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Show hind him flew open, and a half a dozen nihilists were vomited forth. Several of them were armed, and, pistols at Hardy, they pointing caped by an underground passage by an old forgotten sewer. But it will not be safe for you to follow them. They will have recovered their wits by this time and some of them will lie shrieked: Drop that revolver, or we shoot! in wait for you and kill you, feeling sure that you will tell what you have you cannot escape! At this moment the hall door was seen and heard. thrown open and a man rushed to Hardys eyes were becoming accustomed to the darkness, and in the disthe was side. Mordecal, It Hardys Jew, with his red eyes, his bushy red tance he could Bee a slit of dim gray light. He felt his way to it, striking whiskers his big hook-nos"Mr. Hardy! he cried, "my dear a barrel and hitting his head against and he sprang between the a hanging shelf on the way. By the pupil! American and the pistols that were sense of touch he assured himself Stop, that he had arrived at the cellar winpointed at the latters body. What dow, boarded up, and that the slit of brothers, stop! he shrieked. madness is this? What is this man gray light came through an imperfect accused of? I know him. He Is a joining. The door must be somewhere friend. I will vouch for him on my near. With his fingers against the life. I will defend him. If you kill wall, he took several steps to the left without finding it; then he returned him you must kill me, too. ex- to the right, made the same experiHe is a friend of aristocrats, plained Bielinski, stepping forward; ment, and his efforts were rewarded he entered here by mistake, he says, with success. Mordecai was at his Bide. but it is possible that he is a spy. What are you going to do? asked At any rate, he knows our secret; he has overheard our plans and he will the Jew. "I am going to walk boldly out of betray us. He must die. The exAnd at this moment a loud ham- this door, replied Hardy. whole will have the drawn or outer was plosion on heard the mering street door. neighborhood to the front of the .Silence! gasped Bielinski, in a house, on the other street, and I shall whisper a whisper, nevertheless, that not be noticed. If I am, I can explain could be heard more distinctly in the how I came here, and how I escaped. sudden silence than a shout. What is I am going to chance it, and the and he that?1 quicker I go the better As If in answer to his question, the pushed back the heavy bolt which he Good-by- , door- opening into the hall flew wide, had found by this time. and the old woman looked in, dlshev my friend, and thank you. I suppose eled and pale, moaning as she crossed you will rejoin your brethren. You have saved my life and I shall never herself rapidly: The police! The police! forget it. For your sake, I will say Again that thundering on the door nothing about what I have seen and sounded through the house, and a heard this night. The nest is broken stern voice could be heard command- up for the present and the police do not seem to need my aid. ing: The American walked a couple of Open, in the name of the czar! Hardy was forgotten. . The czar, squares, then turned sharply to the their archenemy, was at the gates of right and gained the main street. He their fortress and his name was a was safe now, and he hailed a passing word of terror. The nihilists flew cab, ordered the isvoschik to take him past the American on tip toe, into the to the Slaviansky Bazar. As he stood hall, several of them jostling and al- on the walk, waiting for the vehicle most knocking him over in their eag- to draw up, he felt chilly and, liis exerness to escape. citement having subsided somewhat, Come with me! Yimide a discovery that gave Lira a whispered 7 Pistol from Pocket. "What Are You Going to Do? Asked the Jew. who had regained his feet. "'YByi sAoekand filled him with a feeling of must not be found here! and see- uneasiness that was destined to poshe cried, backing to ing Hardy by the arm, he also jumped Gentleman! form. There was something in the searching look at him. The man was sess him for many days to come. the wall and speaking with an inspi- for the open door. softness and whiteness of her a gentleman, in the conventional He behind had his overcoat creamy left no made Hardy ration born of despair and the imme- resistance, and was soon somewhere in that den of nihilists. He skin, faintly, almost imperceptibly sense, as well as a hero, and no more running diate presence of a horrible death, down the long hall with the others, led got into the cab, and, as it tore glowing with the warm, red hue of afraid of a princess than of a Chinese hear me for one word! the wheels health and youth, that suggested the brigand. by the Jew. They came to a narrow through the streets, The suddenness of his appeal flight of stairs, leading to the cellar, squeaking in the snow, he sat there delicate tinting of the interior of a "So you learned Russian that you caused his appointed executioners to and down this they crowded, scram- shivering, his chin in his hand, rackor foam shot through with might talk with me? she laughed How halt, while every face in the audience bling and fighting, some of them los- ing