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Show 8YNOP8I8. Hardy, a fashionable rtostnn man, lost his wealth, wa Jilted irirl and ant by a friend to tiikn Sari of an American Trading Company ?m in Russia. On hi journey through .,.. Neville, Cn ha mt 8tapletm They agreed to an Englishman. iidly ETioiri-the-r to Russia. Ilecause of they were sever:il molested by the Japanese. Hiirdy and found upon hi person lu .m-mewin naners showing map of Jap forts. wa guiltless. On a train proven Hardy L Alaome 8ano, daughter of a Jap shoe Jap found Nevllle'a i'rchant. In Scturra of fort, proving him to he a Simian py. Hardy departed for a ateamer, which waa wrecked He waa rescued by Sully afterward. On reaching VindiRumlan ateamer. icates well waa treated, lie started he J.r giherlu, meeting Princess Homanovna m the train. Hardy boarded a vessel fur hi ahowed the princes J lardy Amur Marines as a rifle shot. The steamer The princess and her na stranded. Mid were attacked by Chinese. Hardy tved their Uvea. The princess tlmnlied heroism. ManchurtHna Hardy for his Hardy slew their Ired upon the craft. were hurled upon thief Burning arrow An attempt was the Pushkin's decks. The ntlncklnK vessel. mail to board the Komunoff sneered were Chinese repulsed. for the princess. ii Hardy's solicitude for sent help, was tinka a messenger, tiled to a cross on the shore. To put an Jnd to the awful torture Hardy himself ut Btanka out of his mlBery. taking his n liTe in his hands. Forest (Ires men-we- d to the vessel. Hardy volunteered Refused permission he to for help. ami juried to swim lumped overboard Rowith the princess' distress message. manoff was angry at Hardy for his brave He wooed rescue the to princess. efforts He said way. In In his own savage Hardy had made love openly to a Japathe and came nese girl. Help prinriwi aa rescued. Hardy Journeyed on a raft. took at his destination he busi-MArriving . company's aharge of the trading Hardy received a letter from a soand another from cial leader in Boston Hardy took lettNons in Russian AlMim. of a Jew, thus connecting himself in a Hardy received a way with that race. letter from the princess, thanking him teacher was In for his bravery. Hardy's He employed Wang as danger of death. to went Moscow, where aurvant. Hardy be was Invited to call upon the princess. He started for the palace home of I'rin-ee- n IJnmanovna. Hardy aroused unaccountable jealousy of kila Korean boy by announcing that he was going to call on He engaged a cabman who the princess. trove him to a largo house on a poorly Hchted street. After entering the house. Hardv discovered that it was a resort of lihilists who supposed he was Felix Unite, come to tell them of a powerful exThe real Hulin plosive he had discovered. arrived and denounced Hardy as an imThe nihilists determined to kill postor. themselves. Hardy In order to protect Finding an unloaded revolver In his overcHulin's oat pocket, lie pointed it at bomb, which lay on the table, and swore to blow them all up together If tliey touched him. Holding the nihilists at room bay, Hardy started to leave the when Hie police were heard at the outer tVmr. Hulin threw his bomb, killing several policemen, ,the nihilists lied and Karon the Jew, suddenly- - appeared and led Hardy to the cellar. . Baruch conducted Hardy through an underground passage to another house, from which he boldly emersed and returned to bis hotel. Hardy wilted the princess, contributed to the hind for the relief of the victims of the aihitlsts. He gave more than Kumanoff had. The latter, entering the room, openly insulted him. Komanoff struck Hardy, who challenged him to a duel. The Russian accepted. Preparations for the duel were made. vir1rk JZy Kf K jailed ,e voice S CHAPTER Romanoff was Frederick Sl'roman1:31 ZX o XXXVI. The Duel. Courtlund T'' Mfc al I f e1 An A At A S m lardy shot aboutt"flKt a duel of day goes to bed and ulceus d"P,, amhT frov'B his Iron more Incontestably than any amount of swash buckling brava do or any number of great oaths could 1, typical hero of romance Hardy as he tossed about for hours on the bed. felt