The Argosy, January 1907 — page 69: what you’re looking at

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

BY fhe cries of alarm, but were in darkness, and the place seemed suddenly suffocating. Crenyon heard the prince trying to find the secret of the lock, and turned to aid him. They could not hope to be long un- discovered, but as yet there was only a Babel of voices, and Ivanoff and Cren- yon searched and fumbled for the spring. The place grew more stifling; for once they knew the feeling of trapped rats. Crenyon set his teeth and pressed his fingers down the panel; at the same in- stant the door gave and they nearly fell into the hall. They could hear hurrying footsteps, and voices in the distance. ‘We're well trapped!” Crenyon ex- claimed in an undertone. ‘“‘ Even if we reached the street, we should find our way barred.” [vanoff shook his head. “No,” he said; “they'll think that Lodtz shot him; I saw the assassin drop his pistol by the valet as he ran.” They were standing near the alcove, and the switch of the electric light was above his shoulder. As Ivanoff ceased speaking both heard a door whine and a step in the hall where they stood. In a flash Crenyon turned the switch and they were in darkness, but across the hall shone a broad band of light. Some one had come in by another door. They heard a man’s impatient exclamation. ‘“Lodtz!”’ he called sharply. Me was coming toward them fum- bling for the switch. They backed against the wall opposite and waited, and he came on, feeling his way on the other side. They could hear him breathe as he passed. With a common impulse, both sprang for the lighted entry, reached it, and Crenyon closed the door behind them. “ Ouick!” cried Basil. DOOR. 251 They dashed down three steps, found a bolt, shot it back, and in a moment were in the street. V. A sHArF?t of lhght from the wide win- dow shone on the top of the white lilacs in Prince Ivanoff’s garden, and Crenyon saw Xenia coming toward him. It was a week since he had brought her brother back, and the death of Rodit- chev was laid at the door of Lodtz. What Roditchev’s household knew no one ever surmised. It had been an- nounced that the Princess Xenia was mourning for her fiancé. As she came toward Crenyon the light shone on her face, revealing it in beau- tiful repose. “I know not how to thank you,” she said softly. “ Basil is safe. But for you, had this happened to Roditchev ” She broke off with a shudder. “Did you love him, princess?” Cren- yon asked abruptly. “ Do not tempt me to speak of him,” she answered quietly; “he is dead.” There was a sudden silence, more eloquent than words. ‘Then her voice: ‘“ Basil is in Switzerland, and I—I shall go there soon to see him.” “To Switzerland? ” repeated. Then he leaned forward. ‘ Why not farther, Xenia?” he whispered. ‘‘ Why not to America?” 7 The princess blushed, and her lips trembled; her eyes shone like two stars. “To America?” she faltered. ‘ The ocean is wide, the way is lons, and yet z 7 “And yet it is the heart’s. highway,” he said; “the way is short for two to travel—on a wedding journey. Xenia, will you travel it with me?” “Ah,” she murmured, very low, ‘it seems that. I can travel no other way— henceforth—but with you!” ? he FLOWER IN THE CRANNIED WALL. FLOWER in the crannied wall, [ pluck you out of the crannies, I hold you here, root and all, in my hand, Little tlower—but zf I could understand What yeu are, root and all. and all in all, I should know what God and man is. Tennyson. ECOPMICLOW (E©)