Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-02-16

promise, it seems to ME that it must be
kept"
This is madness" exclaimed the
1'ri1 CO. passionately. ITO let an alb
surd scruple of that kind interfere
with your plain duty. You would not
condemn me to live out the rest Of my
life hcre?'
NO. Prince. hope it will not come
to that. There is chance, though
faint one, that I may be able to get the
Committee Of Public safety, as they
choose to be called to release you Of
their own accord. There is u certain
service they want ME to undertake for
them. What it is l do not know; and,
therefore, l do not know whether it
will be possible for me to attempt it.
SO, would advise you not to build too
many hopes on the chance of my being
able to do it. Still. there is Il chance.
| 1t is not quite hopeless.
| At first the eyes Of the Prince fairly
darced with joy. Then as he contin-
ued to hang upon my words. and
1 warned him that the service required
i of me might turn out to be one that
could not or would rot perform. Il look
of extreme anxiety came into his face.
(! But you will DO it. MI. Heath, Won't
your he cried. eagerly Selling me by
the arm. '"There can't be much danger
in doing it. whatever it is. And you
are an Englshman-you are not afraid
of danger. Only say that you will do
What they want of you, onl get ME out
of this foul den, and will give you
! any sum of money that you like to
name-anything in reason, that is.
You will consent? am sure you will!''
!; The mans selfshness disguised me.
and I answered, coldly that, until l
knew what the service required of me
I was could not possibly pledge my
self to perform it. eff it were to COM
me to do that?" 1 added, with smile.
j 'Well no. l suppose not. And vet,
there great many men in the Cars
Something would depend upon the per-
son i'll such a case. wouldn't 1t. MI.
Heath1 And then, it could hardly be
called murder, YOU know, being done
for so good an object. l am sure that.
under the circumstances. when l come
to explain all the points involved to
His Majesty, he would pardon you.
even supposing that the thing leaked
out: for there are many men of rank
and influence here. and. of course, l
could inform the police and get them
all rescued, it l We're once at liberty.
SO, don't think you need be too scru-
pulous about falling in with the views
of those scoundrels. And. remember,
the reward would be enormous"
There was mixture Of cringing and
| patronage in the manner Of this proud
man, as he feebly tried to extract a
promise from me that would do what
was necessary for his release at all
costs to myself, and at any sacrifice OF
principle or morality. that Disguised
me even more than his unblushing self
ishness. 1t was with the greatest diff
ficulty that I could conceal my con-
tempt for him. For answer. l could
only repeat what l had said before.
Besides" 1 added. con the way here
we were kept sailing about so long
that. as I was prevented from looking
at the compass, and had no idea of the
distance we covered, l could not posi-
bly, give directions from which anyone
could make out the position of this ISL
and On the map"
SIT is an island, then? thought sou
heard the Prince say to himself in a
low tone; and saw that l had been
indiscreet.
GLOW was it that you came to lind
out what had become Of me? And why
did you not give information to the po-
lice at once?' asked the Prince, alb
ruptly.
I explained that L had gone to st.
Petersburg to make inquiries on be-
half of Princess Kropenski, and that,
accidentally, meeting friend there, l
had gained through him positive in
formation that he was prisoner in
the hands of the Nihilists, and finally
obtained permission to visit him, on
condition Of giving a solemn promise
Of secrecy.
sBy the way, how is the Princess?'
he asked. 1t was the first time her
name had been mentioned between us.
I answered that she was in her usu-
al state Of health, but, Of course, suf-
fering from anxiety on his account
The Prince listened with an absent
expression, as though he were think
ing of something Of the greatest mo-
mcnt.
will you carry a letter from me to
herr" he asked "It shall be a mere
note. but it concerns important family
matters. so that, even if had the op-
portunity. 1 could not intrust it to a
stranger I know it would be abso-
lutely safe in your hands,
81 think can promise to carry the
note for you," l answered, after think
ing moment But it must deal only
with private family matters, and there
must be nothing in it that would give
a hint as to where you are, or what mas
happened to YOU 1t will be enough to
say that you are we'll and hope to re-
join her soon-.'
ooh, that is quite understood. will
be discretion ITSELF" said the Prince.
There was small table in a corner
of tile cell, which held writing materl
/ ais. as we'll as two or three books. In
five minutes the Prince had written
his letter and handed it to me. 1t was
addressed to the Princess Kropenski,
| and sealed with morsel of gummed
paper. which appeared to have been
I torn from au old envelope.
| Scarcely had put the missive in my
breast pocket when the door of the cell
was opened, and Paul Won Mitschka
\ Stnc<l before l1a 9Gtaifit II