CHAPTER XXXV.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 382, 6 July 1889, Page 3

CHAPTER XXXV.

. THE ADVANTAGE OF CHLOROFORM. With this arrangement, which was satisfactory to neither of them, they rested. Wat returned to Veras side, and relieved the painful anxiety under which sha had been labouring during the long conversation between the two. He told her as much as he could of the' situation, and informed her of the disagreeable fact that Sofia would occupy the same compartment with them. As soon as the passengers were permitted to enter the cars, Vera and Wat, followed by Sofia, took possession, of a compartment. For obvious reasons, Wat and Vera held no conversation together with Sofia there, and Wat had no desire to run any unnecessary risks by conversation with Sofia, so the three did not make a sociable party shut up in the close compartment.

10 "W'afc calculated that the duke's plight es would not be discovered before the evening of the coming day. As soon as it was discovered, of course, telegrams would be sent out and they 11 would surely be stopped ab the frontier. Of course the duke might be -discovered 11 before that time, but Wat wad determined t, to risk it until the evening, hy which time they would be not very many miles from ?, the frontier. He intended to' get off before reaching the b, frontier, where an examination' 'would be ie made, and take the 'risk of being able to slip over between the/ posts 6f the frontier c guard. But in the meantime he had Sofia to die>f turbhim. c As long as it remained night ha fel6 safe enough, but he knew his disguise - vfrould d never the ordeal of a lorjg, /ide by c daylight, with the sharp eyes of,.sie atigry countess upon him. d If It were not for the coming of the^uard d to examine' the tickets, he would have had t no compunction about , chloroforming her and keeping her so *f6r'< as long as ifc was necessary. *„-•; Like all - detectives, he was always provided with 'the means of quieting ' unruly subjects. ' - - • The thought of the guard and the chloroform gave him an "idea which he determined to put in execution as soon as it-was'jneces-eai T- ' " '" " "" " - rij ,. i 7 The night, or what there was Jefjb of it, passed without any occurrence- worthy,- of note. ' * • '' t ' , - k > Vera, indeed, was uncomfortable with '^r mortal enemy almost touching, her, though "she was too high-spirited to' fear Her". "■' >1 " J ' Sotia was probably the most uncomfortable, for she could hardly command herself in the presence of her successful rival. Wat, disposing himself, so as, to be "in a good position -in. case the feelings of Sofia should get the better of'her, went to sleep, and slept until the coining op davtfn.aTo'tiSe.cl him - «' !,." , ..:: \\ V A k' u'fi X*>K *> When lie awoke he found, bpth the lacjies sleeping, worn out by the'faiigue both" of them had undergone.' ' * < ",_,>- At the coming of the ' guard' to examine their tickets, Wat said to -him^ deftly taking the satchel from the side of Sofia : * Speak softly. The ladies are very tired. This one, particularly ' — pointing 'co Sofia — 'has not had any sleep lor .three days, and is completely tired out. She will pxobably sleep all day. 3 . At the same time he slipped -a. piece oi money into the man's hand, and-.the latter moderated his voice in an instant. Then Wat, having opened Sofia's satchel, gave the tickets of the party to the guard, and they were examined, ' Try not to have us disturbed, will you ?' he asked. "Yousha'n'tbe.' ' Plenty of empty compartments', I s,iipDose, eh ?' , - . „,'<.'! 'Yes.' • -; '« "' 1 Anybody in these next to us ?' ' 'Nobody.' • Then they will not be likely to disturb us,' said Wat, with a s,mile. ' No, and we don't stop again "until we reach Dunaburg ; so you are not likely to be troubled for some hours.' 'Thank you.' The guard went away, and when the train started again Wat gave himself no further concern about his detection by Sofia. Indeed, he rather enjoyed the prospect of being discovered. Vera was the first to awake, and when she did so Wat exchanged a few quiet words with her, to warn her of what he was going to do, so that she should not be too - much startled when he put his plan in operation. While he was talking Sofia awoke, and when Wat looked in her direction he found himself the object of the closest scrutiny. , Evidently Sofia had not yeb" even begun to suspect him, but she was puzzled by; , something in her companion's looks. ' I hope you have slept well,' 'said Wat politely to her. * Thank you, as well as could be under the circumstances.' ' ,vt . .' I hope you are not hungry.' > • ••Why?' > r re c ' Because we shall not reach Dunaburg" • . until about noon.' " ' - « But ' The countess looked around for her satchel, and seeing it lying by Wat's side, where he had purposely placed it, asked : ■ f : ; ' The tickets have been examined'then ?' : ' -',>■ . - Some little time ago, and I did not wish.-?* J ? to,ar.ouse you, so 1 took the liberty of open- > ',' \ ■ing your satchel, to give, the' guard your . * 'tl ticket.' . -,- ■ - ' • y v "" f 1 The countess looked hard at him and ',' then at Vera, on whose "face a slight smile was playing:. • Then she started and" looked once more - ; at Wat in a sudden fashion that told that suspicion at least had been aroused in her » mind. . - - ' She took her satchel without a word and lay back in her seat, pretending to shut her " eyes as if to sleep. In reality she was prying out of her closed lids at Wat. Presently she roused herself with'a sudden "• start, and cried out, in a voice. of rage *. 'I know you now.j false. dog,! You are that American detecfiive.' : -.•-•, iSAt your service,', laughed Wat; ~ x' "> aya v 'f And' you think you have -outwitted me -'- finely, I suppose?' - x , .. r- r rc^'tf i 1 Pretty well, for an American who is only 1 " , « "V a beardless boy.' » '','.-. ' You should have played- -your .part v \ better. ■ You have betrayed yourself too~ " soon.' ■" "• " *"-"' 'Not at all. I deceived you for as long " as it was necessary.' ' Do you think so ?' 'I am sure of it.' ' We can tell that better when the guard comes along at Dunaburg.' ' That is all provided for. Have no fear about^my plans.' - ' , , , f ' Very well, I can wait.' \ t But it was easy to see that she was'ndt as easy as she would have him believe. Wat laughed in a most provoking manner, and said : ' 'f 'Itis a pity you left in such a hurry that ' you could not take your maid with you ?' '■-' ' 'Why?' • ' J ■ ,;»i 'Because it she had been with you 1' should not have beenable to play the same ,'' trick on you that I am going to.' :-* « What trick ?' ' The trick whereby you will be induced .to say nothing when the guard comes along a]b Dunaburg.' ' , 'It will need to be a good trick indeed that will keep me silent.' ' Shall I tell it to you now ?' ♦ Do. It will serve to mss away the time. Perhaps even it will am'upe me.' ■ •It certainly is an amusing trick. You V ' J are to be asleep when we reach Dunabure I .' ' ' •Indeed!' ;8 ; 8 c Yes, I told the guard that you were completely tired out from not having any sleep for three nights.' ' What you tell me is not amusing, it is stupid.' * There, now. How opinions differ ! When I told my plan to this young lady she thought it was very amusing indeed.' * Trifles please fools.' c You are right, and we shall laugh when we see you asleep at Dunaburg.' 'He laug-hs best who laughs lasb. That A s a proverb, I think, in your language.'