genuine disgust at h nmelf that he was unable to go to sleep. He experienced no fear, and he had a feeling that it was for a gentleman to lie awake Irregular under such circumstances. About midnight it occurred to him that it might be a good thing to make The two weapons were raised and pointed. half capital. "Dvah!" hour they had reached their destinaIt could not be seen that the hand tion, a thick wood on the banks of the of either man trembled tn the slightMoskva. Hardy's other second was est. already on the spot with a surgeon, a "Tra!" fat little man. Two shots rang out, almost simulwrapped thick In furs, who walked briskly to and fro in the taneously. fnow, carrying a case of Instrument. Neither man fell. "You are In good "Hell and furies!" cried Romanoff, time, gentlemen," fried (Jortchakov, consulting his throwing his pistol to the earth. "1 watch, "there are still ten minutes to have missed him. This weapon is utspare." I demand another terly worthless. "I think I hear sleigh bells now." shot." said the surgeon. "1 hope it is Ro"Very well," replied Hardy, quietly; manoff, so that I can get back to my "but If we shoot again, 1 shall shoot warm bed. What the devil people to kill. I beg that you will inform his want to come out in such weather as highness of my Intentions, at the same this, Is more than 1 can understand. time conveying to biin the assurance them shoot each other and be of my most distinguished consideradamned. If they want to, but not at tion." this hour and In such weather." "You have missed," whispered "We shall try to be expeditious," petulantly. "Why did you do said Hardy, cheerfully, "and, In the this? You're as cool this minute as 1 meantime, I beg pardon for my share am. Are you sure you have not In the Inconvenience to which we are wounded him?" putting you. You're right about the demands another "My principal sleigh bells. Here are our friends shot," said Koukolnlk. advancing. "He now." his compliments to Mr. presents Through a vista between the leafless Hardy, and suggests that he has not done justice to his great reputation for skill. Perhaps he will get bettor control of his nerves, now tint he has escaped danger once, and his hand will not tremble as much as it evidently has done this time." "Tell the prince for me that, if we shoot again, I shall do myself the honor of lodging a ball exactly midway between his eyes." Koukolnlk started for the prince with the message. He had not traversed over half the distance when Hardy said: "I am faint, lieutenant Let me lean on you for a moment." "My God, you are wounded!" cried Gortchakov, putting his arm about the American's waist; and, indeed, a dark stain, rapidly spreading, dyed his waistcoat and shirtfront "I I' am slightly wounded," gasped Hardy, and fainted away. ' "What's the matter there with our It I Gort-chako- A 7 S Msm r a a badly, made no reply other than: bullets some"The times go astray. I turn him over to you, lieutenant, I have not deprived you of the pleasure of killing him yourself." Ills coat and shirt were cut away from his chest at the hospital, and a young grub of an intern assisted the surgeon in washing the wound and passing a silk handkerchief through It an operation that caused the patient to bite his nether lip till it bled, but did not draw a groan from him. "You will be all right in about a month," said the surgeon, on taking his leave, "but 1 beg you, if you think of fighting again, either to postpone your little affair till the spring breezes begin to blow, or don't cnll on me to asslBt you. .1 shall have chilblains as a result of your foolishness, that may cause me more suffering than your nasty little puncture." Gortchakov departed In a surly humor, evidently disgruntled because his principal had failed to remove the lieutenant's chief rival, as he supposed, to another sphere, where they neither marry nor are given In mar- riage. Hardy left alone with a nurse of peasant type, and the young erub of an intern, who was disposed to be Inqulsltve as to the cause of the wound. He rid himself of the Intern by pretending that be desired to Bleep, and