it must come soon40 8,and when it does80 ,caruth's wonder was growing4 ,dimly he suspected whither the conversation was tending1 and with growing interest he waited for his guest to come to the point4 8,when it does80 he questioned again1 gently4 ,the girl's breath came faster4 ,she evaded a direct answer4 8,you see1 ,mr4 ,caruth10 she argued1 8,i do not try to conceal from you the importance of this letter4 ,it is of the very highest value to me and to my friends4 ,to you1 it is neither of value nor of importance1 and1 not being intended for you1 it does not belong to you4 ,it was sent to you by mistake4 ,i have come to ask you to give it back to me unopened4 ,will you do it80 ,caruth drew a long breath4 ,the inborn tendency of all men of his race to do anything that a pretty woman wishes impelled him to promise4 ,yet the request was certainly amazing4 8,you ask a good deal1 ,miss ,fitzhugh10 he temporized4 8,i know nothing of this letter4 ,i have no correspondents that ,i know of in ,sweden--nor in ,europe either1 for that matter4 ,you may be right in saying that the letter is not intended for me2 yet--well1 ,i think ,i am entitled to ask a little further explanation4 ,how is it possible for a letter not intended for me to be addressed to me here--for ,i presume it is so addressed80 ,miss ,fitzhugh drew herself up4 8,yes1 the address is correct10 she answered coldly4 8,i have told you it was put on by mistake by a friend of mine who sends me to reclaim the letter----0 ,she broke off suddenly1 as with startling abruptness the electric bell at the door of the apartment sounded in their ears4 8,there6 ,it's come6 ,go quick10 she cried4 ,mechanically ,caruth rose and turned to the door2 then hesitated4 8,wilkins will bring it10 he explained4 8,wilkins8 ,your man8 ,no6 ,go yourself4 ,this matter is too grave to trust to any one4 ,go quick40 ,under the spell of her command1 ,caruth stepped hastily to the door of the room and flung it open4 ,at the end of the hall the valet was just signing the book of a letter carrier4 ,as ,caruth appeared he looked up4 8,quick delivery letter for you1 sir10 he said4 ,caruth took the letter1 nodded1 and turned back into the room4 ,the girl was standing where he had left her4 ,her lips were parted1 and her breath came fast4 ,when she saw the letter her eyes glistened and she stretched out her hand4 ,but ,caruth drew back4 8,one moment10 he exclaimed4 ,the girl's eyes flashed4 8,what do you mean80 she demanded4 8,i have explained my claim to that letter4 ,you have no right to keep it4 ,give it to me at once40 ,an imperious stamp of her foot put a period to her words4 ,a weaker man would have yielded1 but ,caruth set his jaws4 8,you have set forth your claim to this letter10 he answered coldly1 8after a fashion4 ,but1 if you will pardon my saying so1 you have by no means proved your right to it4 ,it may very well have been mailed to me by mistake1 and you may know it--without being entitled to it40 ,scornfully the woman stared at him4 ,her head was thrown back1 and the breath whistled through her distended nostrils4 8,so60 she breathed1 at last4 8,so this is ,american manhood6 ,for the first time in my life1 my word has been questioned to my face40 ,caruth looked1 as he felt1 acutely uncomfortable4 8,no1 no60 he protested eagerly4 8,i don't question your word4 ,i didn't know that you had given it4 ,nobody0--a flash of admiration showed in his eyes--8nobody could look at you and doubt you4 ,i don't doubt that you have told me the exact facts4 ,but ,i am also very sure that you have not told me all of them4 ,if the letter does not belong to me1 ,i will willingly surrender it to the real owner4 ,but ,i might do endless harm by surrendering it to the wrong party4 ,i cannot give it up without knowing more40 ,caruth quailed as he spoke4 ,it was terribly hard even to debate anything this woman asked4 ,scarcely could he force himself to go on4 8,i must know more10 he pleaded4 8,really1 ,i must know more6 ,don't you see that ,i must80 8,very well4 ,you shall40 ,the woman paused for an instant and then went on3 8,this letter and another were put into a bottle which was thrown overboard from a sinking ship4 ,it floated about until ten days ago1 when it was picked up by a fisherman4 ,one of the letters was for my friends4 ,the address was legible1 and it was forwarded to us by mail1 reaching us twenty-four hours later4 ,the address on the other had partly faded2 the name of the person for whom it was meant had disappeared altogether4 ,but it was addressed in your care1 at your address here4 ,the fisherman who found it showed it to a casual ,american1 who advised him to send it on to you1 and who provided him with an envelope and postage1 including a quick delivery stamp4 8,when our letter came1 we hurried down to question the fisherman1 and from him learned what ,i have told you4 ,our letter had once contained all the information we needed1 but part of the writing had been washed out by the sea water1 and could not be read4 ,we hope that the letter sent to you may be in better condition1 so ,i have hurried over here to get it from you40 ,caruth listened amazedly4 8,but10 he objected1 8for whom was the letter really meant80 8,i do not know4 ,evidently for some one associated with you4 ,can you not guess80 ,caruth shook his head slowly4 8,no10 he mused4 8,no1 ,i cannot guess40 ,curiously he studied the envelope he held in his hands4 ,the woman hesitated2 then came to a sudden resolution4 8,there are two envelopes10 she explained4 8,one of them was put on by the fisherman4 ,open that1 if you will1 but be careful40 ,caruth obeyed and drew out the inclosure4 ,it was a small envelope1 dirty and stained and smelling strongly of fish4 ,indeed1 a minute scale clung to one corner until he mechanically brushed it away4 ,on the face1 in blurred writing1 appeared his own name3 8,care ,mr4 ,alston ,caruth1 ,chimneystack ,apartment ,building1 ,new ,york1 ,n4 ,y40 ,another name had been written just above1 but it was indecipherable4 8,the whole address was there when the fisherman opened the bottle10 explained the girl4 8,part of it soaked off in his pocket on the way to shore4 ,can you make it out80 ,caruth studied the superscription1 and shook his head4 8,no10 he declared2 8,i can make out nothing4 ,but ,i soon will40 ,with a quick motion1 he ripped open the envelope4 ,before he could draw out the contents1 the girl caught his hand4 8,wait60 she cried4 8,wait6 ,have ,i not proved my right to that letter80 ,caruth shook his head4 8,certainly not10 he decided4 8,so far as ,i can see1 neither you nor ,i have any title to it1 or any right to read it4 ,nor do ,i intend to read it further than to see whether the inside gives any clue to the man for whom it is intended40 8,wait60 ,tensely the girl's hand fell on his arm4 8,if nothing else will avail10 she cried1 8will not my entreaties do so4 ,i beg you1 ,i implore you1 to give me that letter4 ,it is nothing to you2 it may easily be life or death to me4 ,you do not know for whom it is meant4 ,you are under no obligations to an unknown writer and an unknown addressee4 ,do not look into it farther4 ,give me the letter1 ,i implore you60 ,she leaned forward4 ,her violet eyes gleamed into his2 her lips quivered1 her form shook with the stress4 8,oh60 she pleaded4 8,give it to me4 ,you will give it to me80 ,a sudden passion flamed in ,caruth's veins--a passion that gripped and shook him4 8,by ,god60 he cried hoarsely4 8,you--you----0 ,the girl started back and dropped her hand4 ,then her lips curled4 ,men were all alike1 after all4 ,american men were no better than their ,european brothers4 ,she had seen so many2 so very many4 ,caruth would yield1 and she would despise him for it4 ,yet she went on4 8,give it to me10 she breathed4 8,no60 ,caruth's voice rang out4 8,no6 ,no6 ,oh1 you women6 ,you beautiful women6 ,how easily you beguile men6 ,how dare you do it8 ,how dare you use beauty such as yours for such a purpose8 ,how dare you use such tools to gain your selfish ends80 8,how dare ,i80 ,the girl's form straightened till to ,caruth's gaze she seemed to tower above him4 8,how dare ,i80 ,her voice was low and thrilling1 but it did not quiver4 8,how dare ,i8 ,i dare because my country calls me to do it4 ,all that ,i am and have belongs to it4 ,my future1 my liberty1 my life1 are all at its service4 ,i am entitled to that letter--,i swear it4 ,if you ask it1 ,i will tell you everything1 and in so doing put my life in your hands4 ,shall ,i do it80 ,caruth drew his hand across his eyes4 8,no60 he said hoarsely4 8,i believe you4 ,take the letter40 ,eagerly the woman reached out her hand1 but before her fingers could close upon the envelope1 the portires that hung between the apartment and an inner room clashed gently on their rings and ,caruth's valet pushed his way through them4 8,i beg pardon1 sir60 he murmured deferentially4 ,annoyed1 ,caruth faced him1 the hand holding the letter dropping to his side4 8,well1 ,wilkins80 he questioned coldly4 8,i beg pardon1 sir10 repeated the man4 8,but ,i think that letter belongs to me1 sir4 ,will you kindly look inside and see if it doesn't begin #8,my dear ,jim' and end #8,yours1 ,bill1' sir8 ,if it does1 it is certainly mine1 sir4 ,i think it's from my brother ,bill1 sir40 ,,chapter ,,three ,slowly ,caruth regained his balance4 ,the valet's deferential plea came like a tonic to his overstrung nerves4 ,nothing was more natural than that ,wilkins should have had a letter addressed in his care2 he wondered that the possibility of this had not occurred to him at once4 ,and with the advent of the valet1 the whole situation had become ridiculous2 he felt as if he had been playing a part in some melodrama and had suddenly stepped back into the realm of common sense4 ,with a laugh on his lips1 he turned to ,miss ,fitzhugh4 ,his lips straightened and his smile froze4 ,never had he seen such disappointment on the face of a woman4 ,her eyes glared roundly and her breath whistled through her parted lips4 ,blindly she caught at the table1 like one about to collapse4 ,her trembling fingers touched a wine-glass1 and mechanically she lifted it to her lips4 ,as she drank1 the color came back to her cheeks and her eyes brightened4 ,caruth1 watching1 noticed that she was listening to some one4 ,an instant later he realized that it was ,wilkins1 and1 with an effort1 he wrenched his eyes away from hers and turned them on the valet4 ,the man's attitude was deferential in the extreme4 ,his eyes were discreetly dropped1 and he seemed unaware of the confusion his appearance had caused4 8,i had a brother that was a sea-faring man1 sir10 he was saying4 8,sailed out of ,lunnon in the steamship ,orkney for ,st4 ,petersburg1 hard on two years ago1 sir4 ,she was never heard from again4 ,lost at sea somewheres1 sir4 ,the letter may be from him1 sir4 ,i told him to write me in your care1 sir40 ,miss ,fitzhugh did not speak1 and ,caruth hesitated1 but only for a moment4 ,slowly he opened the letter and glanced at the top and bottom of the scrawl2 mechanically he refolded it and slipped it back into its envelope4 8,you've hit it1 ,wilkins10 he declared4 8,the letter does begin #8,dear ,jim' and does end #8,your brother1 ,bill4' ,your claim seems to be clear40 ,he handed the letter to the man4 ,as the latter took it1 the woman came out of her trance4 8,wilkins60 she called sharply4 8,yes1 madam40 ,the valet turned toward her1 subservient as ever4 ,without taking her eyes from him1 ,miss ,fitzhugh sank into her chair4 8,so1 ,wilkins10 she said slowly1 8you have been listening80 8,yes1 madam40 ,there was no defiance nor disrespect in the valet's tones1 nor was there any apology4 ,he simply admitted the undeniable fact1 as if it were the most natural thing in the world4 8,it is a vice of servants the world over4 ,when one subordinates himself to the will of another1 he seems to lose many of the manly virtues4 ,if you have been listening1 ,wilkins1 you know that ,i put a high value on that letter4 ,it seems that it is yours4 ,well1 ,i will buy it from you--unread4 ,what is your price80 ,slowly the man shook his head4 8,i would rather not sell it1 madam10 he answered4 8,nonsense6 ,of course you will sell it40 ,the woman spoke imperiously1 but the valet did not change his submissive yet dogged bearing4 8,i have not much money with me1 but ,i will give you five hundred dollars cash for it40 ,again ,wilkins shook his head4 8,i can't consider it1 madam10 he repeated4 ,miss ,fitzhugh opened the bag that swung from her belt and threw a roll of bills on the table4 8,count that for me1 please1 ,mr4 ,caruth10 she ordered4 8,i am not quick at ,american money40 ,caruth obeyed in silence4 ,though ,wilkins was clearly within his rights1 he found himself regarding the man with rising anger1 and would have intervened if it had seemed possible for him to do so4 ,but the situation for the time being1 at least1 was dearly beyond his control4 8,eleven hundred and fifty-one dollars10 he announced4 8,it is all ,i have4 ,take it and give me the letter40 ,miss ,fitzhugh was again addressing the valet4 ,for the third time ,wilkins shook his head4 8,no60 he repeated doggedly4 ,undisturbed1 the woman turned to ,caruth4 8,lend me a thousand dollars10 she requested4 ,caruth started4 ,then1 with a smile1 he took out his pocket-book and added its contents to the pile4 8,there's only about seven hundred here1 ,wilkins10 he remarked1 half humorously1 8but ,i'll give you my check for the balance--if you'll accept it40 ,the letter rustled in ,wilkins's fingers as he twisted and turned it4 ,obviously he was tempted4 ,yet1 after a quick questioning glance at the woman's face1 he again shook his head4 8,no1 madam10 he replied coolly4 8,bill took a good deal of trouble to get this to me1 and ,i fancy it's valuable4 ,any way1 ,i think ,i'll chance it1 madam40 8,valuable60 ,the woman stared at the valet in seeming surprise4 8,nonsense60 she scoffed4 8,what could your ,bill tell you that could be worth eighteen hundred dollars4 ,if you suppose that the information ,i hope it contains will be worth anything to you in a money way1 you are mistaken4 ,it would cost you your life to try to use it4 ,be wise3 take the money and give me the letter4 ,the value of the letter to us lies chiefly in preventing other people from getting it40 8,very well1 madam4 ,i'll destroy it1 then1 madam40 ,he stepped to the fire and made a motion to throw it upon the flames4 ,like a cat1 the woman sprang forward and caught his arm1 her silken skirts hissing as she moved4 8,no1 no60 she cried4 ,a triumphant smile curled the valet's lips4 8,very well1 madam10 he acceded meekly4 8,as you wish1 madam40 ,illustration3 ,,like ,a ,,cat1 ,,the ,,woman ,,sprang ,,forward ,,and ,,caught ,,his ,,arm ,the woman fell back a step1 and stood staring at the valet4 ,for the first time1 she seemed to try to take his measure as a man1 and to bend her faculties to reading the lines of his features4 8,humph60 she murmured1 at last1 in a singular tone4 8,i am beginning to see4 ,how long have you been with ,mr4 ,caruth1 ,wilkins80 8,two years1 madam40 8,you brought recommendations1 of course6 ,mr4 ,caruth1 ,i should advise you to look up the writers of those recommendations at once4 ,you may learn something that will surprise you4 ,now1 ,wilkins1 listen to me40 ,a subtle change came into ,miss ,fitzhugh's voice2 she might almost have been addressing an equal4 8,you have played your part well and have served your master well4 ,but you had better not push matters too far4 ,it is dangerous40 ,a glint of fear crept into the valet's eyes1 and his look wandered up and down the girl's person1 as if expecting to see a weapon2 almost he seemed to fear an attack of some kind4 8,dangerous in what way1 madam80 he asked1 still respectfully4 8,dangerous by violence4 ,do you think those who sent me here--four thousand miles--to get that letter1 will let you escape with it8 ,once you have read it1 there will be no more safety for you on the face of the earth4 ,death will dog your footsteps and sit by your side4 ,sleeping and waking1 he will be upon you4 ,you cannot beg for mercy1 for there will be no one from whom to beg4 ,when ,i go out of that door1 ,i disappear1 and even if you could find me1 it would not save you1 for ,i am only an agent1 powerless to change the will of my superiors4 ,i give you my word that in asking for that letter ,i am trying to save your life1 as well as to gain my own ends4 ,i give you my word that ,i know of no way in which you can evade your fate1 once you have read it4 ,for the last time1 ,i beg you1 take the money and give me the letter40 ,there was silence in the room as the valet turned the letter over and over1 staring at it1 hesitating4 ,his fingers trembled and his eyes grew wider4 ,with a shock1 ,caruth realized that murder had been threatened in his very presence--and that he was not horrified1 as he knew he ought to have been4 ,rather1 he sympathized with the woman1 who towered above the man in angry beauty4 ,at last the valet broke the silence4 8,my ,god60 he whispered4 8,my ,god60 ,slowly and unsteadily1 he made his way to the table and laid the letter upon it4 ,slowly1 he picked up the bills one by one4 ,then he raised his heavy eyes and for an instant looked into the face of the woman4 ,the next moment he was at the door1 hurrying away with the swift1 silent footsteps of the well-trained servant4 ,the portires fell together behind him4 ,with a long sigh of relief1 the girl picked up the letter4 ,the strain of the past moments showed itself in her face4 8,i will return your money as soon as ,i can see my friends10 she declared weariedly4 8,meanwhile1 perhaps you will retain this40 ,she stripped a ring from her fingers4 8,it is worth more than the money10 she added4 ,caruth drew back1 deeply hurt4 8,thank you10 he returned angrily1 8but ,i am not a pawnbroker--even if ,i am accessory to a threat to commit murder4 ,return the money when you like40 ,he spoke bitterly1 for he was furious that he should have allowed his man to be forced into the surrender of his rights4 ,man-like1 he felt the necessity of blaming his own derelictions on some one else4 ,miss ,fitzhugh seemed to understand1 for she stepped forward and laid her hand on his arm4 8,believe me1 ,mr4 ,caruth10 she declared earnestly1 8believe me1 you have done right4 ,whatever value this letter possessed belongs to us of right4 ,the man who wrote it betrayed a secret that was not his2 and1 whether his or no1 your valet could not have profited by it4 ,you have done a good deed1 and you have been as kind and true and staunch to me as my own brother could have been4 ,my mother was right when she told me a woman could always appeal safely to an ,american gentleman4 ,now1 good-night and good-by40 ,alarm drove away ,caruth's misgivings4 8,you--you will let me see you again10 he begged4 ,slowly the woman shook her head4 8,i fear not10 she answered4 8,i shall sail for home on the next steamer--this very day if ,i can find one leaving4 ,this is good-by40 8,but--but--where are you going8 ,it is not easy for a woman to find accommodations at this time of the night4 ,see1 it is after twelve o'clock4 ,won't you stay here8 ,i can easily go to a hotel40 ,again the woman shook her head4 8,i have friends waiting for me10 she averred4 8,good-night40 ,the blackness of despair settled on ,caruth4 8,but--but--,i can't let you go like this4 ,i must see you again4 ,tell me where your home is4 ,let me hope to see you there some day4 ,i've known you only an hour or two1 but ,i can't--,i can't let you go out of my life this way1 without a word or a sign4 ,i must see--good ,god6 ,what's the matter80 ,on the woman's face a look of frozen horror had dawned4 ,her eyes dropped from his to the letter she had unconsciously withdrawn from its envelope2 and following them1 ,caruth saw in her hand a sheet of paper1 stiff and white1 very different from the soft1 sea-stained sheet he had handled a few moments before4 ,it scarcely needed her terrified words to give the explanation4 8,he has substituted another letter60 she cried4 8,he was acting all the time6 ,and ,i did not guess6 ,i did not guess6 ,he has gone with the hope of ,russia in his hands60 ,,chapter ,,four ,recklessly ,caruth plunged down the half-lighted steps4 ,the elevator had stopped running1 and1 in any event1 he had no time to wait for elevators4 ,down he sped1 past tight-shut doors1 whose occupants slept calmly despite his noisy rush2 over marble steps1 through tessellated halls1 round slippery corners4 ,twice he nearly fell1 but he saved himself and went on1 bursting at last like a meteor on the scandalized watchman1 whom the clatter of his coming had roused from a blameless nap4 8,now1 now1 now60 clamored that individual4 8,what in hell's bells you think you're doing1 gallopin' like this8 ,why1 it's ,mr4 ,caruth60 8,yes1 it's ,i40 ,the young man's breath came in gasps4 ,one does not race down eight flights of steps without showing the effects4 8,yes1 it's ,i6 ,has my man1 ,wilkins1 gone out in the last five minutes80 8,wilkins8 ,naw6 ,say1 ,mr4 ,caruth1 you'd better go to bed and sleep it off1 or it'll be you for the psychopathic ward the first thing you know40 8,bosh6 ,wilkins has run away from my rooms with a valuable letter and eighteen hundred dollars in money4 ,are you sure he hasn't passed you80 8,eighteen hundred6 ,gee6 ',course ,i'm sure4 ,ain't ,i been here right along80 ,caruth drew a long breath and glanced up the stairway down which he had just raced4 ,so sure had he been that ,wilkins had fled that he had not stopped to search in his own apartments4 ,a suspicion that he had made himself ridiculous began to penetrate to his brain1 and he glanced shamefacedly at the watchman4 ,that individual was regarding him suspiciously4 ,he caught the look1 interpreted it correctly1 and smiled encouragingly4 8,it's all right1 ,mr4 ,caruth10 he extenuated4 8,it's all to the regular for a gent to have the nightmare when he goes to sleep in his chair4 ,just you go back to your rooms and take a dose of bromide and say your lay-me-downs1 and neither of us'll remember anything about this to-morrow4 ,i'd start the elevator for you if ,i could1 but ,i can't1 so it's you for the glue-foot climb40 ,caruth scarcely heard the man4 ,his first spasm of distrust in his own action had quickly passed1 and by the time the other had finished he had gone back to his first idea4 8,nonsense1 ,jackson60 he burst out impatiently4 8,i haven't been asleep4 ,wilkins has fled within five minutes4 ,if he hasn't passed you1 he must have gone some other way4 ,how else could he go8 ,quick1 man6 ,he must be caught40 ,but the watchman refused to be hurried4 8,there ain't no way out but this10 he declared1 8unless he done a high dive from the fire-escape40 ,caruth started4 ,he had forgotten the dangerous combination of open platforms and loose-hung ladders plastered across the hall windows on each floor4 ,if ,wilkins had taken that means of escape1 as was entirely probable1 he must be well out of reach1 and no way to find him would remain except the slow appeal to the police4 ,he would call up the headquarters and---- ,suddenly he recalled his visitor4 ,would she care to have the affair made public8 ,certainly he could not act without consulting her4 ,the watchman's voice broke on him4 ,that individual had switched on the lights in the hall1 and had gone back to where a closed door gave on an alley4 8,we'll take a look at that ,jacob's ladder just to satisfy you1 ,mr4 ,caruth10 he called4 8,see here60 ,he threw open the door and let ,caruth step out into the night4 ,at first the alley seemed dark1 but soon objects began to stand out in the faint light4 ,first the skyline showed1 clear against the towering sides of the chasm1 then the iron of the fire-escape disentangled itself from the darkness and began to show in rectangular tracery4 ,before ,caruth could distinguish more1 the watchman uttered an exclamation4 8,by ,george60 he cried4 8,somebody has been on that escape4 ,it's been let down40 ,caruth looked where the other pointed4 ,plainly discernible now to his distended pupils1 the lowest stretch of the iron ladder trailed across his field of vision4 ,some one had cut loose the fastenings that held it high in the air1 out of reach of casual sneak thieves1 and had lowered it to the ground4 ,wilkins's selection of a route was obvious4 ,but it was also obvious that he was gone4 ,caruth turned disconsolately away4 ,he was beginning to wonder what had become of ,miss ,fitzhugh4 ,when he had started down the stairs1 she had been close behind him1 and he had expected her to follow1 but though more than time enough for her to reach the bottom had elapsed1 she had not appeared4 ,his first thought was that she had remained above out of some belated care for her reputation4 ,then1 quickly following1 came the possibility of a more sinister explanation4 ,the incidents of the night to his mind admitted but one explanation4 ,despite her ,american name 7which might well have been assumed7 the girl was a ,russian1 and he who says ,russia nowadays connotes revolution1 plots1 arrests1 and all the rest of the melodrama4 ,the girl might be a nihilist or she might be a police spy1 but he was sure that she must be one or the other4 ,and ,wilkins was her enemy4 ,she had recognized him as such--not at first1 but toward the end1 when he had tricked her by his feint of throwing the letter in the fire4 ,caruth remembered her every word4 ,and he had left her alone6 ,how did he know that ,wilkins had gone8 ,how did he know that he had not concealed himself and waited---- ,slow and long-drawn-out when written down1 the sequence of events with all its possibilities flashed like lightning through his mind4 ,his hair rose upon his head1 and the sweat stood out upon his forehead4 ,his heart thumped furiously6 ,scarcely could he comprehend the words of the watchman4 ,yet that individual was cursing roundly4 8,i'd like to know who in h----'s setting leaky pots out on that escape10 he finished4 8,dropping stuff on a man's clothes and spoilin'----0 ,the voice died away in an inarticulate murmur1 and ,caruth saw the man's face blanch as he held out his hand4 8,it's blood10 he hissed4 8,blood6 ,blood6 ,somebody's bleedin' like a stuck pig up there4 ,somebody's been murdered40 ,he ran down the hall and pressed the button of a police call4 ,then he came hurrying back4 8,here2 you60 he shouted1 his respectful manner falling from him like a garment4 8,chase up them steps to the third floor and meet me at the window4 ,on your way1 now1 ,willie60 ,caruth came out of his trance and sped up the main stairway as the watchman ran up the fire-escape4 ,one flight--two flights--three flights6 ,along the hall he rushed and threw open the window1 just as the watchman reached it from below4 ,the electric lights threw a white glare upon the grating and upon a human form huddled across it in a strange1 unnatural shape4 ,the light fell upon the livid face and staring eyes and upon the dark spot that marred the whiteness of the open shirt bosom4 ,caruth drew his breath sobbingly4 ,for the body was not that which he had feared to see4 ,the watchman bent and peered into the white face4 8,it's ,wilkins1 all right10 he commented4 8,he didn't get far with that eighteen hundred of yours4 ,somebody must have been laying for him4 ,they've turned his pockets inside out1 and ,i guess they got it1 all right40 ,deftly he ran his hand over the body4 8,nothin' doing10 he reported4 8,they've skinned him clean4 ,here1 ,mr4 ,caruth6 ,the cops'll be here in a minute4 ,i wish you'd chase down and put 'em wise40 ,caruth obeyed as he would have obeyed any behest of the stronger will4 ,the situation had dazed him4 ,an immense relief mingled with an immense terror2 relief that his worst fears had not been realized2 terror lest something even worse had happened in its stead4 ,wilkins was dead2 presumably the woman still lived4 ,but whose hand had struck the blow8 ,a swish of silk sounded in his ears1 and he looked up4 ,she was there before him1 peering downward with curious1 frightened eyes4 8,mr4 ,caruth10 she called1 in hushed tones4 8,mr4 ,caruth6 ,has anything happened80 8,yes60 ,relief was in his voice4 ,her bearing was not that of a murderess4 8,what is it80 8,i have no time to tell you4 ,you must go4 ,the police are coming1 and you must not be seen4 ,hurry60 ,the unsolved mystery of the girl's visit had grown blacker than ever1 but ,caruth did not hesitate4 ,he knew that it was his duty to detain her till the fire-escape had given up its secret1 but not for a moment did he pause4 ,he refused to think of what it all meant4 ,he only knew that he was on her side1 heart and soul1 and would do her bidding till he died4 8,hurry10 he repeated4 8,there isn't a moment to lose40 ,but the girl held back4 8,the letter10 she pleaded4 8,i cannot go without it40 8,you must4 ,i didn't want to tell you1 but--,wilkins has been murdered1 and the police are coming4 ,the letter is out of reach1 for the moment anyhow4 ,you must go at once4 ,the police will be here in a moment40 ,he hurried her to the door and peered out4 ,bare and silent in the first break of dawn1 the street stretched interminably away4 ,no human being seemed to stir4 ,but as he listened a far-away rumble grew on his ears4 8,the patrol wagon60 he gasped4 8,this way6 ,quick6 ,god help you60 ,in an instant she was gone1 hurrying swiftly down the street1 with steps that did not falter4 ,caruth watched till he saw a man's figure step from the shadows to join her1 and the two vanish around a corner4 ,then1 sick at heart1 as only the young can be when they find their heart's idol clay1 he turned back to greet the police4 ,they were at his elbow--six of them--leaping from a wagon and hurrying forward4 8,what's doing80 demanded the foremost4 8,murder6 ,on the third-floor fire-escape4 ,the watchman is there40 ,the officer spun round4 8,on your way1 boys60 he ordered4 8,front and back60 ,he turned to ,caruth4 8,who did it80 he demanded4 ,if the young man hesitated1 it was only for an instant4 8,i don't know10 he answered4 8,it's my valet4 ,he robbed me and fled4 ,i discovered it a moment later1 and started after him4 ,he had disappeared4 ,the watchman found his body4 ,his pockets were empty4 ,some confederate must have been waiting for him40 ,the two men were alone in the hall4 ,the other officers had all vanished1 some through the rear entrance2 some up the stairs4 ,the crowd that was to come had not yet gathered1 though the sound of running footsteps outside showed that its first units were coming1 attracted by the clatter of the patrol4 ,the officer1 used to scenes of excitement1 and knowing the importance of ideas expressed before those in touch with tragedy had time consciously or unconsciously to mould their opinions1 waited to ask one more question before he too hurried to the rear4 8,suspect anybody80 he demanded4 8,seen anybody suspicious80 ,caruth looked him straight in the face4 8,no10 he lied4 8,no1 ,i've seen nobody4 ,as ,i said1 the man robbed me1 and ,i suppose some confederate killed him for his booty40 ,when the officer had gone1 ,caruth turned and with leaden feet climbed the weary stairs that led to his room4 ,he did not stop at the third floor1 nor go again to inspect the lump of pallid flesh that alone remained of his servant4 ,in fact1 for the time he had altogether forgotten ,wilkins4 ,the murder had driven the murdered man from his mind4 ,he had answered the officer on the spur of the moment1 thinking only to shield the girl1 and not considering the possible--yes1 the inevitable--consequences4 ,the words once said1 he would have given worlds to recall them1 and yet he knew that he would only have reiterated them1 if given the chance4 ,he would have no such chance1 however4 ,the true tale of the night's events would have been preposterous enough at best4 ,he could fancy how a hard-headed ,american jury would have listened to it1 and how even a fourth-rate lawyer would have proved its impossibility4 ,but1 at all events1 in telling it1 he would have been telling the truth1 and would have had the consciousness of rectitude to support him4 ,but his hasty answer had made the truth impossible1 and he must go on piling lie upon lie in sickening iteration4 ,liars need good memories2 would his prove equal to the task8 ,would no one catch him tripping8 ,his answer had made him a criminal in the eyes of the law--an accessory after the fact4 ,the thought sickened him2 and yet mingled with his dismay was a fierce joy that he was doing it for her sake--for the sake of the woman who had walked into his life a few moments before2 a woman of whose status and probably of whose real name he was ignorant4 ,why had he done it1 he asked himself with dazed wonder4 ,he owed her nothing4 ,she had forced herself on him1 had cajoled him1 and had finally fled1 leaving him to bear the brunt of her crime--hers or her accomplices4 ,he had done all she asked1 had aided her meekly1 and at the end had placed himself in shameful jeopardy without even being asked to do so4 ,harshly he laughed as he thought of it4 ,then he threw out his hands4 8,there's no use in thinking10 he muttered4 8,i'm a fool--but it's stronger than ,i am4 ,i must go on to the end--and lie and lie and lie40 ,,chapter ,,five ,after all1 matters went off very quietly4 ,the murder of ,james ,wilkins caused a surprisingly small sensation4 ,circumstances were against it4 ,a prominent statesman had just denounced another prominent statesman for having accepted the tainted money of a wicked trust1 and the accused statesman was calling heaven and earth as witness to his innocence2 the champion heavyweight pugilist of the country had just given way to a new champion2 and the ,black ,hand had blown up a restaurant whose proprietor had defied it4 ,the papers had little space left for a plain case of robbery and murder1 such as that of ,wilkins seemed to be4 ,caruth had told a straight story1 which had been accepted at its face value4 ,according to him1 he had come home late and had sat down to smoke before going to bed4 ,he had laid some money--about eighteen hundred dollars in bills--on the table beside him4 ,wilkins had been moving about and had seen the money and after a moment had left the room4 ,when ,caruth looked for the money an instant later it had disappeared4 ,he had hurried downstairs in hope of catching the man1 and with the aid of the night watchman had found his body4 ,on looking up the references ,wilkins had brought him1 he had found that they were forged4 ,he suspected1 therefore1 that the man had entered his service with sinister intent1 and had been murdered by a confederate who had come to join him in the robbery4 ,the recital of this combination of fact and fancy gave ,caruth no compunctions so far as ,wilkins was concerned2 the man's references really were forged1 and he had really stolen the money1 by whatever particular name the law might label his act4 ,to ,caruth1 this tale seemed very lame1 but1 to his astonishment1 no one questioned it4 ,so utterly was this the case that it irritated him2 it seemed to him extraordinary that the actual sequence of events could have happened without in some way impressing itself on the intelligence of every one who came within reach of it4 ,he did not want to be suspected1 yet the lack of detective ability on the part of the police angered him4 ,why this should be so1 let psychologists explain4 ,the money borrowed from him by the so-called ,miss ,fitzhugh had been returned the afternoon after the crime in the form of a money-order sent by mail1 about as clever a way of combining safety in transmission with concealment of the sender as could well be contrived4 ,clearly she did not desire to continue the acquaintance4 ,caruth did6 ,for several days he carefully abstained from any search1 fearing that to do so might excite suspicion1 but after a week had passed and ,wilkins seemed forgotten1 he began to think it safe to start inquiries4 ,his search began at the steamship offices4 ,he first examined the passenger list of the ,latourette1 the vessel on which ,miss ,fitzhugh had claimed to have arrived1 and sought for her name1 only to find that it was not there4 ,less hopefully1 he examined the lists of the vessels sailing from ,new ,york during the week that had elapsed since the murder1 only to find no trace of her4 ,finally something happened that determined him to enlist the aid of ,joe ,bristow1 a newspaper man of his acquaintance4 ,bristow was ship-news reporter of the ,consolidated ,press4 ,his duties required him to remain at ,quarantine so long as any steamship was likely to arrive there4 ,ordinarily he left for the city at five or six o'clock in the afternoon1 but if one of the great liners reported itself by wireless as intending to make port that night1 he had to remain to see what news and passengers she brought4 ,few steamships reached ,new ,york without being boarded by him1 and few important visitors entered port without being interviewed by him4 ,he1 if any one1 would be likely to know if anybody answering ,miss ,fitzhugh's description had arrived recently4 ,caruth1 who knew him slightly as the occupant of a small apartment high up in the ,chimneystack ,building1 took the first opportunity that afforded to accost him and to invite him into his apartment4 ,bristow accepted readily1 though a faint smile curved his lips1 as if some secret idea were stirring in his mind4 ,he did not know ,caruth very well1 though he had frequently passed the time of day with him1 and he had never before been asked to join the young fellow4 ,newspaper men are apt to grow cynical1 and ,bristow had learned to suspect the motives of those who sought him out4 ,caruth led his guest to his den1 and placed the decanters before him4 ,then1 through the wreaths of tobacco smoke1 he put his question1 leading up to it with what he believed to be commendable astuteness4 ,bristow listened quietly2 then he answered one question with another4 8,the ,latourette80 he repeated4 8,yes2 she arrived at eight o'clock on the night of ,march #e4 ,her mails and two of her passengers were brought up to the city on the mail tug4 ,let's see--that was the night your valet was murdered1 wasn't it80 ,caruth blenched slightly4 ,the reporter's inquiry was probably only casual1 but it might easily be otherwise4 ,perhaps he had erred in consulting this keen-faced newspaper man4 ,however1 there was nothing to do but to go on4 8,yes10 he answered steadily2 8it was the same night40 ,bristow nodded4 8,i saw the lady10 he stated reflectively4 8,she was a looker all right4 ,she had deep violet eyes and dark hair with a glint in it4 ,she spoke ,english perfectly1 but there was something foreign about her40 ,he paused and knocked the ash from his cigar4 8,i came up on the tug with her10 he added casually4 8,yes8 ,and her name8 ,i--,i--have reasons for wanting to know40 ,bristow smiled inscrutably4 8,i don't doubt you have10 he answered drily1 8and1 as it happens1 ,i can probably give you some information4 ,the question is whether ,i shall do it40 ,caruth colored4 8,i don't understand you1 ,mr4 ,bristow10 he syllabled anxiously4 8,probably not4 ,i will try to explain40 ,the reporter tossed his cigar into the fire and leaned back in his chair4 8,isn't it curious how things fit in together80 he began reflectively4 8,life is a mosaic made up of hundreds of separate facts4 ,each belongs in one place and only in one4 ,until rightly fitted1 the whole is an unintelligible jumble4 ,but when fitted1 we see that they are all parts of one design4 ,i am interested in ,russia and ,russians4 ,my work has compelled me to be2 some of the best #8stories' ,i have gotten for the ,consolidated ,press have had to do with ,russia4 ,i am well acquainted in the ,russian colony here4 ,professor ,shishkin1 the distinguished ,russian scientist1 is a great friend of mine4 ,i'm telling