CHAPTER XLVII. BARGAINING FOR A MURDER.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 386, 20 July 1889, Page 6

CHAPTER XLVII. BARGAINING FOR A MURDER.

' Bk easy, my friends,' said Wat, as he lcfl the two rascals ; ' J will collect your money for you, and bring it here.' • Play fair,' said Oaspard, uneasily. IDo you hear that fellow, Jacqnes ? He is afraid I am going fco run away with the money. ' ' Gaspard is & fool— always was,' answered Jacquofe, contemptuously.

' I've pufc many a dollar in your way, if I am a fool,' retorted Gaspard.- ' Ho, ho !' laughed Wat. 'As if the little dog didn't always steal the meat for the big dog: to ear.' • Jla, ha ! Ho, ho !' roared Jacques. 'For the .big dog to eat. Ho, ho ! That will do; I trust you, my libfcle boy who scratches. Get the money. For the big dog to eat. Out. Ho, ho !' ' And while I am gone don't let this Gaspard go out to &how his new clothes to the ladies, will you, my big dog ?' ' Be easy ; the little dog shall not stir out , of hero.' And Wab knew he Had made a conquest of the burly ruffian, so that he had no reason to fear the appearance of Gaspare! would bpoil his plot. As-uming Guspaid's swagger and his half-ins>olenr, half-cowardly air, VVablctt the room, accompanied by (.he hoarse laugh of the delighted Jacques. Resuming the same air when he reached the palace of- the Countess of Almazoff, Wat asked for that lady with all the impudence of one who knows he will be received. And apparently orders to that effect had been given to the footman, for that person, with an air of supreme diserust, ushered Wat into the little parlour of the countess ups taiis. No frooner had the footman 'left Wat alone, than Sofia' came hastily into the room, and demanded, eagerly : ' Have you been successful?' ' Successful ? Of cours-c we ha\ c.' ' Did you search him ?' 1 Ye*. 1 i 'Well, did you find nothing?' ' Only a knife and a pistol.' 1 What did you do with him ?' '"Well, you &cc, he made such a stiuggle that wo had no choice.' Wat drew hip hand suggestively across hi& tin oat, and made a movement as if falling back dead. The countess shuddeied, but a hard look came into her eyes immediately atterward, and she said : ' Then I suppose you want your money ?' ' You're as pretty a guesser as you are a looker,' said Wat, throwing into his manner a great deal of insolent admiration. Sofia bit her lip, as if she fhad mede up her mind to stand such familiarity, and then asked, haughtily : 'Do you want bo do another job foy me ?' ' For you and for money. I don't mean to be ungallant, countess, bub business is business, you know. I'd lika to do anything in the world tor so much beauty, bub the truth is, me and — ' J ' I expected to pay you well.' 'Yes, of cour&e ; but, you see, "a gentleman once, a gentleman always ;" and I can't iorget the time when I would have done anything tor pure love of such a beauty as you.' Wat saw that hib insolent familiarity hurt the proud countess a vast deal more than the thought of her crimss did, and he could nob lcsist the opportunity to torment her. 'Are you suic,' a-ked she coldly, • that you got the right man ?' ' As sure as I am that I am looking at the prettiest face in Paris at this moment.' • You may leave my beauty alone. We will assume thai I know all about it.' ' And so you ought, for you can't help seeing what your glass ,shoV& you every time you look at it, and I -wager you look in it often enough — eh, countess ?' Sofia ielb the degradation of such a wretch's familial ity, and saw that he was assuming bhat she was his companion in crime. Sofia flashed a muiderous look at him, and returned to the subject nearest her heart ' How do you know it was the right man ?' 'He had a fresh, boyish face, he answered bo the name of Den ton, and he had papers on his clothes with the name of Wat Den ton on them.' ' Where are thobe papers ? You said just now that you found nothing.' ' Here'h the paper I meant,' answered Wai, drawing horn his pocket his passport. 'He had no obher paper, ' and 1 didn't suppose you'd care for this. Want to keep it ?' ' No, take it back. Do you want to do this new job for me ?' 4 1 said yes, didn't I?' ' Here's the money I owe you for the other one.' She went to a drawer and drew out a package of money which she had evidently piepared for his coming. 'Shall I count it?' asked Wai, with an engaging leer. ' 1 think it is unnecessary.' 'Oh, well, J guets 1 can trust beauty. But, I say — don't you think, dear countess, that we ought to have something extra for letting his windfout ?' ' How much .'' ' Well, say five hundred francs. 1 Without a word, Sofia Ictt the room, and presently returned v\ ifch the required bum in bank-note?. ' So much wealth and beauty combined are seldom seen,' said Wat, in a gallant tone. • The new affair will be less difficult than the other,' said Sofia. • Very well ; but the difficulty is nothing. I've got so I like you, countess — I'm nob afraid to say so. I know you won't take advantage of it — and I don't count the difficulty. What ib it V 'I want a young lad}' abducted'and — and * ' Oub with it. Why don't you say killed ? Don't be squeamish, countess. ' « I do want her killed !' Sofia looked oil the hatred .she felt as she said this, and Wab shuddered to think of (-he path of blood this woman, so outwardly lovely, w as willing to wade through in order to accomplish hci endb. ' She shall go after the detective, countess. Only it won't be as easy as you imagine to get her out of the way.' 'It ought to be easier than getting rid of a man.' • But, you see, he went of his own accord to a place which was as safe as a churchsate for us, I mean.' ' Decoy her to borne place then.' •Easier said than done; bub tell me something about her, and I will try.' Wab had dropped his insolent air, and was all earnestness now, as if he had but bhat one idea in his mind. Impressed by this, Sofia had no hesitation in proceeding : ' The woman is the Countess Radolinski ; bub you needn't fear any trouble on account of her rank, for she she is here in Paris, without the knowledge of anybody but the man whom you have killed.' ' Where is she ?' Sofia named the hotel Wab had taken Vera to, showing that she had been quick to follow her rival's movements. ' Can you think of any scheme by which we could get her to a place we could name ?' asked Wat. ' I might forge a letter from her lover, asking' her to meet him, ' < ' A good idea. Do ib.' ' The only ditliculty is that she might be suspicious, and might detect the forgery.' ' You said the detective was her friend, didn't you V ' Yes.'