his brain to remember, if possible, the first rays of the morning sun, and with a slight tinge of coquetry. turned toward him in wonderment. ing their footing and rolling to the whether there was she But, in the the pearls seemed at home with such perfectly charming! anything No man is ever executed without be- bottom. a background. A loud pouted, I fear that your desperate crash arrested pockets, a letter, cards, a cigar-case- , ing allowed a last word, a farewell, j Hardy's attention. He was standing that might betray the identity of the Her shoulders were so exquisitely struggle with the terrible Russian Even tjie law, which you say is an in- in the darkness, but at the farther owner. To save his life he could not modeled that revealment became a tongue is but a poor compliment to vention of tyrants, permits that! end of the hall was a hanging duty and a matter of course. Im- my ifench. Did you then find that lamp, settle this point in his mind. Surely (as you say that you are kill- turned low, and by the light of this modesty is the child of ugliness. Her so unintelligible? was the reached he It late when ing me in the interest of humanity) he could see the door fly in splinters hotel, and just as the gray light of arms were round and firm and beauNot at all, he replied, except as you cannot be unjust and savage. All and the officers of the law pour In. dawn began to sift in through the tiful; when she bent them, there was far as my own poor mastery of it renI ask is one word before I die, a partThrow your bomb, brother, throw curtains, he fell Into a sound slumber. no angle at the elbow, or unsightly dered it so. But my desire to coning message, perhaps, to be given to your bomb! said Bielinski; and It was fully ten o'clock when he went projection, but a perfect, graceful verse with you in Russian was quite my friends." Hulin, leaping like a cat into the mid- out into his office and sent for his curve, and when she straightened natural. I used often to wish that I Speak, then, commanded Bielin- dle of the passage, hurled the sphere coffee. As he was drinking it, Wang them out, the skin did not wrinkle could understand you when you were Beski, but be brief, as we have weighty down the hall with an oath. There entered in great excitement, with a there and corrugate, but dimpled talking on the Amur steamer. matters to discuss. Do not waste was a muffled report, not loud, and newspaper. sides, Russian, as spoken by you, in seemed a very beautiful language, and As he arose from the chair much jingling of glass. The light your breath in pleading for mercy. Look at this! cried the boy. "The I was going to visit the Princess went out, but, by the momentary flash police raided a den of nihilists last which he sat awaiting her entrance. one well worth acquiring. Romanovna," said Hardy, pale as of the explosive, Hardy could see night, and the latter threw a bomb, Hardy, accustomed to fashionable and She did not see fit to pursue this women, noticed, as she ad- topic further. death, but speaking distinctly, "not several policemen pitch forward on killing four of the officers and wound high-bretoward him with welcoming because I am an aristocrat, for I come their faces. You shall always speak Russian ing six others. It was the society vanced from America, the most democratic Come, come away!" said Mordecai, known as 'The Enemies of Russia, hand extended, that her soft, light with me, then. By the way, have you country on earth. I was invited to and Hardy scurried down the dark made up of disaffected Russians, hair was parted in the middle and heard anything further from your helow over her broad forehead, roic visit her because I saved her life on cellar steps with the Jew. I hope you friend, Smulders? Poles, Finns, even Jews all who hate combed and that the thick, glossy knot, con- have not lost all trace of him. I the Amur through my skill with the this accursed government. fined in an invisible net, was set low should so like to know how his love CHAPTER XXXII pistol. My skill, which has made me Hardy glanced at the boy, marvel- down at the nape of her neck. famous in my native land, enabled me affair with the fair but tantalizing in of much hate revelation the at ing to kill two Chinese who were attemptShe held her head high and Chulia came out. Hardy Buys an Overcoat. that ingenuous word, accursed. as the head of a queen, yet ing to abduct her. It is second nature Of that I am able to inform you, as They were in utter darkness now. Why are you an enemy of Rus- haughtily to me. I shoot with absolute pre- Above her red, full lips parted in a dazzling I have recently heard from Smulders. could be heard a hoarse uproar, sia? he asked. cision. Had I my weapon here I could faint and confused, shouts and sounds friendliness shone He and Chulia are married and livOh, for no particular reason, fal- smile, and perfect pick off in succession, from where 1 of heavy boots on the flooring; here tered the boy, turning pale. I per- from her blue eyes. Smulders is in ing in Amsterdam. I received your note at ten oclock the seventh heaven of stand, the buttons on Mr. Bielinskls in the cellar, the shuffling feet of the haps I am not. And the nihilists all happiness." coat. she said in French, The princess clapped