you this so that you may understand why ,i was interested in this woman--this ,russian woman1 for she was ,russian--about whom you are inquiring4 ,my interest did not decrease when she took a cab at the ,battery and told the cabman to drive her to this building40 ,caruth gasped1 but said nothing4 8,when ,i returned home after midnight10 went on the reporter1 8the elevator had stopped running1 and ,i had to walk up the stairs4 ,your door was ajar4 ,as ,i passed it ,i distinctly heard a woman's voice--and yours4 ,it was none of my business1 and ,i went on upstairs and to bed4 ,the next morning ,i heard about your valet's murder1 and noticed that you said nothing about a visitor in your flat4 ,yet a woman must have been there when your man fled2 in fact1 ,i suspect that he had left your door open in his flight only a moment before ,i passed up the stairs4 ,your inquiry seems to bring all these facts into a somewhat curious consonance40 ,caruth was breathing hard4 8,well80 he asked4 8,what are you going to do about it80 ,the reporter hesitated4 8,i don't know10 he answered at last1 frankly4 8,it all depends6 ,but ,i want you to understand one thing1 ,mr4 ,caruth3 ,i am not a police reporter nor a yellow sensation reporter4 ,my duty to the ,consolidated ,press does not call on me to solve murder mysteries1 nor to pry into scandals4 ,i don't know you very well1 nor what you are capable of doing at a pinch4 ,for the matter of that1 nobody does know what a man is capable of--not even himself4 ,i've seen too many unexpected manifestations of virtue and of crime to judge lightly4 ,that is why ,i have kept silent1 though ,i knew you were holding back something about this murder4 ,i don't think to-night's developments will lead me to change my course1 though ,i cannot be certain4 ,if you have any explanation to make1 ,i shall be glad to hear it4 ,i shall not make a newspaper story out of it1 and ,i shall not repeat it without grave cause4 ,more than this ,i cannot promise40 ,caruth did not answer for a moment4 ,his thoughts whirled1 unsettled as dry leaves in an ,october blast4 ,his secret1 it seemed1 was not his secret at all--had never been his secret4 ,from the first1 this newspaper man had been able to shatter his glib story by a word1 and had refrained from doing so4 ,how many others possessed the same potentiality for mischief8 ,abruptly he threw away his cigar4 8,i'll tell you the whole story10 he declared4 8,i don't know whether you'll believe it or not4 ,probably ,i shouldn't believe it myself if any one else told it to me4 ,it seems too preposterous to talk about plots and terrorists and all that here in ,new ,york40 8,not at all10 ,bristow smiled4 8,new ,york is a hot-bed of plots4 ,probably nine-tenths of all the political plots in the world are hatched here and hereabouts4 ,just consider a moment6 ,anybody can plot in this country in perfect safety2 and there are plenty of plotters handy4 ,is it a ,russian plot8 ,new ,york is the second largest ,russian city in the world4 ,it has thousands upon thousands of dwellers who have been driven out of ,russia at the blow of the knout4 ,is it a ,german one8 ,berlin is the only city in the world holding more ,germans than ,new ,york4 ,is it an ,italian one8 ,there are more ,italians in and around ,new ,york than there are in ,rome4 ,plots8 ,why1 ,new ,york reeks with plots and plotters6 ,men lay their schemes1 raise their funds1 choose their emissaries1 and a month or so later something happens in ,europe--it may be the murder of a king4 ,but it started here1 beneath our noses40 8,but if there are so many plots1 why are there so few results8 ,we seldom hear----0 8,because if plotters are safe here1 so are spies4 ,every ,european ,government maintains an army of spies in this country4 ,every assemblage of plotters has one or more traitors in the pay of those who are menaced4 ,it's as broad as it's long4 ,but go on with your story4 ,i only wanted to assure you that it will have to be a very remarkable case of plotting to surprise me40 ,caruth plunged in4 8,when ,i came home that night10 he began1 8she was waiting for me4 ,i had never seen her before4 ,she said she was a ,russian--the daughter of a ,russian man and an ,american woman4 ,she gave me a name1 but it was probably assumed4 ,she wanted a letter that had been mailed to me in ,stockholm ten days before--by mistake1 she said4 ,it enclosed another letter that had been picked up in a bottle floating in the ,baltic4 ,the address of this second letter was partly illegible1 but it was directed in my care and was sent to me accordingly4 ,she said the letter belonged of right to her friends4 ,while she was speaking the letter arrived--by special delivery4 ,it seemed to be as she had stated4 ,i was about to surrender it to her when my man1 ,wilkins1 claimed it4 ,more1 he proved his claim4 ,i gave him the letter4 ,she tried to buy it from him--offered eighteen hundred dollars cash for it4 ,wilkins refused4 ,then she threatened him4 ,said she asked him to surrender it for his own sake2 that he would be killed if he once read it2 that she could not save him4 ,of course this smacked of revolution1 nihilism1 terrorism4 ,wilkins appeared to be frightened4 ,he agreed to surrender the letter4 ,he laid it on the table1 took the money1 and went out4 ,three minutes later we discovered that he had substituted blank paper for the letter4 ,i ran after him and found him dead4 ,the girl left just before the police came40 8,and you concealed the fact that she had been here4 ,why80 ,caruth colored4 8,it--it isn't a thing that one tells to just any one10 he stammered4 8,but--well1 ,i suppose it sounds foolish to you1 but--,i love her40 ,the reporter did not smile4 8,foolish80 he echoed gently4 8,why foolish8 ,love is not foolishness4 ,it's madness1 perhaps1 but not foolishness4 ,good ,heavens6 ,do you think one can be a newspaper man and see daily the broad trail of joy and sorrow1 blood1 death1 ruin1 happiness1 rapture1 and all the rest of it that love marks athwart the path of human life1 and think it foolishness8 ,why1 man1 love means life6 ,it means the preservation of the race6 ,it means evolution6 ,it is the one great primal passion6 ,no1 ,mr4 ,caruth2 never expect a newspaper man to laugh at love4 ,he has seen too much of it4 ,of course ,i knew that must be your reason for screening the woman4 ,but do you think she killed him80 ,caruth shook his head emphatically4 8,no60 he declared4 8,no60 8,why not80 8,she couldn't40 ,the young fellow leaned forward4 8,she couldn't10 he declared eagerly4 8,see here3 ,wilkins took the money and fled4 ,he knew we would be after him in a moment4 ,he would not have delayed4 ,he must have been out on that fire-escape and down to the place where he was killed before ,i left the room4 ,this is the eighth floor2 he was found on the third4 ,he must have gone there by himself4 ,no one could have carried his body there--not possibly6 ,and it is preposterous to suppose that he went down to the third floor and waited there for her to overtake and murder him4 ,no6 ,she didn't do it6 ,she couldn't have done it40 8,an accomplice80 ,caruth threw up his hands4 8,very likely10 he groaned4 8,and yet how could an accomplice know that ,wilkins had gotten away with the letter before she knew it herself8 ,for he was probably dead when she did discover it4 ,if not1 he must have been killed within a very few seconds afterwards4 ,she made no signal2 she had no reason to make any4 ,how could an accomplice know80 8,let's see60 ,bristow looked around the room4 8,you were sitting in here1 were you not80 he asked4 8,yes40 8,of course you were4 ,my dear fellow1 can't you really answer your own question80 ,caruth shook his head hopelessly4 8,i've thought and thought10 he declared1 8but ,i don't progress an inch4 ,can you answer it80 8,of course6 ,look through the sliding doors behind you4 ,what is that thing that cuts across the upper left-hand corner of the window at the back80 ,caruth looked1 then rose to his feet4 ,chagrin was pictured on his features4 8,do you know10 he admitted disgustedly1 8,i never thought of that before8 ,i never realized that that infernal fire-escape crossed my window4 ,there is such a little piece of it that----0 8,there is quite enough to permit a man to peer into your rooms4 ,no doubt the murderer was watching there1 and when ,wilkins tried to escape by that route he found death awaiting him40 8,but--but--how did the spy know that ,wilkins had changed the letters80 8,perhaps he didn't know it4 ,perhaps he was a mere thief who killed for money2 or perhaps he saw the shift which was made too deftly for you to notice2 or perhaps the girl signalled him40 ,caruth protested4 8,she couldn't1 ,i tell you60 he cried4 8,the time element----0 8,oh1 ,i don't think she did4 ,i am merely citing possibilities4 ,i don't think she did1 and ,i am free to admit that ,i really believe that ,wilkins got only what he was fishing for4 ,he was clearly a thief1 and he seems to have been playing a dangerous game and to have lost out4 ,i certainly do not feel called upon to take any steps to avenge him4 ,but the girl is a different matter4 ,you want to find her4 ,why80 8,i told you4 ,because ,i love her40 8,i understand that4 ,but what then8 ,you can't possibly marry her60 ,caruth flushed4 ,he looked very boyish to the reporter1 who1 scarcely older in years1 was infinitely his senior in man-making experiences and responsibilities4 ,boyish1 ,caruth was without doubt1 but ,american boys possess possibilities of rapid development that amaze the older people of the globe4 8,can't ,i80 he answered1 between his teeth4 8,perhaps not4 ,but if she is free1 ,i mean to try4 ,anyhow1 ,i must see her4 ,i must4 ,you said you might be able to help me60 he finished1 with a boyish appeal in his voice4 ,the reporter rose and took up his hat4 8,i can give you some information10 he admitted4 8,whether it will help you1 is another question4 ,you have been assuming1 ,i believe1 that the lady is a nihilist1 or terrorist1 or whatever they may call themselves80 8,yes4 ,is she not80 8,god knows6 ,she may be4 ,on the other hand she may be an agent of the ,russian ,government1 or she may be playing for her own hand4 ,europe breeds plenty of men and women--aristocrats to their finger-tips--who are driven by poverty to shady ways4 ,until the bloom is rubbed off1 they are the most dangerous rogues living1 bearers of proud names1 masters of every social grace1 apparently with everything to commend them1 and yet rotten to the core4 ,europeans spot them and weed them out after a while1 but we ,americans are always fair game4 ,i don't say your ,miss ,fitzhugh is one of these--but she may be4 ,an angel face is often part of a stock in trade4 ,be wise1 ,mr4 ,caruth4 ,this woman has taken herself out of your life4 ,let her go60 ,but the young fellow shook his head4 8,i won't believe any evil of her10 he muttered1 8and1 any way1 ,i must find her40 ,the reporter shrugged his shoulders4 8,oh1 very well1 then10 he said4 8,you're old enough to decide for yourself4 ,you will find her at the ,women's ,hotel4 ,she is staying there40 ,,chapter ,,six ,the event that had driven ,caruth to seek ,bristow's aid was the appearance of a man who called himself ,tom ,wilkins and claimed to be a brother of the deceased valet4 ,tom ,wilkins was a tall1 well built1 red-faced individual with a projecting chin and small1 sharp eyes4 ,he bore a general resemblance to his brother ,james1 but his eyes had a fiery gleam that ,caruth had never noticed in those of his late valet4 ,perhaps the difference came by nature and perhaps by training2 or perhaps there was no difference1 the valet having merely hidden his soul behind discreetly down-dropped lids4 ,since he had played the trick that had led to his death1 ,caruth had been very uncertain as to his real character4 ,but he was in little doubt concerning that of ,tom ,wilkins4 ,the man1 he decided almost at first glance1 was distinctly dangerous4 ,years of life in the ,west had rubbed away any smugness that might have characterized him in early life1 and had made him bold and aggressive4 ,the quickly arising necessities of the frontier had developed him1 implanting or improving the power of quick decision and action1 until it was almost automatic4 ,caruth had never known a ,western 8bad man10 but he felt instinctively that ,tom ,wilkins would fall into that category4 ,on his first visit to the ,chimneystack ,building ,wilkins had said little to ,caruth1 but that little had been calculated to disturb the younger man1 and to show him how thin was the ice over which he was skating4 8,there ain't been no special affectation lost between me and ,jim10 he declared4 8,i ain't laid eyes on him for years4 ,jim stayed here in the effete ,east and played the human doormat2 ,i went ,west and played pretty nearly everything and everybody in reach4 ,once in so often ,i'd hear of a chance in stocks or horses or something that ,jim could use1 and ,i'd put him wise about it4 ,now and then ,jim would learn of something that ,i could use1 and he'd put me wise4 ,jim cat-footed through life1 and ,i bulled through it4 ,we played into each other's hands reasonable well40 8,yes80 8,yes6 ,i got sort of tired last month1 an' made up my mind to emigrate4 ,i had a bunch of sheep over on the ,gunnison that ,i'd been herdin'1 and ,i was yearning for the company of something that wouldn't say baa whenever you addressed 'em4 ,playing collie to a bunch of muttons ain't what it used to was when shepherds carried crooks and wore loose effects1 and ,i found it mighty monumentous and unsatiated1 so ,i shakes the job and lines out for ,denver1 and there ,i finds a letter from ,jim telling me to come to ,new ,york ,p4 ,d4 ,q4 ,so ,i comes1 and gets here to find he got croaked just about the time his essay was postmarked4 ,how about it80 ,as gently as he could1 ,caruth repeated the gist of his tale concerning the theft of the money and the murder4 ,it was a somewhat delicate matter to tell this violent-looking individual that his brother was a thief1 and ,caruth stumbled more or less over the details4 ,wilkins1 however1 did not seem worried4 8,i never thought ,jim would go into the hold-up business10 he commented1 8especially for a measly one thousand eight hundred dollars4 ,maybe you don't know it1 but ,jim was gettin' tolerable plethoric4 ,he was mighty saving and propinquous1 ,jim was2 and he had some property out ,west--maybe ten thousand dollars' worth4 ,i'm his heir1 and as ,i ain't been in no ways intimidated with him1 of course ,i ain't inconsolable about his decease1 nor ,i ain't pretendin' to be4 ,but this hold-up story don't explain none about that letter from ,bill that he sent me40 ,caruth's heart stopped for an instant2 then raced madly4 8,what letter80 he questioned1 as calmly as he could4 8,this one40 ,wilkins drew a paper from his pocket4 8,jim enclosed it with a note of his own4 ,he says3 #8,come at once4 ,millions in sight1 but mighty dangerous4 ,bill's letter explains4' ,bill's letter is monumentous--mighty monumentous2 but it ain't to say illuminatin'4 ,maybe ,jim forgot to send the key4 ,i 'spose you don't know anything about it80 ,caruth thought for a moment4 ,to cover his pause1 he poured out a drink and shoved the bottle across to ,wilkins1 who promptly followed his example4 8,perhaps ,i do10 he said at last4 8,about an hour before your brother's flight1 a special delivery letter arrived here from some place in ,europe4 ,it was addressed to me1 but when ,i opened it1 ,i found it enclosed another1 stained and rumpled1 which was addressed in my care4 ,the name of the person for whom it was intended had been washed out4 ,your brother saw it and claimed it was for him4 ,he asked me to open it and see if it was not addressed to #8,jim' and signed #8,bill4' ,i found that it was1 and gave it to him4 ,perhaps that is the letter he sent you40 8,i reckon it is4 ,and you don't know nothing more about it8 ,i don't 'spose ,jim showed it to you4 ,but he might have intimidated something about it4 ,you don't know nothin' at all80 ,plainly the ,westerner was disappointed4 8,nothing40 8,well1 ,i'll tell you unequivalent1 ,mr4 ,caruth6 ,i don't believe ,jim robbed you none4 ,jim warn't a damn fool2 none whatever6 ,an' nobody but a damn fool would rustle that money the way you think he did4 ,i'm apostrophizing that the same parties stole it that did for ,jim4 ,an' ,i've got an idea they croaked him to get this here crypto cable4 ,i'm gamblin' that it's worth a good deal more'n any eighteen hundred dollars1 if a man could only elusivate it4 ,sure you don't know nothin' more about it80 8,no60 ,caruth's lips were dry and his tones were not convincing4 ,the big plainsman studied him for a moment4 8,well10 he said1 8,i've told you how ,i feel4 ,jim's dead1 and ,i don't say ,i'd go out of my way to envenom him4 ,but ,i do say that ,i want some light on this missive1 and ,i'm going to have it4 ,and if anybody gets hurt in consequence of my sloshing around1 it won't be my fault4 ,you said you didn't know no more about it1 didn't you80 ,caruth jumped up1 white but vicious looking4 8,that's the third time you've asked me that10 he exploded4 8,do you mean to insinuate----0 8,not at all6 ,not the least bit in the world4 ,i'm just theologizing4 ,you've treated me square1 and ,i ain't dangerous to nobody who does that4 ,but ,i'm exacerbated over that letter4 ,i wouldn't mind doing the ingenuous thing by anybody that helped me to guess it40 ,the frown faded from ,caruth's face1 and an expression of thought took its place4 8,i'm too much in the dark to help you much10 he parried4 ,without the least hesitation the plainsman thrust forward the letter4 8,maybe this'll help you10 he suggested4 8,this here is a copy4 ,i've got the aboriginal cached where it'll be safe4 ,but this is all to the accurate except that it's got two or three names of places left out4 ,i ain't givin' the whole thing away1 you understand40 ,caruth took the letter with a hand that trembled in spite of himself4 ,he did not want to read it2 to do so seemed a sort of dishonor--a lack of consideration for the desires of ,miss ,fitzhugh4 ,on the other hand1 it would be madness to let slip what might very well be his only chance to acquaint himself with a letter she had bought and paid for and with facts that might spell life and death to him and to her4 ,his uncertainty must have showed in his face1 for the other encouraged him4 8,go 'long60 he said4 8,read it4 ,it won't bite none40 ,caruth opened the letter4 ,it read as follows3 ,,dear ,,jim3 ,there's been a fight and everybody on board is dead or dying4 ,the ,orkney is sinking1 and we're all due to drown if we live long enough4 ,it was the gold4 ,a million pounds and more4 ,petroff told us about it1 and we jumped the officers4 ,they fought hard1 but we worried 'em down4 ,then the second mate fired the magazine4 ,petroff and ,i are fixing a bottle4 ,we are in the 99 99 99 between 99 99 99 ,get the gold if you can4 ,no more from ,your ,brother ,,bill4 ,caruth's hands dropped1 and he looked up4 ,his cheeks were white4 ,so this was the explanation8 ,the girl's quest was for gold4 ,the letter she sought contained1 not the names of revolutionists1 as he had inferred1 but information as to the whereabouts of gold that seemed already to have cost many men their lives4 ,it all seemed very sordid to ,caruth4 ,he had never earned or lacked a penny in his life1 and to struggle for mere money seemed to him little short of disgraceful4 ,it speaks volumes for the impression ,marie ,fitzhugh had made upon him that it never even occurred to him to misdoubt her interest in the matter1 or to question whether she might not be a mere adventuress1 the tool of private thieves rather than the agent of public conspirators4 ,perhaps1 after all1 this was because he was tenacious of his beliefs1 and1 once having formed them1 did not readily change4 ,one thing1 however1 stood out in his consciousness3 ,he must discover her whereabouts and tell her that her letter had been found4 ,he had no qualms in regard to ,wilkins4 ,the man had forced his confidence upon him1 and he was under no obligation to preserve it4 ,miss ,fitzhugh owned the letter4 ,she had bought it from its owner and had paid for it1 and was entitled to know its contents4 ,his part was to find out if she still wanted it1 and to make sure that the man who held it would be available if she did4 ,he turned to ,wilkins1 who had waited patiently for him to speak4 8,i can't help you off-hand10 he declared1 8but perhaps ,i may be able to do so later4 ,perhaps ,i can trace that letter4 ,i don't know whether ,i can or not1 but ,i will try4 ,certainly ,i can learn something about the wreck of the ,orkney1 and that ought to help4 ,your brother's room is vacant4 ,suppose you occupy it to-night1 and meanwhile ,i will see what ,i can learn4 ,and if ,i were you1 ,i should keep that letter to myself40 ,the man's lips curled contemptuously4 8,don't you worry about me none60 he responded grimly4 8,i ain't takin' no chances4 ,i've had time to arrange things4 ,do you know what would eventuate if ,i didn't show up for such and such a time8 ,well1 ,i'll tell you4 ,copies of this here letter would go to half a dozen newspapers mucho pronto4 ,an' ,i judge that would queer the game some for the folks that did for ,jim40 ,it was this interview that had caused ,caruth to consult ,bristow and to tell that clever newspaper man a great deal more than he had dreamed of doing when he began1 though1 for some reason not entirely intelligible to himself1 he did not touch on the arrival of the ,westerner4 ,it was the interview1 too1 that led him to the presence of his charmer4 ,,chapter ,,seven ,the ,women's ,hotel of ,new ,york is sacred to the unattended woman4 ,the clerks and the cooks are women2 women wait on the tables2 and women convey characteristically feminine trunks to virgin apartments4 ,no man1 attended or unattended1 may spread his name upon its register1 or settle himself within its sacrosanct precincts4 ,scarcely may he win permission to wait in a parlor while a feminine bell-hop carries his card to the arcana above4 ,in this parlor ,caruth awaited an answer to his call4 ,fearing that a card alone might meet denial1 he had inscribed it with the words 8,on most important business0 before he sent it up4 ,he had the parlor to himself1 and carefully he chose a position1 partly screened by flowering plants1 where he might hope to talk unheard and undisturbed by any one who might enter4 ,what he had to say was not too pleasant1 and he wanted no chance eavesdroppers4 ,he waited a long time--so long1 in fact1 that he began to fear that his note might be ineffective1 and he was contemplating a further appeal and wondering1 in the event that this too failed1 how long he could roost on the steps of the opposite house watching for her to come out1 without being arrested4 ,for he was determined to see her4 ,but at last she came4 ,she wore an evening dress of some glittering material1 rich and black4 ,her clear-cut profile and delicately arched eyebrows reminded him of a cameo or an old ,french miniature4 ,her shoulders1 rising from a corsage of black velvet1 gleamed like tinted marble in the soft lights of the hall4 ,it seemed incredible that she and the girl of a week before could be the same4 ,he bowed in silence1 dumbly staring4 ,he was recalled to himself by her voice4 8,well1 sir10 she reminded him1 8you have something to say to me8 ,have you forgotten your lines80 ,caruth shook his head4 8,no10 he answered slowly2 8,i had only forgotten my cue4 ,i was thinking in the fifth act1 while we are yet still in the first4 ,however1 you have helped me out4 ,my lines are these3 #8,your letter has turned up4 ,wilkins's brother called on me to-day with a copy of it4'0 ,if ,caruth intended to startle the girl by his abrupt announcement1 he undoubtedly succeeded4 ,she grew so white that for a moment he feared she was about to faint4 ,then a sparkle came into her eyes4 8,his brother80 she repeated4 8,the one who wrote the letter80 8,oh1 no1 no6 ,another brother4 ,one who has been living in the ,west for years4 ,a typical ,westerner40 8,how did it get into his hands80 8,i can only guess4 ,probably ,wilkins really took your warning words to heart1 for he scribbled a brief letter on an envelope1 and mailed the whole1 probably by the chute in the building4 ,the postmark shows that the letter was collected about three ,a4,m4 that same morning4 ,it went to ,denver to the brother1 whose name is ,thomas4 ,thomas dropped everything and started east4 ,he got here this morning and came to my rooms to see his brother4 ,he had heard nothing of the fellow's death40 8,and he showed you the letter8 ,you have read it80 ,the tones were quiet1 but ,caruth could see the suspense lurking in her eyes4 8,yes1 he showed it to me4 ,that is1 he showed me a copy of it--with certain words cut out4 ,i have brought it with me4 ,but before ,i show it to you1 ,i must--forgive me--,i must be convinced of your rights in the matter40 8,my rights60 8,yes1 your rights4 ,it seems outrageous for me to question you2 but--,i must know40 8,know what80 ,a tang of metal grated in the woman's words4 8,know all there is to know6 ,i have the right to ask6 ,you came to my rooms seeking a letter4 ,you warned ,wilkins that the possession of the letter might be fatal to him4 ,he did not heed you1 and he was murdered within the hour1 apparently to get the letter you wanted so much4 ,to-day ,i learn that this letter contains information1 not about a political conspiracy as ,i had supposed1 but about money--money6 ,i was ready to shield you--even when ,i thought you or your accomplices had been guilty of murder--as long as your acts were political4 ,but to kill for money--to waylay a man and murder him for gold--that goes beyond me60 8,and you believe ,i did that80 ,caruth flushed and paled again4 8,no60 he stammered4 8,not you4 ,but your friends----0 8,my friends are no more guilty than myself4 ,two of them were awaiting me1 and ,i thought at first that they had killed your man4 ,but they did not4 ,i give you my word that they did not4 ,neither of them touched him6 ,he was killed by some one else40 8,by whom8 ,by whom80 8,ah1 ,god6 ,i wish ,i knew60 ,the woman's words were a sob4 8,perhaps a chance garroter6 ,perhaps--perhaps my enemies6 ,i thought ,i had eluded them4 ,i thought they were ignorant that ,i was here4 ,but perhaps they knew that ,i came to the city that night4 ,perhaps they followed me4 ,perhaps they killed him4 ,i do not know6 ,but it was done by no friends of mine40 ,caruth drew a long breath4 8,thank ,god for that6 ,but the money6 ,the money6 ,you threatened him with death unless he gave up the clue to it----0 8,stop60 ,the girl's interjection was swift4 8,stop1 ,mr4 ,caruth6 ,i did not threaten him4 ,i warned him4 ,i belong to a great organization that is waging a desperate warfare for the rights of millions of human beings4 ,we fight as we can4 ,think for a moment6 ,you have been free so long--you and your ,english forebears--that you take your freedom as a right4 ,but it did not come as a right4 ,all of it1 all of it1 was bought for you at a price4 ,every forward step was forced4 ,every grant from ,magna ,charta down was wrested from the king4 ,thousands upon thousands of unknown men died that you might live in peace and freedom1 undespoiled4 ,for a thousand years the path has been drenched in blood4 ,what right have you--you to whom freedom came with your first breath2 you who have never known tyranny2 you who can freely assemble and criticise and change your rulers--what right have you to rebuke us who are just starting on the same bloody road your fathers trod for you8 ,granted that some innocent lives are taken2 granted that some excesses and outrages are perpetrated in the name of freedom2 granted that some of us go too far and shock your moral sense4 ,what of it8 ,think you your ancestors of a thousand or even a hundred years ago were always calm and self-contained8 ,think you they perpetrated no crimes when they had the power8 ,the world has grown thin-skinned with prevailing peace1 and shrinks aghast at primitive ,russians struggling for primitive freedom with what weapons they can grasp4 ,you do not approve our methods6 ,do you approve the government's methods8 ,for every innocent man whom the terrorists have slain1 the ,czar has slain a hundred and imprisoned a thousand4 ,from the salt mines of the north1 from the frozen steppes1 from the purgatory of water-soaked dungeons1 they cry to ,heaven4 ,that letter placed in our hands might have meant--may still mean--the end of all this4 ,at least1 it would hasten the day when all will end4 ,we did not kill your valet4 ,we do not know who did4 ,but if we had1 what is his life compared with the lives of millions80 ,the girl's eyes flashed2 her voice came rich and strong2 like a ,judith she stood4 ,caruth was awed2 almost silenced4 8,i do not understand10 he muttered4 8,you shall6 ,although when ,i tell you ,i place my life in your hands4 ,i will tell you the story of the ,orkney4 ,then you may judge40 ,the girl paused to take breath4 8,in ,march1 two years ago10 she went on1 8the steamship ,orkney sailed from ,london for ,st4 ,petersburg with a million pounds sterling in gold on board4 ,this gold1 borrowed on the people's credit1 was to be used in crushing the people4 ,we determined to capture it1 or1 if that could not be done1 at least to prevent its reaching ,russia4 ,it belonged to the people2 the ,czar should not use it to enslave them4 8,a war-ship had been sent to bring this gold1 but at the last moment the bureaucrats discovered that we had gained over the men on board and that a mutiny was probable4 ,urgently as it needed the money1 the ,russian government dared not send it by that means4 ,nor did it dare to send it by rail4 ,we had inspired a wholesome terror in the hearts of the ministers of the ,czar4 ,at last it hit on the idea of blackening the gold bars and shipping them on an ordinary steamer as pig lead to ,kronstadt4 ,a battalion of soldiers would go along1 ostensibly as passengers4 ,so swiftly was this decided on and carried out1 we learned it only at the very last minute4 ,had it not been for a lucky chance1 we should not have known it at all4 ,but1 as it happened1 two of the soldiers were our men1 and we managed to get orders to them to see that the gold should never reach its destination4 ,if they could not throw it into our hands1 they were to sink the vessel and prevent its reaching ,russia4 8,the ,orkney sailed1 going north through the ,irish ,sea1 and around the north end of ,scotland4 ,the war-ship followed her out of the harbor and hung on her heels persistently1 secretly convoying her4 ,moreover1 ,russian agents were watching all along the route4 ,our agents1 so far as we could reach them1 were also watching4 8,yet the ,orkney disappeared4 ,she passed ,copenhagen and entered the ,baltic4 ,there on the first night1 at one o'clock in the morning1 when near the opening of the ,gulf of ,finland1 less than three hundred miles from her destination1 her lights went out4 ,in vain the cruiser tried to find her2 in vain the various observers strained their eyes4 ,in the scant hours between one o'clock and daylight she vanished1 gold1 crew1 vessel1 all6 ,since then1 though ,russia has sought incessantly1 she has learned nothing as to her fate4 ,we are certain of this4 8,we ourselves know a little--a very little--more4 ,a fishing boat saw her passing the ,upsula ,islands going north into the ,gulf of ,bothnia4 ,the news came to us and not to the ,government4 8,except this1 we knew nothing until two weeks ago4 ,then a friend sent us a bottle he had found floating in the ,baltic4 ,it contained a message from the dead4 ,it told us how well our men had done their work4 ,it said in brief that the writer and his friends had risen and attacked the officers4 ,bitter fighting had followed4 ,the stokers1 imprisoned below1 kept the fires up and the ship moved slowly but steadily northward4 ,a storm arose4 ,our men made a rush and gained control4 ,but at the moment of victory one of the officers exploded some powder that was on board1 and the ship began to sink4 ,nearly everybody was dead or dying by that time1 and all that our agent could do was to drive the vessel ashore4 ,just before she sank he must have thrown overboard the bottle with his message4 ,he had done his duty well and patriotically2 his name will be honored when the ,russian people come to their own4 8,in one thing alone he failed4 ,the part of his letter that told just where the ,orkney sank was blotted out4 ,we can infer only that she sank on the coast of ,finland1 the ,russian side of the ,gulf of ,bothnia2 that she is lying somewhere within a stretch of one hundred and fifty or at the most two hundred miles4 ,she must have sunk intact without breaking up1 for no wreckage has come ashore from her4 ,somewhere at the bottom of that water she is lying with her gold40 ,miss ,fitzhugh paused4 ,her eyes were sparkling and her cheeks flushed4 ,thrilling as was her tale1 ,caruth came near not heeding it through looking at her4 ,the charm of the teller nearly effaced the interest of the tale4 ,after a while the girl went on4 8,and now1 ,mr4 ,caruth1 you know all4 ,i have put myself wholly in your hands4 ,a word from you to the ,russian authorities and ,i shall be an exile from my native land1 proscribed1 with a price on my head4 ,if ,i go back and am caught1 ,i shall rot in the dungeons of ,st4 ,peter and ,st4 ,paul4 ,i am not afraid4 ,i faced the risk when ,i entered on this work4 ,i knew that sooner or later ,i must be caught2 that permanent escape could come only from the advent of freedom before fate overtook me4 ,i took the risk1 and ,i will pay the penalty without whining if the need comes4 ,but ,i wish to do something to aid my country before that time4 ,hitherto ,i have been able to do but little4 ,i bear a great name4 ,fitzhugh is my mother's name--not my father's4 ,i am reputed wealthy1 but ,i have no real power over my money4 ,my fortune is in the hands of a guardian who is loyal to the ,czar1 and who watches me narrowly4 ,in his grip ,i am held powerless4 ,i am only a woman4 ,i cannot fight with my hands4 ,i can only use my wits4 ,you reproach me because ,i am contending for gold4 ,can you conceive what this gold will do for our cause8 ,what a mighty lever it will be in our hands8 ,for we are poor--poor6 ,if ,i can put this money in the hands of the ,brotherhood1 ,i shall have done more than ,i ever hoped to do4 ,then let the bureaucrats lay me by the heels and ,i will laugh in their faces1 content to die40 ,abruptly the girl stopped2 and then went on with an entire change of tone4 8,now1 ,mr4 ,caruth10 she said1 8you know all4 ,what will you do8 ,will you betray me or aid me8 ,choose60 ,the girl's breath came fast between her parted lips4 ,her eyes shone starlike4 ,her bosom rose and fell tumultuously4 8,what will you do80 she demanded4 8,choose60 ,caruth's face glowed4 8,do60 he cried4 8,is there anything ,i will not do8 ,i did not know that women such as you lived4 ,i am wholly in your hands4 ,ask of me what you will3 ,money--risk--life--anything6 ,in life and in death ,i am yours60 ,passionately he stretched out his arms and drew the girl forward4 ,she swayed toward him and for an instant he held her against his madly beating heart4 8,i love you60 he cried4 8,i love you6 ,i love you60 ,it was for an instant only1 for1 with a strength of which he had not thought her capable1 the girl tore herself free4 8,for shame60 she gasped4 8,for shame60 ,caruth made no attempt to move4 8,why #8for shame'80 he questioned4 8,i love you4 ,i have loved you from the first moment ,i saw you4 ,within an hour from that first moment ,i lied for you6 ,i risked the electric chair for you6 ,i did it willingly1 gladly1 without being asked4 ,i would do it again6 ,i love you6 ,miss ,fitzhugh--,marie--will you be my wife80 ,a curious expression came into the girl's face4 8,what60 she demanded incredulously4 8,you would marry me8 ,me6 ,the woman who came to your rooms at midnight8 ,the woman whom you suspected of murder8 ,the adventuress who plots for gold8 ,you would marry me80 8,you and none other4 ,is it so strange8 ,many men must have loved you6 ,every one who saw you must have loved you40 8,but not under such circumstances as these4 ,mr4 ,caruth1 all my life ,i shall be grateful to you4 ,as long as ,i live1 ,i shall remember your words4 ,they will console me when my dark hour comes1 as come it must for each of our ,brotherhood4 ,but ,i cannot accept4 ,i am pledged to a cause which ,i cannot desert4 ,no1 ,mr4 ,caruth6 ,go back to your safe and harmless ,american life and forget me4 ,it would be ill requital for your kindness to draw you further into my fated existence40 ,caruth stretched out his hand and took hers4 ,she did not resist1 but her fingers lay cold in his and she shook her head slowly1 smiling wanly4 8,no10 she breathed4 8,no40 ,caruth's grasp did not slacken4 8,why not80 he questioned4 8,this matter of the ,orkney will not last forever4 ,when it is over1 you will have earned your freedom2 you will have done a great work for your country4 ,then----0 ,the girl did not pretend to misunderstand him4 8,it cannot be10 she murmured1 and there was a world of sadness in her tones4 8,why not8 ,is it because you don't care for me80 8,no1 not that60 8,then----0 ,the girl flung up her arms4 8,oh60 she cried4 8,can't you understand8 ,i shall never marry1 or1 if ,i do1 it will be at the behest of the ,brotherhood4 ,i shall marry some one who is helping to set ,russia free4 ,perhaps--perhaps ,i may buy some part of her freedom with the only pawn ,i possess--myself4 ,i am not free--,i never will be free till ,russia is40 ,caruth drew a long breath4 8,you mean to sell yourself80 he questioned gently4 ,the girl flushed redly4 8,it is for the people10 she pleaded4 8,then0--,caruth's voice rang out--8then sell yourself to me4 ,i can take risks as well as another4 ,i am rich1 young1 strong4 ,all that ,i have is at your service4 ,let me help4 ,tell me what to do1 and it shall be done4 ,i'll drag this ,orkney up from the sea4 ,if you are for sale1 let me bid6 ,and if ,i pay the price--if ,i win back the gold from the sea--then let me claim my reward40 ,but the girl shook her head4 8,i will not60 she cried4 8,i was wrong to let you become involved in this4 ,but ,i did not know you then4 ,now that ,i do know you ,i shall not let you take chances such as these40 8,i take them very willingly40 8,because you do not gauge them4 ,or no1 ,i do not mean that--,i believe you would take them even if you understood what you were facing4 ,but it is not fair to let you40 ,caruth laughed4 8,i'm the best judge of that60 he declared4 8,come1 we won't discuss it any more4 ,i am going to help you1 and that's all there is to it40 ,gently he raised the girl's hand to his lips4 8,there60 he announced1 as he released it4 8,it's all settled4 ,i won't bother you about it any more till that gold is in our hands4 ,come1 sit down1 and tell me what you want me to do first40 8,but----0 8,there are no buts4 ,you want to know about this ,wilkins who has turned up4 ,very well4 ,i'll tell you what ,i noticed1 and you can ask questions40 ,before ,caruth left the hotel that night1 he had imparted to ,miss ,fitzhugh every detail concerning the plainsman that his quickened memory could supply4 ,the man's appearance1 his language1 history1 desires1 threats1 and the precautions he had taken to secure his safety1 had all been minutely depicted4 ,miss ,fitzhugh possessed the rare power of making those she questioned recall particulars that had made almost no impression on them when they occurred4 ,just as a powerful developer brings out on a photographic plate once invisible details1 so her interrogatories1 acting on ,caruth's memory1 quickened it and