Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1890-10-31

hungarian OF handsome appearance ana
very finely educated. Isoon discovered
this man to be red-hot Nihilist. The
Baroness for the time was absolutely
infatuated with him.
During all this time you may suppose
that / kept sharp lookout for the
twisted ring. did nothing Of the
kind. Amidst the mass of jewelry
nightly displayed in the drawing-rooms
of st. Petersburg, one might as we'll
have searched for a needle in bundle
of hay. No, only hoped to use that as
confrmatory evidence when l had found
my man.
And was fast finding him. Already
l had gained the confidence of the
Nihilists. During the third month Ru-
dolph Pfesh confded to me the outline
Of plot to assassinate the Gar.
Bombs were to cut no figure in this
last attempt A peculiar and singular
ly treacherous method was to be en-
ployed. People would never, perhaps,
know how the Emperor met his death.
But who was to infict it?
The circle to which l now belonged,
so Pfesh informed me, had drawn lots
to decide this, and the choice had fallen
on me. was to become the assassin.
But the details would not be confided to
me until the night. before the day set
for the execution Of the plot.
That evening l was to attend at the
house Of the Baroness Woronsko, when
/ should receive full instructions.
The Baroness house was in the New.
skoi Prospect. 1t was huge mansion
surrounded by ornamental grounds. Be-
fore noon, completely disguised, Pierre
Chauffaud took occasion to thoroughly
reconnoiter the place.
Night came. A brilliant ball was in
progress. The Baroness had never
looked so lovely. In the prime of her
womanhood, her figure was displayed to
the greatest advantage in evening
dress, l looked around me. Pfesh,
Dakoutsk, Phloblosh and Chenkamin-
all were there. The gatheiing was
honeycombed with the Nihilistic ele.
ment.
l felt my hand suddenly grasped, and
turning around was confronted BY
Gurloff. He was without disguise OF
any kind. l regarded him with wonder.
ment. The second in command of secret
police. he must be we'll known to these
people.
Then suddenly it flashed across me.
,1oR &C. IL -
has penetrated to the police depart
ment
had the fourth dance with the Bar
oness Woronsko. 1t was marked Q
waltz on my programme, She danced
superbly. myself understand the
divine art. As to the strains of en-
chanting music we floated down the
long ballroom l could not bat wisl
myself thousand miles away from st
Petersburg. 1t went hard with me t.
betray that splendid creature. l am
Frenchman, and have to confess tina
she affected me powerfully.
The music ceased, and she led mt
into conservatory. We were hardl.
seated when she spoke and said
81 am the one chosen to instruct 20,
by our circle. Tomorrow you will b,
presented to the Emperor. Being
foreigner, he will extend to you tn,
royal hand, as is his custom"
She paused and glanced nervousl,
around. Quitting my side for a mo
ment, she parted the thick shrubber
and peered out through the glass int
the darkness.
81 thought heard sound in the gar
den," she said.
l knew it was the noise occasioned b.
Pierre Chauffaud and the men with hin
in scaling the wall surrounding tn
grounds.
20, it Is nothing" I said, but feelin
all the time very much like villain
"Do not be alarmed"
She returned, seated herself by m
side, and resumed:
"You have been chosen by our circl
to rid the world of this tyrant. TAX
this ring. No, do not place it on you
hand yet. Its touch is death, if you ar
not extremely careful. Keep it in il
case, and just before you are admitte
to the audience, place it on your fnge,
The slightest contraction of your finger
will pierce the hand you hold with
small, hollow Eeedle. Retain the Car
hand in your own, respectfully, for
moment During that brief interval 70
can inject into his palm deadly poison
Its action is sufficiently slow to affor
you ample opportunity to make your e
: cape"
Horror-stricken, l gazed upon tn
deadly ring. To my amazement, it W;
an exact counterpart of the ring in IL
photograph,
Whose ring is thisP" gasped, r
coiling from her. Could she be a mu
3 deress?
, The ring was Gurloff's," she a.
; swered in low tone. ut was suite
to the purpose, and he contributed it
l the cause, 1t was fitted as you see
: now by the Hungarian, RUDOLF
D Pfesh."
. saw it all now Gurloff had himse
r murdered his chief at the order of Il
l circle, and had sent to Paris for a d
tective, thinking to thus divert su
g picion by apparently taking extrsord
: nary pains to discover the perpetrat
!. of the crime.
f A sudden look Of terror passed ov
n the face of the Baroness. / saw at on
= that l had done something or let ia
S some exclamation to arouse her su
t picions, or had Gurlof discovered n
o to her and was she simply Turing me o.
s If the latter, she had repented early
playing with the fire. With a swi