Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-04-20
CHAPTER xxx.
RctributiOn.

gle, and for several minutes we wrest-
led for the mastery With all our might.
No house was near, but there was al
ways a chance, that someone might
come by that way, and more than
once the Prince shouted Justify for
help. ~: a.
was under a sexious disadvantage,
for. though l strove with all my might
to free myself from 1.-The Princes grasp,
aud used his .HighnesS more roughly
than he had probably ever been used
before. still l could Snbt bring myself
to reduce him to- poweHlessness byaa
blow.The Prince, on the other hand,
had no such scruples., He struck nc
several times saTsHgely on. the face
with his clcncfrefl fist, and these. blows
weakened ME considerably l was in
Il difficulty: for, cordially us l hatpJt
The Prince. l coul4 not forget that he
was the fathersof. the. girl loved. aud
that the dearest WISH Of my heart was
to have the right to call him by that
sacred name.
Yet | felt that could not keep up
the unequal fight much longer. The
Prince was Il strong. heavy man. too
heavy for me to throw by main force.
and | knew none of the tricks of the
wreStler'S art. ! did know something
of boxing. but that was just the sci
ence that, for the time, was useless to
me.
My strength was fast going. for the
blows | had received every now and
then had their effect. when the sound
of sledge bells again fell on my ear.
The Prince threw back his head and
shouted for help. had one hand
free and | was Sorely tempted to
grasp the great red throat of the man.
and squeeze it until | had squeezed
the breath out of it. | am glad now
that | resisted the temptation.
The jingle of the bells sounded near
er and nearer. The sledge was not
coming along the road; it WAS coming
down the avenue. But that mattered
1T thing. The help the Prince had
shouted for was at hand. Even if
had struck him to the eartll-even if
had killed him on the spot could not
escape. l made up my mind to yield:
but before l could utter the word the
Prince had knocked me down ana
Srasping me by the throat.
The horses were going at a gallOp.
but the man who was driving, seeing
two men struggling together in the
middle of the road refined them III sud
denly and leaped out.
Hold him. said the Prince to the
newcomer: and. painting heavily. he
rose slowly to his feet. still holding
my collar on one side. while the Strang-
d, .er laid his grip on the other.
lad + 1,f,.,
a hundred yards: the slelge. driven by
a second traveller. following slowly be-
lind us.
, II think we have gone far enough
new said the stranger.
| stood stock-still With amazement.
1t was the voice of Paul Won Mitscll-
ka He let go my collar. and the
Prince also let me go without think ing
what he was doing, so great was his
establishment.
so what they told me was true"
said the consrirator speaking with de
llberate incisiveness. You have not
merely broken your pledged word in
respect Of this gentleman. but you
would close his mouth forever by
handing him over to the Czar-in 9th
er words, you would have rewarded
him for releasing you from prison by
sending him to the scaffcld. Cur and
reprobate! death is too good for you,
Is there, anything you can say in de-
Tense Of your conduct: No.:
You are entirely mistaken. my goo;.
sir. You have been grossly misin
formed" said the Prince. after looking
up the avenue and back towards the
gates. "If you and Mr.. Heath will
come to the Castle with me. | shall be
able to explain everything to your sat
isfaction, and carry out the promises
which, in a moment of weakness
you must think us fools like your
self, if you expect US to walk into a
trap so easily" said Won Mitschka. in
a tone of scorn. Then, in another
voice. as solemn as that of a judge
pronouncing sentence. he said:
Your atrocious treachery has been
reported to us, and YOU have been con
dcmned to die. If you can repent of
your sins, do so. for Your hour has
Gomez
NO. no." cried at would be muir
der. No matter what he has done to
me. you must not kill him. Great
heavens! it would be too hOrrible.'
For the space Of minute. we We're
all three silent. each one of us looking
from one to the other. Our faces were
Just visible in the light of the lamps
carried by the sledge, which was now
standing close to us.
Il repeat-make your peace with
God, for you have not many moments
to live" said the Nihilist. in the same
calm voice he had spoken in before.
The Prince laughed but it was an
uneasy laugh. and. for my part. saw
that Won Mitschka was in deadly ear
nest. l had learned that when he was
most calm he was most dangerous.
"You shall not do such thing. l
cried, selling the Nihilist by the arm.
He never stirred, but made an imper-
ceptible movement with his head in
my direction, and the look was under
stood. His companion stole up behind
me, and before l had time to grapple
with him he had flung his arms about
me, carried me off my feet and thrown
me down in the snow. ] fell on my
face. andA was still struggling to rise.
wien I heard the crack Of a revolver
Then the sound of heavy falh,a deep
sgroan, and all was still.