evolved details concerning ,thomas ,wilkins that the young man himself had not suspected that he possessed4 ,at the end the girl had dismissed him with instructions to bring the plainsman to call upon her the next day4 ,caruth hesitated4 8,he seems to be a very sharp fellow10 he objected4 8,he put two and two together very quickly1 and asked some questions that worried me4 ,undoubtedly he thinks my story fishy4 ,and it is fishy4 ,if he knows that you are involved in the case1 he may become dangerous40 ,the woman threw out her hands4 8,don't ,i know it80 she flamed4 8,but ,i've got to see him for myself4 ,how do either you or ,i know that he is your valet's brother8 ,how do we know that he is not an agent of the man who killed your valet8 ,russia has many spies as improbable as he4 ,probably he is what he purports to be1 but ,i must see him and judge for myself4 ,and ,i must see that letter--the whole of it4 ,there is no other way4 ,somebody must do the bargaining4 ,no1 ,i must see him4 ,do you know where to find him80 8,certainly4 ,he is asleep in his brother's room at my apartment now40 8,then have him ready at ten to-morrow morning4 ,be at the door of your building at the moment1 neither too soon nor too late4 ,a motor will pick you up and take you to a safe place where ,i will meet you40 ,,chapter ,,eight ,as the clock struck ten the next morning1 ,caruth1 with ,tom ,wilkins at his heels1 stepped from the elevator in the ,chimneystack ,building and walked to the great entrance4 ,just as he reached it a red automobile drew up at the curb4 ,caruth motioned ,wilkins into it1 and jumped in behind him2 and before he had time even to take his seat the machine was off4 ,caruth1 glancing back expectantly1 was somewhat surprised to see that his hasty departure had apparently roused no interest4 ,the spies in attendance1 if spies there were1 either did not care to follow or recognized the hopelessness of attempting to do so4 ,after racing northward for several blocks1 the motor turned into a side street1 ran east past two or three streets1 and1 once more turning1 sped downtown1 finally stopping at the ladies' entrance of one of the big ,broadway hotels4 ,caruth laughed to himself as he got out4 ,anything less like the mysterious ,nihilistic rendezvous at which he had expected to land could scarcely be conceived4 ,still less excitement remained in the venture when1 after sending up his card by a very matter-of-fact bell-boy1 the two were shown into a parlor and allowed to wait for a very characteristically feminine interval4 ,if the plainsman felt out of place in surroundings which must have been wholly new to him1 at least he did not show it4 ,his face was as expressionless as a poker player's1 and he carried himself as if he owned the place1 seemingly unconscious of his ill-fitting1 ready-made clothing1 and of the heavy boots that clattered loudly on the polished floors4 ,caruth had told him little as to the object of their visit1 merely saying that the lady on whom they were to call had something to say that might throw light on the object of his search4 ,wilkins had asked no questions4 ,his small1 furtive eyes had rested for a moment on the younger man's face1 and then he had nodded4 8,i'm your potato10 he remarked4 ,miss ,fitzhugh kept the two waiting for a time which seemed long to the plainsman1 unused as he was to the intricacies of the feminine toilet4 ,when she swept in at last1 her appearance made both men catch their breath1 ,caruth not less than the unsophisticated ,westerner4 ,dressed entirely in black1 high-throated1 and with her hair arranged with severe plainness1 she looked years older and more sedate than the magnificently vital creature ,caruth had before seen4 ,in her eyes lay a look of slumbering sorrow which persisted even when she smiled4 ,caruth1 amazed1 wondered what facet of her kaleidoscopic nature would manifest itself next4 ,but if her appearance bewildered ,caruth1 it absolutely overwhelmed ,wilkins4 ,he dropped his hat1 stammered1 and almost gasped at sight of her4 ,when she gave him her hand1 he seemed afraid to touch it4 ,but this phase passed4 ,miss ,fitzhugh had a way with her--whether inborn or acquired it might be hard to guess--that was most effective in dealing with the opposite sex4 ,within ten minutes1 ,wilkins1 his errand forgotten1 was telling her a story of his experiences as a sheep-herder4 8,yes1 ma'am10 he wound up4 8,muttons are all right when they're served with mint sauce or when they've been cropped to furnish trouserings1 but for steady company they're about on the level of a ,boston tea party4 ,when you've watched 'em masticating daisies for a few spaces1 you begin to yearn for something that don't look like it had come out of a ,noah's ark40 ,miss ,fitzhugh smiled sympathetically4 8,so when you got your brother's letter1 with its promise of millions1 you were glad enough to hurry east10 she suggested4 8,you wanted some of the fleshpots of ,egypt40 ,wilkins hesitated4 8,no'm10 he answered uncertainly4 8,i ain't caring much about no foreign grub2 chile con carne is good enough for me4 ,but1 of course1 if there's any chance of strikin' a pocket and dredgin' a million or so out of that ship1 ,i'd like to do it4 ,and1 of course1 ,i'd like to do up the fellows that did for ,jim40 ,miss ,fitzhugh stared at him questioningly4 8,there is a chance of doing it10 she answered meaningly2 8but it isn't as easy as you may suppose4 ,you may have to fight for it40 ,wilkins's right hand wandered back to his hip-pocket1 reappearing with a huge revolver1 while the other hand suddenly became possessed of a great knife4 8,i'm heeled10 he responded grimly4 ,miss ,fitzhugh showed no surprise4 ,deliberately she took the revolver from the plainsman's hand and with practised fingers twirled the cylinder and drew back the hammer1 smiling at the man's warning exclamation4 8,i'm used to them10 she explained4 ,she handed back the weapon and went on4 8,your brother's ship was the ,orkney1 ,mr4 ,wilkins4 ,it sailed from ,liverpool ,march #e1 nearly two years ago1 and was wrecked somewhere in the ,baltic four days later4 ,it had on board more than a million pounds sterling--nearly five million dollars4 ,that money really belongs to me and my friends1 though it is claimed by others who have been moving heaven and earth to get it4 ,your brother who wrote the letter had no right to any part of it4 ,your brother who was murdered had no right to it4 ,you have no right to it4 ,but we are very generous to our friends4 ,it is really impossible that you should get this gold yourself4 ,you will have to call either on us or on our enemies to help you4 ,if your letter proves valuable and enables us to get it--to get our own money1 mind you--we will share it with you40 ,the plainsman's eyes narrowed1 and his mouth changed to a straight slit above his chin4 ,for the first time ,caruth noticed his likeness to the dead man4 ,this was business1 and accordingly ,wilkins promptly relegated sentiment to the background4 8,how big a share80 he demanded roughly4 8,well----0 ,miss ,fitzhugh hesitated4 8,first let me explain10 she went on at last4 8,the ,orkney was wrecked in the ,baltic ,sea about three thousand miles from here4 ,we shall have to charter a steamer and seek for her4 ,your letter may or may not enable us to find her4 ,if we do find her1 we will have to send down divers and bring the gold up--not a very easy task1 ,i imagine4 ,the search will have to be made secretly1 for our foes are watchful and able4 ,we may have to fight to save both the gold and ourselves after or before we get it on board4 ,the whole trip will cost money--a great deal of money4 ,it will strain our resources to the utmost--and it may come to nothing in the end4 ,we need the money--need it desperately4 ,now1 considering all this1 what do you think will be a fair share for your aid80 ,wilkins considered4 ,his small eyes wandered from ,miss ,fitzhugh to ,caruth and back again1 but his impassive face gave no clue to the thoughts that were passing in his mind4 ,the others believed that he was calculating how large a share he could demand4 ,long afterwards1 they suspected that his ideas had been very different4 8,well10 he declared1 at last1 8,i don't mean no officiousness4 ,maybe you're givin' it to me straight4 ,but ,i reckon the other side would have about as good a yarn to tell1 and maybe it would have more money to pay with4 ,i guess this money don't belong to either of you4 ,if it did1 you wouldn't be so durned mysterious about it4 ,i reckon you're both out to steal it4 ,but1 h----l6 that don't make no difference to me4 ,i'll steal just as soon as any other hombre will1 if he can steal enough to make it worth while and can get away with the goods4 ,now1 let's talk straight4 ,who are your fellows1 any way80 ,miss ,fitzhugh hesitated1 but only for a moment4 ,after all1 it was better to tell this plain-spoken frontiersman what he wanted to know rather than to have him make inquiries that might perhaps come to the ears of the ,russian government and lead to the betrayal of the whole plan4 ,if he were really a traitor or a spy all was lost anyhow4 ,he could ruin everything by telling what he already knew in the right quarter2 he could do no worse if he knew more4 ,perhaps he might be forced to hold his tongue by fear1 although this did not seem very probable4 ,however1 it was neck or nothing4 ,she leaned forward4 8,did you ever hear of the ,russian revolutionists1 ,mr4 ,wilkins80 she asked4 8,them fellows that are tryin' to knock the ,czar into the middle of a puddle duckski8 ,sure6 ,they're all right1 if they'd only talk less like a seidlitz powder40 8,i am a member of the inner circle of the ,brotherhood4 ,this gold belongs to us4 ,it was borrowed on our credit by the ,russian ,government4 ,we tried to take it from them1 and we succeeded1 but lost it in the moment of success4 ,we need it to help the cause of freedom--to get for our people the freedom that you have as a birthright4 ,we are trying to get it back4 ,your letter may enable us to do so4 ,will you help us80 ,wilkins nodded4 8,i reckon so10 he responded4 8,what'll they do to us if they catch us80 8,do60 ,the girl laughed harshly4 8,i don't know4 ,shoot us1 hang us1 drown us1 or jail us for life4 ,are you afraid80 8,no'm6 ,not to say afraid4 ,but ,i always like to know what ,i'm goin' up against4 ,buckin' the ,czar looks to me a good deal like going against a phony faro game4 ,but1 thunder6 ,i always was willing to take a sporting chance4 ,i'll go you for one-tenth of what we get4 ,i guess that's fair40 ,miss ,fitzhugh nodded slowly4 8,that's a good deal10 she remarked1 8considering that we take all the risks4 ,but ,i accept4 ,one-tenth of all we recover shall be yours4 ,you shall go with us and help us to get it1 and you shall have your share4 ,here's my hand on it40 ,awkwardly the plainsman took the smooth1 slim fingers which she stretched out to him4 8,it's a whack1 ma'am10 he said4 8,it's a #8whack'6 ,but1 ,mr4 ,wilkins1 there is something more that ,i want to say1 and ,i want you to understand that ,i say it not as a threat1 but simply as a warning4 ,i don't know how much you may know of our society1 but it has representatives all over the world1 and it does not tolerate traitors4 ,no one who has ever betrayed it has lived long4 ,if either you or ,mr4 ,caruth here tried to play fast and loose with it1 you might succeed for the moment1 but it would be for a moment only4 ,your heirs might profit by your treachery1 but you would not40 ,wilkins laughed4 ,he seemed neither offended nor worried by the girl's words4 8,sure60 he answered cheerfully4 8,that's understood4 ,no gang can hold together or be successful unless they does for anybody that splits on 'em4 ,i ain't boastin' none of my whiteness4 ,maybe ,i'd sell out if ,i thought it would pay me2 but1 naturally1 ,i count myself some better than the ,state of ,new ,jersey4 ,i ain't offerin' myself for sale promiscuous desultory4 ,and in this case it don't look as if it would be altogether healthy to sell out4 ,no6 ,you can count on me as long as you play fair yourselves4 ,now1 what's the program80 ,miss ,fitzhugh leaned back in her chair with an expression of relief on her face4 8,i believe you are truer than you say1 ,mr4 ,wilkins10 she murmured4 8,i'm going to trust you4 ,as to the program1 ,i must consider4 ,the first thing is to let me look at that letter40 8,sure60 ,without hesitation1 the plainsman handed over a folded sheet4 ,miss ,fitzhugh only glanced at it4 8,i mean the original10 she explained1 with a steely glint in her eyes4 ,but ,wilkins shook his head decidedly4 8,not any10 he replied4 8,the aboriginal is safe1 and ,i don't show it to no one yet aways4 ,it tells where the ,orkney's sunk1 all right1 and ,i'll go with you and guide you till we get somewhere near4 ,i've been lookin' up the place on the map1 and ,i can do it4 ,or ,i'll tell you3 ,i'll show you the letter as soon as we get into the ,baltic8 ,how'll that do80 8,it won't do at all4 ,the letter may be valueless1 and----0 8,it ain't valueless4 ,it tells1 all right4 ,it says #8in a narrow strait between this island and that island4' ,you needn't worry about that part of it40 ,the woman hesitated4 ,was all this a cunningly devised plot of the ,czar's agents or was the man honest8 ,his refusal to disclose his secret was not unnatural1 and yet---- 8,mr4 ,wilkins10 she said slowly1 8,i'll take your word for it1 since ,i can do nothing else4 ,but ,i warn you solemnly that if ,i fail in this thing after ,i have spent all the money that ,i shall have to spend1 it will cost both you and me our lives4 ,the ,brotherhood will not tolerate such a costly failure as this would be4 ,so beware40 ,wilkins nodded4 8,shoot10 he said4 8,you're faded40 ,miss ,fitzhugh looked slightly bewildered4 8,very well10 she said4 8,on your head be it4 ,now we must see about getting a ship40 8,a ship60 ,caruth leaned forward4 ,all through the conversation he had lain back in his chair1 listening but not uttering a single word4 ,the girl seemed entirely competent to manage things1 and he felt no call to intervene1 though he shivered once or twice when she spoke so openly to this plainsman1 who frankly confessed that he was ready to play traitor for a sufficiently large reward4 ,but his chance had come around at last4 8,a ship60 he echoed4 8,don't worry about that4 ,i have a thousand-ton yacht eating its head off down the bay4 ,i'll be delighted if you will use it as your own4 ,when shall we sail80 ,,chapter ,,nine ,professor ,shishkin spent the next ten days after ,maxime's cataclysmal visit in worrying over what he had to do and in trying to devise some way of eluding at least that part of his orders that required him to take ,olga with him4 ,knowing the methods of the ,brotherhood1 he guessed that1 if need be1 they would not hesitate to use the girl in accomplishing their ends1 at whatever peril to her4 ,on the other hand1 he was resolved that she should never go back to ,russia4 ,but how to avoid the necessity he could not see4 ,he worried himself sick over it4 ,he was in this state of mind when ,marie ,fitzhugh notified him by the long-distance telephone--for she did not wish to be seen in his company or at his house--to send the notice of his impending departure on ,mr4 ,caruth's yacht to the papers1 and to be ready to sail in four days4 ,it was not difficult to get the announcement printed4 ,the ,professor's scientific achievements1 while they had never brought him wealth1 had brought him the homage of the intellectual of all lands4 ,he had even been discovered by the ,new ,york ,sunday papers and had had his achievements attractively described in a syndicate letter written by a special writer1 who criticised--and disproved--the ,professor's famous theory of rising sea-floors by the sole light of information derived from the books of the ,professor himself4 ,in spite of this1 the ,professor was a friend to newspaper men1 and was always willing to be interviewed on almost any subject connected with his work4 ,so when he desired to give out the news of his coming trip1 he had only to choose to which newspaper friend he would send it4 ,finally he picked out ,bristow1 for much the same reasons that had led ,caruth to consult that well-informed individual4 ,he had first met the reporter on his arrival from a trip to ,europe several years before1 and had been attracted to him by the able and intelligent account which the reporter had printed concerning certain scientific discoveries he had made on his trip4 ,this good impression was confirmed on several later occasions4 ,further1 the reporter naturally occurred to him1 because that young man had recently become a somewhat constant caller at the ,new ,jersey cottage4 7,the ,professor was slightly bewildered by his apparent assiduity in the pursuit of science1 but did not suspect that his daughter might have something to do with it47 ,further1 as ship-news reporter for the ,consolidated ,press1 ,bristow was not only the exact man to handle such an item1 but was best adapted to give it the wide publicity desired by its publication in the papers served by that great news organization4 ,bristow put the item 8on the wires10 and then hurried down to ,east ,orange at the first possible moment4 ,he did not1 however1 go straight to the ,professor himself1 but to that gentleman's daughter4 ,moreover1 he addressed her as ,olga1 from which it might be suspected that matters had progressed further than the ,professor imagined4 8,olga10 he began1 8this note--what does it mean80 ,the girl glanced at the paper in his hand4 8,i don't know10 she answered thoughtfully4 8,i don't know40 8,but----0 8,ten days ago a young man came to see father4 ,they talked together a long time4 ,father was a good deal excited2 ,i could hear his voice away upstairs4 ,since then he has been ill4 ,he cannot rest4 ,he never laughs or even smiles4 ,he has grown nervous and irritable4 ,always he is puzzling over something4 ,he is killing himself4 ,yesterday he had me write you that note telling of his coming trip4 ,i have begged him not to go1 but he is quite determined4 ,he says he wants to confirm his sea-floor theory40 8,but he is too old60 8,of course6 ,but he insists that he must go4 ,yet ,i don't believe he wants to4 ,i believe something or somebody is forcing him--though ,i don't understand how any one can4 ,do you80 ,bristow looked thoughtful4 ,caruth's association with the affair1 as announced in the notice sent to the papers1 caused him to conclude inevitably that the forthcoming trip had some connection with the arrival of the fair but mysterious ,russian and with the murder of the valet4 ,he could not quite understand the object1 however1 being ignorant of the ,orkney and her fate1 as well as of the recovery of the missing letter4 8,how does ,mr4 ,caruth come to be in this80 he asked abruptly1 wondering what excuse had been offered for the young man's sudden interest in affairs scientific4 8,mr4 ,caruth8 ,father seems to have known his father1 and ,mr4 ,caruth1 knowing that father wanted to go to the ,baltic1 offered his yacht4 ,at least1 that's what they say10 concluded the girl4 8,for my part1 ,i don't believe it4 ,do you80 ,bristow hesitated4 8,no10 he answered1 at last4 8,i happen to know that it is at least partly untrue4 ,but1 ,olga1 don't express any doubt publicly4 ,i suspect this is a big thing1 and indiscreet talking would probably play hob with a good many people1 including the ,professor4 ,what is your part in this1 ,olga8 ,do you go with him80 ,the girl nodded4 8,of course10 she answered readily4 8,he says he wants me to1 and of course ,i can't let him go alone4 ,and yet1 do you know1 ,joe1 ,i don't believe he really wants me to go at all80 ,the reporter nodded slowly4 ,the skein was still too tangled for him to unravel1 but he was studying it intently4 8,why go80 he asked4 8,olga1 ,i don't want to be selfish4 ,i have waited a long time1 and ,i was prepared to keep on waiting as long as ,i could see you from time to time4 ,but ,i can't let you go away from me this way1 especially to ,russia4 ,why not marry me at once8 ,then ,i can speak to your father from a different footing4 ,perhaps ,i can persuade him to give up the trip40 8,if you only could6 ,but----0 ,bristow thought she was yielding and pushed his advantage4 8,olga dear60 he urged4 8,come to me40 ,he took the girl in his arms1 and she gazed up into his face with the expression that a woman wears for one man only4 8,if ,i could1 ,joe10 she murmured4 8,if ,i only could6 ,but ,i can't2 you know ,i can't4 ,father would go alone1 and ,i should never forgive myself40 ,for a moment the reporter held her1 looking tenderly into her blue eyes2 then he released her4 8,well10 he said briskly1 8that settles it4 ,i must talk to the ,professor4 ,i suppose he is in his laboratory80 8,yes40 8,all right4 ,i won't be longer than ,i can help4 ,wait for me40 ,when ,bristow entered the laboratory1 he found the ,professor pacing up and down the room in a state of suppressed excitement4 ,when he recognized his visitor1 he strove to greet him calmly1 but despite himself his irritation shone through4 8,mr4 ,bristow60 he exclaimed4 8,you've come about my note1 ,i suppose80 8,yes2 that and----0 8,i have nothing more to say4 ,i told it all in the note4 ,i am going to the ,baltic to get proof of my theory about sea-floors4 ,i am going on the yacht of ,mr4 ,caruth1 a young scientific friend of mine4 ,that is all4 ,i can't discuss it further40 ,the reporter concealed his dismay4 ,olga had certainly not exaggerated the old man's condition4 ,he had aged markedly since ,bristow had last seen him4 ,he was burning himself out4 ,it occurred to the reporter that the conspirators--for he did not doubt that there was a conspiracy--had better be careful or the ,professor would not live to carry out their wishes1 whatever these might be4 8,just as you say1 ,professor10 he answered4 8,but ,i want to talk to you about something else4 ,won't you ask me to sit down80 ,he moved a chair up beside the old man's accustomed seat1 and stood waiting4 ,professor ,shishkin hesitated for an instant4 ,then the demands of courtesy had their way4 8,i'm sorry10 he muttered4 8,i'm not myself4 ,i'm an old man1 and ,i grow forgetful4 ,sit down1 ,mr4 ,bristow4 ,i'm very glad to see you4 ,ask me what you will40 8,even unto the half of your kingdom80 queried the reporter4 8,i want more than that1 ,professor4 ,i want ,miss ,olga60 8,olga60 ,the ,professor half rose4 8,what do you mean80 he gasped4 8,i mean that ,i want to marry her10 returned ,bristow4 ,the people who called ,bristow cheeky would not have known him4 ,his heart was thumping painfully1 and his color came and went1 though he managed to keep his features calm4 8,we love each other1 and we want to marry40 ,for a moment ,professor ,shishkin stared at the young man4 ,then he burst into a fit of laughter that made the reporter look at him in amazement4 ,but1 unheeding1 the ,professor cackled on as if he would never stop4 ,his shrunken form fairly shook with merriment that rapidly grew hysterical4 ,so long it continued that ,bristow forgot his own excited feelings and grew anxious4 ,at last the old man calmed himself4 8,i beg your pardon1 ,mr4 ,bristow10 he quavered4 8,i beg your pardon4 ,i was very discourteous4 ,i was not laughing at you1 but at the way things come about4 ,what creatures of fate we all are6 ,we think we control events1 but events really control us6 ,mr4 ,bristow1 ,i have been worrying myself sick about ,olga1 and here you come1 pat to the moment1 to set everything straight4 ,you say that ,olga loves you80 8,yes40 ,the reporter's voice was hushed and reverent4 8,then everything is all right4 ,i shall be delighted to have her marry you4 ,but ,i must impose some conditions40 ,the ,professor's voice had grown stronger4 ,years seemed to have fallen from his shoulders4 ,bristow stared at him in wonder4 8,anything you like10 he stammered4 ,shishkin smiled4 8,oh1 it won't be hard on you10 he promised4 8,though you may find my conditions difficult to understand4 ,let me explain4 ,i am compelled to go on this trip concerning which ,i have written you4 ,i am compelled to take ,olga with me--or to appear to do so4 ,i don't want to take her1 but ,i cannot refuse openly4 ,but no one acquainted with her will be on the vessel4 ,if ,i can find a substitute who resembles her somewhat1 no one is likely to detect the change4 ,the trouble has been to get ,olga's consent and to hide her away while ,i was gone4 ,your proposal makes this easy40 ,amazedly the reporter listened4 ,the old man was showing a new phase of character--a phase novel to ,bristow1 who had always thought of him only as an aged scientist engrossed in matters far removed from worldly scheming4 ,but then1 neither had he ever thought of him in connection with ,russian terrorism1 in which it now seemed that he was involved4 ,breathlessly1 yet delighted at his easy success1 he waited for the old man to continue4 ,professor ,shishkin did not keep him waiting long4 8,now10 he went on1 8my consent to your marriage to ,olga is conditional on this4 ,you must find some one who reasonably resembles ,olga1 and who is willing for a consideration to go with me in her place4 ,you must bring her here the night before we sail4 ,i will have an old minister friend of mine waiting4 ,he can marry you and ,olga4 ,then ,olga and the substitute will change clothes4 ,when you take ,olga away1 the substitute can remain4 ,she can wear a veil as long as any one who knows ,olga is likely to see her4 ,once on the yacht1 we will be safe from detection40 ,bristow gasped4 ,scarcely could he believe his ears4 ,the ,professor had taken to intrigue as if he had been dabbling in it all his life4 ,what next8 8,but10 he questioned1 8where can ,i find a substitute8 ,do you know of any one like ,olga----0 8,dozens of them4 ,hundreds of girls in ,new ,york resemble her more or less4 ,olga is of a very common type40 ,the reporter flushed angrily4 ,he did not think ,olga of a common type4 ,to him there was no one like her4 ,still1 he could scarcely quarrel with her father for saying so4 8,it won't be as easy as you think10 he returned4 8,still1 it might be done40 8,it must be done4 ,otherwise ,olga must go with me4 ,a power stronger than ,i decrees it40 8,oh1 well1 in that event--let me think60 ,the reporter was beginning to enter into the spirit of the thing4 8,i believe ,i know the very girl you want4 ,she's doing a turn at ,weser's ,music ,hall4 ,she does look like ,olga in a general sort of way40 8,an actress80 questioned the ,professor4 8,humph6 ,well1 she calls herself one1 and ,i guess we'll let it go at that4 ,i've known her for a good while1 though never very well1 and ,i believe she's straight4 ,that's her reputation1 anyhow4 ,i do believe that by making-up a little she could pass for ,olga with people who didn't know her well40 8,that is all that is necessary4 ,so long as she has the right height and figure1 and bears a general resemblance to ,olga1 no one will question her identity if ,i introduce her as my daughter4 ,oh1 yes6 ,it will be easy4 ,where can ,i see this girl80 ,bristow looked at his watch4 8,she'll be at the theatre now10 he announced4 8,i'll hurry up to town and catch her as she comes out1 and arrange----0 8,never mind4 ,i'll go with you and see her at once4 ,there is no time to lose40 ,the ,professor rose4 8,remember1 ,mr4 ,bristow10 he added seriously3 8this is no pleasure masquerade4 ,it may easily become a matter of life and death for me1 for ,olga1 and for others4 ,i do not tell you more because ,i am sworn not to do so1 and because the less you know the better2 but don't think for a moment that this is anything but deadly earnest4 ,now1 let us go40 ,bristow rose4 8,certainly10 he agreed4 8,but hadn't we better speak to ,olga first80 ,the ,professor looked puzzled4 8,to ,olga8 ,why80 he questioned4 8,well1 she might conceivably object4 ,women don't always look at things from the same point of view as men40 ,the ,professor hesitated2 then he waved his hand indifferently4 8,perhaps you are right10 he admitted4 8,but ,olga must agree4 ,seriously1 this is the only means of saving her life and mine40 ,,chapter ,,ten ,bristow and the ,professor had been waiting at the stage door for only a few minutes when men and women1 singly or in twos or threes1 began to dribble through the gates and lose themselves in the homeward-bound crowds4 8,miss ,lee will be out here in a minute now1 ,professor10 observed the reporter4 8,see if you can pick her out4 ,if you can1 it will be a sort of a test as to her resemblance to ,olga4 ,if you can't1 ,i'll show you40 ,the ,professor nodded4 ,years seemed to have fallen from his shoulders4 8,very well10 he agreed cheerfully4 ,no misgivings as to the girl's acceptance of his offer troubled him4 ,his idea was to offer her a trip to ,europe1 abundant fine clothes1 reasonable money1 and the chance to play lady for a few months among cultured people1 and to ask in return only that she should pass as his daughter4 ,concerning the risks of the trip1 he intended to say nothing1 feeling confident that there would be no risk for her4 ,even if the worst came to the worst and he himself went to a ,russian prison--which seemed unlikely--he could not conceive how she could come to harm1 his desire to leave ,olga behind being based on very different reasons4 ,offering everything1 and asking only a service that was in itself a pleasure1 ,professor ,shishkin could not see how any girl could hesitate4 ,all of which shows that he was not familiar with certain temptations which every handsome working girl and especially every actress in the great city had long been schooled to resist4 ,at last she came1 and he picked her out instantly4 ,the likeness to ,olga was striking1 though the differences were so great that no one who really knew either girl would be at all likely to mistake her for the other4 ,with ,bristow at his side1 he started forward4 ,miss ,lee might fairly be called a type4 ,from her high-ratted pompadour1 past her exaggerated straight-front1 to the flare at the bottom of her cheap skirt1 she was dressed in the style4 ,neat as a cherry blossom1 she carried herself with a dash that the ,professor found himself mentally approving4 ,a spot of red burned in either cheek1 and her eyes snapped as she stepped upon the street4 ,a student of the sex would have declared that she was in a royal rage4 ,the ,professor was not a connoisseur in women1 however1 and he did not suspect that ,miss ,lee had just been 8called down0 by the stage manager for being late in answering her call1 and had been told in no uncertain terms that if she was late again she could stay away for good4 ,miss ,lee had glared at the stage manager1 but had not answered back4 ,twelve dollars a week may not be much to some people1 but when it is one's sole support1 one is likely to think twice before casting it away4 ,having held her tongue1 ,miss ,lee was in the condition of an engine on which the safety valve is tied down4 ,she trembled on the verge of an explosion4 ,ignorant of this1 the ,professor and ,bristow stepped in the girl's way and raised their hats4 8,how do you do1 ,miss ,lee80 remarked the latter4 8,i want to introduce to you my friend1 ,professor ,shishkin4 ,he wants to talk to you on a very important subject40 ,if the girl was startled1 she did not show it4 8,gee60 she exclaimed1 with pretended lightness1 glancing at the ,professor's venerable aspect4 8,what's broke loose8 ,has me long lost uncle cashed in and left his money to his darling brother's offspring80 ,the ,professor did not quite follow4 8,no-o10 he quavered slowly4 8,i wanted to see you on a personal matter4 ,i have been studying your appearance1 and ,i----0 8,oh6 ,ain't you ashamed8 ,and you so old1 too6 ,fade away60 8,my dear young lady60 ,the ,professor did not understand what the girl meant1 but he gathered that she was reproving him4 8,my dear young lady6 ,it is because ,i am so old that ,i venture to address you4 ,as ,i say1 ,i have been studying your appearance1 and ,i want to talk with you quietly4 ,if you will go with me to----0 ,miss ,lee flushed4 8,ain't you the frisky grandpop60 she demanded scornfully4 8,back to the bald-headed row for yours4 ,you mashers make me tired4 ,gee6 ,i'll have to take to eating onions to keep you off4 ,i take it right hard that you should let me in for this1 ,mr4 ,bristow4 ,you know ,i ain't that sort40 ,bristow had been listening in secret amusement1 but at the girl's protest he started forward4 8,it's all right1 ,miss ,lee60 he said4 8,the ,professor really wants to talk to you on business4 ,he is to be my father-in-law1 and ,i wouldn't think of encouraging him in any capers4 ,he's no masher40 8,masher60 ,at last the ,professor understood4 8,good heavens60 he exclaimed4 8,do you take me for one of those vapid fools that exhibit themselves on the street corners8 ,i should have thought my white hair would have shielded me from such an imputation4 ,after all1 however1 it may be natural enough4 ,i suppose ,i began wrong4 ,but ,i am not that kind4 ,without denying your evident attractions1 young lady1 ,i assure you that ,i have sought you for a very different reason4 ,this is strictly business4 ,i can't talk here4 ,perhaps0--an idea struck the ,professor--8perhaps you will do me the honor of dining with me at some place near here--any place you like to name60 ,for some moments the girl stared at him shrewdly4 ,after all1 perhaps---- 8,i guess ,i made a mistake10 she said at last1 slowly4 8,it's hard to guess sometimes4 ,i'll take dinner with you and hear what you've got to say4 ,but you take my tip and don't try any funny business1 or ,i'll call a cop4 ,see80 ,the ,professor nodded4 8,all right1 then10 declared the girl4 8,there's a spaghetti emporium right back of here on ,sixth ,avenue4 ,we'll go there40 ,a few moments later the trio were sitting in a huge plate-glass restaurant1 and ,miss ,lee1 at the ,professor's request1 was ordering a somewhat elaborate dinner4 ,then1 while she awaited its coming1 she leaned forward across the table4 8,well60 she began1 ignoring ,bristow1 who plainly desired to remain in the background4 8,well1 now's the time to spring the story of your life in thirteen chapters and tell what led up to this thrilling moment--unless you'd rather wait till after the tooth-picks4 ,you ain't going to spring an ,arabian ,nights fable on me1 are you80 8,perhaps ,i may40 8,really6 ,well1 all right4 ,i'm willing4 ,go ahead40 ,the waiter brought the soup1 and the girl began to eat with elaborate interest4 ,the ,professor noted that her table manners were good and would arouse no suspicion4 ,her slangy way of speaking gave him some misgivings1 but he put them aside4 8,my name10 he began1 8is ,shishkin40 8,what60 ,the girl laid down her spoon and regarded him severely4 8,well1 you're original1 any way10 she laughed4 8,sure it ain't ,jones80 8,no--,shishkin4 ,i am a ,russian1 but ,i have been living in this country for twenty years4 ,will you tell me something about yourself80 8,cert4 ,florence ,lee4 ,twenty years old4 ,from ,missouri4 ,been working in ,new ,york three years4 ,live in ,brooklyn4 ,anything else8 ,want to see my vaccination certificate80 8,no1 what you have said is sufficient for the present4 ,i only wanted something to go on4 ,i am a scientist4 ,my work is chiefly in connection with the ocean4 ,i am about to start for ,europe on what will undoubtedly be my last trip4 ,ordinarily1 my daughter would go with me1 but she desires to get married4 ,i must have some one in her place40 ,miss ,lee paused in the act of raising an olive to her lips4 8,i ain't a trained nurse10 she objected tentatively4 8,i don't want a trained nurse10 returned the ,professor1 with a show of spirit4 8,i have sought you out because you look very much like my daughter4 ,what ,i want you to do is to take her place and her name2 to pretend to be she2 and to go to ,europe with me4 ,we may be gone six months4 ,you shall have everything my daughter would have had and be treated exactly as she would be treated4 ,will you go80 ,but ,miss ,lee was past speech4 ,with mouth agape1 she stared at the old man4 ,anything can happen in ,new ,york1 but this went beyond her experience4 8,well1 if that ain't the limit60 she murmured1 at last4 8,say1 when did you come out of ,bellevue80 8,bellevue80 8,the psychopathic ward4 ,gee6 it must be a lovely world you live in--till the pipe goes out40 ,dimly the ,professor understood that he was being mocked4 8,i am not jesting1 young lady10 he explained1 with dignity4 8,i may add that when the trip is over ,i will bring you back to ,new ,york and give you a thousand dollars40 ,the girl's eyes burned into his4 8,i am not for sale10 she answered briefly4 8,don't think it1 grandpop4 ,there are plenty that are4 ,go after them40 8,no one will do so well as you4 ,didn't ,i explain8 ,i am compelled to seem to take my daughter with me on this trip4 ,i don't want to take her1 and she does not want to go4 ,yet she must go unless ,i can find some one to pass for her4 ,you look like her4 ,when you dress as she does1 you will look very much like her4 ,that is why ,i have come to you first4 ,with a few days' training1 you will find it easy to pass for ,olga1 my daughter4 ,no one who is going on this trip has ever met her4 ,and it won't be unpleasant4 ,you will be treated with all honor and consideration4 ,will you come80 8,come60 ,miss ,lee had gone back to her dinner and was discussing it with much gusto4 8,look here1 grandpop6 ,do you mean to tell me that all this is on the level80 8,certainly40 ,the ,professor did not speak slang1 but he understood it to some extent4 ,florence stared at him once more4 ,she did not believe that he was speaking the truth1 or1 rather--for she had been trained in a hard school--she did not believe that he was speaking the whole truth4 ,she felt sure that there was something behind--as1 indeed1 there was4 ,still1 she was tempted4 ,a yacht1 a trip to ,europe1 a masquerade1 and a thousand dollars6 ,it all sounded very fascinating to a girl who realized that she might be thrown out of work at any moment1 with only a week's salary between her and starvation4 ,of course it might be a trap4 ,florence was handsome1 and she knew it2 and she had heard of traps for handsome girls4 ,this might be one1 but if so1 it was very elaborately baited4 ,besides1 she felt supreme confidence in her ability to defend herself if need be4 ,still1 she hesitated4 8,how'm ,i to know80 she questioned4 8,the men are always springing something new1 and a girl's got to be mighty careful4 ,i ain't for sale2 anyhow1 ,i ain't on the bargain table2 before ,i go off ,i've got to be sure that the man's on the level and can do more than make a noise like a tin bank4 ,if you ain't stringing me--if you ain't escaped from the crazy house--prove it4 ,it oughtn't to be hard40 ,professor ,shishkin considered4 8,my friend and future son-in-law1 ,mr4 ,bristow1 will endorse everything ,i say10 he declared4 8,further1 ,i should be glad to have you talk with my daughter1 whose place you will take4 ,do you know ,east ,orange80 8,new ,jersey8 ,sure60 8,very well4 ,come down there early to-morrow4 ,ask any one to show you where ,professor ,shishkin lives4 ,you'll find a pretty1 vine-clad cottage4 ,nothing at all to make you afraid4 ,come in and you'll find ,olga and me waiting for you4 ,i think we can make you believe4 ,only0--the ,professor's voice grew serious--8only please wear a veil1 and don't tell any one what ,i have told you4 ,i'd much rather you would refuse outright than have you talk4 ,i want you to pass as my daughter4 ,the moment the truth gets out1 you cease to be of use to me1 and ,i get into grave danger4 ,so you must be secret4 ,now1 on that understanding1 will you come80 ,miss ,lee reached her hand across the table4 8,i'll come10 she promised4 8,i'll see