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Show I rilMsssMB"s""" SYNOPSIS. j Fr1rlfk Id a fnshlimsble Boston wealth, was Jilted to Uka a girl Mini Hunt by ft Amnrlran churns of an Trading Company store In Itussla. on his Journey throuKh Japan he mat Htuplrton NhvIIIb, an HiiifllshiHaa. They agreed to so toxethrr to KuhnIm. iJmausft of susthry wits several picions times muh'steii by the Japanese. Hardy wui arrested and found upon hi person fort. were paper showing limps of Hardy wan proven guiltless. Onofa atrain he met Alsome Harm, daughter Jap founda merchant, Jn Nevlllu's shoes of forts, proving him to he fU'tur-a spy. Hardy departed for Kus-lon a Kramer, wliii li wns wrecked hortly afterward. Jl WR ieiiie;l byk a HuNMlnn steamer. On reaching he wni well treated. He started for Siberia, meeting Primes Homunovn on the train. Hardy bimrdcd a vesnel for Hie princess his Amur. Hardy sliowi-xpxrtness a a rifls shot. The steamer and her The stranded. princess itut were maid attacked ly Chinese. Hardy prim-esthanked saved their lives. Tlie Hardy for hll heroism. Munchurlans fired upon th craft. Hardy slew their chief. Hurnlng arrows were hurled upon An attempt was th Pushkin's decks. made to board the vessel. The attacking sneered Knmanolt wer Chines repulsed. at Hardy'a solicitude for the princess. Blankn. a messenger sent for help, waa nulled to a cron on the shore. To put an end to the awful torture Hardy himself put Btnnka out of Ida misery, taking hla own life In hla hanila. Forest Area menvolunteered to aced the venael. Hard he ao for help. Refused permission Jump-s- l overboard and started to swim with the princess' distress message. waa angry at Hardy for his brave efforts to rescue tho princess. He wooed lis said her In his own savage way. had' made love openly to a JapHardy anese girl. Help rente and the prim-eswas rescued. Hardy Journeyed on a raft. took Arrtvins; at hla destination he busiof the trading ronipany'a charge ness. Hnrdy received a letter from a leader In Boston and another from Alsome. Hardy took lessons In Huaslan himself In a wf h Jew, thus rnnnertlnK wav with that rare. Hardy received a lettar from the prlnoeaa, thanking him for his bravery. Hardy" tearher waa In He employed Wang as danger of death. went to Moscow, where a servant. Hardy he was Invited to call upon the princess. He started for the palace, home of I'rln-ces- a Homanovna. .Ilardy aroused unaccountable jealousy of his Korean boy by he was going to call nn announcing that the prioress. He engaged a cabman who drove him to a large house on a poorly lighted street. After entering the house. a resort of Hardy discovered that Ithe waa was Felix Hu-llnihilists who supposed a of them tell come to powerful explosive he had discovered. The real Hulln arrived and denounced Hardy as an lm- nihilists determined to kill P osier. InTheorder to protect themselvea. lardy In hla overFinding an unloaded revolver coat pocket, he pointed It at Hulln's bomb, which lay on the table, and swore to blow them all up together If they touched him. Holding the nihilists at bay. Hardy started to leave the room when the police were heard at the outer door. Hulln threw Ms bomb, killing several policemen, the nihilists fled and the Jew, suddenly appeared and led llaruch conducted Hardy to ths cellar, Hardy through an underground passaee to another house, from which he boldly emerged and returned to his hotel. Hardy visited the princess, contributed to the fund for the relief of the victims of the nlh'lists. He gave more than Itomnnoff The hitter, entering the room, had. openly Insulted him. Romanoff struck Hardy, who challenged him to a duel. The Russian accepted. Preparations for the duel were made. The princess life. asked Hardy to spare Romanoff's Hardv purposelv missed Romanoff, but was himself wounded. Hardy waa placed Ho sent his servant to In the hospital. th duel scene for a cuff button of Romanoff's, which he purposely shot off, rather than violate the princess' wish. This he sent to her. War between Russia and Japan was declared. Prince Romanoff was murdered. Ilardy was accused.