Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-08-07
Ftlk Gl)NNAkkR
OF MOSCOW,
By sxIvANUs COBB, JR.

don't tremble. Leave 1t all to me.
Remember, now, you have"-
"Fear not, Zenobie. Go on"
So on they went, and when they
reached the lodge Rosalind went in
first and stood by the wicket, while
Zenobie followed and opened the
door that looked into the porter's
room.
"Good John," she uttered in anx-
ious tones, "come and open the wick
ct for me, quick. My good mistress
is very i'll, and Tilda and I are going
for the doctor. Come; be quick"
"But why don't some of the men
go?" asked John as he started up
and forced his dog back.
because 'twould take them lon
ger to do the errand than twill us.
But don't detain US. We shan't be
long"
The honest porter had orders not
to allow the countess to pass out,
but he thought not of that now.
He had known the gentle girl from
child, and so well did he love her
that he might not have stopped her
even had he known she was then
waiting to pass out. At all events,
| be could not refuse the present re-
| quest, so he came out and opened
the wicket without further ques-
ton, and the girls passed through.
"Now, now,' uttered Zenobie in
nervous haste, eve are clear of the
palace. Here is the street. Our
walk is not long"
Rosalind answered not; but, draw
ing her robe more closely about her
to keep out the cold, biting wind,
she hastened along by the side of
her companion. Hope was now alive
within her. She turned one glance
behind her, and she could see the
light which she had left burning in
her chamber. 1t seemed at that mo-
ment to be the fiery eye OF demon
gazing after her, and instinctively
she quickened her pace.
Twice during the day did the
Duke of Tula call at the imperial
palace without being able to find the
emperor, but in the evening he was
more fortunate. The emperor was
in, and Olga was admitted at once
to his presence.
"Well, my lord duke" said Peter
as Olga approached, sswhat business
calls you from home at this hour"
"Business of Importance, sire
business of less moment to me than
to the state"
"Ah! Proceed"
Only two attendants were with
the emperor, one of whom was De-
metrius the Greek, and the place of
audience was in one of the private
apartments near the bedchamber,
where only privileged ones were ever
allowed to come.
"Sire," commenced the duke,
"you remember the gunmaker who
was before you not long since?'
"Ah, yes-the one who took my
Greeks sword from him."
'The same, sire. Have you heard
from him since?"
"By my soul, Olga, I had we'll
nigh forgotten the fellow. Yes,
yes; remember him well now. He
was right stout knave."
"Aye, and a dangerous one, too,
sire-a dangerous man." said the
duke, with a dubious shake of his
head.
"Ah! What has he done?"
"Why, he has been engaged in va
rious robberies to my certain knowl-
edge, and only a few evenings since
he knocked down one of our holy
priests and robbed him of all he
had. He is at the head of numer-
Gus band of desperadoes."
'Is it possible?"
81 know it, sire"
"By st. Paul, l should not have
believed this~
"Nor would l have believed it,
sire, had l not received proofs not
to be questioned. I, as is my duty,
have long been anxious to ferret out
this gang of robbers
"But | never heard of them, o.
ga" interrupted Peter.
"Ah, sire, because l gave direc-
tion that you should not be troubled
with the affair. But I have them
now. 1t is only last evening that l
got clew upon them. We found
them in an old building near the
river here in the Kremlin, and this
same Ruric Nevel was with them.
But he made his escape"
81 do remember me now that the
fellow had a bold bearing and a
fearless look" said the emperor half
to himself, "and if such man turns
villain there must he danger in it"
"Aye, sire, you speak truly, and
now, with your order, l can appre-
hend the fellow at once"
81 can send and have it done, my
dear duke"