the thing through4 ,if it ain't straight1 you're the biggest---- ,well1 never mind1 ,i'll see it through40 ,,chapter ,,eleven 8,put not your faith in princes40 ,baron ,demidroff1 chief of the third section of the ,russian police1 the dreaded secret police1 pondered this sentiment as he sat in the office of his immediate superior1 the ,minister of the ,interior4 ,the ,baron had been thirty years in the police service1 and for fifteen years he had been its chief4 ,in those years he had weathered many a storm that had bade fair to sweep him from place and power1 but never a one of them had seemed so menacing as that which he was confronting4 8#8,had ,i but served my ,god with half the zeal ,i served my king1'0 he quoted1 8#8he would not leave me naked to my enemies4' ,you think the case is desperate1 then80 ,the ,minister flung out his hands4 8,judge for yourself1 ,baron10 he said4 8,count ,strogoff demanded your immediate dismissal4 ,he was striking at me over your shoulders1 of course4 ,your retirement meant mine1 for ,i cannot afford to have one of ,strogoff's men in your place4 ,the ,emperor knew it1 and that is the only reason you still hold your post4 ,i did what ,i could1 and will do what ,i can4 ,but the most ,i could win was three months' delay1 and to get that ,i had to talk vaguely of great discoveries you had in train4 ,you will have to make them1 my friend1 or it is good-by to power for both of us40 ,the ,baron considered4 ,he was a vigorous young-old man1 with a hawk-like face1 crowned by beautiful white hair4 ,his mustache and imperial were the pink of military exquisiteness4 ,in his eyes slumbered a consuming fire4 8,humph60 he said slowly4 8,what discoveries would your excellency suggest80 ,the other laughed shortly1 but with no merriment in his tones4 8,first and best10 he answered1 8find the ,orkney and recover her gold4 ,its loss is ,strogoff's strongest card against you and me4 ,i wish ,i had never recommended borrowing that money on the ,princess ,napraxine's estates4 ,to take it out of ,strogoff's control was like snatching a bone from a hungry dog40 8,russia needed it10 hazarded the other4 8,of course ,russia needed it4 ,there was neither justice nor expediency in longer holding an estate for the benefit of a girl who had been missing twenty years1 and who is certainly dead4 ,the ,emperor only anticipated when he decided to escheat part of it4 ,but ,strogoff had controlled it as trustee for ten years4 ,it was madness to suppose that he would not seek revenge when forced to give it up40 8,you counted on his enmity when you recommended the escheatal40 8,of course0--impatiently4 8,but ,i did not count on the money being lost4 ,that was your fault1 ,baron4 ,you were much to blame40 ,the ,baron's face showed that he did not agree with his superior's assertion1 but he offered nothing in rebuttal4 ,the ,minister knew all the circumstances1 and if he chose to blame his subordinate1 that subordinate could gain nothing by demonstrating the unjustness of the accusation4 8,if ,i recover the gold even at this late day1 how then80 he questioned4 8,it would help6 ,it would help6 ,it would gain us time1 and time fights for us4 ,find the gold1 and we can baffle ,strogoff for a year or two longer2 but as long as he controls the vast remaining estates of the ,princess ,napraxine1 he will be dangerous40 8,ah60 ,baron ,demidroff tugged at his mustache thoughtfully4 8,failing recovery of gold10 he suggested1 8is there anything else your excellency can recommend as likely to rehabilitate my position80 8,nothing6 ,except1 of course1 the impossible4 ,find the ,princess ,napraxine1 and let her take the control of her property out of ,strogoff's hands1 and he will be crippled permanently4 ,but that is moonshine40 8,perhaps not60 ,the ,baron smiled cheerfully at the ,minister4 8,stranger things have happened4 ,as a matter of fact1 ,i came here to-day to inform your excellency that ,i have good hopes of recovering the ,orkney's gold1 and that ,i believe ,i have found the ,princess ,napraxine40 ,the ,minister did not start4 ,instead he sat and stared at the ,baron as if he would read the other's very soul4 8,humph60 he grunted4 8,humph6 ,humph6 ,humph60 ,then after a moment3 8,the proofs will have to be very strong1 ,baron60 8,they will be indisputable40 ,the other mused a moment4 8,the girl will have to be carefully coached10 he suggested1 8and she will have to be a strong character to carry the thing through4 ,strogoff is a hard man to deceive4 ,and detection would be serious60 ,the ,baron did not resent the clear imputation that the other's words conveyed4 ,he seemed to take distrust as a matter of course4 8,your excellency is mistaken10 he replied suavely4 8,this is no case of imposition4 ,i have really found the ,princess40 8,after twenty years80 8,after twenty years6 ,the proofs are not completed1 but the evidence is already morally conclusive4 ,if ,i can recover the gold1 as ,i believe ,i can1 ,i should be ready even now to submit them to the ,emperor1 confident that he would consider them satisfactory40 ,the ,minister settled back in his chair with a long breath4 ,the thing was too good1 and came too pat to the moment1 to be true4 ,it seemed incredible that the ,princess ,napraxine1 stolen at the age of three1 should be found twenty years later and restored to her rightful position4 ,still1 ,demidroff was a wonderful man1 and could be relied on not to undertake anything unless he had good prospects of carrying it through4 ,if he brought forward a claimant1 that claimant would be well fortified with proofs4 ,and if she won the estates1 the victory would be so overwhelming that it was worth taking some risks to win it4 8,tell me as much of the story as you think best1 ,baron10 he ordered4 ,the ,baron obeyed4 8,as your excellency knows10 he began1 8,i have agents in terrorist circles--practically as many as they have in ours4 ,most things that they do reach me in the course of time1 though usually too late to be of much value4 ,some months ago ,i began to realize ,strogoff's power1 and it seemed to me that it might be well to find the ,princess4 ,it occurred to me to make investigations through one of my agents into the records of the ,brotherhood dating back to the time of the abduction4 ,in consequence ,i learned that the ,princess had been stolen by ,count ,lladislas1 a ,pole1 who had been committed to the fortress of ,st4 ,peter and ,st4 ,paul three years before1 at the behest of the ,grand ,duke ,ivan1 who admired the ,countess ,lladislas4 ,after ,lladislas was reported dead1 the ,countess married the ,grand ,duke morganatically4 8,lladislas escaped and stole the child4 ,possibly he had been misinformed and thought he was stealing his own child2 ,i am not certain as to this4 ,at all events1 he passed her off as such4 ,he took her to ,america1 changed his name to ,shishkin1 and became professor in one of the small colleges4 ,he still lives1 and ,i think can be made to testify4 ,i learned this only yesterday1 and am still considering how to go about the matter4 8,so much for the ,princess4 ,now for the gold4 ,i learned recently1 through the same agent who gave me the first information in the matter of the ,princess1 that the ,brotherhood had obtained a clue to the ,orkney's gold4 ,my information was fragmentary1 but ,i learned that it had dispatched an agent to ,new ,york to see a ,mr4 ,ashton ,caruth1 to whom had been sent a letter which was supposed to tell something about the gold4 ,i cabled ,struve1 our consul-general at ,new ,york1 to get that letter at all hazards4 ,he tried1 but he bungled somewhere4 ,his men killed a valet of ,caruth's1 but did not get the letter4 ,he does not know who did1 but he believes it is now in the hands of a woman calling herself ,marie ,fitzhugh1 who was in ,caruth's apartments that night1 and who is probably the agent of the ,brotherhood4 ,she has not been identified yet1 but she will be soon4 ,struve is keeping a close watch on her1 and thinks that sooner or later she will lead us to the gold4 8,so the case stands4 ,i am awaiting developments4 ,any day--any hour--news may come4 ,did ,i speak too strongly when ,i said ,i had hopes80 ,the ,minister sprang to his feet and thrust out his hand enthusiastically4 ,naturally optimistic1 he was already certain of triumph4 8,hopes60 he cried4 8,hopes6 ,they are more than hopes1 my dear ,baron2 they spell triumph40 8,i think so40 ,the ,baron rose4 8,i have three months' time10 he added4 8,much may be done in three months40 8,much indeed6 ,keep me advised40 ,the ,baron went out1 but in ten minutes he was back with a paper in his hand4 8,i found this on my desk10 he cried4 8,it came in half an hour ago4 ,read it40 ,the message ran as follows3 ,,new ,,york4--,shishkin announces departure to dredge in ,baltic for scientific purposes4 ,goes on yacht of ,ashton ,caruth4 ,takes daughter with him4 ,,chapter ,,twelve ,the ,sea ,spume1 with its curiously assorted passengers1 sailed from ,new ,york on ,saturday4 ,besides ,caruth1 it carried ,marie ,fitzhugh1 ,professor ,shishkin1 his pretended daughter1 ,thomas ,wilkins1 and several bewhiskered individuals whose names ended in ski or vitch4 ,they were the divers whom ,miss ,fitzhugh had selected and ,professor ,shishkin had brought along ostensibly to explore the bottom of the ,baltic for proofs of his theory of rising sea-floors4 ,caruth felt sure that they were nihilists and suspected them of having bombs on their persons1 but it was too late to balk at that4 ,the yacht was swift and the weather fine1 and the miles fell behind with gratifying regularity4 ,the sun shone bright by day1 and the moon cast silvery gleams by night4 ,in short1 the astronomy of the trip was all that could be desired4 ,as soon as the yacht was out of sight of land1 the ,professor1 who was a born sailor1 took occasion to explain matters a little more fully to ,miss ,lee1 who likewise seemed not to feel the motion of the vessel4 ,he explained them not because he wanted to do so1 but because he could not help himself4 ,the girl was altogether too clever not to suspect that something was being kept back4 ,in any event1 she must very soon find out that the yacht was going to dredge for something besides sea creatures4 ,unless told enough to satisfy her1 she would surely ask questions that might show her ignorance of matters concerning which ,olga could scarcely be supposed to be ignorant4 ,it was better to tell her something of the objects of the trip rather than to risk the possible effects of her inquisitiveness4 ,he told her that the ,sea ,spume was going to search for a vessel that had been wrecked a year or two before1 with a large sum in gold on her4 ,he admitted frankly that he himself had come in order that by his scientific reputation he might conceal the true object of the trip4 ,he meant to go so far and no farther4 ,but he had not reckoned on ,miss ,lee4 ,she heard him out2 then she turned questioner4 8,these heart-to-heart talks are all right10 she remarked1 8if they are all right4 ,but if they ain't1 they're punk4 ,i'm from ,missouri1 y'know1 and ,i've got to be shown4 ,why d'ye want to hide the object of your trip8 ,who owns this gold you're after80 ,the ,professor hesitated4 8,my friends own it10 he answered at last4 8,then why don't they go after it openly8 ,a man's got a right to his own1 ain't he8 ,what's the need of all this masquerading80 ,the ,professor squirmed4 ,the question1 though natural1 was not what he had expected4 ,pitilessly the girl went on3 8,who are you afraid of8 ,who's likely to interfere with you80 8,well60 ,professor ,shishkin was desperate4 8,well60 he admitted4 8,i might as well tell you that our title to the gold is disputed1 and we are likely to have trouble if it is known that we are after it4 ,it is really ours1 but our enemies are unscrupulous and dangerous1 and they could make things very unpleasant for us4 ,they would have gotten the gold long ago if they had known just where it was40 8,humph6 ,then you do know just where it is80 8,we think we do40 ,miss ,lee considered a while4 8,it ain't good enough10 she remarked4 8,i've studied geography1 and ,i've been looking up the ,baltic lately4 ,there's too much ,russovitsky about this game4 ,i'll bet a box of taffy there's a nihilist plot mixed in it somewhere40 8,sh60 ,the ,professor's face had changed1 and he held up his hand warningly4 8,there'll be suspicion enough on that point before long1 ,i fear10 he whispered4 8,don't start it any sooner than it can be helped40 8,but is it true80 8,i can't tell you4 ,you must draw your own conclusions4 ,if it is true1 would you draw back8 ,the cause of the revolution is the cause of freedom40 8,humph6 ,maybe so4 ,i'll think about it4 ,but--,i want to know4 ,what'll the ,czarski do to us if he catches us80 8,nothing4 ,we'll lose the gold1 but nothing more4 ,we are ,american citizens on an ,american vessel on the high seas4 ,no one will dare to touch us40 8,well1 where do ,i come in8 ,what's my part in the melodrama80 8,you80 ,the ,professor was amazed4 8,why1 my dear young lady1 my daughter wanted to marry and didn't want to come4 ,i told you all this40 8,ye-es4 ,you told me why she didn't want to come4 ,but you ain't told me why you want everybody to think she did come40 ,the ,professor hesitated1 and the girl put her finger on the weak spot4 8,you didn't bring her because you thought it was too dangerous10 she remarked shrewdly2 8and you didn't want others to know how risky you thought it was4 ,and you picked me for the goat4 ,ain't that it80 ,the ,professor leaned forward4 8,not exactly10 he explained4 8,it would be very dangerous for her to visit ,russia4 ,being what she is and who she is1 it would be very dangerous4 ,for you1 it is not so4 ,danger may threaten you1 but you can always escape by declaring who you are4 ,with her it is different4 ,besides0--he spoke slowly and impressively--8,i have reasons--reasons that ,i assure you are crucial--for having it thought that she is with us4 ,i implore you to keep the secret4 ,it might and probably would cost her her life if certain persons on board suspected the truth4 ,you will keep faith80 8,oh1 sure6 ,i'll keep faith4 ,you needn't worry about that4 ,especially if that stuck-up ,fitzhugh woman is one of the #8certain persons4'0 ,the ,professor said nothing more4 ,he was by no means satisfied with the situation2 but1 then1 he had been dissatisfied with it from the first4 ,it was a mere choice of evils1 and1 he told himself despondently1 in trying to better matters he was only too likely to make them worse4 ,nothing but the absolute necessity of keeping the real ,olga out of ,russia would have ever driven him to such a desperate scheme as this4 ,it was really more desperate than he knew1 though not more so than he might have guessed had he known of the relations that were developing between ,miss ,lee and ,thomas ,wilkins4 ,these two had drawn very close together during the trip4 ,while neither would have endured for a moment any intimation that they were not as good as any one breathing1 still neither could help feeling more or less out of place in their new surroundings4 ,the girl saw this more clearly and felt it more sharply than the man4 ,she recognized the fact that these people were lucky enough to possess what she had longed for all her life--money and social position--and concluded that their ways must be correct ways4 ,therefore she set herself to study them and to mould herself by their standards4 ,the conditions were peculiar1 and perhaps she might grasp the money and the position if she once fitted herself for them4 ,wilkins1 on the other hand1 had no yearnings for the social altitudes4 ,it never occurred to him to copy any one else's manners4 ,he only felt vaguely uncomfortable1 more or less seasick1 and very much bored4 ,therefore he welcomed the companionship of the one person among the cabin passengers with whom he somehow felt himself to be on a plane4 ,as the voyage continued1 this intimacy increased4 ,caruth noticed it and vaguely wondered at it2 but then he had wondered from the first at the rather singular manners and conversation of the ,professor's daughter4 ,miss ,fitzhugh noticed it1 and did not like it2 just why1 she scarcely knew4 ,but neither she nor ,caruth made any effort to check it4 ,supposing ,miss ,lee to be the ,professor's daughter and therefore devoted to his cause1 they naturally were glad of anything that tended to bind ,wilkins closer to their cause4 ,so matters ran along till nearly the end of the voyage4 ,cattegat and ,skagerrak had been traversed1 ,copenhagen was a blur of light on the clouds behind them2 the widening sea space before them showed that the broad ,baltic lay close at hand4 ,miss ,lee and ,wilkins sat together on the quarter-deck watching the moonlight as it shone white on the wake of the ,sea ,spume4 ,for some time neither had spoken4 ,at last ,wilkins broke the silence4 8,lady10 he said1 8,i s'pose your pa's told you how ,i come to be on this here trip80 ,florence nodded4 ,the ,professor had not told her1 but it seemed unnecessary to admit that fact4 ,wilkins went on4 8,i'll own right up to you10 he explained1 8that when ,i come ,i warn't by no means satisfied that ,i was gettin' a square deal2 a ten per cent rake-off ain't very high when you hold the joker and nobody else can get nothin' unless you helps4 ,then ,i wasn't satisfied about ,jim4 ,that ,miss ,fitzhugh swears her friends didn't kill him2 but1 then1 she naturally would1 you know1 and ,i've got my doubts4 ,still1 there didn't seem nothin' else for me to do but to come along1 and give 'em all the rope they wanted1 and watch my chance to find out about ,jim and to get a bigger share of the gold4 ,but ,i want to say now that that's all to the past4 ,your friends is my friends1 and ,i'll stick by 'em4 ,you understand80 ,florence did not understand--how should she8 ,she had never heard of 8,jim10 nor of his death2 nor did she know that ,wilkins held the key to the location of the treasure4 ,she was rapidly finding out things1 however2 so she held her peace and let the plainsman talk on4 8,i promised to show them ,bill's letter as soon as we got into the ,baltic10 he continued4 8,that means to-night4 ,i guess ,i'd have done it any way1 but now ,i know you1 ,i ain't hesitatin' no more40 ,florence found her tongue4 8,it's ,bill's letter that tells where the wreck is1 isn't it80 she guessed4 8,sure6 ,the place ain't much more than a day from here4 ,i'm going to show it to them pretty soon4 ,but first ,i wanted to say somethin' to you40 ,florence scarcely heard him4 ,an idea1 vague and unformulated1 was stirring in her brain4 ,could any gain accrue to her personally from the fact that ,wilkins alone knew the whereabouts of the gold8 ,while she considered1 the man went on4 8,lady10 he declared earnestly1 8,i'm a rough fellow1 and ,i know ,i ain't half good enough for you4 ,i know your dad would have a fit if he thought ,i was makin' love to you2 and your fine friends would think ,i was crazy4 ,maybe ,i am2 but it's for you to say4 ,i'm a sheepman1 lady1 and many a night when ,i've been bedded down alongside a camp-fire1 watching them muttons masticatin' and baain' to each other1 ,i've thought how nice it would be to go home to find somebody waiting for me4 ,and the minute ,i see you and hear you talk so bright and clever1 says ,i to myself3 #8,that's the girl for me4'0 ,wilkins paused for an instant and then went on4 8,i ain't no poor man1 lady4 ,i've got twenty-five thousand baa-baas in ,colorado4 ,i didn't come on this trip for the money1 though half a million ain't to be snuz at4 ,so you'll understand that when ,i gets my share home ,i'll be mighty well off4 ,now can't you and me frame it up together8 ,say the word1 and ,i'll make 'em consent before ,i gives up the letter telling where the gold is40 ,wilkins paused and waited for an answer4 ,his face was as expressionless as ever1 but in spite of himself a tremor crept into his voice4 ,plainly he was very much in earnest4 ,florence1 on the other hand1 was by no means ready to answer4 ,to keep 8him0 guessing was one of the cardinal precepts of the school in which she had been trained4 8,no10 she answered slowly2 8not yet40 ,a flush came on the ,westerner's face4 8,you mean----0 he began4 8,i mean this ain't bargain day10 exclaimed the girl impatiently4 8,i ain't saying a word against you1 but ,i'll have to think a long time before ,i make up my mind4 ,when ,i do1 it won't be anybody on this yacht that'll stop me4 ,but ,i guess ,i'll have to leave you on the anxious bench for a while40 8,all right1 lady6 ,take your time40 8,i'm going to4 ,but ,i'm goin' to tell you something right now1 and that is that ,i ain't stuck on this crowd ,i'm with40 ,wilkins's jaw dropped4 8,but your pa----0 8,popper ain't the man he was4 ,he ain't nothing but a deuce in this game4 ,he ain't going to make anything out of it at all4 ,do you know who is80 8,them revolutionists1 ,i guess--what ain't grafted on the way40 8,well6 ,i'm not in this to help any old revolution4 ,i tell you right now1 ,mr4 ,wilkins1 that it's me for the gold if ,i can get it to ,noo ,york40 8,ain't you afraid of them bombovitches80 demanded the man4 8,me6 ,not in ,noo ,york1 ,i ain't4 ,in ,russia1 ,i ain't saying40 ,a delighted grin came over ,wilkins's face4 8,say60 he exclaimed4 8,you're all rightski4 ,they tried to scare me with them fellows1 and ,i let 'em think they had1 but1 ,lord sakes1 they ain't troubling me none4 ,if they come to ,colorado after me1 the ,czar'll have one less to put in his dungeonoffski40 8,then0--the girl held out her hand--8it's understood4 ,we'll stand together4 ,if we get a chance to skiddoo with the gold1 we'll do it4 ,an' ,i'll marry you the day we get it to ,noo ,york40 ,,chapter ,,thirteen ,black and high1 the islands of the ,aland ,archipelago rise out of the ,baltic4 ,all winter long they lie bound about with ice4 ,with the spring1 the ice1 borne southward by the waking streams of the north1 grinds past them1 scraping and tearing1 rending all that lies in its path4 ,the short summer follows1 when the great bowl of the ,baltic rocks to the horizon like molten gold2 when the black rocks take on a coat of living green2 and the sea birds scream as they flash through the surf that breaks against them or tears through the narrow channels between4 ,on the eastern edge of the archipelago rise two islands1 ,burndo and ,ivono1 ,siamese twins whose tie has not been wholly severed4 ,the channel between them lies almost east and west and not north and south1 and so has been spared the full scour of the annual ice-flood4 ,cut deep at each seaward end1 in the middle it is interrupted by a dike of harder rock that as yet persists against the inevitable and at low tide changes it into two inlets that nearly touch each other4 ,into the western inlet1 driven by her slowing engines1 and urged by waves and tide1 the ,orkney had sped two years before2 had impaled herself upon a sunken rock2 and1 shuddering backward1 had sunk with her crew and her passengers and her million pounds sterling of gold4 ,no eye had seen her sink4 ,the little fishing village of ,burndo1 scattered along the western inlet1 close to the central neck1 had slept soundly1 lulled by the roar of the wind4 ,the watchman at the beacon tower on the heights of ,ivono ,island had dozed1 not watching4 ,if cries arose from the sinking ship2 if men battled for life in the surf2 if the waves hammered and the wind tore1 it passed unnoticed4 ,when morning dawned the ,orkney lay ten fathoms deep1 and the wreckage and bodies belonging to her1 caught in the tide1 had been swept away toward ,copenhagen and the vast ,atlantic4 ,two succeeding winters had torn her masts away and ravished her upper decks of all their superstructure4 ,but the hull lay intact1 buried far beneath the green water4 ,for five days the ,sea ,spume had lain moored close to the head of the channel1 within sight of the village1 while the divers searched the bottom hour after hour until the last ray of daylight vanished4 ,one of them was really a scientific assistant1 and to him was allotted the task of making such observations and collecting such specimens as would naturally have been desired by ,professor ,shishkin1 had the object of the expedition actually been that which it purported to be4 ,indeed1 so far as the ,professor was concerned1 the work was conducted in good faith1 the researches planned really being in exact line with his long-cherished ambitions4 ,the other two divers1 under direction of ,captain ,wilson1 commander of the ,sea ,spume1 who had necessarily been taken into confidence some time before1 lost no time in setting about their search for the wreck4 ,in less than half an hour after the ,sea ,spume was in position1 they were hard at work at the bottom of the inlet4 ,it was not to be expected that the search would be brief4 ,the inlet 7or high-tide channel71 though comparatively small1 was large as compared with the ,orkney4 ,its bottom was rocky1 with irregular humps and unexpected holes1 making search slow and difficult4 ,even if the unlucky steamer had run upon the beach itself1 it must have slipped back and been carried by the current to a greater or less distance--just how far no one could predict4 ,the divers might chance on it at their first descent1 or might not discover it for a week or more4 ,and after it was found would come the toilsome task of salvaging the gold4 ,five million dollars would weigh about ten tons1 and1 even lightened as it would be by being in the water1 it would not be the work of a day to move it1 even if it could be readily come at1 which was improbable4 ,the adventurers had laid their plans with a full knowledge of these facts4 ,had there been any chance of speedy work1 they might have tried to conceal their presence1 but under the circumstances this would be impossible4 ,therefore they had resolved to proclaim their presence and even to welcome visitors if any should appear1 up to the moment before the gold began to be brought aboard4 ,besides the advisability of making their presence known to the authorities1 there was always the off-chance that careful watch as the launch sped to and fro in the inlet might disclose the ,orkney lying like a dark shadow beneath the water4 ,the fisher boats1 of course1 had not discovered it1 but this argued little1 because the boats generally used the other1 or eastern1 outlet1 rather than the western2 and further1 perhaps1 because the fishermen were not looking for anything of the kind4 ,so soon as possible after the divers had gone below the water1 ,caruth ordered out a steam launch to make the quarter-mile trip to the head of the inlet and visit the village which he knew lay there1 though screened from view of the yacht by a turn in the channel4 ,caruth had intended to go to the village alone on the first trip1 leaving ,marie ,fitzhugh 7who thought it best not to show herself7 and ,captain ,wilson to superintend affairs on board the yacht and deal with any emergencies that might arise4 ,it was no part of his plan to take ,wilkins along1 but when that individual joined him1 evidently intending to go1 he did not quite know how to refuse4 ,so far1 he had no reason to question the plainsman's good faith4 ,wilkins had produced his brother's letter at the time promised1 and it had proved to be all that he had claimed for it4 ,caruth could not risk exciting any animosity by showing unwillingness to trust the man on shore4 ,suddenly1 in the midst of his hesitation1 he recalled the westerner's marked liking for the pretended ,olga ,shishkin1 and at once sought out that young woman and invited her to go on the trip to the village4 8,you'll be doing us all a favor if you'll come1 ,miss ,shishkin10 he urged4 8,of course we are all loyal and all that1 but0--he dropped his voice--8none of us know very much about ,wilkins1 and it would make things a good deal safer for your father and the rest of us if you'd go along and keep an eye on him4 ,he's all right1 you know1 but----0 8,but you're on the anxious bench all the same4 ,i know how it is myself4 ,sure6 ,i'll go with pleasure1 ,mr4 ,caruth40 ,the run up to the village was brief1 and soon the launch grated against a little wooden pier and disembarked her passengers1 who started toward the cluster of buildings that seemed to constitute the village4 8,there's the church and the store and the post-office and the mayor's house10 explained ,caruth1 pointing out the several edifices4 8,there's no mistaking any of them1 once you know the type4 ,i'll have to go to the mayor first1 to report my arrival1 and give him a chance to inform ,st4 ,petersburg4 ,you needn't come in unless you like4 ,it will take only a few minutes1 and then we can see the town40 ,by the time the party had reached the village1 quite a little crowd had collected4 ,visitors are few on ,burndo ,island1 and the news of their coming spread apace4 ,curious faces appeared at doors and windows1 and gaping children lined the way4 ,caruth vanished into the house of the mayor1 where he found that his business would take a much longer time than he had expected4 ,the mayor1 a stupid and suspicious peasant1 spoke no ,english1 and ,caruth spoke no ,russian1 and there was a delay until an interpreter could be found4 ,this interpreter proved to be a slim fellow1 whose appearance1 despite the fact that his features were hidden by a profusion of beard1 nevertheless impressed ,caruth with a vague sense of familiarity4 ,for an instant1 indeed1 the young fellow was sure that he had seen the man before2 the next moment1 however1 he dismissed the idea as preposterous4 ,but he quickly adverted to his former feeling when the interpreter addressed him in very good ,american4 8,mornin'1 ,cap'n10 he said1 with a nod4 8,this old son of a gun wants to know who you are and what you want here1 anyhow40 ,caruth gave his name and explained the object of his trip2 then added3 8,who are you8 ,you talk like an ,american40 8,american6 ,well1 ,i guess yes6 ,me for the starry banner every time4 ,i'm from little old ,noo ,york2 ,i am4 ,but wait a minute till ,i tell his pie-face what you say40 ,he turned and translated what ,caruth had said into halting ,russian1 and then appeared to render into ,english something that the ,mayor said in return4 8,he says you are a liar or crazy10 he translated cheerfully4 8,he puts it kinder easier1 but that's what it means all right4 ,say1 that yarn you told me about hunting things at the bottom of the bay is straight1 ,i suppose40 8,of course it's straight40 8,well1 ,i'll try to sneeze it to him again1 though ,i ain't much on the ,russian4 ,it tastes too much like it sounds1 and that's enough4 ,say6 ,i suppose you belong to the safety vault crowd and have barrels of simoleons at home60 ,caruth flushed2 then laughed4 ,the man's impudence was refreshing4 8,well10 he admitted1 8,i've got enough to keep me going40 8,i guessed so4 ,wait a minute4 ,i must keep the old geezer satisfied40 ,he turned and for a moment the language of the ,czar held the floor4 ,finally the man resumed4 8,it's that touch of yours about rising sea bottoms that gets him10 he explained4 8,he says he's lived here all his life and never saw the sea-bottom rise yet1 'cept when the tide goes out4 ,it's a tough sort of a gag to spring on one of these two-by-four government officers what rank somewhere between jack high and a bobtail flush and is intelligenced according4 ,not but what ,i reckon it's true enough4 ,but about this here question of wealth4 ,if you've got it to burn1 ,i don't reckon you'd care to pyramid it a million or so1 would you80 ,caruth was startled1 his unquiet conscience making him suspect that everything any one said to him had reference to his true errand4 8,i don't know10 he answered cautiously4 8,what have you got8 ,a gold mine80 ,the man laughed shortly4 8,a gold mine60 he echoed4 8,a gold mine6 ,well1 ,i guess you might call it that4 ,what ,i want to know is1 do you care to go in on it8 ,or if you don't1 will you help out an ,american marooned on this durned holeski80 ,caruth nodded uneasily4 8,oh1 ,i suppose so10 he answered slowly4 8,i'm always willing to help a fellow countryman4 ,but you'll have to explain40 ,the man nodded4 8,i'll explain all right10 he promised4 8,but you've got to answer all the questions on this sheet of paper first or you'll have the ,czarski in your hairski40 ,the questions were long and tedious1 and when they were finished ,caruth rose with a sigh of relief4 ,the interpreter rose also4 8,i've told his joblots that you want me to show you round the mud puddle10 he explained4 8,that'll give me a chance to spiel4 ,come along40 ,the two walked to the door4 ,as they walked out1 ,wilkins met them4 8,miss ,shishkin's looking at the church10 he explained4 8,she's----0 ,he broke off and his face grew red1 then white1 as his eyes fell on the interpreter4 ,once or twice he swallowed2 then coughed4 8,d---- that ,russian tobacco60 he exclaimed4 8,it's been strangling me ever since ,i sniffed it half an hour ago40 ,caruth1 who had waited smilingly till the plainsman recovered1 glanced toward the church4 8,shall we go over and join ,miss ,shishkin80 he suggested4 8,i've got an interpreter here who can---- ,hello6 what's become of the fellow80 ,the interpreter had vanished4 ,in the few instants that ,caruth's attention was centred on ,wilkins1 he had slipped away1 probably around one of the houses that stood close by4 ,at first ,caruth supposed that the disappearance would be but temporary1 but as the minutes went by without sign1 he was forced to conclude that it was both permanent and intentional4 ,when at last doubt no longer remained1 the young fellow laughed angrily4 8,let him go1 confound him60 he exclaimed4 8,he was half crazy1 anyhow4 ,come6 ,let's go to the church40 ,,chapter ,,fourteen ,neither ,wilkins nor ,florence had waited long for ,caruth to return4 ,in fact1 that gentleman had scarcely vanished into the mayor's office when ,florence had turned to her companion4 8,gee60 she remarked4 8,me for the breakaway4 ,these high-brows gets on me nerves4 ,let's see the town--even if it ain't all to the giddy1 it's better than the old boat4 ,gee6 but it's slow60 ,miss ,lee1 it will be observed1 was glad to pretermit1 when opportunity offered1 the forms of polite speech that she was rapidly acquiring4 ,wilkins looked at her suspiciously4 8,you ain't seemed in no ways bored10 he suggested4 8,oh1 ,i got to put up a front1 of course10 rejoined the girl indifferently2 8but if it wasn't for you1 ,i guess ,i'd fade away4 ,this style of life's all right for those that likes it1 ,i guess1 but it's me for ,coney ,island every time40 ,they had reached the church now and were peering in at the open door4 ,miss ,lee was not impressed2 she had seen ,russian churches in her beloved ,new ,york1 and mentally compared them with this one1 much to its disadvantage4 ,wilkins1 however1 found it all new and interesting4 ,the candles ranged before the icons1 the gilt and glass of the altar1 the tawdry trappings1 all impressed him1 and he advanced into the building1 studying its details4 ,illustration3 8,,pardon1 ,,mademoiselle6 ,i ,,must ,,speak ,,to ,,you ,,secretly0 ,scarcely had he left the girl when a man dressed in the habiliments of a priest stepped to her side1 holding out his hat1 as if for alms4 ,as ,florence stared at him1 he muttered swiftly1 in excellent ,english3 8,pardon1 mademoiselle6 ,i must speak to you secretly4 ,you have been deceived4 ,you are not ,professor ,shishkin's daughter4 ,you are a princess of ,russia with a huge fortune4 ,i have come from ,st4 ,petersburg to talk with you4 ,give me a chance1 ,i beg40 ,miss ,lee turned away4 8,say1 ,mr4 ,wilkins10 she called4 8,i left my jacket in the boat4 ,would you mind chasin' down and gettin' it for me8 ,i'll wait here for you40 ,when the plainsman had gone1 ,florence turned to the priest4 8,make good10 she ordered briefly4 8,you look like the ,caliph of ,bagdad1 and ,i guess you can do the magic4 ,if ,i'm a face-card instead of a two-spot1 of course ,i want to know it40 ,the priest did not answer ,florence's speech in words4 ,turning1 he stepped to the door and threw out his hand4 8,begone60 he shouted to the curious crowd1 and at the word it melted away4 ,then he came back4 8,will you not be seated1 ,princess80 he inquired courteously1 pointing toward a bench that stood against the wall4 8,i regret that ,i have no better accommodation to offer you1 but----0 ,florence took the seat4 8,cut it out10 she advised4 8,get on with the fairy tale40 ,the priest removed his cap and threw back his vestments1 revealing himself as a well-preserved1 courtly gentleman of perhaps fifty years of age4 ,beautiful white hair curled about his brow1 while his beard and mustaches were the pink of military perfection4 ,florence1 studying him furtively1 found him very good to look upon4 ,to her he represented romance1 aristocracy1 refinement--all that she had never had in her sordid life4 ,he was too old to play ,prince ,charming1 she concluded1 but he was of the type to which she believed ,prince ,charming belonged4 ,meanwhile the priest was seating himself4 8,no fairy tale4 ,princess10 he contradicted deferentially--8unless we liken it to ,cinderella and transform the beautiful1 wronged young lady into the princess4 ,rather let us call it a masquerade4 ,i am not what ,i seem4 ,you are not what you seem4 ,your whole expedition is not what it seems4 ,we are all masked4 ,but the time for unmasking is at hand40 ,florence stared at him languidly4 8,i suppose you know what you mean10 she remarked insolently4 8,but ,i don't40 8,how should you until ,i explain8 ,first1 ,princess1 ,i am not a priest40 8,i knew it4 ,what are you8 ,a wizard80 8,i am ,baron ,ivan ,demidroff1 chief of the third section of the ,russian police4 ,perhaps you know what that means4 ,your yacht has been watched ever since it entered the ,baltic1 and ,i am here for the express purpose of meeting you4 ,if ,i may advise1 ,princess1 it is not well to scoff always4 ,this affair is not one for laughter40 8,oh1 splash6 ,excuse these tears of regret60 mocked the girl4 8,go ahead6 ,i'll be good40 ,for a moment the ,baron studied the girl's face4 ,then he shrugged his shoulders4 ,privately he was revising his former opinions about ,american training and manners4 ,he had not met ,florence's type before4 8,you have always supposed yourself the daughter of ,professor ,shishkin1 have you not1 ,princess80 he questioned4 ,florence dodged4 8,well1 ,i got a right to10 she answered4 8,he told me so himself40 8,i know4 ,he did you a grave injustice4 ,listen1 ,princess6 ,twenty years ago1 the man you suppose to be your father engaged in a plot to murder my imperial master the ,czar4 ,the plot was detected1 and its authors were thrown into prison4 ,three years after1 ,shishkin escaped4 ,in some way he had gotten the idea that his highness1 the ,grand ,duke ,ivan1 had been responsible for his arrest4 ,it was not true1 but he believed it4 ,so he slipped into the palace of the ,grand ,duke and stole away his daughter1 the ,princess ,yves ,napraxine4 ,he escaped with her to ,america and passed her off as his daughter4 ,you were that child6 ,you were and are that princess1 ,yves ,napraxine1 daughter of the late ,grand ,duke ,ivan1 cousin to his imperial majesty the ,czar1 and heiress to a great fortune4 ,all this would have been yours from birth up had not that wicked old man stolen you away and robbed you of it40 ,florence closed her eyes4 ,she felt faint4 ,ever since ,professor ,shishkin had approached her in ,new ,york1 she had been wondering to what the adventure would lead4 ,naturally romantic1 in spite of her flippancy1 she had thought out half a dozen possible terminations1 the least of which left her rich and honored4 ,but never in her wildest imaginings had she dreamed of being identified as a princess and a cousin of the ,czar4 ,a delightful excitement raced through her veins4 ,in imagination she was already receiving homage and declining the hands of great nobles4 ,then1 all at once1 the 8pipe went out40 ,none of this could be hers4 ,it all belonged to the real ,olga1 married and settled three thousand miles away4 ,the truth must of course soon appear2 all she could do was to get all the pleasure possible out of the situation while it lasted4 ,perhaps she might manage to feather her nest by that time4 ,her thoughts flew to the ,professor4 ,so this was the reason why he had wanted to keep the real ,olga out of ,russia8 ,he had dreaded just such a disclosure as this4 ,well1 she would help him as long as she could--that is1 as long as his interests did not clash with hers4 ,when they did1 of course---- ,the ,baron had been watching her closely1 trying to read her changing face4 8,ah ha60 he exclaimed4 8,you understand now perhaps some things you could not guess before4 ,perhaps you remember details of your childhood1 almost forgotten4 ,you were three years old when you were stolen1 and some recollection sticks in your mind4 ,is it not so80 8,yes1 some recollection sticks in my mind40 ,florence wondered grimly what the ,baron would say if he knew what her recollections really were4 8,the villain has robbed you of your birthright10 he repeated1 with what seemed to be rising wrath4 8,but now it shall all be restored4 ,yes60 ,florence nodded1 not trusting herself to speak4 ,the situation was too new and strange1 and she must move circumspectly4 ,besides1 she was certain the ,baron had more to say4 ,she had been taught in a hard school1 and was very sure that his actions were not disinterested4 ,so she merely waited4 ,baron ,demidroff did not delay4 8,yes10 he reiterated4 8,it shall all be restored1 and the robber shall be punished4 ,but there is more to tell1 ,princess4 ,to whom1 think you1 belongs the gold for which the ,sea ,spume is seeking80 8,what gold80 ,florence looked innocently into the ,baron's eyes4 ,she would admit nothing until compelled to do so4 8,what gold8 ,mon ,dieu1 ,princess1 do you think we police are fools8 ,every step of the so-called ,miss ,fitzhugh and of ,monsieur ,caruth has been known to us4 ,almost we captured the letter on the fire-escape in ,new ,york4 ,but ,monsieur le valet was too cunning for us40 ,florence raised her eyes4 8,so10 she murmured thoughtfully1 8it was your agents who murdered ,wilkins80 8,executed him1 ,princess4 ,he was a robber and a murderer1 with a long criminal record4 ,we knew him well4 ,his robbery of ,monsieur ,caruth was his last crime4 ,my men observed him from the fire-escape and acted summarily4 ,that is all40 ,florence did not understand half of this4 ,she had been told nothing of ,wilkins's murder1 her only knowledge being inferred from what his brother had said to her about it three days before4 ,she laid away in her mind the information the ,baron so freely imparted1 and waited4 8,so you let the letter get by you10 she suggested4 ,the ,baron flung up his hands4 8,alas1 yes1 ,princess4 ,but we watched and waited1 and when ,miss ,fitzhugh organized her little expedition1 we guessed that she had somehow gotten the letter4 ,but1 mademoiselle1 revenons nos moulons6 ,do you know whose gold it is they seek80 ,florence shook her head4 8,it is yours6 ,yes1 ,princess1 ,i swear it4 ,your illustrious father had never given up the hope of finding you1 and when he died1 ten years ago1 his will directed that his estate should be set aside for you or be spent in seeking for you4 ,when ,russia's needs became great owing to the war with ,japan1 my imperial master directed that money be borrowed for the government on your ,english estates4 ,if you were found1 he would pay it back2 if you were not found1 the estate would in time revert to the ,crown4 ,that gold was carried by the ,orkney1 wrecked by the nihilists1 and is now being stolen from you by your pretended father and his rascally associates4 ,it makes one's blood boil1 ,princess60 ,for obvious reasons1 ,florence's blood did not boil quite so ardently as the ,baron's seemed to do4 ,plainly he was trying to excite her animosity against the members of her party1 for reasons not yet disclosed1 but not difficult to guess in a general way4 ,she was sure that he was preparing to ask her to play traitor1 and she was debating inwardly whether or not she would find it profitable to do so4 8,it's a real fervent tale10 she remarked encouragingly4 8,gee6 wouldn't it make a hit on the ten-twent'-thirt' circuit4 ,think of the ,czarski doing the hands-across-the-sea act to an ,american girl6 ,by the way1 ,i forgot how you said you found me60 ,baron ,demidroff hesitated4 8,it is a long story10 he boggled4 8,we got a hint from a friend of ours in the nihilist councils1 and we followed it up4 ,the proofs were completed only after your party sailed from ,america4 ,the last ,unit came by cable a few days ago40 ,florence rose4 8,well10 she said1 8if it satisfies you1 ,i certainly ain't got any kick coming4 ,but ,i guess you'd better get down to brass tacks and be done with it4 ,do ,i get this estate and princely rank1 or don't ,i8 ,talk business6 ,i'm no ingnue40 ,the ,baron's eyes lighted up4 ,at last he thought he understood4 ,he rose4 8,ah60 he exclaimed4 8,you will treat with us6 ,that is well4 ,you will get everything if you help us6 ,we want that gold4 ,the ,emperor is responsible to you for it1 and he has charged us to recover it4 ,is it in the ,inlet here80 8,you can search me60 8,what80 8,oh1 gee1 ,i don't know6 ,nobody knows6 ,they're hunting for it here1 but ,i don't think they're certain it ain't somewhere else40 8,didn't the letter tell80 8,i haven't seen any letter40 8,ah60 ,the ,baron was disappointed4 8,well1 no matter60 he went on4 8,you can help me nevertheless4 ,let me know when they find it1 and ,i will do the rest4 ,the moment it is in my hands1 ,i will hand you the proofs that will make you a princess and give you a fortune of forty million rubles--twenty million ,american dollars4 ,will you help us80 ,florence shivered with delight4 ,if she were clever1 she might coax some of those twenty millions to come her way4 ,but matters were still decidedly vague4 8,why can't you seize the yacht now80 she asked4 8,why do you need my help80 8,my dear young lady60 the ,baron exclaimed4 8,we do not know where the wreck is6 ,we do not know that she is in this inlet at all4 ,it may be for a blind that the yacht comes here4 ,if we seize her before she finds the gold1 we know nothing and we get nothing4 ,mr4 ,caruth he draw himself up4 #8,ah ha6' he cries4 #8,you insult the ,american flag6' ,the ,american newspapers raise the--the war-whoop--and we--we can answer nothing4 ,we have no proof4 ,but when the gold is once aboard1 we get it and we can catch ,mr4 ,caruth red-handed4 ,he is caught stealing our gold4 ,he can say nothing4 ,if he makes trouble1 the ,american papers are dumb or they take our side4 ,russia's friendship with ,america is not disturbed4 ,it is only a pirate that is caught4 ,ah1 no1 no1 ,princess4 ,we must proceed slowly4 ,we must know our ground before we move4 ,we must wait until the gold is found4 ,now what say you80 ,florence considered4 ,clearly1 nothing was to be gained by refusing the ,baron outright4 ,she must have time to decide on her course of action4 ,if it appeared best to betray the yacht1 she would not hesitate to do so2 but she had no intention of playing the traitor unless she saw her profit4 ,she must study over the situation4 ,meanwhile1 she would appear to accept4 8,all right10 she said briefly4 8,i'll go with you4 ,i'll let you know when the gold is found4 ,how'll ,i do it80 ,if ,baron ,demidroff was gratified1 he did not show it4 ,he was no longer treating ,florence as a girl1 but as a woman and a fellow conspirator4 8,your stateroom is the second on the port side1 ,i believe10 he said tersely4 8,very well4 ,when the gold is found1 hang a small red flag from your port-hole or show a red light there by night4 ,it is understood8 ,yes8 ,but your friend approaches4 ,adieu1 ,madame la ,princesse60 ,as he walked up the aisle toward the altar1 ,miss ,lee rose to greet ,wilkins4 8,gee60 she exclaimed4 8,let's get back on board4 ,this place is as dead as a puddle duckski60 ,,chapter ,,fifteen ,three days after ,florence's adventure at the church1 that young woman sat on the quarter-deck of the ,sea ,spume1 gazing with unseeing eyes over the lapping water which the descending sun had turned into a golden river stretching away to the west4 ,upon this yellow flood two boats were moving1 and on these ,miss ,lee's eyes were fixed4 ,but her thoughts were far away4 ,not once since ,baron ,demidroff had told his amazing tale had its substance been out of her ears4 ,again and again she had gone over the details1 wondering if by any chance she could make the fairy tale come true4 ,in time she almost persuaded herself that she could4 ,she was sure that she understood at last why the ,professor had not wanted to bring his daughter to ,russia4 ,he had been afraid of this very thing--afraid lest ,olga's relatives should find her and reclaim her4 ,more than ever now1 he would want to keep the substitution secret4 ,and no one else knew of it4 ,florence's heart leaped within her as the possibilities danced before her mind's eye4 ,let her only dare to go ahead and she would have money and wealth4 ,why not8 ,a princess6 ,sharply she drew her breath at the thought4 ,a princess6 ,she6 ,florence ,lee6 ,she who had faced beggary a few short weeks before6 ,princess ,yves ,napraxine6 ,princess ,yves ,napraxine6 ,again and again she wrote the words on the flyleaf of a book that lay in her lap4 ,princess ,yves ,napraxine6 ,if it could be6 ,if it could be6 ,a step on the deck aroused her4 ,hastily she closed the book1 with its tell-tale writing1 and looked up to see ,wilkins close at hand4 ,rapidly he strode to the rail and gazed toward the boats2 then he turned abruptly back and sat down beside the girl4 8,they're getting mighty contiguous10 he declared4 8,i reckon they'll oscillate on it to-night4 ,well1 it don't matter2 everything's ready40 ,curiously ,miss ,lee gazed at him4 8,what in the world are you talking about80 she demanded4 ,wilkins withdrew his eyes from the dancing water and fixed them on the girl4 ,for a moment he looked her in the face2 then he deliberately winked4 ,miss ,lee struck at him4 8,don't get fresh10 she ordered severely4 8,i don't allow gentlemen to wink at me except over a cold bottle4 ,speak out and quit making signs40 ,wilkins chuckled4 8,say6 ,you're all to the good10 he remarked4 8,i'm ready if you are40 8,ready for what80 8,to foreclose on that there promissory note of yourn--that one about the gold4 ,i'm ready to start for ,new ,york if you are4 ,fact is1 ,i'm off to-night60 8,to-night60 8,sure thing6 ,it's me for the broad ,atlantic by the light of the moon this very night4 ,say1 don't you want to shake this gang and come along80 ,the girl paled slightly4 8,tell me what you mean right away10 she ordered crisply4 ,wilkins pointed over the water4 8,you see that right-hand boat pronouncin' around yonder80 he questioned4 8,well1 near's my specification goes1 the ,orkney lies just about under her4 ,unless they're too terrible promiscuous1 they'll find her mighty soon1 and then there'll be goings on worse'n a locoed bronco40 8,how do you know80 ,the girl was leaning over him1 every muscle tense with excitement4 8,how do you know where the ,orkney is1 and why will there be trouble when it is found80 she demanded4 8,because--say1 ,i guess you didn't see a slim1 limpy fellow with a black hirsute adornment on his chin up in the village the day we was up there1 did you8 ,well1 that fellow was ,bill1 my brother ,bill1 the one that wrote the epizootle that brung us here4 ,he wasn't drowned in the ,orkney--,bill wasn't born to be drowned4 ,everybody else was1 but he got on terra cotta1 and he's been hibernating here ever since1 waiting his chance to get away with the gold40 8,the gold60 8,yes6 ,bill's got it4 ,how he done it1 ,i don't know4 ,but he's got it4 ,bill's a man of his hands1 ,bill is6 ,he's got all them nuggets out of the ship and cached 'em ashore4 ,there ain't a speck of dust left on the ,orkney4 ,bill's got it all60 ,amazement gripped ,florence and held her dumb4 ,the gold whose capture was to be the price of proofs of her princesshood had passed into other hands4 ,what was she to do8 ,there was no time to lose4 ,should she betray ,wilkins to ,caruth or to the ,baron8 ,how could she betray him to the ,baron even if she wanted to8 ,should she grasp at the money and let the visionary rank go4 ,she did not question whether she should be true to ,professor ,shishkin4 ,long before1 she had decided that question4 ,abruptly she spoke4 8,well1 what are you going to do80 she demanded4 8,going to run the gold off1 of course10 returned the plainsman4 8,bill's got a boat of sorts--a schooner or pergola or something--and he's got the gold on board by now4 ,i've staked him to buy provisions1 and we're off to-night4 ,bill would have gone before1 but he's been crippled up since the wreck1 and couldn't manage the boat alone4 ,but it's all skeeky now4 ,the scow's lying up here a ways1 just a-waiting for dark and for you and me to join her4 ,if it coincides with your sentiments1 we'll do the fly away act to-night4 ,will you come80 ,miss ,lee considered4 ,of course it would be delightful to be a princess1 but1 after all1 there might be a string tied to ,demidroff's offer1 while there was something substantial about five million dollars in gold4 ,it might be well to pass up the fairy tale and close with ,wilkins4 ,she must consider4 8,you can't cross the ,atlantic in a sloop10 she objected4 8,ain't going to try4 ,we'll just run over the way to ,stockholm to a place ,bill knows of1 and go home from there by steamer4 ,oh1 we've got it all diagnosed out proper4 ,it's a cinch40 8,but0--,florence was thinking aloud--8how are you goin' to get away from the yacht80 8,that's fixed1 too4 ,bill will float down under the cabin windows about ten o'clock1 just before the moon gets on the job1 and we'll drop in on him40 8,but when they find we're gone----0 8,let 'em find4 ,what difference does it make8 ,they may aspirate to get this here gold1 but that don't make it theirs4 ,bill and me's got it1 and ,i guess we'll keep it4 ,why1 say1 there ain't one of 'em'll dare to baa even if they find us1 which they won't4 ,oh1 it's a cinch40 8,perhaps6 ,and yet--say1 ,mr4 ,wilkins1 you've been on the level with me1 and ,i'm going to treat you likewise4 ,don't you be too sure you've got a cinch6 ,there's others besides the folks on this yacht that's after that gold40 ,wilkins did not speak1 but he looked the girl in the eye and waited for her to go on4 8,the ,russian cops are onto their jobs all right4 ,they know what we're after1 and they're watching us all the time4 ,they're ready to swoop down on us the minute we get the gold on board4 ,i guess they've got a dozen boats lying around here40 ,wilkins looked thoughtful4 8,humph60 he said4 8,you're all to the good1 you are4 ,you ain't been wasting no time1 have you8 ,how'd you find out80 8,the priest6 ,that day at the church4 ,he wanted me to help him40 8,and you strung him along1 all right1 didn't you8 ,you would1 of course60 ,he paused1 then went on4 8,well10 he remarked2 8,i don't reckon it makes no difference4 ,they won't be suspecting a fishing schooner of any allusions1 and they won't be aggravatin' us none4 ,they'll be keepin' their optics trained on the yacht circumspectious4 ,we can slip out easy4 ,is it a go80 ,florence held out her hand4 8,it's a go10 she agreed4 8,more6 ,i'll help you to get away4 ,i'll fix things so that the yacht won't have any time to bother us4 ,yes1 it's a go4 ,and now----0 ,swiftly ,florence opened the book that lay in her lap and ripped out the flyleaf with its princely inscription4 ,swiftly she tore it into tiny fragments and tossed it to the breeze that sang through the rigging4 8,there60 she cried1 as the bits besprinkled the water4 8,that's the end of the ,princess ,yves ,napraxine4 ,it's a go40 8,the ,princess which80 8,somebody you never heard of4 ,a bird in the bush4 ,a dream of the impossible4 ,a romance from the ,chambermaid's ,own4 ,let her go4 ,i'll be ready when you are40 ,,chapter ,,sixteen ,that night the wreck was found4 ,seated in the cabin1 close beside the telephone that led over the side down to the divers toiling beneath the darkening water1 ,caruth received the thrilling news4 ,instantly hoarse orders rang through the ship1 and the crew sprang to their stations4 ,the furnace doors were flung open and brawny stokers hurled coal upon the banked fires until the hiss of steam told that the ,sea ,spume was ready to race for the open sea the moment the gold was on board4 ,below1 the divers were picking their way over the sunken hull1 seeking the storage place of the treasure4 ,above1 at the telephones1 stood ,caruth and ,marie ,fitzhugh1 cheeks flushed and eyes a-sparkle4 8,at last6 ,at last60 breathed the girl2 and 8,at last6 ,at last60 echoed ,caruth4 ,his tones penetrated to the girl's consciousness1 and she blushed brightly4 ,in the triumph of her cause1 she had forgotten that ,caruth's object and hers were not the same4 ,she blushed1 but she did not draw away4 ,after all1 if she were fated to give herself for ,russia1 to sell herself to ,caruth in return for his help in the cause of freedom1 the sacrifice would not be so very hard4 ,indeed1 it might not be hard at all4 ,if policy were to govern her mating1 this clean-limbed1 clean-thinking young ,american would be a better mate than many a one who had sought her in the past4 ,the ,brotherhood must decide2 she had sworn herself body and soul to its orders2 but she found herself suddenly hoping that the ,brotherhood might find ,caruth's claims worthy4 ,smilingly she looked into the young man's eyes4 8,not yet10 she murmured4 8,not yet4 ,we are not out of the woods yet1 and until we are you must remember your promise40 8,my promise80 8,to give all your thoughts to the business in hand4 ,not to make love to me4 ,not to----0 8,great ,csar's ,ghost6 ,you don't call this making love1 do you8 ,with you half a mile away across the cabin1 and me with this telephone harness on my head4 ,just you wait and----0 ,excitedly he devoured her with his eyes4 ,brightly she blushed1 and restlessly she moved4 ,then she pressed a button on the wall4 8,i am going to send for ,mr4 ,wilkins and ,miss ,shishkin to come and hear the news with us10 she explained4 8,we owe ,mr4 ,wilkins an apology for distrusting him40 ,when the steward entered1 she sent him to find the two and ask them to come to the cabin4 ,when the man had gone1 ,caruth looked at her and laughed4 8,yes10 he agreed1 8,i guess ,i owe ,wilkins an apology1 but ,i could make it later just as well as now4 ,i'm inclined to think that ,miss ,shishkin has had more to do with his good faith than anything else1 anyhow4 ,queer girl1 isn't she1 to be the ,professor's daughter4 ,not the sort ,i should have expected at all40 8,nor ,i4 ,however---- ,well1 ,barnes1 what is it80 ,the steward had entered1 hastily4 8,mr4 ,wilkins and ,miss ,shishkin don't seem to be aboard1 ma'am60 he exclaimed4 8,not aboard8 ,nonsense6 ,they must be60 8,i've hunted everywhere1 ma'am4 ,i've looked in ,miss ,shishkin's cabin1 ma'am1 and she ain't there4 ,there weren't nothing there but a red light burning in the port-hole1 ma'am40 ,caruth sprang to his feet1 tearing the telephone-receiver from his head4 8,a red light8 ,man1 you're crazy60 8,no1 sir2 ,i ain't1 sir4 ,there was a lantern wrapped round with a red cloth burning in her port-hole4 ,and she's gone1 sir4 ,she ain't on board1 sir2 and ,mr4 ,wilkins ain't on board either40 ,for an instant ,marie and ,caruth stared at the man in dumb silence4 ,then the girl realized the situation4 8,treachery60 she cried4 8,treachery6 ,wilkins has betrayed us6 ,i never trusted him4 ,he's betrayed us1 and he's carried the girl off40 8,carried her off8 ,it's impossible60 8,impossible or not1 it's been done4 ,maybe she went with him willingly--,i don't know and ,i don't care4 ,she's gone1 and he's gone1 and there's danger in it6 ,danger6 ,it means we are watched4 ,it means we'll be attacked----0 8,attacked80 8,yes1 attacked6 ,do you think ,russia will try to arrest us8 ,she couldn't6 ,we are within our rights4 ,we are only seeking salvage4 ,she won't dare to arrest us4 ,she'll send ruffians to attack us and kill or imprison us all4 ,the ,sea ,spume will disappear as the ,orkney did4 ,no one will ever hear of it again4 ,quick6 ,for ,god's sake1 give me that telephone6 ,i'll stay here4 ,go and find ,captain ,wilson6 ,serve out arms4 ,prepare to fight2 for1 as ,god is my judge1 we will have to fight or perish4 ,don't ,i know ,russia and its police8 ,quick6 ,the murderers may be creeping on us now40 ,in three steps ,caruth was on deck1 and in three more on the bridge at ,captain ,wilson's side4 ,eagerly he poured out his story4 8,if the police come for us openly1 we must yield10 he finished4 8,but ,miss ,fitzhugh says they will not come openly4 ,she says they will come as pirates1 thieves1 murderers4 ,if they do1 we must fight for our lives4 ,we're armed and----0 8,we'll do it6 ,i'll give orders40 ,the captain was gone with the words trailing over his shoulders4 ,the ,sea ,spume had been bought and fitted out as a dispatch boat by the ,united ,states ,government at the breaking out of the ,spanish war4 ,at its close1 she had been sold1 guns and all1 to the highest bidder2 since then she had changed hands once or twice1 but none of her owners had dismantled her4 ,finally ,caruth1 who had served on her during the war with other boy members of the ,naval ,militia1 had bought her and had brought her up almost to a man-of-war pitch4 ,when he had started for ,russia1 he had needed to add only a little ammunition to put the yacht in condition to cope with anything of her tonnage4 ,this armament was now to stand the adventurers in good stead4 ,caruth1 watching from the bridge1 saw the wave of excitement ripple along the vessel at the captain's low-spoken commands2 saw the tarpaulins jerked from the guns1 revealing the long black muzzles of the six-pound rapid-firers2 heard the splutter of the search-light as the men tested its connection1 and the rattle of the hoists as the fixed ammunition1 cartridge-like in ease of handling1 was brought upon the deck4 ,suddenly all lights went out1 and the ,sea ,spume became only a darker spot in the opaque blackness of the night4 ,simultaneously fell silence1 profound and tomblike6 ,ghost-like1 ,captain ,wilson mounted the bridge4 8,everything's ready10 he reported in scarcely audible tones4 8,if anybody comes for us now1 they'll get a warm reception4 ,the men are crazy for a scrap40 8,good6 ,this means double pay all round1 ,captain4 ,you might pass the word4 ,i'm going to the cabin now to find out what news there is from the divers4 ,miss ,fitzhugh is at the telephone40 ,but ,caruth was not to go to the telephone then4 ,as his foot poised above the first step of the companionway1 from the bows a shrill challenge came4 8,boat ahoy6 ,boat ahoy6 ,what boat is that80 ,no answer came4 ,but out in the darkness a voice uplifted itself in short but swift command1 intelligible by its tone if not by its syllables4 ,unseen men responded with an eager cheer1 followed by a splash of oars in the water4 8,the search-light6 ,quick60 shouted ,captain ,wilson1 and at the word the electric sword glimmered through the darkness1 illuminating the black water1 and illuminating too1 a score of boats1 loaded with men1 dashing upon the yacht4 ,small time was there for parley4 8,aim6 ,fire60 yelled the captain2 and the flames of the guns split the darkness1 while their thunders echoed back from the cliffs that towered close beside4 8,fire at will60 yelled ,wilson1 again2 and again the guns roared1 not all together as before1 but in a pitter-patter of rattling sound4 ,swiftly the search-light circled1 picking out the boats for an instant as vivid bull's-eyes for the concentration of the yacht's fire2 dancing away again to some fresh point4 ,the yachtsmen were poor gunners1 but at that range they could not miss4 ,the revolving search-light soon showed an inextricable tangle of boats1 drifting or turning unbalanced athwart the course of their companions1 with oars dropping from dead fingers and men plunging limply after them into the embrace of the tide4 ,other boats showed for an instant in the glare1 then sank beneath the shimmering water4 ,but past and through all these1 others kept their way1 intent only on coming to hand-grips with the men of the yacht4 ,in the gaps of sound1 the same ringing voice still sounded1 as the unseen commander incited his men to fresh efforts4 ,for a moment fate hung in the balance4 ,then1 as ,caruth1 pistol in hand1 leaped down from the ladder to join in repelling the boarders who seemed about to swarm over the taffrail1 the tide turned4 ,the ,russians1 overtaxed1 bewildered1 hesitated and fled1 some by boat1 some by swimming2 those who had gained the yacht's shrouds leaped back in panic1 careless whether planks or the ,baltic lay beneath them4 ,captain ,wilson's deep voice rang out4 8,cease firing60 he shouted4 8,cease firing60 ,silence followed storm4 ,then out of the night came a flash and a roar4 ,a jet of ruddy flame shot from the cliff side toward the ,sea ,spume and the skylight above the saloon vanished in a rain of splinters and flying glass4 ,the search-light1 flung to port1 showed1 high up on the cliffs1 two heavy guns1 armed and manned4 ,stupefied1 the yachtsmen stared at them1 unmoving1 till again came a flash and a report and a rending roar as the yacht quivered to the impact of a shell4 ,captain ,wilson woke to life4 8,fire on that battery60 he yelled4 8,mr4 ,caruth1 get those divers up4 ,we can't stay here40 ,blood flecked ,caruth's lip where he had bitten it through4 8,what60 he cried4 8,run away and leave the gold to them8 ,i won't do it40 8,you must60 8,i won't4 ,i'll----0 ,a hand fell on the young man's arm4 ,marie ,fitzhugh stood beside him4 8,the gold is gone10 she moaned4 8,gone60 8,yes6 ,the strong room on the ,orkney has been broken open4 ,the boxes are there1 but they are empty4 ,some one has been before us4 ,the gold is gone40 8,impossible40 8,it's true4 ,i ordered the divers on board4 ,they are coming over the side now4 ,we must flee4 ,quick1 ,captain6 ,full speed ahead40 ,the engine bells clanged1 and the yacht shook to the throb of the screws4 ,rapidly she gathered way4 ,another shot from the battery on the cliff hissed over her1 and still another went wide4 ,then a turn in the channel shielded her from farther danger4 ,it was not until half an hour later that it was learned that ,professor ,shishkin had disappeared4 ,,chapter ,,seventeen ,at full speed and without lights1 the ,sea ,spume rushed through the darkness1 threading her way among the islands by the faint light of the stars reflected from the dancing water4 ,her course was perilous in the extreme4 ,at any moment an unseen rock might rise in the way and bring her to hopeless ruin4 ,but delay was more perilous than rocks1 and the ,sea ,spume sped breathlessly on4 ,marie ,fitzhugh was responsible both for the speed and the course4 ,as the yacht dashed from the inlet into open water and veered southward1 she climbed to the bridge where ,captain ,wilson and ,caruth were standing4 8,north6 ,north1 for your life1 ,captain60 she cried4 ,captain ,wilson grasped the engine-room indicator4 8,why north80 he demanded4 8,stockholm lies southwest40 8,we can never reach ,stockholm4 ,what6 ,do you think escape is to be so easily made8 ,no6 ,russia has gone too far to stop now4 ,the path to the west and south--the path to any foreign port--is guarded4 ,to the north and east lies our only chance40 ,captain ,wilson hesitated1 but ,caruth took control4 8,north1 please4 ,captain10 he commanded2 8and as fast as you dare40 ,an instant more and the ,sea ,spume swept round1 heading northward around ,burndo4 ,as it turned1 the girl spoke again4 8,i think their plan was to have us looted unofficially10 she said1 8and then1 after they had gotten the gold1 to shoot a lot of the looters to satisfy international conditions4 ,but unless they are fools1 they must have prepared for just what has happened4 ,if half a dozen torpedo-boats are not hunting for us this very minute1 ,i miss my guess4 ,why they were not waiting for us at the mouth of the inlet1 ,i can't for the life of me understand1 but if we get to port without chancing on them1 we shall be luckier than ,i dare hope4 ,they'll never let us get away with the gold--and of course they must think we have it40 8,the gold6 ,who has got it80 ,but instead of answering1 the girl1 with a half-choked sob1 hurried down the ladder1 leaving the two men alone4 ,caruth hesitated for a moment1 yearning to follow and comfort her1 yet uncertain whether it would be best to do so4 ,captain ,wilson's voice aroused him4 8,we'll be round the island in half an hour or more10 he said gruffly4 8,which way shall ,i head then80 ,caruth shook his head4 8,i don't know1 ,captain10 he confessed4 8,i'll talk with ,miss ,fitzhugh1 and see what she thinks40 8,might as well1 ,i reckon4 ,she's got more brains than most women40 ,swiftly ,caruth descended to the cabin and there1 as he had expected1 he found the girl who had been the inspiration of the whole trip4 ,seated at the table in the cabin of the ,sea ,spume1 ,marie faced the ruin of her hopes4 ,indeed1 she faced more4 ,for1 as she had descended from the bridge1 one of the divers met her and commanded her1 by an authority she could not dispute1 to report at once to the ,inner ,circle of the ,brotherhood1 to explain the causes of her failure4 ,well she knew what such an order meant1 and for the first time in her life she shrank from the ordeal4 ,at that moment ,caruth came upon her4 ,never1 even in her brief period of exaltation of a few hours before1 had she appealed to him as in this time of abasement4 ,stricken by the realization of what had been and what must be1 she yet held her head proudly erect1 though its poise suggested1 not triumph1 but the grand air with which nobles rode in the tumbrels to the guillotine4 ,her violet eyes were deep as ever1 but in their depths lay a pathetic softness1 as of a child grieving over some disappointment which it was too young to understand4 ,when ,caruth1 with throbbing heart1 strode forward and took her in his arms1 she melted all at once upon his shoulder4 ,gently he stroked her dark hair4 8,there1 there1 sweetheart10 he murmured4 8,cheer up6 ,everything isn't lost6 ,we'll live to triumph yet40 ,but the girl sobbed on hopelessly1 her slender form shaking with emotion1 until ,caruth grew frightened4 8,it's all right1 sweetheart10 he murmured again4 8,don't take it so hard4 ,it isn't worth it1 after all4 ,come1 dear1 cheer up6 ,there are other things in the world besides plots and plotting4 ,marry me at the first port we touch4 ,then1 later1 we can help your cause all you like40 ,gently the girl freed herself and stood alone4 ,on her fair skin the color deepened from neck to temples2 her wet eyes glistened4 ,a lock of hair had escaped and trailed down over her forehead2 she put it back mechanically4 8,no10 she said gently4 8,no1 it can never be40 8,never60 ,once more ,caruth caught her in his arms4 8,never60 he shouted4 8,by ,heaven6 ,i swear it shall be60 ,hotly he showered kisses upon her hair1 her face1 her lips4 ,she did not resist4 ,for the moment she could not4 ,a sense of intoxication numbed her faculties4 8,oh60 she breathed4 8,i did not know that it was so sweet--so sweet60 8,yes1 dear2 it is sweet4 ,and it will continue sweet through all the years to come4 ,can you not see those years1 dear one8 ,each with its own peculiar happiness1 yet each the same--for we shall be the same4 ,yes1 it is sweet1 ,marie40 ,slowly the girl raised her face1 and the tragedy in her eyes appalled him4 ,there was love in them1 love unutterable1 but there was misery1 too1 misery1 hopeless1 unspeakable4 8,i thank ,god60 she said slowly4 8,i thank him for this moment4 ,whatever comes1 ,i thank him that he has given me to know the love of a good man4 ,see what it has done for me4 ,a little while ago ,i was afraid1 afraid1 afraid4 ,but now ,i fear no longer4 ,i do not care what happens now40 8,and you will marry me at the first port80 ,slowly the girl shook her head4 ,she still rested in his embrace1 her dark eyes fixed on his4 8,no10 she murmured4 8,no6 ,i cannot40 ,dismay swept over ,caruth4 8,but----0 he began4 ,gently she laid her fingers on his lips4 8,if it could be10 she whispered--8if it could be1 ,i would count the world well lost4 ,but it cannot be4 ,don't you understand1 dear8 ,i am vowed to help the people1 the poor1 down-trodden people1 who cannot help themselves--who can only suffer4 ,i cannot desert them4 ,i am sworn to them by vows as holy as those of any nun4 ,success might have won release1 but ,i have failed40 ,caruth straightened himself indignantly4 8,failed nothing60 he cried4 8,you've not failed4 ,there is no failure where there is no chance of success4 ,the gold must have been gone before you ever saw ,new ,york--before you ever heard of the matter at all4 ,you've done more than any one else could have done1 for you've found the ship and explored her4 ,it isn't your fault that somebody was before you40 ,marie freed herself gently4 8,it isn't a question of fault10 she answered sadly4 8,it is a question of success1 and ,i have not succeeded4 ,but1 even so1 ,i fear it really is my fault4 ,it would not be if you were right--if the gold had indeed been taken when you say4 ,but ,i don't think it was so taken4 ,i believe it was there when we left ,new ,york1 even when we arrived at ,burndo4 ,i feel that it was snatched away under my very eyes4 ,it was---- ,good ,heavens6 ,what's the matter80 ,for ,caruth1 suddenly weak1 had dropped into a chair4 ,for the first time he had recalled the words of the interpreter in the village4 8,great ,scott60 he cried1 8you are right4 ,why didn't ,i think8 ,why didn't ,i guess8 ,fool1 dolt1 ass1 that ,i am6 ,i know who got the gold40 8,who80 ,marie leaned forward with parted lips4 8,the interpreter in the village4 ,i told you something of him1 but ,i didn't tell you enough4 ,i didn't realize what it meant4 ,i was a fool4 ,he talked of something--some gold mine1 he said--that he needed help to secure4 ,he offered me a share4 ,then ,wilkins came up and he ran4 ,by ,heavens6 ,i see it all now4 ,he knew ,wilkins6 ,he ran away to avoid explaining4 ,and ,i thought he was crazy6 ,oh1 what an incredible idiot ,i was60 8,it was fated60 8,fated nothing6 ,it was plain idiocy4 ,oh1 ,i see it all now6 ,wilkins and he arranged it all4 ,it's they that have the gold40 8,they and that girl40 ,caruth's face clouded4 8,do you think so80 he questioned 8,she----0 8,oh1 ,i know all you would say4 ,she is the ,professor's daughter and all that2 but she has fled with ,wilkins all the same4 ,trust a woman to know4 ,she has gone away with him willingly40 8,and the ,professor80 ,the girl's eyes filled with tears4 8,oh1 the poor old man60 she cried4 8,the poor old man6 ,so courteous1 so sweet1 so kindly4 ,i never knew my father--he died when ,i was an infant--but ,i like to think that if he had lived he would have been like the ,professor40 8,then you don't think he has gone with his daughter80 8,what6 ,gone with her8 ,never6 ,why1 he was on board long after they had disappeared4 ,he must have been knocked overboard in the fight40 ,caruth nodded4 8,i agree with you1 of course10 he responded4 8,no one could suspect the old man1 even if circumstances were against him1 which they are not4 ,but what of the others8 ,do you think they will escape80 8,for the moment perhaps4 ,not for long4 ,i did not speak idly when ,i warned ,wilkins in ,new ,york4 ,neither he nor the girl will live to enjoy the fruits of their treachery40 ,dangerously the dark eyes flashed4 ,caruth shuddered4 8,you wouldn't set the nihilists on them80 he protested blankly4 8,there is no need4 ,think you ,i could screen them if ,i would6 ,no6 ,i am not the only member of the ,order on board4 ,the ,brotherhood has its agents everywhere4 ,at this very moment1 it probably understands better than we what has happened4 ,who should know its methods if not ,i8 ,we shall all have to answer for our failure--,i1 ,professor ,shishkin if he lives1 and1 most of all1 his daughter and her lover4 ,i have already been summoned before the ,inner ,circle4 ,the order was given me ten minutes ago40 ,she paused1 hesitated for a moment1 then raised her head proudly4 8,we have all made our beds10 she declared4 8,let us lie in them4 ,i1 for one1 shall not flinch4 ,what port is the yacht heading for80 ,the moment for sentiment had passed1 and the girl was herself again1 cold1 clear-headed1 self-reliant4 ,caruth realized the fact and bowed to it4 8,i came to consult you about that10 he explained4 8,we are about around the islands now1 and must decide on our course4 ,where shall we go80 8,there is but one place4 ,st4 ,petersburg40 8,st4 ,petersburg80 8,yes4 ,we can be there by daylight to-morrow1 and by breakfast you can reach your ambassador40 8,what for80 8,what for80 echoed the girl amazedly4 8,what for8 ,your yacht1 a private ,american yacht1 engaged in a lawful occupation1 has been attacked and fired on in ,russian waters4 ,three of her passengers1 one of them a distinguished scientist1 have disappeared4 ,you must complain2 appeal to your ambassador2 demand the identification and punishment of the offenders4 ,things like that cannot be done with impunity1 even by ,russia1 unless they succeed so fully that they blot out their own traces4 ,this time some one has blundered1 and they will strive desperately to retrieve themselves4 ,if you attempted to seek another port1 you would find yourself denounced as a criminal who had fired on inoffensive fishing-boats4 ,no6 ,no6 ,the boldest course is the best4 ,take the bull by the horns4 ,run to ,st4 ,petersburg1 and have the ambassador present the case to the ,czar in person4 ,once your complaint is filed1 you are at least safe from murder40 ,caruth nodded4 ,the advice was good4 8,i'll tell the captain10 he acceded4 8,now promise me you will try to get some sleep40 ,marie laughed cheerlessly4 8,oh1 yes1 ,i'll try10 she promised2 8but ,i feel as if ,i should never sleep again40 ,when ,caruth reached the deck1 the night was far gone1 and streaks of light were already glimmering in the east4 ,not being in the mood for sleep1 he stayed and watched the dawn come up4 ,uneventfully the moments sped past1 and at last the golden ball of the sun lifted itself above the horizon1 sending long lances of light ricocheting over the dancing waters4 ,there was a twang in the air2 the salt sea breeze thrummed in the rigging2 in spite of himself1 ,caruth caught the uplift of the day4 ,all was not hopeless1 he told himself1 with the buoyancy of his youth and his race1 to which all things are possible4 ,he had lost the first inning4 8,i'll win her yet60 he cried aloud4 8,i'll win her yet40 ,,chapter ,,eighteen ,thirty-six hours later the ,sea ,spume lay in harbor at ,st4 ,petersburg1 and ,caruth had told his story to the ,american ,charg d',affaires1 who was conducting matters in the absence of the ambassador4 ,as he stepped out of the office of the ,charg1 he heard his name called in wondering tones4 ,the accents seemed familiar1 and he whirled round4 ,then he started in amazement and held out his hand4 8,great ,scott1 ,bristow60 he cried4 8,where on earth did you spring from80 ,the reporter grinned back at him4 8,seems kind of funny1 doesn't it80 he answered4 8,but1 shucks1 this is a small world nowadays1 and you oughtn't to be surprised at meeting anybody40 ,caruth disregarded the persiflage4 