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Show SYNOPSIS. Frederick Hardy, a fashionable Boston society man, lost his wealth, waato jilted take by a girl and sent by a friend Trading Company charge of an American store in Russia. On his journey through Newlle, supJapan he met Stapleton to posedly an Liiglislunan. They agreed of susBecause to Russia. go together picious circumstances they were several times molested by the Japanese. Hardy was arrested and found upon his person were papers showing maps of Jap forts. Hardy was proven guiltless. Onofa atrain he met Aisorne Sano, daughter' Jap merchant. In Neville's shoes Japto found a be him of forts, proving pictures Russian spy. Hardy departed for Rus-si- a on a steamer, whu h was wrecked afterward. He was tcstued by shortly a Russian steamer. On reaching VladiHe started vostok he was well treated for Siberia, meeting Princess Romanovna on the train. Hardy boarded a vessel for Amur. Hardy showed the princess his as a ritie shot. The steamer expertness was stranded. The princess and tier maid were attacked by Chinese. Hardy saved their lives. The princess thanked Hardy for his heroism. Manchurians fired upon the craft. Hardy slew their chief Burning arrows were hurled upon An attempt was decks. the Pushkins made to board the vessol. The attacking Chinese were repulsed. Itomanoff sneered at Hardys solicitude for the princess. Blanka, a messenger sent for help, was nailed to a cross on the shore. To put an end to the awful torture Hardy himself out of his misery, taking his put Stanka own life in Ins hands. Forest fires menaced the vessel Hardy volunteered to he go for help. Refused permission overboard and started to swim jumped Roh message. distress wit the princess manoff was angry at Hardy for his brave efforts to rescue the princess. HeHewooed said her in his own savage way. to a Japhad made love openly Hardy anese girl. Help came and the princess was rescued. Hardy journeyed on a raft. took Arriving at his destination he busiof the trading companys charge soa from ness. Hardy received a letter cial leader In Boston and another from Alsome. Hardy took lessons In Russian of a Jew, thus connecting himself in a way with that race. Hardy receivedhima letter from the princess, thanking for his bravery. Hardys teacher was in of death. He employed Wang as danger a servant. Hardy went to' Moscow, where he was Invited to call upon the princess. He started for the palace home of Princess Romanovna. Hardy aroused unaccountable jealousy of his Korean boy by announ lng that he was going to call on the princess. He engaged a cabman who diove him to a large house on a poorly lighted street. After entering the house, Hardv discovered that it was a resortHu-li-of nihilists who supposed he was Felix come to tell them of a powerful explosive he had discovered. The real Hulin arrived and denounced Hardy as an ImThe nihilists determined to kill postor. Hardy inan order to protect Inthemselves. his overunloaded revolver Finding coat pocket, he pointed It at Hulins bomb, which lay on the table, and swore to blow tiiem all up together if they touched hun. Holding the nihilists at bay, Hurdv started to leave the room when the police were heard at the outer door. Hulin threw his bomb, killing several policemen, the nihilists fled ami Baruch tiie Jew, suddenly appeared and led Hardv to the cellar. Baruch conducted Hurdv through an underground passage to another house, from which he boldly emerged and returned to Ids hotel Haidv visited the prin 'ess, contributed to the fund for the relief of the victims of the He gave more than Romanoff nih'hst had. The latter, entering the room, him. Romanoff struck insulted openly Hardy, who ehalionged him to a duel. The Russian accepted. Preparations for the dud were made. The princess asked Hardy to spare Romanoffs life. Hardv purposely missed Romanoff, but was himself wounded. Hardy was placed He sent his servant to in t, e iaspitul. the duel scene for a miff button of Romanoff's, which he purposely shot off, the princess wish. rather than violate Tlds lie sent to her. War between Ruswas declared. Prince Rosia and Japan manoff was murdered. Hardy was accused. Hardys former servant. Wang railed upon the princess. Wang, revealed as Alsome, the Japanese girl, conto she tile had killed fessed princess that Romanoff, because he plotted to slay Hardy. The princess promised help. n. CHAPTER XLI. Continued. It is sad, continued his majesty, very sad, but be assured that, although the case is a somewhat difficult one, full justice shall be done. The American minister has already inquired about the matter, and has demanded that the fullest investigation be made. These Americans are very meddlesome. V rnrrrn I am informed,, how- ever, by the minister of foreign affairs that there will be little difficulty in establishing this Hardys guilt, as he is a dargerous character and has a bad record. The princess turned pale as she A dangerous character? A bad record? Will you send for this record, sire, that I may hear it in your majesty's presence? For I come not to speak against this Hardy, who is accused of murdering my cousin, but to plead for his release, to pray that justice may be done! You to plead P r him? Yes, sire, for he did not kill my cousin. Will your majesty grant me the favor that I may hear this record