her little escaping nihilists, the bump or rattle disappeared, as though the earth bad this morning, natural most in in the What is that to us? asked the of an occasional obstruction kicked or swallowed them up. Not a the world, way hands with Joy. thing was You are talking to gain run against, muttered oaths. Morde- left to prove the chairman. of a mem- as though she had seen him only yesIsn't it delightful," she exclaimed, identity time. Give us your parting message cal, still holding overterday, and, fortunately, I had no to hear of a love affair that ends by the arm, ber, except one costly, Hardy and we will try to get It to those for pulled him rapidly across the cellar coat, which proves that this society unavoidable engagement until 11. happily? And I have no doubt that whom It is Intended. They stood In the center of a lux- Chulia will settle down into a senuntil they stumbled against the feet numbers among its members some of I could hit," proceeded Hardy, of men crawling on their hands and the wealthier classes, perhaps of the urious salon, flooded with a soft, sible, affectionate wife, and repay him that explosive ball yonder, the inven- knees. The American pitched for- nobility. I tell you light from electric bulbs In- for all his sufferings. Was that not a and Wang tion of Mons. Hulin, and blow you all ward on the back of one of these, Struck the paper with his right hand geniously disposed about the ceiling. terrible happening last night, the to atoms, and by Gcd! if any one here who kicked him I was very sorry, he replied, "to killing and wounding of those poor that this country savagely and swore in his excitement stirs or attempts to lay hands on me, a foul oath under his breath. is a house itself. divided myself last evening, and officers? The nihilists are becoming disappoint against I'll do it! Get down, whispered Mordecai, Leave it alone, and it will work out also to put you to any possible bolder and bolder every day. Only With these words he suddenly Its own destruction and salvation! and crawl, crawl with me! annoyance in waiting for me. But, the severest measures will stamp out whipped the pistol from his pocket, The boys eyes were flashing now the fact is this evil of nihilism. There is no othThey passed through an opening in and, leaning forward, aimed at the the wall, so low that it brought the and his cheeks were so aflame with "But, she exclaimed, in her own er way to deal with these misguided ball. American flat on his stomach, and excitement that the scar nearly dis- tongue, you are positively speaking men, who, if they could only be made And so perfectly, too! I to see it, are their own worst enemies. Russian! still scratched his back. That it was appeared. CHAPTER XXXI barely wide enough for two at a time Hardy gulped down his coffee and can hardly believe my ears. It Is In- Could they know how it grieves the was evident from the fact that, started for the door. But dont lets remain Little Father to be severe with any of credible! In the Name of the Czar! If anybody calls for me, Wang, he standing here like two posts. Sit his children, they would not resort to though he had crowded close to MorThe nihilists were thrown into decai, the wall scraped bis right sid. said, tell them that I will be back down, over here, and we will have a violence. I am sorry for the families panic by this sudden move on the They were through in a trice and stil in an hour. nice cozy talk. 1 can give you two of the killed and wounded officers! I He did return in that time, wear- full hours. The sound r f part of Hardy. For the moment he in utter darkness. have started a subscription for them, was in control of the situation, scuffling feet again could be heard She crossed the room to a low which has already been generously reing an exact duplicate of the overcoat that he had lost the night before. divan and seated herself comfortably sponded to. though he was well aware that he the sound of nihilists fleeing. could not remain so. for long. The fools!" muttered Mordecai, And still there was no sign of the on one end of it, among a mass of luxMay I put my name down for a The American backed to the door, Had there urious pillows. police. He felt reassured. they forgot to put back the stone. small amount? asked Hardy. still aiming at the ball, passed It was evident from his grunts and been any telltale letters, cards or docHardy took his place beside her and Hardy noticed that the list was through it after some little nervous a scratching sound that he was strug- uments in the pockets of the missing said, easily: headed Elizabeths Romanovna, 1,000 The hope of conversing with you roubles, and that several others had fumbling for the knob, closed it be- gling with some heavy object. garment, the officers of the law, he hind him and started to run rapidly There, he muttered at last, "it is reasoned, would have lost no time in some time in your own tongue, prin- contributed equal sums. The last across the empty room in which he flush now, and Just in time! Listen, laying hands on him. cess, has been a great incentive to name thus far obtained, and next to now found himself, not without, how- my dear pupil, do you not hear them? i me in my studies of Russian. With- which Hardy must