-Hardy's former servant, Wang called upon the princess. Wang, revealed' as Alsome, the Japanese girl. coir, fceited to the princess that she had killed Romanoff, because he plotted to slay Ilardy. The princes promise. J' help, aK.i by y rimn, Hardy, lout hi rli-n- ly JP JP VhtiJI-vostn- d s s so-el- al n. Ba-ru- ch - . - V, CHAPTER. XLI- - Continue. (',', i Vlt U 8ttd,". continued, ht majesty, fvery sad, b,ut foe, assured,, that, although the case U a .somewhat difficult one, full . justice shall be done. The American minister haa already Inquired about, the matlr, ami, has dr mandod that the fullest Investigation be made. These Americana Are very meddlesome. I - am Informed, how-eveby the minister 'of foreign affairs that there will be ltttlo difficulty In establishing thla, Hardy's, guilt, as he Is a dangerous .character and has ... a bad record.", ....... i .: The princess turned pale as she rej r, , peated: v i t" "A dangerous character?. A bad rec-rdWill .you,,serl, for, this record, ?, your sire, that I mny hear. it jesty's presence? For I come not ac-to gpeak against this Hardy, who is cused of murdering my Cousin, but to plead for his release, to pray' Uin JusI V.-- v tice may Id -- ma- ' " "You to jpletiJ for. hlmJ" not kill my t "Yes, Blre. for be did cousin.'-;- ' Will your majesty grant me the favor that I may hear this record read In your majesty') presence? For t know this Jlr. Hnrdy, and I know much that Is good of blm, and nothing bad9 "..: The czar, raps a bell and commanded a servant to send, a , confidential secretary, to )iim. Five mind utes Inter an old maii entered, a old' man with a clean shaven face, whose eyes denoted Infinite his maimer Infinite serghrewdness, ' ' ' ' vility. Typine," snld his majesty, "can you bring to us Immediately the record of the American, Hardy, concerning whom the minister of foreign affairs was speaking to ua the other day" "Yes, sire," replied Pyplne, "a copy waa ordered from the chief of police of Moscow and Is now In his excellency's possession." "Hrlng It," said the czar. "Immedi. . I I nierce and retrieve his fortunes. cousin first met him in Japan. This part of the story I have from Doris' own lips. Boris, being hard pressed by the police, put bis telltale papers In Mr. Hardy's overcoat pocket and tried to throw the guilt on him. The plan did not succeed, and Boris suffered many hardships, for which he unjustly blamed , Mr. Hardy. I first met him on the "Amur river, where I was captured by Chinese brigands. He came to the rescue and saved me from a terrible . fate. This still further enraged my cousin," who loved mo- and wns jealous of any one who served me in any way. He waa very have brave, was Boris, and would saved me himself, but he was not there which certainly was not Mr. Hardy's fault. On the Amur we were again attacked by brigands, and Mr. Hardy, as well as my cousin, fought like a brave man. In my house In Moscow my cousin, who was of a violent nature, Insulted the American by offering blra money, and, when Mr. and Hardy Indignantly' refused out of his knocked his check-boohand, struck him In the face. A duel was fought, at which Mr. Hardy, at my request, spared my cousin's life, though he was himself severely wounded. He has wonderful skill with the pistol, and he shot a cuff button from my cousin's sleeve, which he sent me as proof that he had complied with my request. My cousin was boastful of having wounded Mr. Hardy, and I gave him the cuff but ton and told him Its story. He became transported with rage and swore that he would not rest till he had rid the earth of this man. He conceived It his duty to avenge the outraged honor of the Romanoff family, as he ex pressed It He thought he must kill this man for other x reasons," here the princess halted and blushed." "Go on," said the czar, kindly and much interested, "this Is a most remarkable story! In It this Mr. Hardy appears as a hero!" "Sire, In Mr. Hardy's employ was a young Korean boy whose devotion to his master surpassed anything I have ever before heard of. It was more like that; of, a woman for the man she loves when a woman really loves. This boy I am 'ashamed to tell It. sire-- but now your majesty will understand why I have wished to confide In you alone this boy heard my cousin plotting to kill Mr. Hardy. Your majesty will understand that my cousin was no longer a sane man; that rage and and Jealousy, perhaps, had rendered him for the moment Irresponsible. The boy, fearing for bis master's safety and believing that a Russian nobleman had the power to do anything he wished, stole Into my cousin's compartment at" night and killed him." "Wonderful! wonderful!" said the czar In a musing tone; "and are you i ... a sure of all this?" i ' "Absolutely,:. I give you my word aa a Romanoff princess that It Is 1 I . -.