read in your majesty's presence? For I know this Mr. Hardy, and I know is good of him, and nothing The czar rang a bell and combadO manded a servant to send a confidential secretary to him. Five minutes later an old man entered, a old man with a clean-shaveface, whose eyes denoted infinite shrewdness, his manner infinite servility. can Pypine, said his majesty, you bring to us immediately the record of the American, Hardy, concerning whom the minister of foreign affairs was speaking to us the other much that stoop-shouldeie- d day Yes, sire, replied Pypine, a copy was ordered from the chief of police of Moscow and is now in his excellencys possession. Bring it, said the czar, immedi- ately. . Pypine disappeared. While he is gone you may tell us what you know of this American Hardy, and why you think he did not assassinate your cousin. I know that he is a gentleman of Ugh connections in his own country, who has come here to engage in iom- turn answered by a sporadic chorus from the forest. There were now six wolves in sight, drifting out and in among the trees like gray ghosts. Soon one of these tripped lightly through the snow down the river bank and trotted along after the sledge on the ice, like a faithful dog. They show no signs of attacking, said Hardy. They are famished, said the princess, but they are as patient as death, and as Intelligent as humans. They are too few yet. A second and a third joined the two on the river, while the pack on the bank steadily grew, and noiselessly, save for an occasional call into the deeps for help. The maid sat motionless, without looking up or stirring. Hardy lifted a rifle from the bottom of the sledge. I could kill one of them now, he said, and perhaps that would scare them away. It is not time yet, my friend, reI shall tell you. I plied the princess. am a Russian and I know when to shoot. You must not waste a single shot. Nothing would scare them away, she added. The isvoschik was using all his strength to keep his horses from exhausting themselves in one wild dash. Snorting with fear, they were tearing down the long ribbon of ice at terrific speed. k mat-ter-o- re- peated: , merce and retrieve his fortunes. My cousin first met him in Japan. This part of the story I have from Boris own lips. Boris, being hard pressed by the police, put his telltale papers in Mr. Hardys 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 a terrible fate. This still further enraged my cousin, who loved me and was jealous of any one who served me in any way. He was 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 him money, and, when Mr. refused and indignantly Hardy 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 cousins 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 button 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 expressed it. He thought he must kill this man for other 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. Hardys 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 th6 moment irresponsible. The boy, fearing for his 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 sure of all this? Absolutely. I give you my word as a Romanoff princess that it is true." And the boy? Do you know where he is? He can be given up to justice. "The boy, replied the princess, Oversolemnly, no longer exists. whelmed with horror at what he had done, and feeling sure that the police would find and punish him, he has made away with himself. He told me that it was his intention to do away with himself, and he has disappeared! At this moment Pypine entered with Hardy's record. At the czar's command he read it, rapidly and in a f tone. It confact, sing-sontained nearly every act of Hardy's life, except what had actually happened within the four walls of his sleeping chamber, since he had set foot on Russian soil. He was accused of sympathizing with the Japanese, of having affiliated with Jews, of having insulted the authorities at Vladivostok by requesting that the imperial government use its influence to get him a clean towel in the hotel there, with having worn an overcoat similar to the one found in the nihilists den on the evening of the explosion of the Frenchman's famous pill. Furthermore, he had fought a duel with the Prince which he Romanoff, in had been wounded. This fact furnished the motive for his alleged crime, which, coupled with his suspicious record, left little room, in the Russian official mind, for doubt of his guilt. Most of these points had already been covered by the story told by the princess. As for the overcoat, she remarked, if he continued to wear it he could 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 man saved my life, my honor. There are features in the case which, if it is tried, do not reflect credit on Grant my my dead cousins name. prayers. Let Mr. Hardy be freed, and CHAPTER XLI1I. The Gift of Aisorne. Not more than ten minutes in all could have elapsed since the appearance of the first wolf, and they had already gathered in terrifying the Czar Kindly. the report given out that the police jjfortune. It was too great an honor to have secret proof of his innocencJi hoped for that I should ever be of but are on the track of the real cik service to your highness again. The mere presence of this woman prit and she sank again on her knees. transformed him from the merchant Rise, daughter, said