The Iola register., 1902-07-11

soldiers.
The scene that ensued began by be-
ing grimly amusing and ended in pitt
full tragedy. For as much as he could
understand of the bargaining 1t seem
ed to Darrell that the merchants were
being royalty bled, but apparently the
prince understood them better than
the American did. Having received
certain sums in gold that was careful
ly stored away in bags. Kilziar dis
missed four of the merchants and de.
tanned the fifth, who was tie youngest
of them. a sharp looking fellow, tall,
smooth shaven and rather handsome.
BY Kilziar's orders he was left alone
with this man, and Immediately an ac-
rimonious discussion ensuCd. the prince
asserting that he had been cheated re
| garding the value of the caravan and
that many rich jewels were among its
merchandise. The tall fellow denied II
boldly, and Kilzlar's temper rose. Sud
/ denly, to DarrelPs unspeakable horror,
the prince whipped out his sword and
struck the offending merchant dead at
a blow. II was a murder of the coars-
est brutality, and If there had been a
seconds time for interference Darrell
would have been unable to witfiess
such crime without an effort to pre-
vent 1t, but the deed was done in a
fash.
Instantly there came n loud rapping at
the closed door, and a voice without
cried:
"Excellency, it is Korna with a mes
sage from Motman Khanp
IBID him enter" said Klzlar.
"Alone"
The young man came in hastily, but
as he raised his hand to salute he saw
the body on the floor and started back.
Have you never seen dead man be-
foreP growlcd Kilziar Come! What
is this message? Is Motman Khan not
satisfied with what has been doneT
"Motman Khan Is satisfied" replied
Korna. "Who would not be? All is
well with us. Gredskov is in our
hands, and your cxccllency as governor
of the place will control the pass. Ev-
cry caravan that crosses between Moz-
dok and Titlis must pay tribute to our
cause
zone Of them has just done So" an
swercd Kilzlar But the messagc?'
"WLy, it is here" said Korna. hand
ing the prince a letter. 1T appears
that Nouman Khan has learned of the
presence iu Gradsloy of the American,
Darrell. The khan wishes lis lie to be
I spared
"Eut ho died lasl night" said Ki'zlar.
"Nhy thcn have YOU ridden from
Grod.l,oy 90 tell me tmsf'
"Nocausc," replied Koua, "siuco
your departure this morning ! have
been told that the American escaped,
and, thinking that he might fall into
your hands again, | hurried forward
with the order"
THE Princess Vera seems much in.
terested," said Kilziar.
Another party of soldiers had by TINS
time invaded the prison, and the struc-
ture resounded with yells of rage as
the evidences of the massacre were dis.
covered Kevsli shook with terror, be-
lieving that the slaughter Of the pris-
Oners meant death to every one wear
ing the uniform of Russia in that city.
Nevertheless throughout the wild scene
that followed the officer to whom they
had surrendered succeeded in protect
!. ing them, and eventually they were
lodged under guard in a room of the
, military barracks where were gathered
about fifty other prisoners who by va
| rious kinds of good fortune had es-
capped the sword.
At o'clock that evening Darrell and
Kevski We're summoned before Prince
| Kilzar, who had established hendquar-
: tcrs in the house that had been occu-
| pied by the Russian military command
, er whose dead body lay at that moment
on bench under the stone portico.
= Il could not say, your eXcellency,"
was the reply. 81 have not been in the
confidence of the lady as much as you"
'You lie! You know that this Amerl-
can would have won the hand of Prin.
J cess Vera in marriage if we had not
got her out of Paris"
perhaps, your excellency," said Kor.
! ma warily.
"Aud now Motman Khan sends a
message about this very American.
: Well, what was he doing in Stavro-
pol?"
Korna smiled.
81 believe, your excellency, that he
came from Paris to find the princess"
kilziar cursed under his breath and
opened the letter.
you were right" he said "Motman
Khan commands me to seek this pris-
oner and set him free"
II knew that was the message" said
Korna. Surely we have no cause to
deal otherwise with an American. We
are fighting Russia"
Are wep cried Kilziar iercely
Are you the one to tell me whom we
are fightingp
"Not l, your excellency," answered
| .,.gg