- My stoop-shouldere- , ately." Pyplne disappeared. "While he la gone you may tell us what you know of this American Hardy, and why you think be did not assassinate your cousin." J know thnt be is a gentleman of high connections In his own country, who has come her to engage In torn- , i ... . true4"J . 'ii.-i- ; ! ; "Rise, Daughter," Said the Czar Kindly. the report given out that the police fortune. It was too great an honor to have secret proof of his Innocence, be hoped for that I should ever be of but are on the track of the real cul- service to your highness again." sank again on her The mere presence of this woman prit" and she "" ' '" "" ''"':'-"knees. transformed him from the merchant "Rise, daughter," said the czar kind- Into the courtier and polished gentlely. "We" have already decided on this man. course. It's a relief to know that he "You forget," she said, while the Is Innocent, the American ambassa- ghost of one of her merry smiles lightdor Is so troublesome. Pypine, Bee ed up her beautiful features, "that that this Is done. Tell the proper au- such things are to be said in French." thorities that It is our wilL" The maid, Hardy scarcely noticed. She came out at the last moment, her ; head covered with a fur hood that alCHAPTER XLII. . most entirely obscured her face, and ' took her place in the bottom of the Gray Ghosts. That part of Siberia which lies east sledge. j 'j i There were long desolate stretches of the great inland sea,1 Lake Baikal, of snow, with here and there a house, and west of the mighty here turns abruptly and bends north- the roof covered with snow, nestling The among the white hills. ward, Is known as Stanovol range of mountains, continThey passed occasional patches' of uing to the south, divides It nearly in forest, the limbs etched very black halves, forming, a - watershed that and distinct against the background feeds. 'the lake on one side and the of snow. They had left the town about Amur and its tributaries on the other. two o'clock and It was half past three The it 'railway, the now. the blood some"There must be a great artery through-whicflowed uninterruptedly where near," observed Hardy, "if your Russia of from Alexandrov to Vladivostok and highness feels cold. I saw a large dog Port Arthur pierces 'these mountains running among the' trees 4 moment at an 'advantageous point,1 and, pass- ago."' breaks 'Into Just then the driver pointed with ing through Stryetensk, ' 1 Manchuria." the whip toward the woods and that crossed himself. The princess also On a' river In runs for many miles parallel w ith this made the sign of the cross, and said mighty' ant trail, a sledge was flying quietly':' eastward, drawn by three horses, all "Tliose are wolves! May the holy abreast.' The river was frozen to the Virgin protect us!" drifting Two large, gray animals with bushy very ' heart and snows, over ' It, ' had:, swept and polished tails,' that were dogs and yet not dogs, '' Its surface till it" was smooth .were, seen flitting among the trees. as glass. Wrapped 'in fur's' and .his Their, tongues hung out of their head' shrouded In a thick cap, the mouths, and as they glanced from driver sat on the forward seat, partly time to time at the sledge and its oc"prGtet'ted by tjie high'curvlng dash, cupants, their teeth could be plainly atvl jjianaged tlie lines. On ft low' seat seen. behind him werip a man and a woman, "Have no fear," Bald Hardy, "they also wrapped ieep tft robes of fur, are' so few they will not dare to awhile a third woman 'sat silent In the ttack.' '' " bottom of the sledge!'' At" that moment a third joined tho Somewhere behind ' them the rails two and ran, with them. They ran had spread and the road had given out easily, flitting along as lightly as while re- thistle-dowand the trains driven by the wind. Tho pairs 'were made. "" ' driver