8,well60 he declared heartily4 8,i don't know any man in the world ,i'd rather see4 ,your arrival is a regular ,godsend4 ,how did it come about80 8,most natural thing in the world4 ,the ,consolidated ,press man at ,st4 ,petersburg has been wanting for a year or two to come home on a long vacation1 but they never could spare him4 ,a few weeks ago1 when things were quieter than they had been for some time1 ,i asked them to send me over to relieve him4 ,when ,i told them ,i could speak a little ,russian1 they agreed right away4 ,i left ,new ,york two days after you did40 8,i didn't know you wanted to come to ,russia40 ,the reporter grinned4 8,i didn't know it either a month ago10 he responded4 8,but ,i got married and----0 8,married8 ,good for you6 ,accept congratulations60 8,thank you4 ,my wife wanted to visit ,russia in a hurry1 and so--here we are4 ,but that's enough about me4 ,how about yourself8 ,there's an incendiary tale afloat about your doings4 ,any truth in it80 8,too much6 ,come over here and sit down1 and ,i'll tell you the whole story40 ,rapidly1 ,caruth poured his tale into the reporter's sympathetic ears4 ,he kept nothing back1 as he had done in his first talk in ,new ,york4 ,he told about ,wilkins's arrival2 explained about the letters2 and sketched rapidly the organization and the departure of the expedition and the events1 so far as he knew them1 that had taken place at ,burndo ,island4 8,the situation is all in a muddle10 he ended4 8,i suppose ,wilkins got away with the gold1 though ,i can't imagine how he did it4 ,and ,i suppose the ,professor was knocked overboard and drowned4 ,but ,i can't understand what has become of the girl40 ,bristow leaned back in his chair4 8,if ,i remember correctly10 he premised slowly1 8,i favored you in ,new ,york with certain moralizations on the way events fit in together4 ,i'll add to that now that if you hunt back far enough1 you can find a common cause for a good many events that at first blush seem unrelated4 ,you don't know it1 of course1 but ,i have a direct personal interest in this affair4 ,you see1 ,i have known ,professor ,shishkin and his daughter for several years4 ,in fact1 ,miss ,shishkin is now my wife40 8,what60 ,caruth half rose from his seat4 8,take it easy6 ,i don't mean that the girl you had on board this yacht is my wife4 ,god forbid6 ,as a matter of fact1 that lady is not ,professor ,shishkin's daughter at all4 ,she is an alleged actress1 drafted from the music hall stage by the ,professor and cast for the part of his daughter4 ,now perhaps you begin to see a glimmer of light40 ,but ,caruth shook his head4 8,no1 ,i don't10 he returned4 8,why should ,professor ,shishkin palm off somebody else as his daughter8 ,it's all a tangle of fraud and deceit4 ,you go on and explain1 please4 ,my brain is buzzing40 8,it's simple enough4 ,the nihilists had ordered the ,professor to bring his daughter with him on this trip1 and he didn't want to do it4 ,just why he objected1 ,i'm not sure1 though ,i have my suspicions2 but he did object most strenuously4 ,but he didn't dare to refuse either to go on this expedition or to take his daughter4 ,he was half mad when ,i went to him and asked for ,olga4 ,to cut it short1 he agreed that ,i might marry her if ,i would find a substitute who looked like her and who would go in her place4 ,i did find such a substitute in the person of ,miss ,florence ,lee1 the lady who accompanied your expedition4 ,she was always a cold-blooded1 calculating piece1 for all her mask of flippancy1 and ,i guess she and ,wilkins framed it up between them to sell out4 ,now do you see80 8,yes1 ,i see40 ,caruth spoke heavily4 8,why didn't you put me on80 he asked4 8,if ,i had known1 ,i might have prevented all this40 8,you couldn't have prevented it4 ,i'm absolutely certain that your expedition has been watched1 almost from the first4 ,it was madness for ,miss ,fitzhugh to think she could succeed4 ,besides1 you didn't take me into your confidence or ask my advice2 and1 even if you had1 ,i should probably have been compelled to keep silence for the sake of my wife and father-in-law4 ,for--make no mistake about this1 ,caruth--what ,i have told you must go no further4 ,the ,professor may be dead1 as you suppose1 but ,olga is alive1 and ,i don't want to draw any nihilist vengeance on her4 ,you mustn't talk40 8,i won't40 8,the situation is reasonably clear now1 isn't it1 except about how those fellows got the gold and where they have taken it8 ,but ,i guess you'd better put the gold out of your mind4 ,wherever it is1 it is out of reach1 and a good thing1 too4 ,of course1 as a matter of salvage1 the finder of an abandoned wreck is entitled to the bigger part of her value4 ,but when the finders have deliberately brought about the wreck1 the ethics of the case get mixed4 ,i think you'll be glad some day that you missed it40 8,perhaps6 ,if ,i get the girl6 ,not unless4 ,great ,scott1 ,bristow4 ,i'd do worse than steal for ,marie's sake6 ,you've just been married yourself1 and you know how it is40 ,bristow grinned4 8,so it's got to the #8,marie' point1 now1 has it8 ,by the way1 where is the lady80 8,gone6 ,the moment we got here1 she left the ship1 saying that she had been summoned before the ,inner ,circle--whatever that is40 ,bristow whistled softly4 8,i suppose you will wait for her to return80 he questioned4 8,i shall4 ,i have nothing else to wait for4 ,the whole trip has been a flat failure1 and there is nothing for me to do but to sneak back to ,new ,york with my tail between my legs4 ,i wouldn't mind if she would go with me1 but ,i fear----0 ,his voice died gloomily away4 ,bristow laughed unfeelingly4 8,well10 he said1 8others have failed before and will fail hereafter4 ,you aren't the only one4 ,and--though you may not believe it--#8men have died and worms have eaten them1 but not for love4' ,things will seem brighter after awhile4 ,have you found out who she is yet80 ,caruth shook his head4 8,i don't care10 he answered frankly4 8,she told me her mother was an ,american1 and--oh1 well1 she is she4 ,that's enough40 8,i might find out for you10 suggested the reporter4 8,i've got sources of information that most men haven't4 ,i've only been here a short while1 but ,i've learned a lot about the nihilists4 ,forbes1 my predecessor here1 established relations with them and built up a wonderful news system1 to which1 of course1 ,i have fallen heir40 8,do the nihilists trust you80 8,certainly4 ,revolutionists all over the world trust ,american newspaper men4 ,it's positively marvellous how the most secretive conspirator will put his life in our hands4 ,it speaks pretty well for the profession40 8,it does40 8,i can use my pull to find out who your charmer is1 if you like80 ,but ,caruth shook his head4 8,no10 he said slowly4 8,if she had wanted me to know1 she would have told me4 ,thank you2 but--never mind40 8,just as you like4 ,i've got to look my nihilist friends up1 any way1 to see if they have any news from ,burndo4 ,their system of communication beats the government's sometimes40 8,how can it80 8,search me6 ,but ,i know that it does4 ,information seems to travel faster underground than it does in the air4 ,the only trouble is that it's spotty--not complete4 ,a man may know every detail of one circumstance and be totally ignorant of another that you'd think he couldn't help but know4 ,but tell me once more about the ,professor--when and how you last saw him4 ,olga will be in despair over his death4 ,i suppose you can't give me any hope80 ,caruth shook his head4 ,he could give none4 ,everything seemed to point to the ,professor having been knocked overboard and lost4 ,if not1 he must have been captured1 and this seemed improbable under the circumstances4 ,caruth explained all this1 going over the circumstances again and again4 ,at last the reporter nodded4 8,i'm afraid it's good-night for the poor old fellow10 he concluded sadly4 8,it's some comfort that he never knew that his plan failed4 ,yes1 ,i guess it's good-by40 ,the reporter rose4 8,well1 ,i must be off10 he finished4 8,i suppose you are willing that ,i should use my own judgment as to what ,i wire to ,new ,york about this scrape of yours4 ,i'll make things as easy as possible for you1 of course40 8,very well4 ,i'll leave all that to you40 ,,chapter ,,nineteen ,friday1 the #acth of ,june1 one week after the day the ,sea ,spume had scurried into ,st4 ,petersburg1 came without making any apparent change in the situation4 ,nothing had been learned as to the fate of ,professor ,shishkin1 and both ,bristow and ,caruth were convinced that the old man had perished4 ,wilkins and ,florence had not been heard from1 despite the fact that the entire ,baltic was lined with spies1 police and nihilistic1 each intent on regaining the gold which all parties had become convinced was in the possession of the pair4 ,their sloop and its precious cargo seemed to have vanished from the earth4 ,the ,russian authorities were still 8investigating0 the attack on the yacht1 without seeming to draw any nearer to an elucidation of the facts4 ,they had called before them and questioned every member of the yacht's crew4 ,these1 however1 had been able to tell little1 for the reason that they knew little1 and1 being intensely loyal to ,caruth1 were all anxious to keep that little to themselves4 ,the inquiry was1 in fact1 a farce1 the ,russians knowing perfectly well what the yacht's errand really had been1 yet not being able to declare it or to lay claim to the ,orkney's gold without practically admitting that they had been back of the attack4 ,on the other hand1 ,caruth could not accuse the ,russians1 without admitting that he himself was engaged in an adventure that1 if not actually piratical1 certainly verged on it4 ,neither side was therefore in position to force the issue1 and the inquiry dragged on from day to day1 really waiting the moment when it would be quietly pigeonholed4 ,both sides steadily went through the motions of pretending desperate efforts to discover what both knew and both were very anxious to keep secret4 ,if it had not been for the disappearance of ,professor ,shishkin1 the whole matter would probably have been allowed to drop4 ,professor ,shishkin1 however1 was too distinguished a man to be allowed to drop out of sight so easily4 ,his scientific brethren1 especially those in the rest of ,europe1 were clamoring for an explanation of an attack on one of their number while engaged in scientific work in such a peaceable sea as the ,baltic4 ,hints that the ,professor had really been engaged in gold-hunting and that the attack had been made by a gang of thieves1 had little effect in calming the agitation4 ,they were simply disbelieved4 ,bristow's inquiries in revolutionary circles had brought abundant confirmation of what he already knew1 but had yielded little additional information4 ,according to the nihilists1 the whole affair had been carefully planned by the ,russian police4 ,a battalion of marines had been landed at the village of ,burndo on the very afternoon of the attack1 reaching it by the eastern inlet1 and had climbed over the ridge and come down the hill behind the yacht1 bringing two field-guns with them4 ,as ,miss ,fitzhugh had guessed1 the men were in peasant dress1 and it was intended that they should appear to be a band of rioters such as were only too common in ,russia in those troubled times4 ,it was supposed that they would capture the yacht without trouble1 loot her1 and let her go1 after perhaps murdering the ,russians whom they should find on board4 ,however1 lest they should fail1 several gunboats and destroyers had been ordered to the spot to intercept the yacht if she should escape4 ,the orders to these were far more grim4 ,this plan was disarranged by the suddenness with which ,florence exposed her signal1 and by the haste of the officer in command of the ,russian troops4 ,when the sparks from the yacht's funnels showed that she was getting up steam1 this officer feared she was about to flee with the gold1 and1 wanting the credit of capturing this1 had made his attack before the field-guns were in position and before the gunboats had arrived off the mouth of the inlet4 ,had he moved a half an hour later1 the ,sea ,spume would have been captured or sunk by the hurrying warships4 ,concerning the gold1 the information was less exact4 ,the nihilists had learned1 however1 that a sloop1 very heavily laden1 carrying two men and one woman1 had left ,burndo for an unknown destination a few moments before the ,sea ,spume4 ,it had turned south outside the mouth of the inlet1 and had passed beyond the ken of the watchers4 ,probably it was bound for ,stockholm or some other foreign port4 ,its passengers had been identified as ,wilkins and ,miss ,shishkin 7really ,florence ,lee72 the third man was unknown1 but it was supposed that he was an ,american sailor who had been living at ,burndo for two years or more4 ,the nihilists felt assured that this sloop had the gold on board1 though how it got there1 they did not profess to know4 ,orders had been sent all along the ,baltic to watch for it1 and if it was found1 it would go hard with those on board4 ,none of this1 however1 was much satisfaction to ,caruth1 to whom1 indeed1 the week had been one of torture4 ,since ,marie ,fitzhugh had slipped away on the morning of the yacht's arrival1 no word of her had come to him1 and his anxiety as to her safety was continually growing4 ,events had shown that the ,sea ,spume had been under surveillance for some time1 possibly from the very beginning1 and ,caruth realized that this could scarcely have been possible without ,marie having been seen and recognized4 ,if she had been1 her carefully arranged alibi must have been shattered1 and instant arrest would assuredly follow her detection on ,russian soil4 ,even if she escaped the authorities1 or if her family connections proved strong enough to enable her to defy them1 the disappointed and enraged terrorists had to be considered4 ,she had been ordered before the ,inner ,circle1 and such vague and illusory information as he had been able to gain as to the doings of that body made him fear almost anything4 ,at the same time1 he dared not start inquiries1 for fear they might precipitate the very calamity he dreaded4 ,on the morning of his seventh day in ,st4 ,petersburg1 he could bear the suspense no longer1 and turned to ,bristow with a demand that he relieve it1 as he had done on that far-away evening in ,new ,york4 8,i seem to be always relying on you to find ,miss ,fitzhugh for me10 he said1 with an attempt at levity4 8,but if you really have sources of information here that are safe and certain1 ,i wish you would call on them for news of her4 ,the suspense is getting unbearable40 ,bristow frowned slightly4 8,i don't suppose there's any use in talking10 he observed4 8,you wouldn't take my advice in ,new ,york1 and ,i don't suppose you'll take it here4 ,but all the same1 ,i'm going to suggest once more that you'd better let the lady go4 ,as ,i understand it1 she has refused to marry you and has gone back to her own people4 ,why not go back home and forget her4 ,candidly1 old man1 ,i can't see anything but ruin ahead for you if you go on40 ,as the reporter spoke1 a slow flush spread over ,caruth's cheeks4 ,the boy had aged a good deal in the past month2 experience had made him far more of a man than he had been when ,marie ,fitzhugh first came to him4 ,advice which he had received meekly in ,new ,york1 he resented in ,russia4 8,thank you10 he returned stiffly4 8,i don't doubt your advice is good4 ,i should probably say the same to another man under the same circumstances4 ,but please understand1 once for all1 that it is not for me4 ,the only question is1 will you help me or shall ,i have to seek farther80 8,oh1 ,i'll help you1 confound you60 returned the reporter4 8,what do you want to know80 8,i want to know about ,miss ,fitzhugh4 ,if she has gone back to her relatives and is safe and well1 ,i want to know it4 ,if she is under arrest1 ,i want to know it4 ,if she is in trouble with the ,brotherhood on account of the loss of the gold1 ,i want to know it4 ,and wherever she is1 if she needs help1 ,i want to get to her and give it40 8,humph6 ,that's a good-sized program you've laid out1 isn't it8 ,well1 the ,lord watches over children1 lovers1 and--well1 fill the blank yourself4 ,i can give you some news4 ,i heard it last night1 and was debating whether to tell you or not4 ,miss ,fitzhugh is in trouble with the ,brotherhood4 ,she is charged with responsibility for the loss of the gold4 ,a special meeting is to be held to consider her case40 8,well80 8,as ,i understand it1 when any one has failed at anything and is summoned before the ,inner ,circle1 it means that he or she is to be entrusted with some particularly dangerous duty4 ,some forlorn hope1 such as throwing a bomb or something1--not as a punishment1 you understand1 but as a chance to retrieve the failure4 ,such a chance means almost certain death1 either instant or later on the scaffold4 ,i'm sorry1 old man2 ,i know it's hard to bear1 and ,i guess it's best to tell you40 ,caruth's face was white1 but his jaws were set4 ,he passed by the reporter's regrets as though they had not been spoken4 8,you speak as if it were all settled10 he grated4 8,is it80 8,not yet4 ,but it will be4 ,there is no real doubt40 8,when and where does the ,inner ,circle meet80 8,i don't know1 but----0 8,can you find out80 8,i suppose so4 ,but----0 8,i must be there40 ,the reporter straightened himself4 8,that's impossible10 he declared4 8,nothing is impossible60 ,there was an accent in ,caruth's voice that ,bristow had never heard before4 8,send word at once through your channels that ,i wish to appear before the ,circle as a witness for ,miss ,fitzhugh4 ,say that ,i will submit to any and all conditions it cares to impose4 ,add that ,i am very rich and will be glad to contribute heavily to the cause in return for this privilege4 ,let them name their price and ,i will pay it40 ,bristow weakened1 impressed in spite of himself4 8,by ,jove60 he cried4 8,it might be done1 after all4 ,but you understand what it means6 ,there is always grave danger of these meetings being raided by the police4 ,if you were caught at one of them1 nothing could save you4 ,it would be death or life in prison----0 8,i understand6 ,i'll take the risk6 ,i'll take any risk1 only get me the chance40 8,all right4 ,i'll try4 ,but we'll have to be mighty careful4 ,demidroff is awfully keen on getting this gold4 ,in fact1 rumor says his job depends on it40 8,who's ,demidroff80 8,he's chief of the third section of ,russian police--the secret police1 you know4 ,i wonder you haven't heard of him4 ,he's the smartest and the most dreaded man in ,russia to-day2 to-morrow--well1 they do say that his enemies have gotten the ear of the ,emperor1 and that he is likely to be turned out any minute4 ,however1 he isn't down and out yet and may never be1 and he's keeping a mighty sharp watch on you4 ,so you'll have to be careful40 8,i will be40 8,all right4 ,i'll do my best for you4 ,hold yourself ready to start at any minute4 ,when the chance comes it won't wait40 ,,chapter ,,twenty ,bristow's efforts to secure ,caruth an audience before the ,inner ,circle proved more successful than the reporter had dared to hope4 ,his request1 once started on its way1 was transmitted with what seemed to him amazing rapidity3 so quickly1 in fact1 did the answer come back that he would have questioned its authenticity had not the proof of this been unimpeachable4 ,the ,inner ,circle1 it appeared1 was as anxious to see ,caruth as ,caruth was to see it4 ,the answer fixed the very next afternoon for the interview4 ,caruth was notified to go for a stroll on the ,nevski ,prospekt1 and to submit himself to the guidance of a man who would accost him there and utter certain pass-words4 ,accordingly1 the next afternoon saw ,caruth strolling along the designated roadway1 staring at the brilliant equipages that crowded that fashionable drive1 and rubbing shoulders with the cosmopolitan crowd that passed and repassed4 ,the season was over1 and gay ,st4 ,petersburg was fleeing away from the capital over which the annual shadow of malaria was slowly growing4 ,enough remained1 however1 to illustrate ,russian life2 and many tourists still lingered1 lending color to the scene4 ,not often1 ,caruth thought1 had he seen so many ornamental women gathered together4 ,his thoughts1 however1 were not on women1 but on the guide who was to meet him and lead him before the council4 ,which of the tall1 bearded men that pressed by him1 he wondered1 would turn out to be the messenger8 8,trouble you for a light1 mister80 ,caruth turned4 ,a young fellow1 by all signs an ,american tourist1 was reaching out his hand for the cigar ,caruth held between his lips4 8,thank you10 continued the young man lightly1 as he returned the weed4 8,i spotted you for an ,american the minute ,i saw you4 ,i can always tell4 ,everybody can't4 ,i'm an ,american1 too4 ,did you guess8 ,whence did you come1 brother80 ,caruth started4 ,the words were part of the prescribed ritual whereby he was to know his guide4 ,but could this---- 8,from the land of the free and the home of the brave10 he answered unwillingly4 ,never before had the patriotic words seemed to him quite so bombastic4 8,i'm from the ,house of the ,three ,feathers myself10 returned the stranger jauntily1 completing the ritual4 8,come and have a wet4 ,they've got a bar over here where you can get drinks like the eagle used to make4 ,come along60 ,caruth dropped into line beside his interlocutor1 who1 still talking loudly and volubly1 led him into a caf1 around a partition1 and then with an admonitory 8,look sharp now10 darted down a flight of stairs1 followed a long passage1 and finally came out into another street1 where a cab was waiting4 ,into this he jumped1 ,caruth following4 ,before the door was closed1 the driver whipped up his horses and the cab darted off at the breakneck speed characteristic of the ,russian jehus4 ,as it began to move1 the young man turned to ,caruth and spoke quietly1 without a trace of his former levity4 8,we are going to the railway station10 he explained1 8and will have just time to catch a train4 ,be ready to follow me promptly40 ,conversation was difficult in the swaying cab1 and indeed there was little time for it1 for in less than ten minutes the cab drew up before the railway station and the young man leaped out and tore toward the gate1 ,caruth at his heels4 ,scarcely had they passed through when it clanged behind them4 8,close shave that10 remarked the other1 when the two were seated and the train was rolling southward4 8,i came mighty near cutting it too fine4 ,however1 all's well that ends well4 ,now1 we've got an hour's ride before us1 and might as well make ourselves comfortable40 ,caruth's lips opened4 ,he was about to ask a question1 when the other interposed4 8,curiosity killed a cat10 he murmured4 8,where ignorance is bliss1 etc4 ,ask me no questions and ,i'll tell you no lies4 ,talk about the weather if you can't think of anything else1 but don't be inquisitive4 ,pretty country this--if you don't mind what you say60 ,thus adjured1 ,caruth made no attempt to question his mentor1 but chatted on indifferent subjects till the train stopped at ,gatchina1 where the two left it and entered a cab1 which at once started off at the usual speed4 8,i'll leave you in a moment now10 said the other quietly4 8,stay in the cab4 ,the driver has his orders and has been paid4 ,when he stops in front of a house1 ,no4 #cea1 go up to the door and walk in without ringing4 ,you will be expected40 ,his instructions finished1 the young fellow turned the handle of the door4 8,au revoir10 he said1 and leaped out as the cab swung round a corner4 ,caruth caught and closed the swinging door1 and sat back to await events4 ,evidently the men he was to see took good precautions to keep their meeting place secure4 ,the drive did not last long4 ,it ended in a street of cheap looking houses1 over the door of one of which ,caruth descried the number #cea4 ,promptly he dismounted and walked up the steps1 noting that his cab drove away the moment he left it4 ,the next instant he had opened the door and stepped into a dimly lighted hall4 ,a man seated on the foot of a flight of stairs that led upward rose as ,caruth entered and glanced at him sharply1 then made way for him to pass1 jerking his thumb over his shoulder as a direction4 ,he added something1 probably a word of instruction1 but as it was in ,russian the ,american could not profit by it4 ,at the head of the stairs ,caruth hesitated for a moment1 then tapped at a doorway whence came the low sound of voices4 ,some one answered1 presumably in invitation to enter1 and ,caruth opened the door and went in4 ,half a dozen men seated around a table looked up as he entered1 and the one at the head addressed him in fair ,english4 8,mr4 ,caruth80 he questioned4 8,yes8 ,i am ,sergius ,lermantoff4 ,take a seat1 please1 ,mr4 ,caruth40 ,caruth sat down with a strong feeling of disappointment4 ,could these be the members of the famous ,inner ,circle1 before which the mighty ,czar quailed1 and under whose menace the atrocities formerly perpetrated on helpless prisoners had recently come to an end8 ,certainly they did not look it6 ,four of them appeared to be stolid peasants1 and the other two1 including the leader1 while more intelligent-looking1 did not look at all above the grade of the average immigrant whom ,caruth had often seen trailing up town from ,castle ,garden4 ,could it be that such men as this held the destinies of a girl like ,marie in their hands8 ,lermantoff addressed him again4 8,the ,brotherhood wishes to thank you1 ,mr4 ,caruth1 for your kindness in placing your yacht at its disposal in the endeavor to regain the treasure of the ,orkney4 ,it would be glad if you would answer it some questions about the circumstance at ,burndo4 ,i am the only one here who speaks ,english1 so ,i must act as interpreter40 ,caruth nodded1 glad enough to give any information that might dispose the ,circle favorably toward him later in the proceedings4 8,i'll answer them with pleasure10 he responded4 ,then followed a series of questions regarding the trip of the ,sea ,spume1 and the details of her stay at ,burndo1 all tending to elucidate every phase of the proceedings4 ,taken together1 they amounted to a cross-examination as keen and searching as any he had ever known in a ,new ,york court-room4 ,under their spur1 ,caruth felt his respect for the other rising and began to understand why he had attained his present power4 ,at last the examination ended4 ,lermantoff translated the last answer to his companions2 then turned back to ,caruth4 8,now1 ,mr4 ,caruth----0 he said4 ,during the questioning ,caruth had studied every detail of the room1 hoping to find something that would show the presence near at hand of the girl on whom he had set his heart2 but he had looked in vain4 ,now at last1 with a tightening around his heart1 he realized that his time had come1 and he summoned all his faculties for the contest4 8,mr4 ,lermantoff10 he began1 8you understand1 of course1 that ,i embarked in this enterprise for selfish motives4 ,i make no pretenses4 ,i sympathize with the ,russian people in their fight for liberty1 but ,i did not and do not sympathize with them enough to risk my life and liberty for their sake4 ,i came to ,russia simply and solely because ,i hoped to aid the lady whom ,i know only as ,marie ,fitzhugh40 ,the leader nodded4 8,most men have selfish or partly selfish motives for what they do10 he agreed1 with a suspicion of a smile4 8,your motive is quite clear2 ,i take it you expected ,marie ,fitzhugh to reward you40 8,i hoped she might4 ,from the moment ,i saw her1 ,i wanted her for my wife4 ,that was why ,i kept silence in ,new ,york when my valet was murdered1 and thereby saved your scheme from being wrecked at the outset4 ,that was why ,i came to ,russia4 ,that is why ,i am here40 8,well1 what did she tell you8 ,why do you come to us80 ,caruth threw out his hands4 8,don't fence with me10 he protested4 8,you know what she told me4 ,you know you took her vows--the vows of a mere child--to devote her life and her beauty to your cause4 ,you know that you are holding her practically for sale to the highest bidder--to him who will do most for that cause4 ,it isn't fair6 ,it is an outrage on womanhood4 ,it is trafficking in all that is holiest and highest in life4 ,no cause will prosper that depends on such methods4 ,be advised6 ,she has done her best for you4 ,she has done more than most women could do4 ,release her6 ,let her marry me--if she will40 ,caruth's breath came quick and fast4 ,his words tumbled over each other4 ,with outflung hands1 he leaned forward across the heavy table4 ,thoughtfully ,lermantoff studied his face4 8,mr4 ,caruth10 he said slowly1 8all your life you have had everything you wanted4 ,this is probably the first time you have had to fight and wait and hope for anything4 ,you find it hard4 ,further1 you are young4 ,your own happiness and the girl's seem to you the most important things in the world4 ,really1 they are not4 ,what difference will it make to the world one hundred years from now whether you two marry or not8 ,but it will make a great difference one hundred years from now whether the ,russian people have won their freedom or not4 ,we have trained ,marie ,fitzhugh for the work she has to do4 ,we have no one in all the ,brotherhood who can do that work so well4 ,to give her up--to surrender this tool that we have fashioned so carefully--is to set back the cause by no one knows how many years4 ,consider a moment1 ,mr4 ,caruth6 ,she went to ,new ,york and enlisted your coperation with all your wealth and influence within an hour after she had landed4 ,and do not think that it was all her beauty2 it was more--it was her personality4 ,do ,i not know it8 ,have ,i not felt it myself80 ,the speaker paused4 ,caruth1 reading an unsuspected meaning in his last words and foreseeing complications1 caught his breath1 but ,lermantoff gave him no time to consider4 ,with unmistakable1 though suppressed1 emotion1 he went on3 8,such powers as hers are mighty1 not to be thrown lightly away4 ,they have been reserved for some great end1 for some moment when they might turn the scale of ,russia's destiny4 ,for this reason ,i have denied myself40 8,what80 8,yes6 ,i tell you6 ,myself60 ,the man leaned forward1 face aglow4 ,his sinewy hands1 clinched1 thundered on the table4 8,what6 ,think you ,i have lived beside her and not loved her8 ,am ,i a dolt or a stone8 ,am ,i less a man because ,i am pledged to the ,brotherhood8 ,no1 no1 ,mr4 ,caruth6 ,i love her1 love her--and ,i have denied myself4 ,shall ,i now yield her to you80 ,both men had forgotten the others4 ,they might have been alone in a wilderness1 for all heed they took of listeners4 ,the one subject in their minds swallowed up all else4 ,caruth moistened his dry lips4 8,she does not love you10 he muttered despairingly4 ,lermantoff sank back1 the fire dying from his eyes4 8,no10 he answered sadly2 8she does not love me4 ,perhaps that was why4 ,oh1 we are poor creatures1 we men6 ,we do not even know our own motives40 ,he brushed back a lock of hair that had fallen over his brow4 8,she does not love me1 and she does love you4 ,therefore--oh1 ,i am a sentimentalist after all--therefore1 ,i would give her to you1 were it even at ,russia's expense1 if ,i alone had the power4 ,but ,i have not4 ,i am only one4 ,the interests of the ,brotherhood must be consulted40 8,what does the ,brotherhood demand80 ,caruth's tones were firmer now4 ,hope had begun to glimmer4 8,the ,brotherhood has fashioned a tool for its use2 you want that tool4 ,the ,brotherhood will not--dare not--give it to you4 ,but the ,brotherhood is poor1 and you are rich4 ,it will sell it to you--at a great price4 ,what will you give80 ,caruth moved restlessly4 ,it was shocking to him that ,marie should be made a subject of bargain and sale4 8,i cannot chaffer over such a subject10 he cried4 8,tell me what you want1 and ,i will pay it if it is in my power4 ,you say right4 ,i am rich--not rich like many of my countrymen1 but rich by ordinary standards4 ,tell me what you want1 and ,i will pay it if ,i can40 8,the ,brotherhood wants a million dollars40 ,caruth did not hesitate4 8,you shall have it10 he answered4 8,but you will have to give me time to get it for you4 ,i have not a tithe of the sum in ready cash4 ,i shall have to go to ,new ,york and sell property4 ,it may take two months4 ,i will give you my note for the sum at two months if you will take it40 ,lermantoff bowed4 8,we will take it10 he answered4 8,and--and--you will trust me8 ,i may take her away with me80 8,assuredly6 ,but the ,brotherhood trusts no one2 it has no need to do so4 ,marie ,fitzhugh will be as much within its reach in ,new ,york as she is in this house4 ,no one can betray or deceive the ,brotherhood and live to enjoy it40 ,caruth's face grew stern4 8,i understand that this million dollars buys the lady's release absolutely4 ,you will give up all hold on her1 all claim over her4 ,you will tell her so1 and release her from her vows in my presence80 ,lermantoff nodded4 8,that is the understanding10 he said4 ,turning1 he said a few words to the man by his side1 and that individual rose and went out4 8,i have sent for ,marie10 he explained4 ,caruth sprang to his feet4 8,you--you will not tell her that ,i have--have bought her80 he pleaded4 ,the other shook his head4 8,have no fear10 he answered gently4 8,remember6 ,i love her too40 ,in a moment the man was back4 ,with him came ,marie4 ,when she saw ,caruth1 she stopped short1 gasping1 with distended eyes4 8,you60 she muttered4 8,you here60 ,caruth caught both her hands in his4 8,yes60 he cried4 8,yes6 ,and it's all right6 ,all right6 ,the ,brotherhood has given you to me40 ,with joy dawning in her frightened eyes1 the girl turned to the others4 ,illustration3 8,,you60 ,,she ,,muttered1 8,,you ,,here60 ,lermantoff caught her glance and nodded4 8,marie ,fitzhugh10 he said solemnly1 8for reasons that seem good to it1 the ,brotherhood has decided to send you to ,america to aid in creating sympathy for the ,russian people there4 ,you will go with ,mr4 ,caruth to ,st4 ,petersburg1 to the ,american ,embassy1 and marry him there1 and go with him to the ,united ,states4 ,you are hereby released from all obligations to the ,brotherhood and from all your vows4 ,such service as you may render hereafter will be purely voluntary4 ,as chief of the ,brotherhood1 ,i tell you this in ,mr4 ,caruth's presence4 ,the other members of the ,circle will now confirm it to you40 ,he turned and spoke a few words in ,russian1 and one by one each of the other members repeated what seemed to ,caruth to be a set form of words4 ,when they had finished1 ,lermantoff spoke again4 8,you are not entirely out of danger yet1 ,mr4 ,caruth10 he warned4 8,baron ,demidroff is making desperate efforts to capture ,marie1 and she will be arrested if found4 ,that is why she has remained concealed here4 ,once you have made her your wife at the ,american ,embassy1 she will be measurably safe4 ,until then1 she will be in danger4 ,i think1 therefore1 that she had better go with you in disguise4 ,tell me good-by now1 my child1 and go and get ready4 ,i hope you will be very1 very happy40 ,,chapter ,,twenty-,,one ,as the train drew away from ,gatchina1 ,caruth drew a long breath of relief4 ,running express1 it would make no stops on the way to ,st4 ,petersburg1 scarcely an hour distant1 and little was likely to happen in an hour4 ,humanly speaking1 he felt that ,marie was safe4 ,quickly the speed increased as the suburbs of the town whisked by1 and almost in a moment the train was running through open fields4 ,then might the peasants along the track1 if gifted with sufficiently quick eyesight1 have seen in one of the compartments a fashionably dressed young man ecstatically embracing what seemed to be a workingman4 ,marie wore the dress of a laborer4 ,her lovely hair1 coiled on top of her head1 was concealed beneath a rough cap4 ,her coat collar1 turned up around her neck1 hid her slim throat1 while a heavy beard1 hastily affixed1 concealed the outlines of her oval face4 ,with her nether limbs thrust into a pair of workingman's trousers1 and her feet hidden in heavy boots1 she bore no resemblance to the fashionably dressed woman for whom the police were watching so eagerly4 ,caruth1 however1 did not seem to mind her costume1 even when her beard tickled his nose and made him sneeze4 ,only muttering something about insisting that she should shave as soon as she became ,mrs4 ,c41 he continued to kiss and hug her as though he would never be satisfied4 8,to think ,i've got you at last60 he cried4 8,after all these days and days of doubt and anxiety4 ,to think that soon we'll be on our own yacht1 bound for our own country1 away from all this horrible plotting and counterplotting4 ,oh1 ,i can't believe it60 ,the girl shuddered slightly4 8,i can't either10 she sighed4 8,i'm afraid--oh1 ,i'm horribly afraid that something will happen yet to prevent4 ,i didn't use to be afraid of anything6 ,i always thought that ,i could face whatever came without quailing1 but now--now ,i'm a very woman1 dear6 ,love has made me timid4 ,i don't think ,i could bear it if ,i were caught now40 8,caught6 ,you can't be and shan't be4 ,why1 we are half way to ,st4 ,petersburg already40 8,not quite yet6 ,and even if we were--oh1 ,i'm afraid4 ,lermantoff is not an alarmist4 ,he never speaks without good reason4 ,no one else could have persuaded me to wear this ridiculous disguise40 ,caruth grinned4 8,we'll keep it as a memento of our honeymoon10 he observed4 8,don't worry4 ,a good many wives don the trousers after marriage2 you are only anticipating a little4 ,and ,i don't think you need be afraid4 ,i can't see a cloud on the----0 ,he broke off as a shadow fell across the compartment1 darkening the window1 and a voice1 rough and strained1 flung a brief sentence into the interior--a sentence that made ,marie spring up in terror4 ,a man was standing on the running board1 hanging to the casement4 ,a glance at the cap he wore told that he was one of the guards 7or brakemen7 of the train4 ,volubly he sputtered in harsh-sounding ,russian and eagerly ,marie drank in his words4 ,then as suddenly as he had come1 he was gone4 ,marie sank back on the cushions1 and ,caruth could see that she had grown deathly white4 8,it wasn't to be1 dear love10 she gasped4 8,it wasn't to be40 ,caruth gazed at her in consternation4 ,this cowering woman was not the brave girl he remembered4 ,love had indeed robbed her of her courage4 8,what is it8 ,what is it80 he importuned1 sinking down beside her4 8,lermantoff shall not back out now4 ,he shall not take you away from me4 ,if he tries----0 8,it isn't ,lermantoff4 ,it's the police4 ,they know ,i am here4 ,they know my disguise4 ,they know ,i am on this train4 ,they are only waiting till it stops to seize me4 ,the guard is one of our men4 ,he came along the footboard at the risk of his life to warn me4 ,it's all over1 dear4 ,i'll never see ,america again40 ,for an instant the girl sobbed on2 then she buried her hot face in her hands4 8,oh60 she wailed1 8,i cannot bear it6 ,i had not realized it6 ,save me6 ,for ,god's sake1 save me60 ,all his life ,caruth had been noted for the speed with which he came to decisions1 and the rapidity with which he acted upon them1 and this1 his most exciting experience1 furnished no exception to the rule4 ,before the last words had fallen from the girl's lips1 he was slipping out of his light spring overcoat4 8,why didn't you tell me sooner80 he exclaimed4 8,you cut it fine1 ,marie4 ,why0--with a fleeting glance out the window--8we're in the city now60 ,they were1 but fear1 like love1 has wings1 and before the train reached