The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-02-05
"Slow, slow; all too slow; but my

hands are full"
allow so?" asked Colonel Orlof.
my little house is full of friends in
hiding" said George Nevski.
"Who are they?" was Peter the
students eager inquiry.
THAT cannot tell"
"What, not to friends?"
"No, Colonel, there is only one place
to tell secrets, knowledge of which
is not Immediately necessary to the
safety OF brother. I shall be at the
rendezvous tonight, and I promise all
who attend great surprise. The i'm
perial ukase is very strong, but it is
weak compared with the Will ana pa
tience of people resolved to be free. !"
Having said this, the old man
grasped his stick mora firmly, and
hobbled out of sight.
The three nihilists adjourned to
wine cellar near by. All were edu-
Gated men and they spoke in French,
so as not to be understood by the
rabble coming in and going out.
They paid no heed to one-armed
soldier. who occupied table near
them, while he smoked a black pipe
and slipped a mug of smoking-hot rum.
at is rumored," said Peter the
student, addressing the Colonel, "that
your cousin, Count Orloff, is to have
General Paul's place. If that be so.
we could get him out OF the way, then
all the fair estates of which he has de-
spoiled you-by order of the Gar
would be yours. and with so much
wealth the cause of liberty would
flourish"
"Wait, Peter; wait. Should that
rumor be true, before the week goes
by there will be q dead Czar in the
Winter Palace, and vacancy in the
Office of the Chief of the Secret Force"
whispered Colonel Orloff.
"Hist!" interrupted DR.. Mulek, "thls
is not the time nor place for that sub,
iect; let US change it. Who has heard
of Ivan Berger?"
"Not T." said the Colonel, though l
am sure he is still in st. Petersburg.
The one-armed soldier took a sip OF
punch and reflled his black pipe.
"He is devil if ever there was one,
and his sister is an ange!-even though
she prefers the smiles and rubles OF
the handsome Count OrloF to the
manly beauty and constant love of the
accomplished DR.. Mulek," chuckled
the owner of that name.
II would wager a million rubles-
if t had them," said Peter the student,
"that a close watch kept on General
Paul's hotel would result in the dis
covery of Ivan Berger. Wherever
Lola Pulaski is, there Ivan Berger, ii
living, can be found"
ayes, by those who have supernat-
ural powers" said the Colonel. 81
think George Nevski knows something
of him. We shall see tonight. In the
meantime, let us not lose sight of the
fact that while Ivan Berger lives not
one of our heads is safe"
Colonel Orloff settled the score for
the wine they had been drinking,
and the three men went out, leaving
the crippled soldier still smoking his
pipe.
"Ah," whispered Ivan to himself in
French, as he saw the conspirators
vanishing, "never were truer words
than Madame Roland's spoken: ooh.
Liberty, Liberty! How many crimes
are committed in thy name
He paid his reckoning and went out,
still smoking his pipe.
He plodded along the crowded
streets, meeting many whom he knew,
without being known to them; and in
the security of his disguise he felt that
he possessed something like super
natural power.
He was now virtually in the employ
of General Paul and Count Linwold,
his identity known to the former; yet
the police were searching for him.
there was a price on his head, and
he did not even dare to visit the
mother and sister for sight of whom
his generous heart so much yearned.
He was not for an instant Indifferent
to the dangers of his anomalous posi-
ton. He knew that it was not prudent
to 90 near the house where his mother
and sister lived, but prudence ne, or
was the companion of desire, 50 he went
on.
He reached the vicinity of the cheer
less old tenement, and he was not sur
prised to see number of armed police
pacing back and forth before it.
They were watching for him.
As he stood looking up at the house
a policeman pushed him rudely, call
Move from the path, old fellow, and
make room ft the ladies.
Ivan moved to one side, then turned
to find himself face to face with his
mother and Elizabeth.
He bit his lip to restrain his impulse,
as he saw his loved ones entering the
house, escorted by two armed men,,
like common prisoners.
CHAPTER XVI.
ANOTHER ORDER FROM THE CZAR-