sign, was that of CHAPTER XXXIII. out that incentive, I should scarcely Boris Romanoff, who was down for ever, making an effort to lock the They are in the cellar. Put your ear door, which was impossible, as there against the wall. have made such progress as you are 2,000 roubles. was no key on the outside, and no kind enough to credit me with." Hardy did as was requested, and he Hardy Makes a Call. (TO BE CONTINUED.) The Princess Romanovna was could indeed hear faint sounds on the bolt. He was at home now, more at home A savage uproar broke loose in the other side of the wall. in a gown of pale blue silk, than in the store at Stryetensk, or in The Cheering Crowds. room which he had just quitted the Where are we now? he asked. ecollete, trimmed with dainty cream j the wholesale houses of the Moscow statesman now must pause The prudent deliin of We are these of of men ace. was words the cellar the ad ound Her neck encircled by a merchants, and struggling, curses, While thoughtfully he notes : houts and ere he had traversed half joining house, belonging to a member tring of pearls, of priceless purity, cate flattery came naturally to his The men who ret the most applause j venneen cf size and perfection of lips. The princess flashed one quick, Don't always get the vote. he distance of the hall, the door be- - of the Order. The brothers hate es ' - Suddenly Whipped SYNOPSIS. - Frederick Hardy, a fashionable Boston man, lost his wealth, was Jilted society and sent by a friend to take by a girl of chargeIn an American Trading Company store Russia. On his journey through Japan he met Stapleton Neville, sup-to They agreed posedly an Englishman. go together to Russia. Because of suswere several circumstances they picious times molested by the Japanese. Hardy was arrested and found upon his person were papers showing maps of Jap forts. Hardy was proven guiltless. On a train he met Aisome Sano, daughter of a Jap merchant. In Nevilles shoes Jap found a pictures of forts, proving him to be Russian spy. , Hardy departed for Russia on a steamer, which was wrecked He was rescued by a shortly afterward. On reaching VladiRussian steamer. vostok he was well treated. He started for Siberia, meeting Princess Romanovna on the train. Hardy boarded a vessel for Amur. Hardy showed thewArlnress his expertness as a rifle shot. The steamer was stranded. The prlneess and her maid were attacked by Chinese. Hardy saved their lives. The prlneess thanked Hardy for his heroism. Manchurians fired upon the craft. Hardy slew their chief. Burning arrows were hurled upon the Pushkin's decks. An attempt was made to board the vessel. The attacking Chinese were repulsed. Romanoff sneered at Hardys solicitude for the princess. help, was Stanka, a messenger sent for To nailed to a cross on the shore. put an end to the awful torture Hardy himself put Stanka out of his misery, taking his own life in his hands. Forest fires menaced the vessel. Hardy volunteered to he go for help. Refused permission to swim jumped overboard and started Rowith the princess distress message. manoff was angry at Hardy for his brave efforts to rescue the princess. HeHewooed said way. her In his own savage love openly to a JapHardy had made came and the princess anese girl. Help was rescued. Hardy Journeyed on a raft. took Arriving at his destination he busicompanys trading a letter charge of thereceived soa from ness. Hardy from cial leader in Boston and another In Russian lessons Aisome. Hardy took in a of a Jew, thus connecting himself race. Hardy received a way with that him the from thanking princess, letter in for his bravery. Hardy's teacher was as He of death. employed Wang danger to Moscow, where a servant. Hardy went he was invited to cal! upon the princess. He started for the palace home of Princess Romanovna. Hardy aroused unaccountable jealousy of his Korean boy bv he was going to call on announcing that who the princess. He engaged a cabman drove him to a large house on a poorly street. After entering the house, lighted discovered a resort of that ithe was Hardy who was Felix Hu-llnihilists supposed of a to tell them come powerful exhad discovered. The real Hulin plosive he imarrived and denounced Hardy as an nihilists determined to kill postor. InTheorder to protect themselves. Hardy n, CHAPTER XXX. Continued. At this moment the committee reentered the room. It had transacted its grisly business with dispatch. Kourbski acted as spokesman. he Mr. Chairman and Brethren, announced; we have decided that the most practical method is to bind the prisoner and drive an awl into the base of his brain. We have with us here a shoemaker, who can do the business scientifically. Then, in the early hours of the morning, when the street is deserted, we can throw him into Brother Ivans cab, drive him to some lonely spot on the hanks of the Moskva and drop him into the water. The committee already appointed will act in this matter, said Bielinski in a businesslike tone, with the addition of Brother Ivan, who Is a strong man, and the shoemaker. Ivan and the shoemaker arose and the five men turned toward Hardy, who, during the absence of the com- mittee, had b,jen staring at the mes meric spot of light on the table. sea-shel- l, d ' fur-line- d rose-colore- d d ' f |