the czar kind- into the courtier and polished gentleWe have already decided on this man. ly. course. Its a relief to know that he You forget, she said, while the is innocent, the American ambassaghost of one of her merry smiles lightedor is so troublesome. Pypine, see d- 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 CHAPTER XLII. head covered with a fur hood that almost entirely obscured her face, and took her place in the bottom of the Gray Ghosts. That part of Siberia which lies east sledge. of the great inland sea, Lake Baikal, There were long desolate stretches and west of the mighty Amur, which of snow, with here and there a house, here turns abruptly and bends north- the roof covered with snow, nestling The among the white hills. ward, is known as Stanovoi 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 oclock and it was half-pas- t three The railway, the now. someThere must be a farm-housgreat artery through which the blood of flowed uninterruptedly where near, observed Hardy, if your Russia from Alexandrov to Vladivostok and highness feels cold. I saw a large dog Port Arthur, pierces these mountains running among the trees a moment at an advantageous point, and, pass- ago. ing through Stryetensk, breaks into Just then the driver pointed with Manchuria. the whip toward the woods and On a river in that crossed himself. The princess also runs for many miles parallel with this made the sign of the cross, and said a sledge was flying quietly: mighty eastward, drawn by three horses, all Those are wolves! May the holy abreast. The river was frozen to the Virgin protect us! very heart and snows, drifting Two large, gray animals with bushy 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 furs 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 ocprotected by the dash, cupants, their teeth could be plainly and managed the lines. On a low seat seen. behind him were a man and a woman, Have no fear, said Hardy, they also wrapped deep in robes of fur, are so few they will not dare to atwhile a third woman sat silent in the tack. bottom of the sledge. At that moment a third joined the Somewhere behind them the rails trvo and ran with them. They ran had spread and the road had given out easily, flitting along as lightly as and the trains were halted while re- thistle-dowdriven by the wind. The pairs were made. driver arose in his seat and cracked There Frederick Courtland Hardy, his whip over the horses' heads. on his way to Stryetensk, had overBe careful, Ivan, said the printaken the princess, hastening to the cess, do not tire them out. How far front, undergoing all hardships, en- it is yet to Petrovska? tirely forgetful of self, that she might we he replied, Twenty versts, employ her strength, her fortune and should make it in something over an her high courage and example in the relief of her wounded and suffering hour, if the horses hold out. It was near here over a year ago that Farmcountrymen. She greeted Hardy with frank er Gogol was dragged from his sledge wolves and devoured. I had not friendliness, exp'ained her mission by and told him that he had arrived just heard of many being seen this year. in time to help her carry out a plan The Virgin defend us!" For at this moment one of the aniof hers. We can take sledges down the mals emitted a long, mournful howl, the most dismal and terrible sound in river, she said, to Petrovska-Zavod- , ' where I have no doubt we 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 by the fact that that in hand on his arm, and whispered: Listen! fact, I was afraid. Now, with my gallant defender of the Amur, I shall Far in the depths of the forest an 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, me? both up and down the river. he replied gravely, I will Yes, One of the wolves, flitting along go. I am overwhelmed by my go&d the bank, lifted up his voice, to be In Rise, Daughter, Said trans-Baikali- trans-Siberia- n e trans-Baikali- ant-trai- a l, high-curvin- n num- bers. How far is it yet to Petrovska? asked Hardy. About 20 versts, replied the man, we can make it in an hour if the horses hold out. But this is the same answer that he gave before! said Hardy. He means that it is a long way, the princess. explained Twenty versts about 20 versts! I fear the horses can not run so far! But the wolves? asked Hardy; will they not also tire? They are very hungry, replied the princess; they could run for ever! At this moment the entire pack wheeled as if at a word of command, and drifted obliquely down on the ice. Some ran beside the sledge, a couple of rods away, while those in the rear came up closer. Though the maddened horses were going at their utmost speed, their hoofs making a confused and incredibly rapid clatter on the ice, the fierce, wild dogs simply drifted, drifted along, without the least seeming effort. The pack was evidently nearly complete now, though an occasional gray form would flit out from among the trees, stand and look with lifted head, and then join the chase with a long, easy lope. The little maid, crouched in the bottom of the sledge and bundled In furs still remained motionless, speechless, as though paralyzed with terror. The prinedss sat erect, looking straight 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; he was crowded against the other two of 