then sent the nurse to telephone for waa florid large-bone- Wang. The boy arrived about noon. "What has happened, my dear master?" he sobbed, sinking on his knees beside the cot, and taking, one of Hardy's hands in both his own. "Are Have you been atyou wounded? tacked? Have you met with an accident? Tell me, I beg of you! You do not know how I have suffered with fear and anxiety, as 1 felt that you were about to encounter some terrible danger. And you left me this this " producing the will and tearing It into bits, "to Increase my anxiety. Did you think that money could have corn- - mm XXXV-Continue- handsome as a II eeds gave a great bound and went oeurrying through the early streets of the Muscovite In an of Wang through t.io CHAPTER at M r"""0d Hardy' d - n hits and iIfii,...j ' WB 'nt Paper basket. god, brave, masterful, impetuous, of high birth; the sort of man. It seemed to Hardy, to appeal to a woman like the princess. "And I," he laughed, bitterly, "am l here in her autocratic aristocratic Russia a merchant ho owes her sufferance of me to the fact that I can shoot straight!" He said nothing that night to Wang of the Impending duel, but the boy wmed aware that some danger threatened his master, or that the latter wag gravely troubled about some-thitiAlthough told several times. kindly, to go to bed, he returned as 'ten, and hovered nbout Hardy. Wang responded to Hardy's moods with that He Wrote with a Lead Pencil, "For Wang." delicacy of for a In sometimes seen dog trees a sledge could be seen approachIts master, or a woman for the man his will. Such a document already drawn by three horses, running ing, ihe loves. existed but he now arose and, putting like mad. The driver rose to his feet went and slippers, "Well, Wane." said Hardv nt last. on dressing gon back on the seat, bringing (.Mice. Lighting the gas, and settled "Tu may sit up all night If you out into the follows: to a rearing, pawing, sudden them "loose, but I, for one, am going to get he wrote as halt. Moscow, January ". I!1ome Bic.p, Go0(1 njght!" and lie in The details were soon arranged und Helm: of sound mind and , cod-Mired to his own room. 1 write tills as a mv faculties. the ground measured off. Hardy did f , , my will, now in k'.nK"t began to nmlrpa alnwlv ami not pay any attention to these prelaw. at hack-wardrew Mackey. Ksq.. attorney h tontmindedly, standing for long min- " liminaries, but walked briskly 1 hereby will and Inben.icn H s ton v feet his to the keep motionless in the middle of the and forward posited n...ney. Roan. amountnt k. r, or at occasionally in bank warm, a glancing into dropping deep chair, rouli Irs t. m over a , WRht, as so.,.e.l,ln stood against who ,o leaning manoff, though he were confronted and I heart! f in fnl secretnrv. Wane v some weighty In hla ulster pockets, hands he his that tree, problem .oth;f:.v. t i an Insolent, careless smile on his unertla. ""'I not solve. He turned off the notice of Frederick In 81- fompany at last and crept into bed, but l. handsome face, lie certainly was a n.erlcan Tradln of manhood, as destined to be specimen splendid again disturbed felt thought the American, and if he how-t7 Wang, who tapped timidly at the war. the least tremor of fear, he knew all "That In sn disguise It. Did it seem at This he folded and iut ,! a lead bred, aristocratic a that high unlikelv muttered ; "there is such a thing as wrote he , on which tin- - en-- ' woman, the daughter of a hundred ""much devotion. Well, Wang!" he , - il n "Fr Wang." Tossing, fallen in love UN, sharply. .'on a table in his sleeping room. warriors, should have sue-i.- l that? "lf you like man las. a am. at with please," called Wang, "here iTenl bark to bed. He w.is It is time now. my friend," said note file v.. In iretting to sleep. Gortchukov, coming up to Hardy. "I Hardy ni'OKO uinnf tn thn ilnnr find must trouble you to remove your coat, I"' A loll or frnm Imii'i lmnil will lint you will not erUch cold, for it I'ult." 111. I "till my minute. Upon a 1 take you only .thero is un answer." Hl tore word. I admire your nerve. You ought oi),.n the envelope and ra.i: You will to have been a Russian. wa',,,,K t? VWi'M- i )lnve jllHt i.,rll,.,'i rl.at the 0,i LIH to 'three!'" word shoot him at the " to tuke place In the morning, and blstiilu nr., ,1.. ............... t. Ilar.lv removed his ulster and faced V,m ' Unit 1 gave, dewaitto this his opponent. A long dueling pistol my consent if tho,.,!.!