The Indianapolis journal., 1895-12-26


Then you will do as say" she whispers:
leave Russia for England, and then when
you are ready 1 will
NO, Olga. never; We must part. dare
not take you from Russia"
You dare not take me. so be 1t; you shall
not, 1 Will follow YOU"
Ivan is mechanically playing with the
Jewel case upon the table, and starts with
amazement as the lid springs open and the
Cars. diamond blazes as the light falls
upon II.
"a present to his Imperial Majesty the
Gar" the Princesslexplains. from the jew
elers of st. Petersburg"
. "A present TO the Gar; then VIII / spoil
the spoiler. 1t is worth kings ransom.
He has seized all that l had; he has SUBJ
1ectsd me to the cruelest persecution"
Is not our Car himself who is at fault, but
the system OF absolute monarchy"
Wen, then, will forget II: but as he has
shall provide for myisafety and our future"
Yes. steal It; steal as he has stolen from
others. Would that could take all from
him. as he has taken all from me-"
You forget Ivan, that suspicion would
rest upon me; they would think that IL. a
princess had been thief"
Long before inquiry. is made we shall be
happy in another land, and then he shall
know / have but taken back my own and
''It is madnessl I have money, use that,
but do not leave Russia branded as thief"
II steal but from the greatest thief OF
Disregarding her pleadings and expostula-
tions. ne closes the case and places it In
his pocket, and then fingers with, his arm
around her, whispering of his newborn JOY.
Go, Ivan. CO." she murmurs at length.
Remember your danger; shun every one
and leave the country at once"
Il shall start early tomorrow morning"
ne replies. Even in st. Petersburg have
found friends, and 1 shall leave unsuspected;
for how can the police track a man who Is
dead, a man they know escaped, but. think
he only chose a swifter way to death?''
men leave me now; wheni you are in
safety, shall follow. A week hence I will
be in Paris, and there await your message"
He clasped her to his breast again.
.ent Until then. Olga, farewell"
Tonight / shall be-" He glances
swiftly around, and then whispers an ad-
dress In the most dangerous quarter of the
Embracing her once more, he fingers,
loath to leave.
For week only, Olga"
presseS to his and tben ne thoS heples her lips lips
head and gazing into his eyes: "a week.
who knows? Perhaps 1T may be even less"
And he is gone.
Terglsof, the Chief of the Thire Section.
is perturbed. He sits with his head resting
again the last secret dispatch from his
spies. startling document this dispatch.
one one SO strange that, used as he IS to plots
any, ana viiiainies, ne cannot bring himself to
believe that this last reported conspiracy
against the Czar's life is possible. IT impli-
Gates the highest in the land. The docu-
and broken ends. but clear concise state
ment OF deliberate assertion, couched in
the Language OF emphatic knowledge. Dare
ne n,s follow the thread. the end OF which
grace, ay, even death, to the Princess Pro-
zzorovska; If false. then like measure to
Again he reads the report.
Wlthin the next few days." 1t says, "his
imperial Majesty the Czar will be presented
Dy tne Princess Prozorovska with a da-
mono clasp. purporting to be gift from
the jewelers. OF st. Petersburg. but in real
lty, the manufacture of Nihilists, with
,sIn,n Wn9m .sI sne is secretly working The stone
explosive OF the most powerful type, but so
excellent Is the imitation that a technical
eye would scarcely discern the deception
IL Us fastened but loosely in the claws of
the clasp, so that the first time it is worn
the least jar will dislodge. it. and cause it
TO 10. iaii TO the ground, when his imperial
~. petersburg will cease to exist. The clasp
is now In the possession of the Princess
prozorovska, who only awaits the signal to
A few. minutes more deliberation and
ins,a4 tns enieIs used to rapid action. to almost
course. In the service of his master the
Car. though it should mean death itself
ne must-ne will-fulfll his duty.
bn rcoilipahied oia me- Dy several trusted agents.
or the Princess, and, desiring to proceed
ansinnto at first with caution. requests "a private
1t is denied him; the aristocrats of Rus
sia rearing, as they may, the power of the
Ihird section as whole, do not hesitate
10 eVlnce their contempt for the individuals
who form that department of the govern
ment service.
Tergslof is not however man to be
long to give way at the outset of battle,
while, greater incentive still. his honor, his
once, perhaps even his life,. depend upon
the issue. He presses his suit and, plead
mitted.
The Princess. scarcely recovered from
writing cabinet when Tergslof enters the
apartment, and Stimulates a composure that
she is far. from feeling as she placidiy
of, his presence. At length she ceases
writing. and scarcely deigning to raise her
eyes eyes from the contemplation of her unfn
.Tergslof knows the advantage Of the first
shot; he has seen its deadly effect SO
Sften. Snva WATCHING her keenly he says II
Imperial Majesty, the Gar. to take the
diamond clasp with me, lest'-and his
voice takes an insidious infection-'it
esty's subjects"
But the first shot misses: The Princess
is playing idly with a quill brushing the
and seems far from impressed by, even
IL she has quite caught the meaning of,
the words that have been spoken.
do you," says Tergslof, with, II posi-
ble greater calmness in his tone, deny
that you have diamond clasp which you
purpose presenting TO the Czar?'
Deny? l deny nothing except your
Even while she speaks like lightning
flash there rushes through her, mind the
awful fear that. perhaps. she has been made
the innocent accessory TO diabolical plot.
1t may be so; perhaps, even now the dia-
mond that Ivan has taken has done its
fatal work, or II not yet, an hour, min
| ute, nay, even few seconds hence, and
| the end may come sudden and awful. With
| a stony look upon her face she sits, grave
and silent as the Sphinx itself. This cold
| haughtiness, without trace OF conscious
| fear, puzzles the chief. What If he has
| cry other in Russia? What then?
The Princess, a sudden inspiration COM
| ing to her, interrupts his thoughts.
Yes, | have a. clasp. What then"
Pardon me. Not quite so fast. You say
| you have called for 1t. Very well, you
| shall have it. You shall take 1t yourself
| to the Gar"
! Tergslof makes an almost imperceptible
| sign TO figure concealed in the entrance
| to her jewel safe selects the case contain
ing her own finest diamond clasp, wonder
| ing whether Tergslof blinded by his SEEM
| ing success. will recognize 1t, yet daring
all for Ivans sake.
| Before she has time to unfasten the case
| she is suddenly seized from behind and
her elbows held closely to her sides, while
| the chief, his face flushed with triumph
| loosens her fingers and carefully lays the
unopened casket upon the table. At q
| Tergslof speaks.
Princess Olga Prozorovska, arrest you