Part 11 (1/2)

Let no one know where it is except myself. Keep it until I ask for it.

If matters arise of such nature to prevent my asking, keep it still.

Keep it!” Koltsoff was now acting as he loved to act. ”Keep it until I ask for it; or until I am dead. If the latter, throw it over the cliffs. My country is on the verge of a war with--with you may guess whom. j.a.pan, no less. That, that which you hold in your hand is the heart of our hopes.” He paused.

He was really sincere. His desire was to forestall any defeat of his plans by having the package out of his hands until such time as he would leave Newport. One of his valets had once been successfully bribed. But equally did he desire that the girl should have a bond of interest akin to his; through this, he knew, must lie the success of that understanding which alone kept him from following Yeasky out of Newport forthwith.

But the girl could not know this. Her pride in sharing in so intimate a way a matter which she believed to--and for that matter, really did--affect the policy of a great empire, held her spellbound. There was the feminine delight, too, in being on the inner side of a mystery.

She nodded mechanically. ”I shall do as you ask,” she said.

The Prince sprang forward, caught her hands and pressed upon them hot, lingering kisses.

”Into these hands,” he said, ”I commit my destiny and my honor.”

CHAPTER IX

ARMITAGE CHANGES HIS VOCATION

Half an hour after the incident at Trinity, Armitage hurried from the little ferry boat which had just landed him at the Torpedo Station and made his way to the house of the storekeeper, who was out, of course.

He had gone to Providence, his wife said, and would return about four o'clock.

Armitage took the key to the shops, only to find when he entered that the storekeeper's books were in the safe, the combination to which he did not know. This by no means improved his temper and he began to blunder about the office in a dragnet search. Finally, when he found himself kicking over chairs which were in his way in his aimless course, the humor of the situation came to him. He sat down upon a tool chest and laughed aloud.

Clearly, there was nothing for him to do in the absence of Jackson--except go to his dinner; which he did. A few minutes before three o'clock, he went to the office again and sat down to wait for Yeasky. He gave the man half an hour overtime and then nodded grimly and dismissed any lingering notion he might have entertained concerning his honesty.

When the storekeeper appeared some time later, Armitage was still at his desk idly drawing diagrams on a pad.

”Mr. Jackson,” he said, ”I hate to bother you to-day, but things have happened which seem to make it necessary to check those parts now--”

Armitage arose briskly.

The storekeeper waved his hands.

”Oh, I checked them up this morning,” he said.

”Everything straight?” snapped Armitage.

”Why--yes,” Jackson fumbled in his desk. ”Here is the sheet.”

Armitage seized it and glanced up and down the various items.

”Bully work, Mr. Jackson!” He looked up with a sigh of relief.

”Everything seems correct. George! That takes a load off my mind.

Let's see.” He went down the list with his finger. ”I understand you, don't I?” he said, handing the sheet to the storekeeper.

”Understand?”

”I mean, this is a list taken from the tally sheet of parts, all of which you have found to be in the office? In other words,” he added rapidly, ”everything that appears on this sheet is now, at the present time, inside this office?”