- -!. wai "m'lr "ecuuso you nuked mil In excellent make and perfect preof Dint ,.ft nn cindce. 1 mil going 10 -f cision was placed In his hand. il-f'"K Noniethlng of you; It Is that said, "ami ro von ready, gentlemen?" asked nv. violent and " lI'P"r" my hendmrong liuiKtnt talk "I will count three, slow-lKouUolnik. "e. ho off. .in,! we wrnntreil vou oulrage lie j nothing I i fin.l in Oi.i iiiime of he halH'enlim raise your weapons und will You thing's voU will njnofi' family, 1 humbly beg your 1 commence, and will when aim take "t Unit wrong, but should you kill " ca n i. 'three.' word Krout u tire nt the i) i k U) your wonderful skill places his ,hoot were being uttered, '""rely vU lime a good As these words yolir iinnda f should feel 'l"'"':,,V ' w more will you his on mv 'dn,i tlxed bend, ll'mly J ithethiiiJ5 a hearty exa (llntrncted womnii's prayer 'Mt im he while the work .nterU'f rtrnilv n his nose, 0U " JPare hn i, woiimi lil tn. If you morning" f7 and the person dlstanco the amined ,uaUtMT i'". Hi, do not kill him! Hy giii""'11- -' a cool, pracof his antagonist with '" will I'l'tee iiinl"r still ;n,.;',""sl' "I'llc.itlons one who nlreudy oweit , glance. ticed "lor;. (I,.,,, rn ,,Vf,r I,,,,,,, to re- Koukolnlk began. vtlui I0, I Pl.lA ui."rit i mivi ANOVNA. "Odeen!" he i,.iu Hardy turned pale to f n tore mo noio w mo" merchant d- - - Stry-tens- w en-v- "I Am Faint, Lieutenant, man?" asked Romanoff, in a voice that made no attempt to conceal a sneer. "He seems to bo slightly weary. 1 thought I must' have hit him. How is It, surgeon? Have I done his business for him?" "He is seriously wounded, 1 fear," replied the surgeon. "Get his coat about him. Here, lift him Into the sledge. Let me get In with you. Now, drlvo like mad; drive, I say!" ";lUl";;th,. CHAPTER XXXVII. y ',''' "'J, -- 1 rffri.. s the boy. "Not even wounded." "Rut why did you not kill Mm you bad the opportunity? It aantly would not have been difficult to kit that great hulk of flesh. Is ft the safe to strike an American geatleautvt In the face?" , "N ot always. My reasons for iwr killing him are too complicated for at boy to understand. They Involve a lady's sanction of a duel, and then lier subsequent nullifying of that aarrrtiom. They Involve, In general, a lady'a request, which can hardly be overlooarA when she is, in reality, the causa or the hatred which made the meeting; necessary. Do you follow me, Wang! "I 1 think I do," replied the- Urr. wearily. "You spared him bocatts the princess asked you to. You harw been magnanimous, whatever the e to yourself, and given the princess hew admirer, for whom, in his moment ol extreme perl), she found that ahe cared more than she had RupponeA. And now you are done with the whole Romanoff family!" Hardy forgot his pain for tho ment and started at the boy la mouthed wonderment. "If you wero not a boy fee said at Inst, sinking back on the pillow. I should think you were a woman. Your Intuition In such matters is positively marvelous. And now I mustn't talk too much, for it makes this shoulder ache like a bud tooth. I mirot get well, and we must go back to Stry-etens- k and the store. Rut there la little thing that 1 want you to do fur nie. Go to the place where the duel was fought this morning. I sfiaTJ describe the location exactly to yon. Romanoff stood near a large, oak tree, whose trunk divides about six feet from the ground Into two trunks equal in size. liooh about there and see II you can find in the snow a gold It Is there, and, alining against the white,' should be easflr found. Rrlng it to me aa quickly tut possible." Wang left without another word. Not long after the boy's departure the nurse brought in a bouquet of priceless orchids, which she arranged in a vase and set on a table ecer hi bed. "An Isvoschik brought them." she explained to Hardy. "Here Is the note that came with them." She handed him a tiny bfllet-doaand raised one or the shades. Holding the note in his teeth, he opened the envelope with bis good hand, and vet - cuff-butto- ' to It. d 1 e, "Tell the man that there is no an swer at present,' said Hardy to the nurse. Wang was gone two bourse When he arrived he came straight toKordya couch and handed him a small gold object, with a bit of linen banging; on JSJn bis own countenance flushed with shame. "He struck you!" cried th Kore. "I could spit on his corpse). 