« Then, why nob forge his hand ? -You can see ib there in the body of the passport, you can see where he filled ib in himfeelf.' 1 True ; bub I am nob a good hand at that kind oi thing.' ' Get me paper and ink, and I will try. I have tried copying other men's writing before this. I don'c doubt I can do it well enough to tool her. Do you suppose she is familiar with his writing ?' ' It is unlikely.' ' Then, I will guarantee to deceive her. The only thing then is, will she come in answer bo the note ?' • You can only tell by writing.' She brought Wat the writing materials, and he sab down to forge his own writing. He made a great many efforts, trying sheet after sheet, before he could get a sample that suited him. •This he showed to Sofia, and she compared ib with the original. • Perfect ! Ib would deceive himself !' ' No,' answered Wat, dryly, 'I, don't think he would ever know he had not written it himself. Now, what shall I w rite ?' The countcs? suggested, and Wat suggested, and, between them, they made'tbe following: note : *TO HE COU.NTESS ILVDOLIX&KI : • Dear Madam : I am on the track of fvan. II you will niccL m« at the liule wine-shop, tlnoe doors from the corner of the line d'Appcl on the Hue l'Aubergiste, I will promise to take jou to him this very night. 1 am Avatching somebody, or would come atler yon. •Hastily, your obedient servant. ' Wat Djsntox.' ' Thcie ! That oughb to bring her,' *>aid Wab. 'isn't that[| a very public place?' a&ked Sofia. ' No, indeed. Nobody will see her go in there, and you may be sure nobody v- T ill ever see her go out.' ' But how will you dispose of — of — ' • The body ? There's) no trouble about that. In the cellar. Bury her there. Such a nice, quiet place, too. She might scream until she was black in the face, and nobody could hear her.' At this a sudden idea seemed to strike Sofia, and she asked with gleaming eyes : ' Would it be possible for me to see her without fear of detection, before you — before you killed her V 'Nothing easier. I will come here an tell you when I have her safe in her cage.' ' Then go.' 1 The price, if you please, my lovely charmer ?' Sofia shrank from his insolent fauiilanby, and answcied : 'Double what you leceived foi the other.' ' Any down ?' She went out and returned with a large roll of bills, which Wat thru&t into his pocket, witli a bow and an attempt to kiss the countess's hand. She snatched her hand away, and flashed a glance at him which would have made au end of him if looks could kill. Wab only leeied ab her, and with a still lower bow, with his hand on his heart, went oub. (To be Continued.) ' '-"