The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 1 — page 93: what you’re looking at

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

BY RIGHT OF SWORD. 93 ‘What do you mean ?’’ I asked. ‘The night in the riverside wharf,’’ he whispered back. He was a Nihilist ; here right in the very eye of the police web. ‘The way is laid,’’ I answered equivocally, as I hurried away. I had actually forgotten in my eagerness all about my charge to kill the man with whom I had been closeted in conference. But I saw instantly that the Nihilists would probably hold it for an act of treachery that I had been in Tueski’s house and yet had let him live. CHAPTER XIII.—OLGA IN A NEw LIGHT. I WALKED back to my roonis as I wished to cool my head and think. The interview with Christian Tueski had excited me and, what was of more im- portance, had kindled a hope that after all I might be able to escape the tre- mendous difficulties that encompassed me. One thing in particular pleased me, for it was a double edged knife loos- etling two sets of the complications. It was the promise I had given to the man to respect his wife so long as he kept faith with me. ‘This gave me power over him, and what was of infinitely greater value to me personally, it was a shrewd defense against the wife also. I smiled as I thought of the ingenuity of this. But I little anticipated what would really be the result. It seemed then the shrewdest and cleverest, as well as the most daring thing I had done ; but in the end the consequences were such as might properly have followed an act of the grossest stupidity and villainy possible. But for the moment it pleased me; and I wasin truth finding the keenest pleasure in this parrying of the thrusts which the fates were making at ime. . There was a problem I could not solve, however, in the question of the power which seeined to be behind the chief of police ; the power which made him apparently afraid to strike me openly, though so willing to trip me se- cretly. I could not imagine what it could be, nor whence it could come. When I reached my rooms my sister and Paula Tueski were waiting for me in the greatest anxiety ; and both were overjoyed to see me safe and ap- parently in high spirits. The police agents had been for the fellow I had left under lock and key, and Olga had taken care to carry out my instruc- tions to the letter. Her quick instincts had warned her, and she had made a parade of almost affectionate friendship for the other woman during the time the men had been present. After I arrived she could scarcely take her eyes off me, and I saw them glistening as with tears. ‘I will take you home directly,’’ I said carelessly, as a brother might speak, ‘‘ But I have something to say first to Madame Tueski ; so you must wait for a few minutes.’’ A look of reproach nearly found expression in hasty words; but, remem- bering herself, she said hastily, acting the part to the life : ‘" Oh, you’re always so mysterious, Alexis. I’ve no patience with you.’’ Then I led the other into my second sitting room and told her much of CoORnniclaoolK< (S@)