the station the girl had been disguised afresh4 ,shorn of her beard1 and clothed in ,caruth's stylish overcoat1 with his cap drawn down over her ears1 she made a very presentable boy4 ,caruth looked her over critically4 8,you'll do10 he decided4 8,oh1 ,i hope so6 ,but aren't you going to----0 ,she glanced at her discarded hat and coat4 8,neverlee40 ,the joy of the game was mounting to ,caruth's head like wine4 8,neverlee6 ,that would be ruin sure enough4 ,i've got a scheme worth two of that4 ,you've got a pistol1 haven't you8 ,let's see it40 8,yes40 ,the girl drew it out wonderingly4 8,good60 ,he sat down and leaned forward4 8,now10 he said1 8hit me with the butt of your revolver4 ,here40 ,he laid his finger on his forehead just at the bottom of the hair4 8,hit hard10 he concluded1 8and when the train gets into the station put out for the ,american ,embassy and stay there till ,i come4 ,hit6 ,hit hard60 ,the girl shrank back4 8,i can't10 she breathed4 8,you must4 ,you've got to have time to escape from the railway station1 and this is the only thing that would explain my delay and lend artistic verisimilitude to a bald and unconvincing narrative1 as our friend1 the ,mikado1 once said4 ,don't be afraid2 my skull is thick1 and won't be seriously hurt4 ,quick6 ,we are getting into the station4 ,think that ,i am ,general ,somebodyoffski and hit--hit hard4 ,quick60 ,the girl's eyes grew big with tears4 8,i did not think there lived such a man as you10 she breathed4 8,now ,i understand why your great country is free4 ,such men as you must be free4 ,oh1 ,god6 ,is there no other way80 8,none4 ,the train is stopping4 ,quick60 ,despairingly1 the girl glanced around4 ,then she lifted the heavy revolver and struck as ,caruth had directed4 ,without a moan he sank back1 unconscious1 in his seat4 ,for a moment ,marie stood gazing at her handiwork4 ,then a great sob shook her frame1 and she bent down and pressed her lips to the purpling wound4 8,forgive1 forgive60 she cried4 8,if it had been life alone---- ,oh1 love1 forgive1 forgive60 ,the next moment she was gone4 ,,chapter ,,twenty-,,two ,it is one thing to embark on adventure and another thing to carry it through4 ,though the first step costs more than any other one step1 it does not cost more than the aggregate of the rest1 and certainly does not cost more than the period of suspense that inevitably comes in any prolonged enterprise4 ,all of which serves as an introduction to the statement that though ,florence began well1 she soon sickened of her venture4 ,the conditions were against her4 ,she had always been used to a good share of the world's comforts4 ,even in ,new ,york1 hanging on the ragged edge of the bottomless pit1 she had never been penniless1 and had never held back from anything she wanted through fear of becoming penniless4 ,like a cat1 she loved warmth and the cream of life4 ,when she placed the red light in her port on the ,sea ,spume and dropped over the side into the arms in which ,wilkins willingly received her1 she contemplated nothing more unpleasant than a sail by night over the dancing waves to a safe port4 ,the danger that menaced her not being visible1 she disregarded it2 or felt it only as giving a zest to a romantic flight4 ,but things did not turn out as she had anticipated4 ,they seldom do4 ,scarcely had the sloop gained the open sea when it became apparent that it was too heavily laden4 ,the wind was only ordinarily fresh1 and the waves were not at all dangerous to an ordinary craft2 yet they broke continually over the rail4 ,soon it was evident that to attempt to run across the open channel to the ,swedish coast would be suicidal1 and to run for ,copenhagen even more so4 ,much against his will1 ,wilkins was forced to keep south around the lee of the islands1 and finally to run for a ,russian port4 ,even on this tack1 the trip was very dangerous1 and for more than three hours ,florence1 who had never before done any work harder than carrying a spear in the front rank of the chorus1 had to toil strenuously helping to pump out the water that poured in unceasingly4 ,when a girl is cold and wet and exhausted beyond expression for several hours1 during all of which ,death sits grinning over her shoulder1 it is not exactly surprising if she wonders whether the game is worth the candle4 ,nor were matters greatly improved when at last the sloop won to the port of ,helsingfors and dropped anchor along with other fishing-smacks in the bay1 where her passengers hoped to lie unnoticed while ,bill ,wilkins1 who alone spoke ,russian1 ran up to ,st4 ,petersburg to try to find a steamer whose captain would consent1 for a sufficiently large remuneration1 to clear for a foreign port and then run out of his course close to ,helsingfors1 to take the gold on board4 ,such a captain once found1 and signals arranged1 ,bill would return to ,helsingfors to join the others and help take the schooner out to meet the vessel4 ,tom ,wilkins stood the monotony of waiting very well4 ,used to the loneliness of the plains1 his own thoughts sufficed4 ,but ,florence had no resources in herself4 ,accustomed to the clatter of ,new ,york1 she had been bored even by the quietness of the life on the ,sea ,spume1 and this was ten times worse4 ,day after day she did nothing but twirl her fingers and think about ,baron ,demidroff and his wonderful tale of ,princess ,yves ,napraxine4 ,such was her mood on the third afternoon of her imprisonment1 when ,wilkins1 with a fatuity scarcely credible1 attempted to cheer her up by making love to her4 ,florence promptly went into hysterics1 and ,wilkins had the time of his life in quieting her4 ,that night1 after pretending to go to bed1 she slipped away1 rowing herself ashore in the only small boat belonging to the sloop1 and took the night train for ,st4 ,petersburg4 ,by the time that ,wilkins missed her she was at the office of ,baron ,demidroff4 ,even when there1 however1 she found it none too easy to reach the ,baron4 ,totally ignorant of the language1 and unable to ask her way1 she had to trust to luck1 and luck did not favor her4 ,it was late in the afternoon--the afternoon of the same day and at about the same hour when ,caruth and ,marie were leaving ,gatchina--that she at last found her way to the ,baron's office and sent in a card inscribed with ,olga's name1 but with the additional words1 8,princess ,yves ,napraxine10 pencilled in the corner4 ,but after that events moved fast4 ,scarcely had her card vanished when the door was flung open and the ,baron rushed in1 both hands extended4 8,ah1 ,madame la ,princesse60 he exclaimed4 8,to think of seeing you here6 ,come in6 ,come in60 ,eagerly he urged her toward the inner office1 pouring out the while a flood of welcomings4 8,well6 ,well60 he exclaimed4 8,to think of it4 ,where did you come from1 ,princess8 ,where have you been all these days80 ,florence seated herself and stared at him with cool insolence4 ,instinctively she knew that she would gain no more from him by softness than she had gained in former days from the 8,johnnies0 in ,new ,york4 ,men were all alike1 she decided1 and the weeping1 clinging girl was a back number4 8,back off6 ,back off60 she ordered4 8,i'm not telling where ,i've been yet40 8,but the gold1 ,princess6 ,the gold60 8,the gold is all to the downy4 ,it's where ,i can put my hand on it4 ,you see1 ,baron1 ,i'm one of the new woman push1 and ,i ain't trusting anybody4 ,you might play fair if ,i turned the stuff over to you1 and you might not4 ,it's me for the sure thing every time4 ,that's why ,i got me suitors to carry the gold off and hide it away till ,i got guarantees40 ,instead of showing vexation1 the ,baron chuckled4 ,such impudence from one altogether in his power was refreshing4 ,florence had made no mistake in her treatment of him4 ,the ,baron admired any one who was clever enough to see through him4 ,besides1 the girl was very handsome4 8,what guarantees do you want1 ,princess80 he asked soberly4 ,florence hesitated2 she did not know what to ask4 8,i want to see the proofs10 she declared vaguely4 8,you hand me a jolly about strawberry mark and me lost ancestors and ask me to turn over five million dollars in return4 ,it ain't good enough6 ,see8 ,i'd rather keep the five million dollars meself1 if there's any doubt about the thing40 8,quite reasonable6 ,quite reasonable60 ,the ,baron nodded4 8,the proofs are largely documentary4 ,i will send for them4 ,meanwhile----0 ,the ,baron paused for a moment2 then went on4 8,princess60 he said1 8,i will be frank with you4 ,i see that you are not one to be deceived4 ,to a fair face you unite the cool head of a man----0 8,cut it out6 ,cut it out60 8,it is the truth4 ,but you do not know ,russia4 ,here every man has his price4 ,every one is making himself rich4 ,what you call graft flourishes4 ,you are the ,princess ,yves ,napraxine2 that is true4 ,you are heiress to enormous wealth2 that also is true4 ,but if you think that all you have to do is to come forward and show who you are1 in order to get that rank and wealth1 you know little of ,russia4 ,your estates are in the hands of a trustee who has grown rich in caring for them4 ,think you he will readily give them up8 ,not so6 ,he is a powerful man--one who stands in a high place4 ,once he hears of you1 you will disappear1 unless protected by a power as strong or stronger than his--in fact1 ,princess1 unless protected by me40 ,florence nodded4 ,the ,baron's words were really a relief to her4 ,it was quite believable that a man who had had the control of twenty millions for ten years would fight to retain that control1 and that they could easily dispose of a lone woman1 irrespective of the fact that she was really an impostor4 ,but if the ,baron were ready to back and protect her1 as he seemed to imply1 the situation would be changed4 8,you're all to the good1 ,baron10 she agreed4 8,go on and tell me4 ,i'm from ,missouri1 you know40 8,this trustee is my enemy1 ,princess10 went on ,demidroff4 8,for years he has been trying to ruin me4 ,in the effort1 he has used the power of your millions unscrupulously4 ,a year ago ,i concluded that ,i must wrest the control of those millions from him1 or he would destroy me4 ,i set on foot inquiries which led me to you4 ,the nihilists thought they had you brought to ,russia4 ,well1 so they did1 but it was ,i that pulled the strings4 ,i brought you here to wrest ,count ,strogoff's wealth from him4 ,by my aid1 you can win money and place2 by your aid1 ,i shall triumph over the ,count4 ,united1 we shall win everything2 divided1 we both lose4 ,but ,i must help you before you will be able to help me4 ,it is really ,i that should demand guarantees1 ,princess40 ,florence did not answer for a moment4 ,the ,baron's words seemed reasonable enough1 and she felt somehow that he was telling her the truth4 ,the mist of intrigue1 plot1 and counterplot in the midst of which she found herself1 was exactly the sort of thing she had always understood was characteristic of ,russia4 ,to her dramatic instincts the whole thing seemed logical and feasible1 supposing her to be the real ,olga ,shishkin4 ,well1 she might as well go on pretending4 ,obviously nothing was to be gained by confession4 8,and the ,orkney's gold80 she questioned4 8,the ,orkney's gold8 ,i want it6 ,yes1 but only to aid me to aid you4 ,if ,i recover it1 ,i win my imperial master's favor and ,i pave the way for your recognition4 ,on the other hand1 failure will lose me that confidence1 and make it harder for me to triumph over ,count ,strogoff and help you4 ,except for this1 the gold counts for comparatively little4 ,your estates are worth five times as much40 8,i see40 8,now1 ,princess1 ,i will make you a proposal4 ,you are a woman1 clever1 young1 and beautiful1 but weak2 ,i am a bachelor1 not very young1 but not yet very old1 and ,i am powerful1 and power is what you need4 ,madame la ,princesse1 will you do me the honor to become my wife80 ,florence's breath was taken away with a vengeance4 ,that she1 the variety actress of a month before1 should be receiving a proposal of marriage from the chief of the ,russian secret police was past belief4 8,gee60 she muttered4 8,what's coming next8 ,if the pipe don't go out and ,i don't wake up1 the first thing ,i know the ,czarski'll be asking me to share his bomb-proof cottage with him40 ,scarcely she heard the ,baron's following words3 8,i know that it is presumption for me to address you1 ,princess10 he was saying4 8,my family1 though noble1 is by no means on a par with yours4 ,still1 ,i assure you that your union with me cannot be termed a mesalliance4 ,the position ,i have won makes it possible for me to mate with any one outside of the blood royal4 ,will you not accept me1 ,princess80 ,the daze was passing away1 and ,florence was regaining command of herself4 8,gee60 she muttered desperately4 8,gee6 ,he's a nice old fellow1 any way1 and ,i don't know but what--oh1 gee60 she exploded4 8,i'm afraid6 ,i'm afraid60 ,she looked up at the ,baron4 8,i must think6 ,i must think60 she cried4 8,assuredly1 ,princess6 ,think all you like4 ,and remember that1 though ,i do not talk of sentiment1 for you might think me deceitful1 yet ,i feel it1 ,princess4 ,i am not so old that ,i cannot admire and love--yes1 love1 ,princess4 ,but ,i will leave that till later4 ,just now remember that ,i can give you everything1 and that ,i offer myself as a guarantee of my truth4 ,can ,i say more80 8,no6 ,no60 ,florence had found her tongue at last4 8,no6 ,no6 ,you can't say more4 ,and ,i will accept if ,i can4 ,i will1 honest4 ,but ,i must think4 ,i must talk to my friends on the ,sea ,spume40 8,certainly6 ,yet do not forget that time flies4 ,will the gold stay safe while you think80 ,florence paled4 8,gracious60 she cried4 8,i forgot the gold60 8,perhaps ,i can save you the necessity of going on board the yacht40 ,demidroff touched a bell4 8,i will send for some one whom you will be glad to see10 he explained4 8,who is it80 8,you shall see40 ,demidroff touched a bell and gave an order in ,russian4 ,an instant later the door was pushed open4 ,professor ,shishkin stood on the threshold6 ,,chapter ,,twenty-,,three ,neither ,florence nor the ,professor was as much surprised at seeing the other as might have been expected1 and this for the very simple reason that neither knew that the other had been missing4 ,ever since her flight1 ,florence had been cut off from all information concerning the yacht1 while ,professor ,shishkin had vanished during the fight without having learned of the treachery of ,wilkins and the woman who was impersonating his daughter4 ,consequently1 when they saw each other1 neither expressed any particular amazement nor delight4 ,each1 indeed1 was uncertain what this confrontation in the office of the chief of the secret police could mean4 ,shishkin wondered if ,florence had betrayed his substitution of her for his daughter1 while ,florence wondered whether the ,professor was about to bring her to shame by disclosing that very fact4 ,each1 therefore1 stared at the other much as do two strange dogs hesitating whether to fight or to fraternize4 ,at last the ,professor stretched out a trembling hand4 8,olga6 ,my child60 he quavered4 ,florence was not dull4 ,if ,shishkin still called her child1 he had not betrayed her2 possibly he might not intend to do so4 8,father60 she cried1 with a histrionic gesture that smacked of music hall days4 8,father6 ,but no6 ,you are not me father6 ,oh1 father1 how could you tear me from me happy home80 ,the ,professor looked stunned1 as well he might4 ,if ,florence had had a happy home when he took her from the music hall1 he had never heard of it4 ,florence1 however1 gave him no time to explain4 8,oh1 father60 she cried again4 8,when you stole me from the home of the ,grand ,duke ,ivan1 my real father1 did you never think how you wr'r'ronged me80 ,the ,professor started4 ,the mention of the ,grand ,duke showed him that ,florence's words had no such superficial meaning as he had at first supposed4 ,with satisfaction1 he remembered that the true ,olga was far away in ,america4 ,whatever this girl was driving at1 could not alter that fact4 ,he glanced at ,demidroff1 who sat watching1 and grew cautious4 8,i stole you--,i80 he protested4 8,what do you mean80 ,florence breathed easier4 ,the old man had caught her cue and was playing up to her4 8,all is discovered60 she cried theatrically4 8,twenty years ago1 here1 in ,russia1 you stole me from my father1 the ,grand ,duke ,ivan1 and took me to ,america1 away from all ,i knew and loved4 ,how could you do it8 ,how could you do it80 ,shishkin began to understand4 ,it was not only the nihilists who knew that he had stolen ,olga2 ,demidroff knew it1 too6 ,this girl knew it6 ,but what was this talk of grand ducal paternity8 8,it was my right10 he protested4 8,it is always a man's right to recover his own child40 8,but ,i am not your child4 ,did you think that ,i was your child when you stole me8 ,that explains1 ,baron6 ,that explains6 ,he thought it was his own child he was taking4 ,and he has been very good to me4 ,i will not have him hurt or punished4 ,you must let him go4 ,you will do that much for me80 ,demidroff nodded4 8,i will do much for you1 ,princess10 he murmured2 8perhaps even that40 8,professor0--he turned to the old man--8,i was not in office when the ,princess ,yves ,napraxine was stolen1 and am not very familiar with the circumstances2 but ,i know it did not occur to any one at the time that she had been taken in mistake for your daughter4 ,it was only a few months ago1 when ,i began to look into the case1 that ,i suspected something of the sort4 ,your words confirm my belief4 ,professor1 you did not steal your own daughter4 ,you stole the daughter of the ,grand ,duke ,ivan1 the ,princess ,yves ,napraxine1 who was the same age1 and was playing with her4 ,you brought her up as your own4 ,and now you have brought her back to resume her rightful place in the world as heiress to a great fortune and a great name40 ,professor ,shishkin tottered to a chair and sank down4 ,not for a moment did he doubt the truth of ,demidroff's words4 ,again and again he had tried to find in ,olga a resemblance to himself or to his dead wife1 but always in vain4 ,the girl was like neither of them--in face or in character4 ,often he had wondered whence she had gotten this or that trait1 and now he understood4 ,the fabric of his life fell shattered round him4 ,what was to be done8 ,he loved ,olga1 even if she were not his own daughter2 for twenty years he had cared for her2 he had dared nihilist vengeance rather than let her come to ,russia and run the risk of being separated from him4 ,he could not give her up now4 ,and would she want to be given up8 ,she was married and supposedly three thousand miles away1 presumably happy and content1 knowing nothing of all this4 ,would she care to leave it all for a new life1 even if it brought her wealth and station8 ,he doubted it4 ,for the present1 at any rate1 he would tell nothing4 ,he raised his head and looked at ,demidroff4 8,is this true80 he demanded4 ,the ,baron nodded4 8,perfectly true60 he replied4 8,from all accounts1 the disappearance of the princess was discovered almost immediately4 ,it was supposed that she had been stolen by some enemy of the ,grand ,duke4 ,strenuous efforts were made to find her1 but they all failed4 ,there were no clues4 ,no one guessed that ,count ,lladislas had escaped from the fortress of ,st4 ,peter and ,st4 ,paul and come back to carry away his own child4 ,until ,i took the matter up1 a few weeks ago1 no one knew whether she was alive or dead4 ,now the proofs are nearly completed2 it needs only your own affidavit that you stole this lady from the ducal palace1 to render them irrefutable40 8,but--but----0 the ,professor gasped--8but my own child4 ,where is she80 8,she is safe and well4 ,i will tell you about her in good time4 ,first1 however1 comes that affidavit4 ,will you draw it up now80 ,professor ,shishkin faltered4 ,the question with him1 however1 was one of sentiment and not one of morality4 ,if need be1 he was willing to make a hundred affidavits1 careless of their truth1 counting it a virtue to deceive any one connected with the ,czar and his government4 ,the memory of the wrongs they had wrought on him still burned in his mind4 ,not in all the years that had elapsed had he forgotten them4 ,but he had begun to remember ,olga's rights4 ,no matter whose daughter she might be1 no matter what rightful enmity he bore against her father1 she herself was dear to him4 ,now that it came to the point1 he could not bring himself to throw away her rights without consulting her2 certainly not without serious consideration4 ,he would give no affidavit at the moment4 ,yet if he refused1 ,demidroff would keep him in suspense about his own daughter4 ,well1 he could bear it2 he had been separated from her for twenty years2 surely he could wait a little longer4 ,but what excuse to give8 ,what plea could he offer for refusing to bear witness to a state of affairs which he had already admitted8 ,while still he hesitated1 ,demidroff1 who had been watching him with rising suspicion of he knew not what1 struck in4 8,i believe ,i am justified1 ,professor10 he remarked suavely1 8in telling you that your daughter is suspected of affiliation with the terrorists1 and is now being sought by the authorities4 ,information has recently reached me that she is in hiding in a near-by town and is liable to be arrested any moment4 ,the charges against her are not very serious1 however1 and ,i shall be glad to quash them if ,i have reason to believe that you are friendly to me4 ,this is only by the way1 however4 ,the pressing business in hand is that affidavit40 ,the old man flushed red1 then white2 he had opened his lips to speak1 to defy this man who was mocking him1 when ,florence burst in4 ,the show-girl had been watching the old man narrowly1 and had guessed very accurately what was passing in his mind4 ,she felt that it was high time for her to speak4 8,father10 she exclaimed anxiously--8for ,i will still call you father6 ,do not forget your obligations to me40 ,the old man started4 ,he had entirely forgotten ,florence4 ,obviously she hoped that he would let the deception go on2 obviously she had fostered it1 even if she had not been responsible for it2 plainly she was a little cheat1 who ought to be exposed4 ,yet1 after all1 he himself was partly responsible for her deceit2 he had palmed her off as ,olga1 and even if she had gone beyond his instructions1 he felt it his duty to see that no harm should come to her4 ,indeed1 he had promised her as much in ,new ,york4 ,slowly he raised his tremulous eyes4 8,i will not forget10 he promised4 ,florence drew a long breath4 ,she resolved to dare everything4 8,say60 she exclaimed4 8,i'll put it to you straight4 ,when popper died--the ,grand ,duke ,ivan1 ,i mean--when popper died he left a lot of money that was to come to me if ,i ever turned up4 ,he left it in the hands of ,count ,strogoff as trustee4 ,now1 what the ,count's done to it is a plenty4 ,he thinks it's his1 and he won't give it up till he's made to4 ,he ain't a quitter4 ,he'll fight for all he's worth1 and ,i ain't going to have any walkover for the stakes4 ,not on your tin-type4 ,but the ,baron here believes in me4 ,he says he and ,i can win out if we do good team work4 ,he wants to marry me and make a play for the money4 ,nobody else could win4 ,if ,i was married already1 for instance10--,florence spoke slowly and pointedly--8my name would be ,dennis1 for the ,baron holds all the cards and wouldn't back the game unless he stood to pull down something worth while4 ,you see that1 don't you8 ,now1 if you'll just give the ,baron that affidavit1 we'll tour round to the ,embassy and get a sure 'nuf preacher4 ,i'll marry the ,baron again any way he says later on1 but ,i've got to be married by somebody ,i know something about first4 ,i ain't taking any chances on an illustrated post-card priest4 ,now1 father1 what do you say80 ,the ,professor had listened intently4 ,the girl's words carried conviction4 ,he had heard of ,count ,strogoff1 and could guess how that personage would fight to retain possession of a fortune he had once gotten his hands on4 ,decidedly1 the game was not worth the candle1 so far as the real ,olga was concerned4 ,it was her happiness that he wished for1 not to unsettle her life1 so happily begun1 by dangling before her a dream of wealth that1 however it ended1 could not bring her greater contentment than was hers at present4 ,if ,florence wanted to take the risks of the game1 let her4 ,he owed nothing to ,demidroff nor to any other ,russian4 8,very well10 he declared1 turning to the ,baron4 8,i'll sign the affidavit just as soon as this young lady is safely married to you at the ,american ,embassy--on the distinct pledge1 however1 that you tell me who my daughter is and give her a chance to escape with me out of ,russia40 ,the ,baron nodded4 8,agreed60 he exclaimed4 8,it is1 of course1 understood that you make no complaint about the ,burndo matter4 ,yes8 ,very well40 ,he struck a bell1 and a man entered1 bringing a note which the ,baron read4 8,let him wait10 he ordered1 in ,russian4 ,he turned back to the old man4 8,if you will go with this messenger1 ,professor10 he said1 8he will enable you to arrange your toilet40 ,the ,professor bowed and followed the man2 and the ,baron turned to ,florence4 8,you do me honor1 ,princess10 he said1 bowing4 8,it shall be my task to see that you do not regret it4 ,you1 too1 will want to arrange yourself4 ,but before you go1 tell me where that gold is40 ,florence told him4 ,the die was cast now1 and no holding back was possible4 8,but1 say10 she concluded1 almost wistfully1 8you won't hurt those ,wilkinses1 will you8 ,they're right nice boys1 and while1 of course1 ,i ain't treating them any worse than they treated ,mr4 ,caruth1 still1 ,i'd hate to have their deaths on my conscience40 ,the ,baron laughed happily and pinched ,florence's cheek4 8,oh ho60 he cried4 8,i am to spare everybody1 am ,i8--even the ,wilkinses8 ,you are too tender hearted for ,russia1 ,princess6 ,but ,i'll do it this time4 ,i'll spare them if they'll let me4 ,now1 ,princess1 au revoir4 ,as soon as you are ready1 we will start for the ,embassy40 ,,chapter ,,twenty-,,four ,consciousness struggled back to ,caruth slowly1 but it came at last4 ,all about him was the roar of a great passenger station1 the murmur of voices1 the tramp of feet1 the banging of carriage doors1 the thump of baggage4 ,dully he put his hand to his head and felt a tremendous swelling just above his forehead4 ,then he looked around at the unfamiliar foreign faces that ringed him about4 ,somebody was questioning him in harsh spitting ,russian4 ,he did not understand1 and shook his head petulantly1 only to cease quickly on account of the pain which the movement caused him4 ,memory had returned with a jerk1 and he wondered whether ,marie had escaped4 ,he must give her as much time as he could to pass the gates4 ,he closed his eyes and lay silent4 ,five minutes sped by4 ,then he was picked up1 bundled into a cab1 and driven away4 ,he gathered that he was under arrest1 but he was not troubled4 ,his story was unassailable4 ,besides1 his head ached too much for him to think of anything else4 ,on the way to headquarters his head became better1 and on his arrival he was able to talk quite clearly and connectedly to a courteous individual who spoke ,english very well4 ,caruth did not know it1 but it was ,baron ,demidroff himself who questioned him4 8,i especially regret that this should have happened to you1 ,mr4 ,caruth10 he said apologetically4 8,you must already have a very poor opinion of ,russia1 ,i fear1 after your unfortunate experience in the ,sea ,spume40 ,a qualm came to ,caruth as he realized that he was known1 but it quickly passed4 ,after all1 the knowledge merely anticipated the story he was about to tell4 ,he shrugged his shoulders4 8,such things happen everywhere1 ,monsieur10 he replied4 8,don't trouble about it40 ,the ,baron smiled4 8,certain inquiries must be made10 he answered4 8,can you give me a description of the person who robbed you80 ,the young man hesitated4 ,lying did not come easily to him4 8,not very well10 he said reluctantly4 8,i had no reason for noticing him4 ,generally speaking1 he was tall and broad and had a thick beard40 8,we found the beard in the railway carriage4 ,he carried off your overcoat and hat1 you say80 8,probably40 8,then he could not have been very stout4 ,you are too slender for your clothing to fit a very large man4 ,is it not so80 ,caruth put his hand painfully to his head4 8,i guess ,i'd have thought of that myself if my head had been clear10 he evaded4 8,a crack like that isn't conducive to lucidity40 8,humph6 ,i suppose you have no reason to suppose that this brawny man was really a woman80 ,caruth's heart contracted painfully4 8,a woman60 he exclaimed4 8,heavens1 no6 ,no woman could strike a blow like that60 8,no8 ,you are sure1 then1 that it could not have been struck by one ,marie ,fitzhugh1 so called1 who made the voyage from ,america to ,russia on your yacht80 ,caruth struggled to his feet with what assumption of dignity he could command4 8,you are pleased to jest1 ,monsieur10 he remarked stiffly4 8,miss ,fitzhugh is a valued friend4 ,to think of her in such a connection as this is little short of an insult4 ,i will bid you good day1 ,monsieur40 8,not so fast4 ,when do you leave ,russia1 ,mr4 ,caruth80 ,the young man looked the elder in the eye4 8,to-night1 ,i hope10 he answered shortly4 8,so8 ,that is good4 ,i was about to advise an early departure4 ,russia does not seem to agree with you1 ,mr4 ,caruth4 ,you are too unfortunate4 ,i fear--,i very much fear--that a third misfortune more serious than the others will overtake you if you stay much longer4 ,but if you are leaving soon----0 8,i hope to40 8,very well4 ,i trust nothing will prevent4 ,bon voyage1 ,mr4 ,caruth40 ,heavy heartedly the young ,american drove to a hotel and sent for a physician1 who dressed his head1 prescribed a sedative1 and ordered him to bed4 ,caruth bowed him out1 poured the sedative into the slop basin1 and set off for the ,american ,embassy4 ,he did not feel at all certain of his reception4 ,the ambassador was absent on leave and the ,charg d',affaires1 who acted in his place1 had long before been rendered nearly frantic by the complications of the ,sea ,spume's case4 ,what he would say when this fresh development was forced upon him1 ,caruth found it difficult to guess4 ,if ,marie had arrived there in disguise1 as he hoped she had1 he could imagine that the poor ,charg was having a bad quarter of an hour4 ,his anticipations proved true4 ,as he entered the office the ,charg sprang up4 8,well1 ,mr4 ,caruth10 he cried1 8this is the limit6 ,not content with engaging in filibustering1 you seem to have gone in for direct nihilism4 ,heavens1 man1 haven't you any consideration for the position you put me in80 ,caruth did not answer4 ,his eyes had lighted on a well-remembered form1 and he turned to greet ,marie ,fitzhugh4 ,swiftly she came toward him still dressed in her men's clothes1 and laid her white hand in his4 8,thank ,god you are safe60 she said with a catch in her voice4 8,it was the bravest thing ,i ever knew40 ,caruth smiled at her4 8,nonsense60 he answered4 8,i've taken many a harder crack in football4 ,it was all right again in ten minutes4 ,and the police couldn't do a thing to me1 though ,i guess they knew pretty well what had happened4 ,but you8 ,did you get through all right80 8,easily4 ,i came here1 and--well1 ,i suppose ,i made myself a nuisance1 and----0 ,she turned shyly toward the ,charg4 ,but that gentleman had calmed down a little4 ,he had remembered that ,caruth's friends were powerful politically and that it might not be well for him to show too much irritation4 8,not at all10 he protested4 8,not at all4 ,i simply didn't know what to do under the circumstances4 ,and ,i'd really be glad if you'd tell me just what you want me to do now40 ,caruth smiled4 8,there's one thing you can do all right1 all right10 he answered happily1 8and it won't compromise you1 either4 ,just call in your ,embassy minister and let him marry us as quick as he can say the words4 ,then if we can get to the ,sea ,spume1 we'll skiddoo and leave you alone forevermore4 ,that'll be a relief1 ,i know40 ,the ,charg's face cleared4 8,delighted10 he answered1 somewhat ambiguously4 8,i'll send for the minister at once4 ,he lives just around the corner4 ,meanwhile1 hadn't you better--er--send out for some clothes for ,miss ,fitzhugh8 ,mr4 ,forbes is very high church1 and ,i'm not sure that he would consent to marry her under----0 ,but ,caruth interrupted4 8,sure60 he laughed4 8,i had forgotten4 ,if you'll let me get at the 'phone1 ,i'll ask ,mrs4 ,bristow to get what is needed and hurry it around4 ,besides1 ,i'd like to have the ,bristows here4 ,it will seem more like home40 ,the ,charg rose4 8,the telephone is in the next room10 he said4 8,the messenger will show you4 ,is there anything else ,i can do80 ,the thought of getting rid of the ,sea ,spume affair made him positively affable4 8,nothing1 thank you40 ,as the two went out1 a card was brought to the ,charg4 ,he scanned it and his face grew grave4 ,for a moment he hesitated2 then1 8,ask ,baron ,demidroff to come in10 he directed4 ,,chapter ,,twenty-,,five ,baron ,demidroff entered the office of the ,embassy jauntily4 ,things were coming his way4 ,he had found the ,princess and gotten her on his side1 and he would soon recover the ,orkney's gold4 ,with such a potent recommendation1 he could restablish himself in favor1 wrest the control of the ,princess's fortune from ,count ,strogoff1 and put that gentleman where he could do no more harm4 ,there was not a cloud on his horizon4 ,but there were a good many on that of the ,charg4 ,ignorant of the true reason of the ,baron's errand he could put but one construction on it3 the ,baron was coming in person to demand the surrender of ,caruth's bride4 ,he foresaw various unpleasantnesses before the matter was settled4 ,nevertheless1 he rose to greet the ,baron warmly4 ,he knew him very well indeed1 having1 in fact1 taught him to play poker at the club only the night before4 ,on this intimacy he based almost his sole hope of a satisfactory outcome to the affair4 ,those people who assert that the functions of an ambassador have been superseded by the cable and the long-distance telephone1 and argue that those highly ornate offices should be abolished forthwith1 fail to take into account the mellowing effects of personal intercourse4 ,men who have met daily on friendly terms can usually smooth over causes of irritation as they arise and prevent them from developing into crises1 and can often even suppress a crisis itself after it has developed--unless1 of course1 one or the other country is determined to quarrel4 ,the ,charg believed that the ,baron would not quarrel with him unless it could not be avoided4 ,so he sprang to his feet4 8,ah1 ,baron6 ,glad to see you10 he cried4 8,sit down4 ,what can ,i do for you80 ,he glanced expectantly at the tall old gentleman and the handsome girl who stood waiting close behind4 ,the ,baron chuckled4 8,much1 my dear fellow1 much10 he cried4 8,but first let me present my friends4 ,this is ,professor ,shishkin1 so called1 for whom you have been inquiring so anxiously for several days4 ,i believe you have not met60 ,the ,charg grasped the ,professor's hand4 8,what60 he cried4 8,really6 ,why1 ,professor1 you don't know how glad ,i am to see you4 ,we've been----0 8,and this10 the ,baron interrupted2 8this is the lady who for twenty years has been known as ,miss ,olga ,shishkin1 and who has passed as daughter of ,professor ,shishkin40 ,the ,charg bowed4 ,officially1 he had heard of ,florence's flight only as a disappearance1 and was supposed to know nothing of the peculiar circumstances attending it4 ,actually1 he knew a good deal more than had appeared on the surface1 and the conjunction of his three visitors staggered him4 ,and what was this talk about a 8supposed0 daughter8 8,i'm glad to see you10 he muttered half-heartedly4 8,how did you----0 ,again the ,baron broke in4 8,professor ,shishkin10 he announced1 8will tell you that he was knocked overboard during the outrageous attack by robbers on the ,sea ,spume6 ,he was held prisoner for several days and was finally rescued by my men and brought here4 ,miss ,shishkin1 so-called----0 ,the door opened and ,bristow bounced in1 with ,olga at his heels4 8,we came right over10 he began1 8the moment we----0 ,he stopped1 with distended eyes4 ,it takes something to surprise a veteran newspaper man1 but the presence of ,demidroff1 ,shishkin1 and ,florence together in that place did it4 8,i beg your pardon10 he boggled4 8,i thought you were alone4 ,i'll----0 ,but ,olga had seen the ,professor1 and her one thought was to get at him4 ,with shining eyes1 she thrust by her husband and rushed forward1 hands outstretched4 ,as she passed1 ,bristow realized the situation4 8,olga60 he cried sharply4 8,olga60 ,the tones reached the girl's inner consciousness and she stopped1 hesitating4 ,before she could recover1 ,bristow passed her and grasped the ,professor's hand4 8,i'm delighted to see you safe again1 ,professor10 he declared4 8,mrs4 ,bristow and ,i had about given you up4 ,she felt very strongly about your fate4444 ,olga6 ,shake hands with ,professor ,shishkin40 ,the ,professor had managed to keep his self-possession4 ,though ,olga's presence was a surprise she was not to him as one returned from the dead1 as he was to her4 ,mingled with his surprise was a feeling of enormous relief4 ,olga seemed to have appeared in direct answer to his prayers1 to enable him to submit to her the question of her future4 ,the need for caution still remained1 however1 and controlled him4 ,quietly he and ,olga pressed each other's hands1 putting off to the future the more intimate welcoming that would come4 ,bristow drew a long breath of relief as he saw them4 ,it did not occur to him to look at ,florence2 in fact1 for the moment he had forgotten her4 ,demidroff relieved the situation4 ,so sure of the facts and so full of his approaching triumph was he1 that he was less observant than usual and saw nothing suspicious in the greeting4 ,nor did it occur to him to look at ,florence1 not dreaming that the meeting of the ,professor and ,mrs4 ,bristow could be of interest to her4 ,eagerly he pressed on with his program4 8,i'm glad to see you1 ,mr4 ,bristow10 he proclaimed4 8,you are the man above all others ,i would have hoped for4 ,through the ,consolidated ,press1 you can lay before the world the amazing tale ,i have to tell40 ,the reporter pricked up his ears4 ,if ,demidroff characterized a tale as amazing1 it was worth listening to4 8,twenty years ago10 went on the ,baron1 8,count ,lladislas ,metrovitch1 a ,pole and a professor in the ,university here1 was arrested for participation in a plot against the ,czar4 ,whether he was guilty or not does not matter now4 ,he was convicted and was imprisoned in a fortress4 ,after three years it was reported that he was dead4 ,the truth was that he had escaped4 8,his first act was to look for his family4 ,he learned that his wife had died shortly after his arrest1 and that his daughter was being cared for by the ,grand ,duke ,ivan1 who had known him and his wife4 ,by some means1 he got into the ,grand ,duke's palace4 ,he saw there a child about four years old1 which was the age of his own child1 and from various circumstances concluded that she was his own child4 ,he was deceived2 she was not his own4 ,she was the little ,princess ,yves ,napraxine1 daughter of the ,grand ,duke4 ,but1 unknowing1 he stole her and escaped to ,america1 where he took the name of ,shishkin40 ,the ,baron paused and glanced around to note the effect of his story4 ,he need not have