The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-06

gallery overlooking a garden in the rear
of the palace and leading to a suite Of
rooms which has not been used for
very many years. Nevertheless, in ac-
cordance with the strict tule already
mentioned, an imperial page has always
been stationed in this gallery to pre-
vent the possibility of access to the
locked door. 1t was at this spot that
the young prince had been on duty the
preceding night
You will understand that the task Of
keeping guard at night in a deserted
gallery was by no means a pleasant
one. although no page was required to
be there for more than three hours In
the twenty-four. Moreover, a small
room opening out of the gallery had
been suitably furnished for the lads
to relay themselves in during their SOL
itary watch. In spite Of this. the duty
had remained an unpopular one. so
much so that the new cZar on taking up
his quarters in the palace, had earned
the gratitude of the rages' corps by
decreeing that from the hour of mid
night 20 six in the morning the watch
in the gallery should no longer be kept
up.
ION the night in question Boris had
repaired to the gallery to relieve his
comrade at nine o'clock. He had simply
to remain there till twelve. and then.
as soon as the clock struck he was at
liberty to retire to his own quarters
1T wanted very few minutes to the
hour, and he was pacing the gallery.
impatiently waiting for his release.
when he happened to stop opposite one
of the windows and look out into the
grounds. 1t was bright moonlight
night. and every tree and shrub in the
garden stood out in startling distinct
ness. He gazed idly. letting his eye
roam over the eXoaEse, when all at
once his attention was arrested by
sight calculated to disturb anyone liv-
'Hg in the alarmist atmosphere of the
Russian court. This was a tall and
closcly-muttied figure stealing along in
the broken shadows of the trees and
making its way towards the nearest
corner of the building.
1T was inevitable that the startled
page should at once connect this figure
with the audacious intrigues of the
dreaded secret society whose plots con-
stitute a perpetual menace to the inn
perial throne. His impression that he
was watching a nihilist emissary was
confirmed when he sow him confident
ly approaching door in the wall of the
palace which was never used, and was
supposed to be securely fastened
against ingress and egress. This door,
touch of the mysterious visitors, who
disappeared from sight beneath it's
arch.
Greatly disturbed by what he had
seen, Boris kept his station in the gal
lery, considering what it was advisable
for him to do. The clock struck the
hour for his release. but he paid no at
| tention. absorbed in the thought Of
how to deal with the dangerous in
truder."
Il should have thought 1t simple
matter to give the ALARM" I ventured
to murmur.
His eXcellency regarded me with O
look in which pity and rebuke strove
for the mastery.
MY friend it is evident that you do
not know Russia. To have given this
alarm of which you speak might have
been of the utmost danger to the prince.
The first person whom he approached
with the news might have been secret
nihilist and have repaid such a COM
munication with a knife thrust. The
whole court is honeycombed. Even if
Boris had succeeded in bringing about
the arrest of the person whose move-
ments had reused his attention, this
might have turned out to be some high
functionary, perhaps a general or
chamberlain. whO after easily explain
| ing away his mysterious proceedings,
would have privately eXerted his inf1u-
ence to have my young friend removed
! to TobOlsk or Tiflis. Believe me. in
Russia 10 be a too jealous cOurtier Is
hardly less dangerous than to be an
actual conspirator. as you will perhaps
realize when you have heard my story.
while our prince was still hesitat-
ing, he suddenly became aware Of an
unusual sound. coming from the far
end of the gallery. where it ended in
the disused apartments I have de-
scribed. The sound appeared to be
that of a door slowly turning on its
hinges. In an instant Boris realized,
or thought he realized. the situation.
The parsonage Of the garden had ar
rived in the vacant suite by means of
a secret stairway from the garden door,
and was now about to pass through
| into the gallery, with the object. no
doubt, of making his way finally into
| the imperial corridor.
| There was not moment to lose.
Unarmed, as he stood there, Boris for
tunately recollected that in the little
chamber which had spoken of as set
| apart for the use of the pages, there
was a pair of loaded pistols and
sword. He darted in through the open