The Argosy — page 103: what you’re looking at

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

BY RIGHT OF SWORD. 295 ‘‘ Don’t lie to me,’’ I cried sternly. ‘‘ You know well enough why I’m here. Where’s my sister ?’’ ‘Don’t get eabittehy* he replied calmly. ‘‘ It will do you no good. You can do nothing.’’ ‘Tf you’re not too pesca ss a coward, I anseieied: get me my sword and let’s settle this thing at once.’ He winced at the taunt, but he didn’t mean to fight that. way. “Thank you, I don’t fight with burglars. I hand them over to the police—when it suits me. I always thought there was something secret about you ; now I know what it is. You’ve been living by this sort of work, I suppose. Officer by day and footpad by night. I'm glad my men have caught you at last.’’ Then he sent them away; and as soon as we were alone he asked me, ‘‘ Do you value your life ?’’ ‘Yes, for one reason: to take yours.’’ ‘“Well, you can have it—if you care to be reasonable.’’ ‘‘T make no terms with a villain like you.’’ ‘More fool you,’’ he laughed. ‘‘ You may as well face the position. You are in my power. This house is big enough and strong enough to hide a regiment, let alone one man. You can’t stop me now from carrying off your sister, so you may as well make the best of a bad business, and own that I’ve got the whip hand of you, partly by my luck and partly by your own infernal stupidity. I’d rather have you on my side in this matter than against me; but, with me or against me, you can’t stop me. What do you say?” “This: that the first use I’ll make of my hands when they’re free shall be to try and choke the life out of you. And, by heaven, I’ll try to do it now.’’ In my rage I rushed upon him, but, like the cowardly cur he was, he struck me, bound and defenseless as I was, with all his force in the face, and then with a cry brought in the other men; ‘These threw themselves upon me and bore me to the ground, and then bound my legs again, so that I was once more absolutely helpless. ‘You saw that attack the villain made on me,’’ said Devinsky to the men. ‘‘I was offering to release him. You’ll bear witness to that. As for you ’’—turning to me—‘‘ you can stay here for a few hours more to cool your murderous fever, and I will send back orders for your release when I am at a safe distance. And remember there are strong cellars below ; and if there are any more attempts at violence I’ll have you put there.’’ He went out then with the men, and a moment later returned alone and said, in a voice full of rage and hate, ‘‘I’m going through with this, Petro- vitch, at any cost, if I have to shut you up here till the flesh drops from your bones. Your sister and I are going further on shortly, and I’ll see you once more before I start, and give you one more chance of listening to rea- son.’’? And with this he left me. My plight was worse than ever. So far Olga was safe. ‘That was the only glimpse of comfort in all the miserable situation. It was clear, too, that she was in the house ; and though she was still in the man’s power, I might yet find some means of helping her. ) Eomichook (S@)