The Argosy, January 1907 — page 68: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

250 The valet had intended to elude him, but stopped with an expression of help- less despair. Crenyon put his hand on his shoulder. “Come!” he said; “the way to Prince Ivanoff! ” 3 Lodtz set. his teeth in_ obstinate silence. Crenyon lifted his pistol de- liberately to the level of his ear. “Go on!” he said. The valet turned and looked into the pistol with terror in his eyes. “It’s as much as my life is worth, monsicur! ~’ he pleaded abjectly. “Precisely; either way,” Crenyon said coolly; “you have a hard choice, Lodtz. ll give you until I can count five. One—two—three——” “Monsicur! monsteur! they would take you red-handed!” the man cried. ‘Four ” the American counted slowly. “Mon Dieu! mon Dieu!” the other moaned. x “T go, momnsteur. ‘At once!” said Crenyon grimly. The valet made a despairing gesture and walked sidewise to the door and opened it, not by the handle, but by running his fingers down the panel until he touched some spring, and they walked out into a passage. It led to a short flight of stairs, along another hall, and down more steps. They continued on about five yards, and then Lodtz halted before a door. “Open it,” Crenyon commanded. The valet searched his pockets for a key, found it, and fitted it in the lock. The door fell open on utter darkness, but Lodtz turned the switch of the elec- tric light, which was outside the door, and it flared up, revealing a young man sitting on the sidé of a narrow bed. ~Crenyon had seen: Basil Ivanoff only once, but he recognized the likeness to his sister even in that first glimpse. He did not enter, but stood watching Lodtz. ‘Prince,’ he said in English, ‘T.am a friend. You will follow me; I mean to get you out.” Ivanoff understood him, and _ rose, muttering something inaudible. ‘Right about face!” Crenyon said to Lodtz, making him precede them. He went with such alacrity that the American suspected an eagerness to trap them. THE ARGOSY. “T. am Captain Crenyon, an Ameri- can,” he explained to the prince. “I know your sister; you can trust me.” “Sir, if you were the devil I should take the chance,” replied the prince. They were now on the second flight of stairs, and close to the door by which they had entered. Crenyon touched Lodtz on the arm. “ Where is the street-door?” he asked. Lodtz gave him a strange look, turned, and pressing his fingers against an ap- parently blank wall, caused a door to open inward. He entered, and Crenyon hesitated an instant. To go back was hopeless; they were ee cent to trust him. Gripping his revolver, the American followed, with the young prince at his elbow. Scarcely had they entered, how- ever, before the door closed behind them with nap and they knew that they were OF od. At the same mo- ment Lodtz almost fell through the door in front of them to escape Crenyon’s pistol. As it opened, a glare of light revealed General Roditchev sitting at a desk en- gaged in talk with a young man in the poor dress of a mechanic. Crenyon was conscious that Ivanoff leaped back, but before he could act, before Lodtz spoke, the stranger sprang on Roditchev and two pistol- shots cracked at once. As. the smoke cleared, Roditchev fell forward to the floor and Lodtz came to his knees with a cry, having received the general’s bullet. It was over in a trice, and the mur- derer rushed to a window and leaped into the street. =Comet ” Tvanoff. But the prince caught his arm. “Stay!” he whispered; “‘ we have not time.” It was true; already there was a rush at the entrance, and oe fell, dying, to the floor. . Three or four men of the household burst into the room just as Crenyon shut the door upon the alcove where they stood. He found a key, locked it on their side, and they remained in a nar- row space, trapped, if they could not find the secret of the door behind them. Crenyon exclaimed to They could hear exclamations and . =< comicbooks (©)