arose in his seat and cracked There Frederick Conrtland Hardy,' his whip over the horses' heads. on his way to Stryetensk, bad over- - "Be .careful. Ivan," Bald the taken the princess, hastening to the cess, "do not tire thorn out. Howprinfar front, undergoing alt hardships,1 en- It Is yet to Petrovska?" tirely forgetful of self, that she might "Twenty versts," he replied, "we employ her strength, her fortune and should make it in something over an her high courage and example In the if the horses hold out it was hour, relief of her wounded and Buffering near here over a year ago that Farmcountrymen. was dragged from his sledge er Gogol She greeted Hardy with frank hud not by wolves and devoured. friendliness, explained her mission heard of many being seen this year, he had him that and told arrived Jitxt in time to help her carry out a plan Tb,e Virgin defend us!" For at this moment one of the anio of hers. 'We can take sledges down the mals emitted a long, mournful howl, the most dbmial and terrible sound In river," she said, "to Petrovska-Zavod- , we no doubt where I have shall be nature. "I beg of your highness not to be" able to catch an outgoing train. I should have started before, but was commenced Hardy, but she laid her deterred '.y the fact that that In hand on his arm, and whispered: fact, I was afraid. Now, with my gal- ."Listen!" Far In the depths of the forest an lant defender of the Amur, I shall have no hesitation In going. Will you answering howl was heard, then ancome with us with my maid and other,' farther away, and still others, - -. . Amur,-whic- trans-Baikall- n e trans-Baikall- g ' . n . ' and seldom missed. The fire of was In bis veins, that fierce and deadly mastery of self that exalu 1 brave . man when he both hunts n4 bat-ti- e . hunted. , r "Have courage," he cried, "we shall reach Petrovska yet!" But now the chase took on a bet and more dangerous feature. Whei a wolf was killed, not all of the pack dropped behind to devour him. One, more bold than the othen, sprang up at the back of the sledge at if to leap In, and Hardy, firing into the open mouth, fairly blew the fierce creature's bead off. The flash and plosion for a moment terrified the following pack and caused it to drop back. He turned and aimed at an animal that was snapping at one of the horses, but. when he pulled the trig ger, no report ensuea. nig iac blanched as he dropped the weapon, and drew hts revolver. The shots In CHAPTER XLIII. the magazine of the. rifle were all eIn this moment's delay 1 xhausted! The Gift of Alsome. wolf succeeded In fastening Its fangi Not more than ten minutes In all In the horse's flank, and hung there could have elapsed since the appearThe unfortunate steed snarling. ance of the first wolf, and they had leaped forward with suc,h violence already gathered In terrifying num- that the traces parted, and Instant!? bers. all the wolves were tearing at him. "How far Is It yet to Petrovska?" pulling him down. asked Hardy. "God have mercy! God have me"About 20 versts," replied the man, rcy!" she groaned. "we can make it In an hour If the "Have courage," cried Hardy, "h horses hold out. will soon be out of his agony, and 'But this is the same answer that think bis death has saved our lives.' be gave before!" said Hardy. The two remaining horses did not He means that it Is a long way. seem to notice the loss of their com the princess. "Twenty explained as the sledge glided easily panion, versts about 20 versts! I fear the over smooth Ice. They still rial the horses can not run so far!" on, though they were reeking "But the wo'ves?" asked Hardy; nobly with steam, "will they not also tire?" The sledge came to a bend in tt "Thev are verv hunery " renlled the river, and for a moment its occupant! princess; "they could run for ever!" lost sight ot the wolves At this moment tne entire pack "Perhaps they have given up 111 wheeled as if at a word of command. m and drifted obliquely down on the ice. chase." said Hardy: "perhaps, horse." Some ran beside the sledge, a couple they are satisfied with the Rut the princess shook her heal of rods away, while those in the rear "They will never give over th came up closer. Though the mad she said, and, at that momena chase," dened horses were