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 and leaped at the throat of the horse, which reared, snorted with terror, and then bounded ahead with a sudden burst of incredible speed. Hardy arose, and leaning against the drivers seat, took quick aim and fired at this particular wolf, the one that had begun the attack In earnest. He fell kicking and writhing on the ice and instantly the entire pack huddled above and bout him snarling, snapping, scrambling, tearing an indiscriminate mass of fur and fury, teeth and hunger. There are 11 shots in the magazine, and five in the revolver, said Hardy, who saw a ray of hope in this action of the wolves. With care, they should last us to Petrovska. How far Is it yet to Petrovska, Ivan? he shouted. "About 20 versts, replied Ivan, we should reach it in Hardy glanced behind. The struggling, snarling mass was still there on the ice, but already several members of the pack had left It and were -- . up the chase again. He stood watching them as they came on in a line, leaving the carcass one by one. In less than five minutes they were all back by the sledge again, and the low sun was shining on a white pile of bones, that could be distinctly seen, far back on the river. It doesnt take long, muttered Hardy, if it must come. Then he thought of the princess, shuddered and breathed a prayer. And still the horses ran on and on; the sledge was light and they were winged with terror. Again and again. Hardy shot shot as never before, and seldom missed. The fire of battle was in his veins, that fierce and deadly mastery of self that exalts a brave man when he both hunts and is hunted. Have courage, he cried, we shall taking reach Petrovska yet! But now the chase took on a new and more dangerous feature. When a wolf was killed, not all of the pack dropped behind to devour him. One, more bold than the others, sprang up at the back of the sledge as if to leap in, and Hardy, firing into the open mouth, fairly blew the fierce creatures head off. The flash and explosion 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 trigger, no report ensued. His face blanched as he dropped the weapon, and drew his revolver. The shots in the magazine of the rifle were all exIn this moments delay a hausted! wolf succee.ded In fastening its fangs in the horses flank, and hung there, The unfortunate steed snarling. leaped forward with such violence that the traces parted, and Instantly all the wolves were tearing at him, pulling him down. God have mercy! God have mercy! she groaned. cried Hardy, he Have courage, will soon he out of his agony, and I think his death has saved our lives. The two remaining horses did not seem to notice the loss of their companion, as the sledge glided easily over the smooth ice. They still ran nobly on, though they were reeking with steam. The sledge came to a bend in the river, and for a moment its occupants lost sight of the wolves. Perhaps they have given up the chase, said Hardy; perhaps, too, they are satisfied with the horse. But the princess shook her head. They will never give over the chase, she said, and, at that moment, a gray form flitted around the bend in the river; two, three, half a dozen, and soon 20 or 30 of the pack were again about the sledge, leaping at it and at the hci3es with sharp, short yelps and snarls, their red tongues lolling, their jaws flecked with blood and foam. There! there! cried the isvoschik, pointing down the river with the handle of his whip. Petrovska! Petrovska! Bless the Virgin! The rays of the setting sun fell full on the dome of a Greek church, but it was a conspicuous object and far away. A wolf was hanging to the neck of one of the horses. Him Hardy shot, and, leaning over the curved dash, discharged his weapon into the body of another that was clinging to the other horse. Elizabetha, he said, turning to the princess, his face white but glorified, that is the last shot. If there were but one more, we might reach Petrovska. Here, with Death for a witness, I tell you that I love you. In the presence of Death, there is no rank, there are no princesses, no merchants. I love you, dear. She arose and threw herself on his breast. For a long minute they stood thus, clasped in each other's arms, lip to lip, forgetful even of death itself. The wolves came on again. They ran snarling up to the rear of the sledge, for the last attack. Then the little maid, seated on the floor, arose from her bundle of furs and tore the hood from her head. The rays of the setting sun were shining in her face. Look into my eyes once more, she cried; oh, let me look on your face again one long, last lookj Hardy raised his head. he gasped in Aisopie! Wang! wonder and could say no more. Farewell, my beloved! and her voice sounded like the voice of a priestess, chanting, I give you to her and to happiness I, who have loved you the most! and she leaped among; the wolves. A path beaten in the snow led up the river bank, into the outskirts of Petrovska, and up this the tired horses dashed, their noble run at an end. Several of the wolves followed even to the top of the bank, glanced at the houses and the villagers swarming from them, and slunk away. One of the horses, his strong heart bursting, fell dead beside his mate. With tears streaming down his cheeks. Hardy stood erect In the sledge, holding tfcs swooning princess in his arms. the End. |