Warren sheaf., 1901-09-05

sO1Sd UoWeu 1OW DIS lle CluCCuGQ the
order, and, having once more prom
lsed obedience, he hurried from the
imperial presence. AS he passed
out through the wide court he walk
ed slowly and thoughtfully and with
his head bowed. But soon he start
ed up, his hands came together with
an emphatic movement, and he NOV
ed on more quickly. He had gained
the street and approached small
court within which stood a house
OF entertainment, where he stopped.
In a few moments more a man came
out from the inn, and as soon as he
had satisfied himself that the new
conner was the duke he spoke.
"Olga, is't you?"
eyes"
It needed but a single glance in
the dim starlight to recognize the
form of the humpbacked priest. He
walked quickly to where the duke
stood, and the two moved off to-
gether.
"Now what luck ?" Savotano ask
ed as the gained the street once
more.
"Good-as good as I could even
hope," returned the duke. <tI have
the power for arresting the gun
maker.''
"And for executing him?''
<'lt amounts to the same. I am
ordered to bring him before the en-
peror, but that is easily managed"
Here the duke stopped and gazed
about him, and then, bending his
head so that no word could possibly
pass beyond his companions ears,
he continued:
'|You can call upon three of your
best men, and I can furnish two from
among my own servants. Early in
the morning, by the time the sun is
up, they must be at the gunmaker's
dwelling. They must make him an
gry--of course he will resist
then kill him. It is very simple
very. They can easily dispatch him
thus, and then we have only to tell
the emperor that he resisted the I'M
perial authority even unto death.
So, you see, this is even better than
it would have been had I received
direct authority for his death, for
then some form of trial would have
been necessary, but now we have
only to go to his house, provoke him
to quarrel, kill him and then tell
the emperor how it happened. What
think you?"
"Why," returned the priest, with
b wicked chuckle, ''I can only say
that Master Newell is done for-he is
q dead man."
EXACTLY. Nothing could be bet
ter-nothing."
After the explanation of this
6endish, hellish scheme the two
walked on some distance in silence.
E'Stop!" uttered the duke, catch
ing his companion by the arm,
es'There come two persons this way.
We must not meet them. Here
into this passage -quick!"
It was a narrow, dark passage
leading to the next street, into
which the duke dragged his compan-
ion, and here he meant to remain
until the two persons had passed.
The fact was the duke did not wish
to be seen with the priest at that
hour in the street, and it is no mat
ter of surprise that he should at
that moment have been Influenced
by guilty fear. The two pedestrians
came on and passed the spot where
the men STOOD, They we're females,
and one Of them the priest saw in
the face. The features were upturn-
ed to.the starlight, and he recogniz-
ed them. He caught the duke quick
ly and nervously by the arm.
"By the host of heaven,'' he whis-
pered, twas the countess!''
"Rosalind % gasped Olga.
"Ies, as sure as death!" ., p.
'FThen come, quick!" .. ...s r-.*
Savotano understood the mean
ing Of this, and he followed the duke
quickly out. At a few bounds Olga
reached the females, and one of
them he caught by the arm. She
uttered sharp, quick cry, and as
she turned her face up she revealed
the fair features of the Countess
Rosalind Valdai. The priest had no
need to stop the other girl, for she
stopped Of her own accord as soon
as she found that her mistress was
captured, .. .4m.ay.. l,a &,.jqa@.@q )
"EAhap Olga uttered when he saw
that pale face. *'What now, eh?
Where are you bound at this un-
seemly hour?'' 3" '951"2'.t u. . .t'sSs1 Z.
- I. 4