going at their uta flitted around the bend tl form gray most speed, their hoofs making a conthe two, three, half a dozetf river; fused and Incredibly rapid clatter oh 30 of the pack werl 20 or and Boon the Ice, the fierce, wild dogs simply the sledge, leaping it drifted, drifted along, without the again about short least seeming effort. The pack was and at the bcjes with sharp, red tonpif their and yelps snarls, evidently nearly complete now, though with blooj an occasional gray form would flit 6ut lolling, their Jaws flecked . from among the trees, stand and look and foam the isv08Ch:( "Thorp! therH with lifted head, and then join the li pointing down the river with tfc chase with a long, easy lope. "PetrovskJ The little maid, crouched In the bot- handle of ' his whin.' Bless Petrovska! the Virgin!" tom of the Bledge and bundled In furs The rays of the setting sun fell ft still remained notionless, speechless, on the dome of a Greek church, but as though paralyzed with terror. The was a conspicuous object and N princess sat erect, looking Btralght Is . I h matter-o- . , trans-Siberia- ' that could be distinctly .:''' "And the boy? i Do you know where he is? He can be given up to Jusu! i h tice." ',!;! .t' "The boy," i replied the princess, solemnly, no longer exists. I Over-farm-houswhelmed with horror at what he had done, and feeling sure that the police would And' and punish him,' be- has made away with himself. He told me that it was his intention to do away with himself, and he has disap' " ' " peared!" At this moment Pyplne entered with Hardy's record. At the czar's command he read it, rapidly and In a f-fact, " sing-sontone. It 'contained nearly every act of Hardy's life, 'except what had actually' happened within the four walls of hlb sleeping chamber, since be had set foot on Russian soil. He was accused of sympathizing with the Japanese, of having a mi luted with Jews, of having insured the sftifliorifles at Vladivostok 'byreqtfc'sUng"fat tha Imperial v gov ernnrent) use Its influence to fcet bjm a clean towel In the hotel there, w ith having worn an overcoat similar to tho one found In the nihilists' den on h evening of the explosion of the" famous pill; FurtherFrenchman were-haltemore, he had fouKht a duel wits the Prince he Romanoff, ' In " which had been wounded. This 'fact furnished the' motive for his crime, which, coupled with' his suspicious record, left llttlo room, In the Russian official mind, for' doubt of his , guilt Most of these points had altold ready been covered by the story by the prioress. "As for the overcoat," she remarked, "If he continued to wear it he could 1 not have left It, and your majesty would soon discover, if your majesty would stop for some time Incognito In Vladivostok, that the power of the Imperial government is by no means belittled when it Is asked to use its influence In the procuring of a clean towel!" The emperor arose and pressed his hand to his brow as though he were suffering with headache. "Little Father," said Romanovna, "this mnn saved my life, ray honor. There are features In the case which, ; both up and down the river. If It is tried, do not reflect credit on me?" One of the wolves, flitting along he "Yes," Grant my replied gravely, "I will my dead cousin's name. overwhelmed am I the and bank, lifted up hla voice, to be in my be by go. Mr. twd Let freed, prayers. Hardy if bones, far back on the river. "It doesn't take long," muttri Hardy, "If It must come." ' Then he thought of the prlnceit shuddered and breathed a prayer, And atlll the horses ran on and on tbe: sledge was light and they werj winged with terror. Again and again, Hardy . shot shot aa never, befors. .,. - . taking up the chase again. He ,tooa watching them as they came on Ins line, leaving the carcass one by on In leas than five minutes they were ill back by the sledge again, and the low sun was shining on a white pu9 i chorus turn answered by a sporadic from the forest In There were now six wolves In among the and out sight, drifting . trees like gray trinned lightly nt he bank through the snow down the river on the sledge after and trotted along the ice, like a faithful dog. n They show no signs 01 aiutvaiua. .. f ; said Hardy. . They are famished," saio tue prin