The record-union., 1896-01-25

A plot against the Czar's life, think
you said? And I, above every one, in
the conspiracy? How was the attempt
to be nnade?''
"Ah, Princess" exclaimed Tergslof
almost carried away with enthusiasm
at her calmness. You act magnifl-
Gently! OF course you do not know the
the diamond in that clasp is but sham;
is, in reality, a. bomb OF the most deadly
type; you do not know that the claws
are SO constructed that the stone is
bound to fall to the ground, and, explod-
ing, blow the Czar and all the court into
a thousand atoms 2"
Still seemingly Indifferent to the
words of Tergslof, Olgas thoughts
again fly to Ivan, and the Chief, appa-
rently reading them, says: IAN hour
ago you were visited by your lover, Ivan
Novikoff. He has journeyed from ST.
IBERIA to see you-you shall go back to-
gether."
The Princess shudders as the horrors
of those vast Siberian wastes that Ivan
had SO terribly depicted an hour ago
fill her mind Was it only an hour ago?
It seemed lifetime.
Still, after all, there is no proof
against her. Let her hut be cool and de-
termined and even the faintest sus
picion will be disarmed. Suddenly she
starts ito her feet, crosses the apart
ment, and catching the jewel-case in
her hands, wrenches it open, and holds
the diamond flashing high above her
head.
Come" she cries, you say this is a
bomb. Surely the brave men of the
Third Section will welcome death in
their masters cause. I do net fear it.
Seel'
With a soft, ripping laugh she lifts
the scintillating jewel still higher, then
crying Catch" hurls it at the feet of
the Chief, who watches its fight like one
fascinated. Tt falls harmlessly by his
side, bounces against the wall, then
drops and lies almost hidden in the
thick pile of the carpet.
For once the Third Section has over
reached itself" she says; ''or it was act
ing under the advice of a madman.
Tergslof, you shall pay dearly for this.
Col"
Baffled, Tergslof hesitates but for a
moment; and then, as she still con-
fronts him, draws himself up, and an
swering only with military salute,
turns on his heel and departs.
Nervous and trembling now that the
ordeal is over, the Princess rapidly
changes her costume, and passing by a
side door into the courtyard, from
thence gains the street.
''Is there yet timer" she gasps, as she
fights her way against the boisterous
wind "Time to reach Ivan, to warn
him and fly with him before the police
arrive? Or at all hazards to save him
from the awful death that turks in that
seemingly innocent jewel?"
Contesting with the cruel wind keep
ing within the shadow of the houses,
and creeping closely to the wall as the
footsteps of some belated traveller reach
her ear, she struggles on, and at last
reaches the street the name of which
Ivan had whispered to her. With diff
Guilty she discovers the right house; a
figure is just passing out, and pushing
by she hurries breathlessly up the steep
and narrow staircase.
Without hesitation she thrusts open
the door of the only chamber upon the
top floor, and filings herself into the
arms of man, who rises with a start
as she enters.
"Olgai" he cries. "Olgal What has
happened?" and clasps her in his en-
brace.
You are safe, Ivan? You are safe?"
"Safe? Yes, my dearest. / told you
there was no question as to my safety.
] am dead. The police, if they think of
me at all, think of me only as dead"
mo, no; they know you are alive,
and in st. Petersburg. They are track
ing you know; perhaps even have led
them here. Where is the diamond-the
Cars diamond?"
Here and he takes the case from
his pocket.
"Give it to me, Ivan. give it to me-
or, better still, come with nae now, and
throw it far into the Neva."
mo, no, my dearest; you are over
wrought. Let us fly together but not
destroy the only valuable we have, the
only means 1 possess of providing for
our safety"
"It is no diamond, Ivan, no valuable,
but an explosive-a bomb. Ali" she
shrieks, as he starts and almost let's
the case slip between his fingers.
"A bomb!" Ivan exclaims, carefully
opening the lid. "A scientific attempt
upon the life of the Czar, thwarted by
one who would gladly have done the
deed himself Such is the irony of
fatei'
Think of yourself, Ivan; think of
me. We are doomed. Give me the jewel
and I will cast it into the Neva. You
will have nothing suspicious about you,
= =
least will escape.
"And you, Olga, perhaps be seized
with the jewel in your possession
Never!"
mo, no; 1 shall escape and she
gently lifts the diamond from it's velvet
case
Too later cries Ivan.
'Why2"
"Harkl"
"Halt!' rings out Tergslof's voice
and the Chief himself, followed by a
score of military police, bursts into
the room.
In an instant Ivan extinguishes the
light, and everything is shrouded in
gloom, save where the pale beams Of
the moon, struggling through the grimy
skylight, make a pattern of the window
frame upon the door.
"Ah, Princess cries Tergslof, Eve
meet again. The Third Section is right
after all. Seize herl"
stand back" she shrieks, holding
aloft the diamond stand back"
Seize her. That diamond is a bomb
that viii blow US to fragments."