1 twuta spurn it with my foot!" "1 have no doubt you could. tBtrotr? displaying your devotion to my un worthy self. Your plan la ttnirr-tlcablhowever, for the slnipto re son that there la no corpse. RonuvnoC is alive and well at the present mcv ment and Is no doubt gloating over any dlscomllture." "He Is not even wounded V asaatt My Krlttml: I do not know what your feelings are toward my unhappy aelf. I hail no Idea thut this deplorable affair would end as It has. Will you allow auai to coma In person and express niy recrat, and da whatever lies In my power t your mitTeriiiKH? Thank ifcud yua are not silled! KMSSARRTHA ROMANOVNA. g - n i fa. read: In-w- poss-ssl- i z md under-Handin- -- ., The Gold Cuff Button. surgeon's orders, Gortchakov drove directly to a hospital, where Hardy was laid upon a bed and his wound examined and dressed. The prince's bullet had passed through the flesh beneath the shoulder, maa painful king a clean perforation but not a dangerous wound. Hardy revived in the sledgo, and to demand why be had shot so Hy the Gort-cnikov'- s Let Me Lean on You." pensated me for your loss? Oh, it was cruel of you cruel!" said "There!" Hardy, kindly, touched by the boy's concern. "Get up and sit In that chair. Bring It here by the side of the bed. and I'll tell you all about It. I, an American, Frederick Courtland Hardy of Uoston, Mass., have fought a duel, and, I bus pect, about a woman!" "A a woman?" stammered Wang, turning suddenly pale. "As nearly as I can find out I was calling on the Princess Homanovna paying her my respects, when in came her cousin, the Prince cJ Insulted me so grossly that I deemed it my duty to demand satisfaction ol him. I strongly suspect that his highness' antipathy to me is rooted chktlly in the fact that I, on one occasion, saved the life of his fair cousin. Ho atruck mo in the face, Wang." As the American said these words Ryv'?. "Here it Is," he said; "it fs stamped with the crest ot the Romanoff family. 1 thought you hnd lost one of your own cuff buttons." "Rrlng paper and envelopes, Hardy requested of the nurse, "and then leave us alono for a few minutes. The woman complied. "Now take my indelible peo frora my waistcoat pocket and write." Wang sat down at the table and looked Inquiringly at his master. "Your dictated IfarOtr. "I hnpo that you will not give yomnrrf the on uneuslneiis slightest my arown(. Mr wound Is a very trlllln aiatter. from which I shall soon recover. am Krnat-l- y honored by your kind offer to call and see m, but I must deny mywrlf the pleasure of receiving you. 1 can mat allow you to compromise! your cxa&oft position by thus yielding to the rttat id your good hnart. Will yott arVnr ni to add that I feel I have atreiMfr trespassed too far on your (rood maum nml nm quite unwilling to rontlnu tho As you have frequently admin! my skill with thn plstoL J am Inciorfir a llttlo trophy of th same, Ida hlKft-ne- ss' cuff button, which I hopo will convince you thut I have not dlsiptnlrrtf your expectations. Will you Kindly batioj it to him with my compliments? you all happiness In th years tu come, I remain "Yoir humble servant. "FREDERICK COURTLAND lrARTT." Wivt laughed a queer,, hard little !tugK oi singled exultation, and. hate, without waiting for any- - farther directions from his master, he put the cult button in the envelope with the noto sealed It and directed It to tho lrin-ces- s Romanovna. "You will take that to the princess palace," directed Hardy, "and give It Into her highness' own handa." Wl-ili-In- (TO BE CONTINUED.) . |