The Argosy — page 105: what you’re looking at

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

BY RIGHT OF SWORD. _ 3297 The man in command of the police listened to this in silence, and with a face that showed no more expression than a stone gargoyle. ‘““ Release him,’’ he said to his men, and in another moment I was at liberty. As soon as I was free, I began to edge my way, inch by inch, toward where Devinsky stood. I would have him down, police or no police, thought I, even if it were my last act before entering a jail. I guessed, of course, that some Nihilist blabber had told the facts and that I was bound for Siberia, or worse. ‘Lieutenant Petrovitch, you are to accompany me, if you please, the leader, and a sign to his men set two of them at each side of me. ‘“T have first one word to say to that—gentleman,’’ I said, pointing to Devinsky. ‘“Hxeuse me. My instructions are peremptory. I must ask you to go with me at once—without a moment’s delay.”’ I saw Devinsky’s face brighten at the thought of thus getting rid of me, and my fingers itched and tingled to be at his throat. ‘‘ Am I arrested ?’’ I asked. ‘‘ For what ?’’ ““T can say nothing, lieutenant,’’ replied the man. “©Do you know why I’m here ?”’ ‘Tf you please, we must go and at once,’ I saw Devinsky grin again at this. : ‘This man has carried off my sister,’’ I cried. ‘‘Sheis in his power now, and it was when I came to find her that he tricked me and then had me bound as you see. Send your men to find her. She must return with us.”’ ‘“T have no instructions to that effect,’’ replied the man curtly. ‘* Confound your instructions,’’ I burst out hotly. ‘‘ Are you a man—to leave a young girl in this plight ?’’ My reply stirred only anger. ‘‘T cannot do what I am not ordered to do,’’ said the officer again curtly. “Then I won’t go without her. Go back and—or, better, send one of ) said ) was the stolid reply. your men for permission to do this, and stay here and keep guard over me . and my sister at the same time.’’ ‘“It is impossible. My instructions are peremptory.”’ I began to lose all self command, and only by the most strenuous efforts did I prevent myself from heaping reproaches upon him for his cold blooded officialism. ‘Will you leave a couple of men here, then, to protect her ?’’ ‘“T can say no more, lieutenant, and do no more than I have said. And now, we must go,”’ It iaddened me beyond telling to think that I was to be carried away in this ruthless, heartless, implacable fashion at the very moment when the rescue of the girl I loved more than my life was but a matter of walking into another room and bringing her out. I was staggered by the blow. ‘Do you know that I would ten thousand times rather that you had left me bound and helpless as I was, than take me away in this fashion? I must see my sister. I must save her—why, man, are you lost to every sense of feeling ? Take her away first, make her safe, and then I swear to heaven you or this man can do with me as you please.’’ Eomicbooks Fe Oe tt tee Pg er te MAD Sk oe ee Sa tl ee ee 8 ee) eee at ee et Ne ogee ee, ; Sem ae Rr eke Sa ae! ot’ Gee tae ES (S(O)