The Mission of Poubalov — page 194: what you’re looking at

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

190 AT ONE O'CLOCK A, M. Paul could hear the scratching plainly, he again sought relief from his uncomfortable perch. It was nearly one o’clock when the sound of writing ceased. 4q Paul saw that Poubalov had removed his coat. What ; he had written was folded and placed in an envelope upon the table, . The watcher supposed that the spy was about to nin but there was so evidently something further upon Poubalov’s mind, something that he seemed to rire: whether it were best done now, or in the morning, that Paul kept his place and watchéd; and as he straine his eye to take in every movement, instinctively shading his face although he stood in the darkness, he saw Poubalov draw a revolver from his hip-pocket. Placing the hammer at half-cock, he tilted the ba: forward and pushed the cartridge cylinder about with | thumb and finger. q Every chamber seemed to be as he wished it, and he readjusted the barrel. Then he walked to the bureau upon which swung a he length mirror. His back was thus partially turned the watcher, and Paul could see dimly the reflection of I face looking somberly toward him. He held the revoly in his right hand, the finger on the trigger, the be pointed toward the floor. Paul wasin an agony of doubtand apprehension. Wh should he do? 4 How long would Poubalov stand there and allow ates reflect? a Would the spy, then, ‘‘get away,’’ and by this mar of exit? ¥ With his left hand Poubalov took his watch from his pocket. He glanced at the face of the busy and faithfu little machine, and it was only too evident that he had se the limit of his life at some point that the moving hands would presently reach. os comicbooks.com