a cess, "but they are as patient as humans. aa and intelligent death, They are too few yet." A second and a third Joined the two rivor while the pack on j the bank steadily grew, and ndjselessly. save for an occasional can mw iu ' ' deeps for help. The maid sat motionless, wnnoui " looking up or stirring. Bot tne a from rifle Hardy lifted tom of the sledge. "I could kill one of them bow," he said, "and perhaps that would scare them away." reIt is not time yet. my friend," I tell shall "I you. plied the princess. am a Russian and I Know wnen to shoot. You must not waste a single them shot Nothing would scare ' away," she added. The isvoschlk was using ail nis strenzth to keen his horses from ex hausting themselves In one wild dash. Snorting with fear, they were tearing down the long ribbon of Ice at terrific speed. . ahead, the seal of a sublime courage set on her pale, noble brow. The blood of the Romanoff did not fear to die. She turned to the man at her side and smiled sweetly more sweetly than he had ever seen woman smile before. "Forgive me, my friend," she said, "for bringing you Into this fearful danger." "I thank God," cried Hardy, "that I am here and nowhere else!" His voice rang out with sudden fervor, with a sob of Joy. "Thank you, my friend,' said the princess simply. "May I shoot now?" asked Hardy. Several of the wolves were close to one of the horses, and were looking up at the animal's throat. This was the horse that was running free; ho was crowded against the other two ot the team in his terror. "Not yet, not quite yet," replied the princess, "they become maddened when they smell blood." A moment later a wolf darted suddenly In und leaped at the throat of the horse, which reared, snorted wllh terror, and then bouuded ahead with a sudden hurst of Incredible speed. Hardy arose, and leaning agulnst the driver s seat, took quick aim and Iired Ut this tmrtlenlnr n1f .1 'li.it had begun tho attack in earn- ten Kicking and the Ich and instantly thewrithing entire I"" huddled above and about him "larling, snapping, scrambling, Indiscriminate mass of fur and fury, teeth and hunger "There are 11 shots tne n and five In the revolver." Bald lardy, who saw a ray of hope n this ntlon of the wolves. "With rare lMt us to Petrovska. How' to Petrovska. Ivan'" he shouted. tear-"iK-a- 7,;uW "About 20 versts." replied tVan n away. A wolf was hanging to the neck one of the horses. Him Hardy stH and. leaning ' over the curved da.discharged his weapon Into the W of another that was clinging to other horse, The h( "Ellzabetha," he said, turning to princess, his face' white but gionn MMon. b "that Is the las shot If there w O said but one more, we might reach Petri' Inner I ska. Here, with Death for a wltn This si I tell you that I love you. m the presence of 'neath. there Is no ran , it mercbsci there are no princesses, no San in I love Ton rlnnr.' out She arose and threw herself on H breast. For a long minute they t4 i0oii am thus, clasped In each other's arms. I Fh to 'What c to lip, forgetful even of death Use The wolves came on again. Thl !ja win ran snarling up to the rear 01 panlon. rem sledge, for the Inst attack. Then th llttln mnld seated OH 'of H flfior ' nrncii "frAm' hnr' hiitldle of hour and tore the hood from her headJl 'fry rnvs nt 'tho anln nun were BD1D In her faceO ' " ' ' "I.nnlf IntA m eves nnre more, cried;, "oh, Jut me, look on your '? again one long, last )ook: Hardy raised his head. hat's a "Alsome! 'Wang!" he gnsP1 wonder and could say no more. orri f "tTnrou-nltnv hnlnved'" Ond the - Mv P 11 l tirlPBtPus rhonHnff 'f dye VOU tO and to happiness I, who have !' you tho most! ' and she leapea the wolves. . A tiflth henten In tho snow IM tho river bank, Into the outsklrtj Petrovska, and up this tne t horses dashed, their noble run end Several of the wolves followed 7 to the top of the bank, glanceo houses and the villagers frim j thAtn on.) oliinlr lrnf BWSV. the horses, his strong heart brsj fell AnA tnl.l. Via mala Wit" '1 Hardy glanced behind. The stritir rheeki. 1 his Btreamlng down ng snunm, mass was . . knlll tlKS .. tiiooa erect in tne sieag. " the ice, but already arrni-THseveral mem his In swooning princess of the pack had left ,t and wer. ItND. Hhould read, it in" |