Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-01-12
= 80 3 \
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!: THE BLACK TERROR 3
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: A Romance of R,sssia 4
- BY Il. LEYS. *
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n n n a n n n q a q n n n n n n n n J
A Romance Of Rstssia.
BY JOHN X. LEYs.
Observation-Disclosures
CHAPTER IN. (Continuedo

He assured me that no one but the
servants had entered the room for Il
week past-"eXcept.' he added, "the
Princes valet. He called yesterday
for some small articles he had left be-
hind, and lie stayed some time chatter
ing to one or other of the servants. We
did not consider him a stranger. But
trust. sir, you have missed nothing?"
"Nothing whatever Only, 1 fancied
some things had been moved. Ii the
valet-what is his name, by the way:''
'Ramaud, sir Jules Ramauu.'
"If Ramaud should call agin. kindly
let me know" said l. 'And if should
be out at the time. keep him, if you
can. till l return. l should like to ask
him one or two questions"
Ivan bowed and left the room.
l had no doubt now that the Princes
late valet was one of the ccnspirators
had vague suspicious about the man
be fore for thought it was suspicious
that he should wish to leave just when
his post owing to the absence Of his
MASTER had become Il sinecllre. | was
now convinced that he had been in
tro(luced to the mousse by the Com
nittec in order to aid them in abduct
ing the Prince But as to the manner
of the abducting was as much in the
night OF the Princes disappearance
ltamaud was out of the way-iu in
bed.
But ! had no time to pursue that
subject then. Locking the library
door. l sat down to read the letter
Isamaud had brought me.
1t was traced on thin paper. in a de-
1icate Italian hand, evidently wo-
mans; and it ran as follows:-
''You would have had your instruc-
lions before now, if the watch ove1
you had not been so strict. All letters
sent you through the post are opened
in the postottice. We ascertained this
by posting an envelope to you contain
ing an anonymous letter making certain
charges against the chief of the secret
police. We have reason to believe that
it never reached you. and. if this is the
case you will understand the necessity
for caution.
rrhc anonymous letter, l may say.
had not been deliveredl
Pray follow exactly the instruc-
tons here given. as it may be impos-
sible to find another opportunity of
communicating with you without ex-
citing fresh suspicious in the minds OF
the police. and inducing them to have
YOU watched even after you leave
Russia.
las soon as possible go hack to Low
na and inform the Princess kropenski
that her husband is Il victim of the
Black Terror, but that it is possible
that he may yet he restored to liberty.
We need scarcely say that any indis-
erection on your part in speaking to the
Princess would be considered as an act
of treason against the Committee.
You will at once announce your in
tention of returning to England, on the
plea that you cannot carry on your
work at the castle in the absence of
the Prince. You will then return to
London by any route you prefer. talk
ing care. however, to be in England by
the end of June.
''On the Sd of July you must go to
Brierwicl, small fishing village on
the coast Of Suffolk. At o'clock Oh
the morning of the 4th of July it will
be high tide: and exactly at that hour
you must be at the end of the pier
alone. and carry nothing but a small
bag containing change of clothes.
You will then be- told what you must
do; ard, if you still desire it. you will
be brought face to face with Prince
Kropenski.
Every precaution will be taken to
guard against treachery on your part;
and the Committee beg you to consider.
in case of your harboring any thought
of giving information to the English
police. that such all action could not
affect the members of the Committee;
in other words, the active heads of the
organization. The only result would
lie the sacrifice of a few uninf1uential
agents. while it would mean the blot
ting out of every ray of hope for
Prince Kropenski, and for yourself the
certainty of a violent death. You
need not think to escape us. Not one.
of all who have been condemned to
death by the Nihilist society. has es-
capped his fate. You would, if you be-
trayed us, be safe nowhere but inside
the walls of an English prison.
eve may add that we do not believe
:ilat this warning is necessary. We do
not do you the injustice to think that
you would prove a traitor. Yet it is
only fair that you should know what
tile penalty of treachery would infalli-
bly, be.
.;By Order of the Committee of Public
Safety"
Here ended this singular document.
For an hour or more l pondered it.
and wondered what would be the end
OF the adventure on which was enter
Ing. Then and there RESOLVED that
would not tell either the Princess
nropenski or her daughter that 1 in
tended to see the Prince. The proposal
might fall through. and in that case i
would only have raised their hopes to
no purpose. Still more did this apply
- my expectation that 1 might ulti-
Inately be able to procure his release
1t would be time enough to speak of
shat when / found that could under
take the job--or rather when saw my
way of accomplishing it. 1t were to
speak OF the project now, when moth
tag had been definitely settled, it
iwould be like endeavoring to gain
rredi Il and gratitude for a plaza mere
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