feared2 his listeners1 one and all1 were hanging breathlessly on his words4 ,the thoughts of each differed from those of the rest1 but there was not one to whom the recital did not come sharply home4 ,bristow and ,olga1 especially1 were beginning to realize what this might mean4 ,no one had yet thought of ,florence4 8,the ,grand ,duke10 went on the ,baron1 8died ten years ago4 ,he left enormous wealth and no children except the missing princess4 ,he had always refused to believe her dead1 and in his will he left all his fortune to her and provided for keeping up the search for her4 ,if she was not found in twenty years1 the estates were to escheat to the crown4 8,count ,strogoff was made trustee of these estates1 and as time passed on1 and the princess did not appear1 he doubtless came to look upon them as his own4 ,undoubtedly he will demand the best of proof before giving them up4 ,but slowly and surely ,i have traced the matter and riveted the proofs one by one until they are indisputable4 8,i was about to send for ,professor ,shishkin--,count ,lladislas--when he suddenly started for ,russia on the ,sea ,spume1 bringing with him this lady whom he supposed to be his daughter1 but who was really the ,princess ,yves ,napraxine40 ,as the ,baron spoke1 he drew ,florence forward4 8,i have the honor10 he declared1 8to present to you the ,princess ,yves ,napraxine40 ,florence faced them boldly4 ,her face was white4 ,the desperation of a cornered rat shone in her eyes4 ,her swelling heart seemed about to suffocate her4 ,yet she faced them all1 head high2 she would take her medicine bravely when the time came2 at least1 they should not call her coward4 ,olga1 too1 was pale4 ,the revelation of her birth stunned her2 the complications terrified her2 the loss at one blow of him whom she had always called father and the substitution of fresh kindred and fresh life made her brain reel4 ,desperately she strove to reduce the confusion to order4 ,the ,baron gave her time4 8,the ,princess ,yves ,napraxine10 he went on suavely1 8has done me the honor to consent to become my wife4 ,i come now to ask my good friend the ,charg to permit the ceremony to be performed at his ,embassy by the ,american clergyman4 ,immediately afterwards we will be remarried by the full rites of the ,greek ,church40 ,the ,charg said something courteous1 but no one except the ,baron heard him4 ,the rest were listening to ,olga and the ,professor4 ,the former had found her tongue at last4 ,gently she laid her hand on the old man's sleeve4 8,is this true80 she questioned softly4 ,long the ,professor gazed into her eyes1 and what he read there gave him courage4 8,yes10 he answered slowly2 8,i believe it is true4 ,certainly it is true that ,i stole the child1 thinking her my own daughter4 ,i took her to ,america1 brought her up as my own1 loved her1 cared for her4 ,and she was a good daughter to me1 tender1 sweet1 affectionate4 ,if ,i wronged her by taking her from her rightful station in life1 ,i did it unknowingly4 ,but ,i am not so sure that ,i did wrong her4 ,to be a ,russian princess is a great thing1 but to be an ,american girl and become the wife of a good1 true ,american is also a great thing4 ,i am not certain that the exchange was not a good thing for her as well as for me4 ,and still more do ,i doubt whether the change back now will be good for her4 ,count ,strogoff is powerful and unscrupulous2 he will fight to retain control of the ,napraxine millions4 ,only the most powerful support can win against him2 only one like ,baron ,demidroff can venture to throw down the gage to such a one as he4 ,i cannot advise2 the ,princess is twenty-three years old2 she must choose for herself4 ,but before she does choose1 it might be well for her to advise with you4 ,you1 too1 are an ,american girl6 ,you can tell her what you would do in her place60 ,the old man's voice dropped4 ,he had said all there was to be said4 ,for good or for ill1 the matter now lay in ,olga's hands4 ,almost calmly he waited for her to choose4 ,the atmosphere had grown suddenly tense4 ,even the ,baron and the ,charg1 ignorant of the facts as they were1 found themselves hanging on ,olga's lips1 while to ,bristow and ,florence the suspense was terrible4 ,for a moment ,olga hesitated4 ,then she laughed lightly4 8,good gracious60 she exclaimed1 in a voice that somehow instantly relaxed the tension4 8,good gracious6 ,how can ,i tell8 ,i'm not in the ,princess's place4 ,i'm married6 ,if ,i wasn't--well1 ,i don't know4 ,but0--she put out her hand and clasped that of her husband--8but as things are1 ,i wouldn't risk losing ,joe for all the estates in ,russia4 ,i wouldn't give up ,america for the finest position that ,russia could offer4 ,certainly ,i wouldn't trade my happiness for a lawsuit4 ,joe tells me that ,i am an ,american queen now2 why should ,i care to become a ,russian princess4 ,oh1 no6 ,it wouldn't suit me at all4 ,but----0 she faced ,florence with serenity in her eyes--8but that hasn't anything to do with you1 ,princess4 ,if you want to go ahead1 we will all do everything we can to make success easy for you4 ,i am sure that you need never fear that any of us will obstruct you in any way4 ,in fact1 ,i1 for one1 shall always be eternally grateful to you--for permitting me the honor of your acquaintance1 of course40 ,florence's hard eyes grew soft4 8,anything ,i can do for you--0 she began4 ,but ,olga had turned away4 ,grateful to ,florence she might be1 but she did not care to fraternize with her1 certainly not until her disappearance from the yacht had been explained4 ,besides1 she wanted to talk with ,bristow1 never so dear to her as at that moment of abnegation4 ,ringing with happiness1 the ,professor's voice struck in4 ,everything was coming out as he wanted it4 8,where is that affidavit1 ,baron80 he questioned4 8,i'll sign it now with pleasure1 and the ,charg here will witness it40 ,slowly ,demidroff drew out the paper4 ,the scene that had just passed puzzled him4 ,he was not dull1 or he would never have climbed to his post in the ,russian service1 and a suspicion that all was not as he had supposed began to stir in his brain4 ,he did not guess the truth--how could he8--but probably a glimmer of something not far from the truth quivered before his eyes4 ,he shot a keen glance at ,florence1 who bore it without visible emotion2 then1 as one who had resolved to go on at all hazards1 he handed the affidavit to the ,professor and saw it signed and witnessed4 8,now10 he said1 8my dear ,charg1 will you send for your minister80 ,the ,charg tugged at his mustache4 ,he had been rather crowded into the background for the past few moments and was glad to get into the limelight again4 ,besides1 he judged that the psychical moment had come to do what he could for ,caruth4 8,certainly1 my dear ,baron10 he rejoined1 fingering a note that an attendant had brought him a moment before4 8,certainly4 ,he is in the next room4 ,i sent for him a few moments before your arrival1 although1 of course1 ,i had no idea that you would require his services4 ,in fact1 ,i thought you came on a very different matter40 8,yes80 ,the ,baron was polite1 but was plainly impatient4 ,the ,charg's ideas were of little moment to him4 8,yes6 ,the fact is ,i thought you came to demand the surrender of a certain young lady whom you might have some reason to suppose to be here--a ,russian lady known as ,marie ,fitzhugh40 8,oh1 yes6 ,what of her8 ,i understand that she is here40 ,the ,baron knew1 of course1 that ,marie was in the ,embassy2 and the ,charg knew that he knew it or would soon know it4 ,anything else was impossible4 8,no such person is in the ,embassy10 explained the ,charg courteously4 8,in fact1 there is no ,russian young lady here at all4 ,however1 ,i should like to present you to an ,american young lady who has been here for a few moments only40 ,the ,baron looked puzzled4 8,i shall be charmed to meet any friend of your excellency's10 he nodded4 ,the ,charg stepped to the inner door of the room4 8,will you young people please come in here10 he called4 ,side by side ,caruth and ,marie entered1 followed by ,reverend ,mr4 ,forbes1 the ,american clergyman4 ,caruth's head was bound up1 but his eyes were bright4 8,baron10 said the ,charg4 8,let me present to you ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,caruth1 just married by the ,reverend ,mr4 ,forbes1 who will shortly officiate at your own wedding4 ,a foreign-born wife1 as you of course know1 takes the status of her husband and becomes a citizen of his country4 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,caruth are about to sail for ,america on the ,sea ,spume1 leaving ,russia forever4 ,i give you my personal assurance of this4 ,would you mind vising their passports1 and thus guaranteeing them safe conduct out of ,russia80 ,the ,baron swallowed once or twice4 ,then he smiled4 8,we ,russians are not all quite so black as we are painted10 he said4 8,i shall be happy to endorse their passports40 ,he paused for a moment4 8,i regret to add10 he finished1 8that the vis will be good for twenty-four hours only40 ,he turned to the ,professor1 who was plucking him by the sleeve4 8,i have not forgotten1 ,professor10 he smiled4 8,you want your daughter4 ,your own daughter1 ,i mean1 of course4 ,there she stands10 and he pointed to ,mrs4 ,caruth4 ,,chapter ,,twenty-,,six ,if ,florence had delayed her flight from ,helsingfors a day longer1 she would probably not have gone at all4 ,at practically the same moment at which she arrived at ,st4 ,petersburg1 ,bill ,wilkins left that city1 having completed arrangements for the shipment of the gold4 ,he had found the task of finding a ship a difficult one4 ,ten tons of gold was not freight that would ordinarily be found in the possession of a man of ,wilkins's appearance1 and the fact that he wanted to get it out of the country secretly was abundant proof that he had come by it illegally4 ,to explain the true nature of the stuff he wanted to ship1 was to risk arrest by the police on the one hand1 and robbery and murder by those who aided him on the other4 ,yet it was practically impossible to conceal the fact that it was gold with which he wished to escape4 ,its mere weight would almost inevitably betray its character1 for it was not credible that he should be willing to pay the sum necessary to induce a captain to violate the laws and risk his ship in order to carry off a few tons of lead1 which was about the only conceivable substance of approximately equal weight4 ,gold1 of course1 might be so packed in boxes too large for it1 as to conceal its relative weight1 but the ,wilkins brothers had no means at hand to enable them to do this4 ,under these circumstances1 it was not surprising that it took ,wilkins practically all of the ten days he had supposed might be required to make his arrangements4 ,he made them at last1 however1 with a villainous-looking captain1 who drove a very hard bargain1 and whom ,wilkins suspected would turn robber if given the ghost of an opportunity4 ,neither he nor ,tom1 however1 shrank from taking risks4 ,meanwhile1 ,tom ,wilkins had discovered ,florence's disappearance but had found himself helpless4 ,florence had taken the sloop's only small boat1 and ,wilkins1 unable to swim1 found himself hopelessly marooned1 unable to get ashore except by calling for aid4 ,although he had no nerves to speak of1 and was ready at any time to fight his weight in wild-cats1 even he found the situation appalling4 ,alone in a strange seaport1 unable to speak a word of the language1 under ban of the police1 tied by the leg to a pile of gold1 and deserted by his companions1 a weaker man would have attempted to sail away despite his ignorance in regard to the management of the boat4 ,but ,tom ,wilkins was not that sort4 ,he would stick till the last minute4 ,florence's desertion was the hardest to bear4 ,he really loved the girl1 and he had almost persuaded himself that she loved him2 believing this1 he found it very hard to conclude that her absence spelled treachery1 as it obviously seemed to do4 ,rather1 knowing how she chafed against the long confinement and remembering her hysterical fit of the night before1 he clung to the hope that she had merely gone ashore and would soon be back4 ,but as the hours wore on and she did not return1 he was forced to believe that she had deserted and perhaps betrayed him4 ,he had taken her as a partner in his flight when he had expected to reach safety easily and quickly4 ,if he had had any idea of what was before him1 he would have gone without her and sent for her after the toil and danger of the adventure was over4 ,but1 having taken her1 he expected her to stand by him1 and to find that she was a 8quitter10 the thing he despised most on earth1 hurt him4 ,according to his ideas1 his own conduct in leaving the yacht was not 8quitting10 but frank piracy1 a thing which he by no means held in the same disesteem4 ,bill's arrival did not mend matters4 ,arriving at the shore1 his sailor's eyes quickly missed the dinghy that had trailed behind the sloop and he promptly hired a shore boat and had himself rowed out4 ,as he came alongside1 ,tom1 who had been watching from below1 came on deck to meet him1 but showed no interest in the success of his errand4 ,bill1 however1 did not notice the other's moodiness4 8,it's all right1 ,tom10 he cried breathlessly4 8,it's all right4 ,everything's fixed1 and we'll be off as soon as it gets dark4 ,i had a d----d hard time of it with them d----d nihilists on one side and the cops on the other4 ,but ,i pulled it off at last4 ,where's the liquor6 ,let's splice the main brace on the strength of it40 ,without answering1 ,tom set out a bottle and watched the other drink4 ,but he himself took nothing4 ,such disrespect to the convenances roused ,bill's indignation4 8,what in h----l's the matter with you80 he demanded4 8,anybody'd think ,i'd brought bad news 'stead of tellin' you ,i'd pulled the thing off40 ,still ,tom did not answer1 and the other stared at him with growing suspicion4 8,where's the dinghy80 he demanded suddenly4 8,and where's that girl80 ,tom raised his heavy eyes4 8,gone10 he responded briefly4 8,she took the boat and vamosed some time last night40 8,gone6 ,gone60 ,bill's voice rose to a scream4 8,gone where8 ,after the cops8 ,i always knowed it4 ,i always told you she'd do us4 ,the little hell cat4 ,d---- her----0 ,a pair of sinewy hands closed round his throat1 choking the words1 and he felt himself shaken to and fro like a rat4 8,that'll do1 ,bill ,wilkins10 grated a voice that he hardly recognized as his brother's4 8,that'll do4 ,don't you orthogrify a word agin her4 ,she's playin' for her own hand1 same's we are4 ,you keep your tongue off her40 ,with the last word the plainsman hurled the other across the cabin4 ,bill picked himself up slowly4 ,he fingered his throat1 swallowed once or twice1 and then came back to where ,tom stood glowering4 8,all right10 he mumbled4 8,i won't say nothing against her4 ,she's an angel of light if you say so4 ,but ,i reckon she's sold us out1 and ,i guess the peelers are coming for us right now4 ,we'd better get a move on--unless you'd sooner stay here and get pulled so's not to spoil her game40 ,tom quivered1 but said nothing4 ,lifelong self-control was again in the ascendency4 ,he knew the other was right1 and he already repented his fury of a moment before4 8,all right1 ,bill60 he said1 almost calmly4 8,you're right4 ,only don't say nothing against her to me4 ,i'm too plumb sore to stand it just now4 ,we'll go as soon as you say40 8,i say now4 ,the ,haakon--she's the steamer ,i've chartered--won't be along till about dawn1 but we've got to get out in the bay and wait for her4 ,that little h---- --that is1 them policeoffskis may be down on us any bloomin' minute4 ,the water's quiet1 and ,i guess we won't swamp4 ,wait6 ,let's look40 ,the man broke off and ran up the ladder that led to the deck and poked his head above the combings4 ,in a moment he turned1 and ,tom could see that his face was pale under its tan4 8---- ---- ----60 he raged4 8,they're coming now4 ,a dozen boats are starting out4 ,quick6 ,we ain't got a minute to lose40 ,he vaulted up on the deck1 followed by the plainsman4 8,here60 he yelled4 8,get that anchor up4 ,quick6 ,then help me with the mainsail40 ,he darted forward and grasped the jib halliards4 ,the weight was almost too much for one man1 but necessity lent strength1 and by the time the anchor was on board the jib was up4 ,then the two men tailed on to the mainsail halliards and the big sail rose slowly to the peak4 8,make fast6 ,hurry6 ,them boats are getting near40 ,leaving the halliards to his brother1 ,bill sprang to the sheet1 and drew aft the flapping sail1 holding it with one hand against the bits1 and grasping the helm with the other4 ,the sloop was moving now1 slowly but surely4 ,behind her pulsed a distant outcry1 borne hoarsely across the water4 ,bill glared backward over his shoulder4 8,shout6 ,shout6 ,d---- you60 he cried4 ,tom was by his side now1 sheeting home the mainsail4 ,the sloop felt the added press1 and with every movement gathered way4 ,but in the lee of the shore the wind was light1 and the boats1 driven by sinewy arms1 were coming fast1 relentlessly cutting down the distance that intervened4 ,bill glared back at them4 8,shoot 'em1 ,tom10 he cried4 8,shoot 'em6 ,why don't you shoot80 ,a grim smile curved the plainsman's lips4 ,erect he stood1 a revolver in either hand1 balancing to the swaying boat4 8,too far yet10 he muttered4 8,i ain't got no cartridges to waste4 ,this is only the overturnity2 we'll need 'em all when the main show begins4 ,besides1 we're holding even with them now40 ,indubitably the sloop was holding its own4 ,with every foot she gained from the land1 the breeze grew stronger4 ,soon the strip of water between her and the boats showed perceptibly larger and the hoarse cries grew fainter4 ,tom lowered his pistols4 8,i guess we're all right now10 he remarked comfortably4 ,bill grunted4 8,all right as far as them boats counts10 he agreed4 8,but they'll have steam launches and gunboats and torpedo-boats after us mighty soon1 and then where'll we be80 8,we won't be in no jail10 returned his brother grimly4 8,i won't1 any way4 ,i won't be took4 ,i always expected to cash in with my boots on1 and ,i'm ready right now40 8,same here--if ,i can't help myself4 ,but ,i reckon we've got a chance yet4 ,they'll be expectin' us to run west and try to fetch ,copenhagen1 ,i reckon6 ,but we'll fool 'em4 ,if we can get out of sight1 we'll run east and try to meet the ,haakon4 ,we've got to go east1 any way4 ,if we ran out into the ,baltic1 we'd swamp1 sure1 just as we would have the other day40 ,,chapter ,,twenty-,,seven ,driven by twin propellers1 the ,sea ,spume raced westward1 bearing happy souls released from the suspense of the past month4 ,caruth had found a wife2 ,professor ,shishkin1 a daughter2 ,marie1 a father and a husband2 and freed from the long strain of service to the cause1 she had learned for the first time how heavy the burden had been4 ,with them were ,bristow and ,olga4 ,the reporter's assignment to the ,russian capital was nearly up1 and as it was madness for ,olga to remain longer in the same city with ,baron ,demidroff and the pretended ,princess ,napraxine1 he had decided to sail with ,caruth4 ,they were all going back to ,america1 to the western world1 and they were all happy at the thought4 ,they would find complications awaiting them1 they knew4 ,olga1 reported by the papers to have been identified as the ,princess ,napraxine and to have married ,demidroff1 must keep away from her old home and her old friends4 ,shishkin1 though he had gained one daughter without losing the other1 must pass as childless in the evening of his life4 ,caruth would have to satisfy the curious as to his somewhat remarkable performances in ,russia and ,russian waters4 ,and he would have to raise that million dollars4 ,one and all they had agreed to shield ,florence1 both for her sake and for theirs4 ,to betray her was to risk drawing down upon themselves nihilist vengeance for the failure of the expedition--a failure that would assuredly be charged to her substitution for ,olga4 ,besides1 in that critical moment at the ,embassy they had all tacitly agreed to keep silence in regard to her identity4 ,none of them were quite certain as to the part she had played1 as to whether she had been a traitor1 a double traitor1 or only a spy4 ,anyhow1 as ,caruth put it3 8,all's well that ends well4 ,i'm not heaving any stones4 ,i'm living in a tolerable imitation of a glass house myself40 ,so1 bearing happy souls1 the yacht sped westward into the night4 99 99 99 99 99 ,running before the wind1 the sloop bearing the ,wilkins brothers and their golden plunder fled eastward4 ,until the sun set1 it had beat to the west1 toward the far-off land of promise1 but as soon as darkness hid it from sight of the land1 it had turned toward ,st4 ,petersburg1 and for half a dozen hours had churned heavily onward4 ,heavily laden1 deep in the water1 requiring constant bailing even in that smooth1 sheltered sea1 it made slow progress4 ,pursuers such as must be questing the gulf for it would surely find it as soon as day dawned4 ,let the rising sun once gleam on its sails and the game would be lost4 ,to ,bill ,wilkins1 seated at the tiller1 managing the boat with a consummate skill whose constant exercise alone kept it afloat1 the game seemed lost long before the dawn4 ,in vain through the night he had strained his eyes for the signal lights by which the steamer ,haakon was to signify her presence and readiness to ship the gold4 ,either she had passed unseen or her captain's heart had failed him4 ,in any case dependence was no longer to be placed on her4 ,what other hope remained8 ,none that ,bill ,wilkins could see4 ,the eastward course1 while it probably deluded the pursuers and gave the sloop a little longer lease on freedom1 led to no safety4 ,every mile took the fugitives nearer to a ,russian prison4 ,yet any course but an eastern one was but to throw themselves into the arms of the pursuers or to plunge inevitably to the bottom the moment the stronger waves of the ,baltic were encountered4 ,to ,bill1 it seemed that they were rats in a trap1 waiting till the captors came to take them out4 ,if he had been alone1 he would long ago have surrendered1 hoping to win pardon by giving up the gold4 ,but he soon found that it was useless to talk of terms to his brother4 ,a mere hint in that direction aroused in the plainsman a cold fury before which the weaker man shrank4 8,i didn't mean nothing1 ,tom10 he hastened to declare4 ,the plainsman's eyes flashed4 8,i hope you didn't10 he roared4 8,i hope there ain't no cowards or quitters in our family4 ,i've staked on this here play1 and ,i'm going to see it through4 ,if ,i can't get away with this gold1 nobody shall4 ,understand that1 ,bill ,wilkins40 8,i understand1 ,tom40 8,besides1 ,i ain't certain sure we're done for yet4 ,we've missed the ,haakon1 but she ain't the only boat on the sea4 ,if we can find a ship--any old ship--before dawn1 we've got a chance40 8,how so80 8,how so8 ,great ,lord6 ,ain't you got no receptions at all1 ,bill ,wilkins8 ,ain't we got money enough to buy anything if we can once get a chance to show it8 ,you think any captain breathin' would refuse a million dollars in gold to take us aboard4 ,and once aboard1 who'd catch us8 ,russia can't search every ship going out of the ,baltic40 ,a spark of hope sprang up in ,bill's bosom--but only a spark4 8,i don't know where all the ships are10 he muttered4 8,there'd ought to be plenty all about4 ,this here gulf is usually just crawling with ships4 ,but there ain't none passing to-night--and the dawn's breaking40 99 99 99 99 99 ,captain ,wilson stood on the bridge of the yacht1 peering into the darkness4 ,all night he had kept watch1 unwilling to leave his post on deck as long as ,russian waters lapped around the vessel committed to his care4 ,when1 with eight bells in the morning watch1 there came a lightening of the sky1 he turned to the first officer4 8,the dawn's breaking1 ,jackson10 he said1 8and ,i think ,i'll turn in4 ,we've got through the night safe and that's more'n ,i expected40 8,what did you think was due to happen1 sir80 8,oh1 ,i don't know4 ,i felt something brooding4 ,my mother was ,scotch and had second sight1 and ,i can generally tell when something's due to come off4 ,but ,i guess ,i missed it this time4 ,there comes the sun1 and nothing's doing40 8,sail ,o60 ,the forward lookout had hailed4 8,where away80 8,dead ahead1 sir40 ,captain ,wilson lifted his glasses and stared forward across the brightening water4 ,after a moment he turned to his companion4 8,can you make her out80 he asked1 in a curious tone4 8,only a fishing boat1 ,i should judge1 sir40 8,yes1 but behind her and abeam4 ,don't you see----0 8,by the ,lord6 ,one1 two1 three1 four steamers1 all heading for her4 ,what's it mean80 8,it means--the something that was due to happen4 ,send for ,mr4 ,caruth at once4 ,unless ,i miss my guess that boat carries ,wilkins and his gold60 99 99 99 99 99 ,as the sun came1 ,wilkins notched the sloop's bowsprit into it4 8,there's the sun10 he remarked grimly4 ,tom stood up1 releasing the handle of the pump1 and peered forward under his hand4 8,and there comes a steamer10 he exulted4 ,bill had been staring around the horizon4 8,yes1 ---- ----her60 he cried4 8,there she comes--too late4 ,look yonder40 ,tom looked1 and counted just as the yacht's officer had done4 8,one6 ,two6 ,three6 ,four6 ,by ,god6 ,they're right after us6 ,all right0--grimly4 8,we'll give 'em a run for their money40 ,but ,bill groaned4 8,wot's the use10 he whined4 8,it'll only make things worse4 ,we ain't got a chance40 ,he rose1 his nerveless hand dropped away from the tiller1 and the sloop yawed sharply to port4 8,you d----n cur60 ,tom's voice rang out4 8,you d----n cur6 ,grab that thing again quick1 or1 by ,god1 you won't live to go to no jail60 ,his revolver emphasized the words4 ,between the two terrors1 ,bill deferred to the nearer4 ,once more his hand closed on the tiller1 and the sloop1 recovering headway1 swept onward4 8,straight for the steamer10 ,tom ordered4 ,bill laughed harshly4 8,a h----l of a lot of help she'll be to us60 he cried4 8,you darned fool1 don't you see it's the ,sea ,spume80 8,what80 ,tom spun round4 8,so much the better60 he cried4 8,we won't need to waste no time explaining4 ,and she'll save us even if we lose the gold4 ,that's the kind of soft-headed fool that man ,caruth is40 ,the yacht was very near now--so near ,tom ,wilkins could distinctly hear the sound of her engine-room bells signalling 8stop40 ,the ,russian boats were also near4 ,wilkins looked at them1 then at the yacht1 then thrust his pistols back into his belt4 8,they won't shoot10 he declared4 8,we're too valuable to shoot4 ,and ,i guess you're right4 ,we can't whip a whole fleet1 but we'll spoil their game1 all the same40 ,he paused and glanced at the yacht4 8,run across her bows10 he ordered1 8and float down alongside40 ,little margin was there1 but the sloop took what there was and swept across just ahead of the yacht's sharp prow4 ,as she scraped aft1 screened for a moment from the sight of the ,russians1 ,wilkins caught his brother's arms1 and hoisted the slighter man upward toward the yacht's shrouds4 8,grab hold6 ,quick60 he directed4 ,as ,bill scrambled upward1 the plainsman sprang upon the further gunwale of the sloop and leaned far outward4 ,borne down by his weight1 the overloaded boat careened2 a green wave curled in over her side2 and quietly and soberly she went down beneath his feet4 ,as he felt her go down1 ,tom turned to the yacht1 and waved his hand4 8,heave us a rope1 ,mr4 ,caruth10 he called4 8,i can't swim60 ,caruth did not hesitate4 ,he had read the plainsman's purpose and had given orders accordingly4 ,in less than a minute ,tom ,wilkins1 dripping but unhurt1 stood on the deck beside his brother ,bill1 while aft1 in the water churned into foam by the screws of the yacht1 a white sail fluttered for a moment2 then was gone4 ,caruth looked at the spot where the sloop had disappeared2 then at the plainsman2 then at the hurrying ,russians4 8,that was a child's trick1 ,wilkins10 he said severely4 8,the water isn't fifty feet deep here1 and ,demidroff can fish the gold up easy4 ,meanwhile1 you've put us all in a hole40 8,not much ,i ain't4 ,look60 ,caruth looked again4 ,the yacht was drawing rapidly away1 and the ,russians were making no effort to follow her4 ,clustered around the spot where the sloop sank1 they seemed to be throwing out buoys to mark the spot4 ,and the yacht swept westward4 99 99 99 99 99 ,six months later1 five of the chief participants in the contest for the ,orkney's gold were gathered at a home dinner given by the ,caruths to mark their departure from the apartment in the ,chimneystack ,building to the splendid new house ,caruth had bought for his bride4 ,until then1 ,marie had insisted on remaining in the rooms where she had first met her husband4 ,inevitably1 as always when these five met1 the talk turned on the trip of the ,sea ,spume and those connected with the quest for the ,orkney's gold4 ,caruth opened the subject4 ,said he3 8,i got a letter from ,colorado from the ,wilkinses to-day4 ,they've struck a gold mine that ,tom ,wilkins says is going to make them all rich if they can get the money to develop it4 ,he offers to sell me a share on easy terms4 ,he certainly has more assurance than anybody ,i ever knew40 8,oh1 ,i don't know40 ,it was ,bristow who spoke4 8,he was within his rights1 you know1 in that matter of the ,orkney4 ,irrespective of his part in sinking the ,orkney1 ,bill ,wilkins saved that gold from the abandoned wreck1 and thereby got a perfect title to about nine-tenths of it by the laws of pretty nearly every country in the world4 ,russia had no right to take it from him1 and he would have had a good claim against her at the end if ,tom ,wilkins hadn't wrecked and abandoned it again4 ,that gave the second salvors their claim and wiped out his40 ,caruth growled4 8,he'd have had a hard time making good10 he observed4 8,demidroff didn't fish that gold up from the bottom of the gulf to surrender it to the ,wilkinses40 8,oh1 no6 ,i'm only discussing the legal rights of the matter1 and ,tom ,wilkins's part in it4 ,if ,bill ,wilkins owned the gold--as he did--he had a right to take any partners in he liked4 ,oh1 yes1 the ,wilkinses were within their legal rights all the time1 though that isn't exactly a recommendation for going in with them on a gold mine4 ,there are too many legal robberies connected with that class of property to suit me40 8,i'm afraid there is too much law in this country10 chimed in ,marie4 8,just as there is too little in ,russia4 ,but what have you heard of the progress of the suit of the ,princess ,napraxine against ,count ,strogoff1 ,mr4 ,bristow80 ,bristow glanced quickly at his wife4 8,the ,princess really seems about to win10 he declared1 8though the case is still in the courts4 ,our man there writes me that he understands the ,czar is convinced that the claim is valid1 and has received the #8,princess' officially at his court4 ,that means that everything's over except the shouting4 ,i don't know2 sometimes ,i wonder if ,i did right in letting ,olga give up everything60 ,but ,olga smiled4 8,not for me10 she declared1 as she had declared in ,baron ,demidroff's presence six months before4 8,not for me4 ,i told ,baron ,demidroff the truth4 ,my tastes are simple1 and ,i am quite content without the millions and the rank40 8,and in any event you are right40 ,it was ,marie who spoke4 8,i have tested that mode of life1 and ,i know4 ,there is nothing in its glitter and pomp to balance home--home such as ,i never had and never could have had in ,russia's splendid barbarism4 ,no1 no1 ,mr4 ,bristow6 ,if ,olga had hesitated1 it would have been your duty to tear her away from it by force4 ,the world has nothing to offer that is better than ,america and ,american husbands40 8,yes1 you are quite right60 ,the ,professor smiled benignantly on his two daughters4 8,you are quite right1 both of you6 ,money and rank6 ,what are they8 ,nothing6 ,nothing to freedom and the chance for a man to be a man6 ,besides10 he added shrewdly1 8,i suspect those estates will not be so very large after all4 ,if ,strogoff has not plundered them1 he is not the man he is reputed to be40 ,the bell at the door of the apartment rang1 and a moment later a servant brought an evening paper to ,caruth4 8,the janitor brought this up1 sir10 he explained4 8,he says as how there's something in it he thinks you'll like to see1 sir40 ,caruth took the paper and glanced down its columns4 ,then he uttered an exclamation4 8,good ,lord60 he cried4 8,listen to this dispatch from ,st4 ,petersburg3 8,a tragic sequel to the suit of the ,princess ,yves ,napraxine against ,count ,strogoff for the possession of her ancestral estates took place here to-day4 ,both the ,princess and her husband1 ,baron ,demidroff1 for fifteen years chief at the dreaded third section of the ,russian police1 were instantly killed this morning by a bomb thrown by a man who was mortally wounded by the guard as he tried to flee4 ,before he died1 he confessed that he had acted at the instigation of ,count ,strogoff4 ,officers were at once sent to arrest the ,count1 but he had learned somehow that his complicity was known and blew out his brains as they came in at the door4 ,the estates of the ,princess1 whose romantic story has become well known to the world in the past year1 will now revert to the ,crown4 ,it is rumored that they have been shamelessly plundered1 and instead of being at colossal value are really almost worthless40 ,caruth dropped the paper4 8,there's more of it10 he finished1 8but that's the substance40 ,olga clasped her hands4 8,oh1 ,joe1 ,joe60 she cried4 8,it might have been you and me6 ,it might have been you and me60 ,,the ,,end4 ,,the ,,fascinating ,,sargasso ,,sea ,,novel ,the ,,isle of ,,dead ,,ships ,by ,,crittenden ,,marriott ,what do you know of the ,sargasso ,sea--that wonderful floating island of seaweed in the ,atlantic ,ocean1 directly in the path of every steamer sailing from the ,gulf of ,mexico to ,europe8 ,this story tells how three shipwrecked passengers1 two men and a charming young woman1 got drawn into the ,sargasso ,sea1 where they found an entire fleet of vessels1 that had been similarly caught by the revolving current1 and had been there1 some of them1 since the days of the ,spaniards4 ,it is all so vivid that one can see the gaunt wrecks1 the flapping sails1 the marvellous lost galleons of ,spain4 ,the experiences of these three1 until they are rescued1 make a story whose interest never flags even for an instant4 8,chapter after chapter unfolds new and startling adventures40 --,philadelphia ,press4 8,an original sea yarn1 well spun1 wholesomely exciting40 --,cleveland ,plain ,dealer4 8,mr4 ,marriott has produced in this finely-wrought tale a masterpiece of imagination that deserves lasting fame40 --,nashville ,american4 8,a thriller from start to finish4 ,the book will certainly prove a delight to the lovers of romance and adventure40 --,san ,francisco ,bulletin4 ,,frontispiece ,,in ,,color ,,and ,,three ,,illustrations ,,in ,,black ,,and ,,white ,,by ,,frank ,mc,k,e,r,n,a,n4 #abmo4 ,cloth1 #a4jj net4 ,j4 ,b4 ,,lippincott ,,company ,,publishers ,,philadelphia 8,,easily ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,the ,,day0 ,san ,francisco ,argonaut ,routledge ,rides ,alone ,by ,,will ,,levington ,,comfort ,,colored ,,frontispiece ,,by ,,martin ,,justice #ab,,mo4 ,,cloth1 ,,with ,,inlay ,,in ,,colors1 #a4ej ,here is a tale indeed--big and forceful1 palpitating with interest1 and written with the sureness of touch and the breadth of a man who is master of his art4 ,mr4 ,comfort has drawn upon two practically new story-places in the world of fiction to furnish the scenes for his narrative--,india and ,manchuria at the time of the ,russo-,japanese ,war4 ,while the novel is distinguished by its clear and vigorous war scenes1 the fine and sweet romance of the love of the hero1 ,routledge--a brave1 strange1 and talented ,american--for the 8most beautiful woman in ,london0 rivals these in interest4 ,the story opens in ,london1 sweeps up and down ,asia1 and reaches its most rousing pitch on the ghastly field of ,liaoyang1 in ,manchuria4 ,the one-hundred-mile race from the field to a free cable outside the war zone1 between ,routledge and an ,english war correspondent1 is as exciting and enthralling as anything that has appeared in fiction in recent years4 8,a big1 vital1 forceful story that towers giant-high--a romance to lure the hours away in tense interest--book with a message for all mankind40 --,detroit ,free ,press4 8,three such magnificent figures as ,routledge1 ,noreen and ,rawder never before have appeared together in fiction4 ,take it all in all1 #8,routledge ,rides ,alone' is a great novel1 full of sublime conception1 one of the few novels that are as ladders from heaven to earth40 --,san ,francisco ,argonaut4 8,the story unfolds a vast and vivid panorama of life4 ,the first chapters remind one strongly of the descriptive ,kipling we once knew4 ,we commend the book for its sustained interest4 ,we recommend it for its descriptive power40 --,boston ,evening ,transcript4 8,here is one of the strangest novels of the year2 a happy blending of romance and realism1 vivid1 imaginative1 dramatic1 and1 above all1 a well told story with a purpose4 ,it is a red-blooded story of war and love1 with a touch of the mysticism of ,india1 some world politics1 love of country1 and hate of oppression--a tale of clean and expert workmanship1 powerful and personal40 --,pittsburg ,dispatch4 ,j4 ,b4 ,,lippincott ,,company ,,publishers ,,philadelphia ,a ,,novel ,,of ,,compelling ,,interest ,the ,heart of ,desire ,by ,,elizabeth ,,dejeans ,author of 8,the ,winning ,chance40 ,,with ,,colored ,,illustrations ,,by ,,the ,,kinneys #ab,,mo4 ,,cloth1 #a4ej ,a remarkable novel1 full of vital force1 which gives us a glimpse into the innermost sanctuary of a woman's soul--a revelation of the truth that to a woman there may be a greater thing than the love of a man--the story pictured against a wonderful ,southern ,california background4 8,one of the big headliners in bookland40--,detroit ,news4 8,the book is a tissue of mysteries1 quite apart from the ordinary usages1 but solved in the end satisfactorily40--,chicago ,tribune4 8,one of those rare examples of literary composition the artistic excellence of which is uniform and even throughout40--,charleston ,news and ,courier4 8,there is color1 vitality1 and freshness in the picture1 and charming variety of detail in the development of story4 ,horton is the ideal lover1 strong-hearted1 wilful1 persevering2 and ,kate is the vivid1 tantalizing1 impersonal creature in an armor of secrecy4 ,but the author transforms this woman into a being of rarest and most beautiful human qualities--or rather1 brings those latent emotions to the fore4 ,she is a woman racked by grief over death and unhappy marital experiences in youth1 and1 later1 a woman #8lied to1 tortured1 duped1 and her heart polluted and desecrated'2 and in giving up her beloved lawyer-friend1 whom she would have married1 to the #8helpless1 motherless1 hampered' child who so passionately claimed his love1 ,kate's humanism stands out in almost supernatural power40--,boston ,evening ,transcript4 ,j4 ,b4 ,,lippincott ,,company ,,publishers ,,philadelphia ,,transcriber',s ,,notes3 ,italicized text is surrounded by underscores3 italics4 ,obvious typographical errors have been corrected4 ,inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized4 ,archaic or variant spelling has been retained4 ,new original cover art included with this e,book is granted to the public domain4