c Yes, that is one of our proverbs. I am glad to see that you know something of our thoughts. I am going to teach you what is known as a Yankeo trick. Come, now, would you not like to know what the trick is to be ?' • Oh, is there more then V By all means tell me.' ' Do you know what chloroform is ?' 'Yes.' She blanched a little, and looked uneasily toward the other compartments. 4 Well, I am going to chloroform you just bofore we reach Dunaburg. Now, i&'not thac a good trick ? • You speak as if you thought you had a child to deal with. For oven supposing that you have the chloroform, you could not use it before I could give the alarm.' 'Here is the chloroform. I will reliove your mind as to all points beforehand, in order that you may not waste any timo in useless struggles. ' There was evidently something terrifying to Sofia, with all her force of character, in Wat's bantering way of telling her of what he was going to do to her. 'As to your struggles,' went on Wat, 4 they cannot amount to much to a man who, for all that his beard was a borrowed > one, can master most men he is brought in contact -with.' • We shall see,' said Sofia, with a vain attempt to appear unconcerned. 4 Then, as to your sceams, 1 may as well tell you that I inquired particularly of the guard about the occupants of the adjoining compartments. Nobody has taken either of them. ' In spite of herself, a look of rage and despair came infco Sofia's face. Wat laughed in his most provoking way, and turned to Vera, saying : • I guess we've caught the nihilist, the murderess, the traitress this time. She is very brilliant, but we shall have a good laugh with Ivan over this when we reach Paris.' The look of fuiy which rushed into the woman's face at these taunting words was strangely tempered by a fleeting expression of exultation, which Wat noted, but could not comprehend. Nothing more was said by Sofia during the whole morning, until they were nearing Dunaburg. Then it was when she saw "Wat taking from his pocket the bottle of chloroform which he had already shown her. ' Suppose I should promise not to say anything to the guard at Dunaburg ?' ' I should chloroform you just the same, so as to be sure that you would respect your promise. ' Without seeming to be watching her, he nevertheless had his eye on her all the time. She had been watching his every movement, as a cat would, and just as she saw he had the bottle in what seemed to her a favourable position, she leaned forward and tried to dash it from his hand. yVat drew it carelessly away, and laughed at her. Then, as if she had made no such attempt, he drew a tiny sponge from his pocket, and first moistening io with water, squeezed it dry. Then he said to her, in his politest way : 'Now, if you please, countess, we are ready for tho operation.' She drew back like a serpent about ot strike, and shrieked out : 4 Touch me, and I will kill you ! — kill you !— kill you !' 4 1 shall be sorry to die, but indeed I must touch you.' And Wat, after moistening the sponge with the chloroform, with a de:vtrous movement caught her by the two wrists with one hand, while in spite of her piercing shrieks, he covered her mouth and nose with the saturated sponge and his hand. The latter was over her mouth, while the sponge was over her nostrils. In a few moments the chloroform had taken effect, and the countess lay back in the car, to all appearance i» a restful sleep. It only a remained now to wait for the guaid, and learn if any ordeis for their detention had yet been issued. (To be Continued. )