Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-03-30
Romance Of R,tssia.
by JOHN X. LEYs.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
CHAPTER xxv-(continued.


"Mercy. sire! Mercy" he gasped,
sinking on one kene.
"Rise and sit down. No one wishes
to harm you l said. feeling much east
err in my mind. for now l had a guar
anty of the doctors silence. If he
threatened to denounce me, l could
threaten to denounce him.
''When did you last hear from Won
Nlitschka, or any of his associates"
was my next question.
More than three months since" and
this time l believed that Petrovski was
telling the truth. The letter in which
he had been informed of the plot and
asked to help must have miscarried.
There was no time for half-measureS.
1t must be all or nothing.
DO you know who | amp | said,
suddenly. bending forward and look
ing the doctor full in the eye.
'Of course, your Majesty"
"How often have you seen me be-
fore?"
Several times, but generally at a
little distance"
you have never been so close to me
as YOU are now?'
Never for so long a time"
'Then YOU will be the less surprised
TO hear that you are mistaken. | am
not the Carr
The expression on the doctors face
told me that he thought l had taken
leave of my senses.
Il am perfectly serious" l went on.
''You have heard of the Black Terror"
Petrovski nodded Wonder. and the
shadow of great fear. had made him,
for the moment, incapable of speech.
''Well, the last victim of the Terror
is the Gar himself. l am for the time
being representing him, in order to
cover the retreat Of the conspirators:
and my one desire is to get out Of this
house without being observed.
But then, where is His Majesty!'
""He is on his way to place of tenn
porary confinement But we need not
trouble ourselves about him. He will
come to no harm. He will only be de-
tanned until he promises to grant his
subjects a constitution. like those of
other European countries, with secur
ity against Il renewal of tyranny. But
Won MitschEa told me that you would
help me to escape. 1t was arranged
that you We're to meet me here, and
plan out a way for me to leave the
villa tonight
Me: 1t is impossible! | never got
any such letter. | hope to goodness it
has not fallen into the hands OF the pc
lice!'
I'VE may be tolerably certain that it
has not, or you would not be here
now," remarked. grimly. More prob
ably the person to whom it was in
trusted has not found an opportunity of
delivering it, and did not know how
important it was. But. if you did not
get the letter, how is it that you are
here now?'
burg to-day to attend one of the house
hold at st. Petersburg. 1t is by the
merest accident that l am not at st.
Petersburg
ga very lucky one for me. You must
set your brains at work at once, and tell
me how l can get out of the house be-
fore tomorrow morning..
''Me? 1 cannot! l could not think of
such a thingH
That means that you will throw me
over. Well, you can do as you please,
but I rather think that the society OF
which you have protested not to be q
member will consider such conduct as
an act of betrayal-and you know the
penalty frot reachery as we'll as do
A hard look came into the doctors
face. and he gave an involuntary look
in the direction of the door.
'No: you will not call the scntries,
said, quietly: "or. if you do you will
be under arrest yourself in five mill
utes. l would not inform upon you for
any other reason; but if you betray my
secret I certainly will. | will tell the
officer who arrests ME to have your
rooms in the palace at st. Petersburg
searched at once
Again the queer. greyish color came
into the mans face. saw that ne
was hesitating.
A knock came to the door The doc
tor sprang to open it, and for the mo-
ment gave myself up for lost.
1 was wrong: Petrovski was not
about to betray me: but the peril was
almost as great as if that had been his
intention He came back to me with
face as white as chalk, and said, in a
whisper:
"Dr. I1ohrenheim is here-sent by the
Czarina. Hehad just returned to ST.
Petersburg. He wants to see your
Majesty. What are we to dog
saw that unless l acted promptly
was lost.
Tell him there is nothing the matter
with me but a slight cold; that ! am IN
the act Of going to bed; and that Will
be glad if he will take little refersh--
ment. and come to see me after l am
in bed. Then you must borrow an over
coat and put it on and come back to
me. Do you understand? Only follow
my directions and you will succeed; we
will manage to deceive DIR. Lohren-
helm; and-don't you seeEhis coming
here is fortunate thing for you; for
it will relieve you of responsibility,
and prevent any risk Of suspicion fall
ing on you. Now, send for my valet to
help me to undress, and come back IN
ten minutes"
CHAPTER XVI.