WHEN THE EMPIRE CRASHED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12724, 20 August 1919, Page 8

WHEN THE EMPIRE CRASHED.

i " When I wm Goar ” *s* “ Tlw Man Without, a' Memory,” *i* ole., ole. ►?< t * r -*

rj* jZf >]< By ARTHUR W. MAKCHAIONT 2, h T. ~ .Author of *£*

CHAPTER TY. COCXT KOSLOV, ! Making sure that I was not. folkm ea, I walked, back to Melsome’s bouse, in a. considerable flutter of excitement.. I had secured the introduction to Avola, had learnt something about Kellerman and his doings, and had quite onjoved the little scene with Prince Mirski. A. pretty good.start. But what was to follow? Thai was the question: one that it was easier ■ to ask than to answer- One thing j was certain : T wasn’t going to stand by with my hands in my pockets while Avola 'was being sacrificed to thatbloated old bully who bad tried to trample me under Ms big flat feet. Pat her than that T was ready even to play at being a conspirator. "What- was the thing? "What was her part m it? AVhy had the been, so sot, on preventing, my joining it? \\ as it really a dangerous affair? What was the “ inner circle,” ns Kc]lerman had called it, of which she was a, member? She bad not attenuated a. denial when I had taxed her with it; hut it would take a lot more than his insinuation to persuade me that she could nossibly be such a traitor n« he implied. And even if she were—well. Mirski shouldn’t hare her. if I could stop him. The mere remembrance of tbe hateful leer on his fat sensual face when lie‘canned her for that dance settled that. All the same I should hare, to go to work cautiously; especially if niv guess was right—that he and not Kellemuiu was the leader in the affair. Tbe first step would be to find out all I could about birr. ; and Melaome. who knew the Petrograd undercurrents thoroughly, would tell mo all that. There was the business that had brought mo to Petrograd, moreover. I couldn’t, he Rate Henslmw, looking after the aeroplane job one minute, and Karl Stein, rounding up conspirators the next. One or the other would haro to be shelved for a. time at any rate. • This was something of a poser and worried me not a. little. There was a possibility that it might ho arranged, however. The man to whom I had been specially accredited was Count Koslov, one of the most powerful and i influential members of the Government, ! and he would easily be able to postpone my aeroplane job if ho saw any suflii cienb reason. I His sou had been in England studying our methods for a time, and as we had seen a good deal of each other wc ha.d become quite pally. It was largely alius instigation that I had been sent to 1 Petrograd, and I had had a very cordial reception from his father, who had pressed me to make his house my home during my stay. i _ The Count was a patriot to Ins fingexI tips, heart aul soul with England and j the cause of the Allies, and had fer- | retod out and broken up more than one j conspiracy plot. It was thus more than j likely that, if he thought I could put j him 'on the track of anything of the j sort, he would jump at the chance and ; make short work of any obstacles. | This meant, of course, that I might I have to turn secret agent for the time. 1 A loathsome job, but—there was Avola. | She bad to be got out of Mirski’s i clutches by book or crook; and if that was the only way I must bo content: to put my personal antipathies in my pocket. I decided, therefore, to lay the whole business before- Melsome and see what he said about it. He was waiting up for me and not a little relieved when I walked in. | “ You’ve given me a bit of a scare, llafe, i and I’ve been regularly nervy ever | since midnight. The streets are none i too safe just now. 'What’s happened?” j “ Lois,, old son. I’ve had a top-hole I time.” “ ■Where?” “ Been to a dance. I’d like to tell you all about it, if you’re not too i sleepy to listen.” j “ Fire ahead. Have a smoke and a j drink,” and he pushed the cigars across j the table. j “ "Who's Prince Mirski?” I asked as I lit up. ” One of the best, so they say; but I know very little of him personally. Ho stinks of money; has given no end to all sorts of war purposes: would have gone to the front, hut. was counted too old; has enormous influence in high quarters; does himself particularly well and goes everywhere.” “ A good patriot then, eh?” “Russian to the backbone; spends all the time he can spare from himself to pushing the war. He could have been in tire Government time and time again, but thinks he can do more good outside. He founded a League, the ‘ Friends of Russia/ to further the war cause; it’s spread all over the country; numbers its members by the thousand, and is about tho best thing of the sort going- But why do you ask? Run 1 across him?” “Yes, to-night. He got on my nerves rather, and 1 told him he was a fat little man who happened to bo labelled a Prince.” “Great Scott, Rate! Why on earth did you do that?” cried Melsome ex- j eitedly. shaken right-, out of his usual I diplomatic phlegm- “ Because it's just what be is—only worse. Tho man's a low-down traitor in German pay, and all that patriotic League business is no more than front window dressing to hide the real thing.” Melsome stared at me and then smiled Cynically. “ Come over to teach us our job, iiafe, have you? The chief’ll he much obliged lu you.” he jibed. “Rag away; but listen, and then tell me what you think of it ;” and I told him of my meeting with J.Vellerman, his mistaking me for Stein, what he had told me, our going to Countess Palinsld’s house, and something of what had I occurred afterwards. I didn’t mention I Avola.. j Ho listened attentively, and when I paused eyre me a shrewd look and ! askedx ” And where does the girl come into the picture?” “ She’ sin nil right--o member of the i League. Of course there must be thousands in it who are nbsolutolr ignorant of every thing about the real object of the inside crew.” “ And what brought you to loggerheads with Mirski?” (To be continued.) 7