The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1902-02-21

ihS 1iI PSIbts Otic VI NuOHl WAS lie
metrius the Greek, and the place O.
audience was in one of the private
APARTMENTS near the bedchamber
whtrc only privileged ones were evel
allowed 10 come.
Sire" commenced the duke,
You remember the gunmaker whit
wa before You not long since"
"Ah, yes-the one who took m,
Greeks sword from him."
"'ihe same, sire. Have you hearC
from him since :"
"By my soul, Olga, l had wei
Nth forgotten the fellow. Yes
yes; | remember him well now. He
was right stout knave."
"Aye, and dangerous one, too
sire-a dangerous man." said the
duke, with 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 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 despcradoes."
as it possible ?"
Il Know it, sire
"By st. Paul, | should not have
believed this !"
'Nor would | have believed it,
sire, had l not received proofs not
to be questioned. |, 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 1 gave direc.
ton that you should not be troubled
with the affair. But l hsve 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 Newell was with them.
But he made his escape"
81 do remember me now that the
fellow had a bold bearing and
fearless look" said the emperor half
to himself, "and if such man turns
villain there must be danger in it."
"Aye, sire, you speak truly, and
now, with your order, / can appre-
bend the fellow at once"
81 can send and have it done, my
dear duke"
"But your officers may not find
him. | know where he is and can
have him taken at once. He has |
several hiding places"
"Well, then you might do the
work with more advantage"
"Aye, and l can have him tried
and disposed of without further
;rouble to you, sire"
'No, no. l wish to see him." re-
,urned the emperor. 81 will give
you the necessary order, and you
nay bring him here"
Peter then turned to his secreta-
y and babe him fill an order for Ru-
lie Nevel's arrest. The stout mas
er at arms looked on with trou-
lied countenance, and his glances
oward the duke were anything but
owing. He did not seem to relish
he business at all, and the express
ion of his countenance would seem
o indicate that he did not believe
Ii that the duke had said. II
However, the order was soon {
lade out and in the dukes posses {
ion.
"Remember," said Peter, "you
ill bring him before me-
"You shall be obeyed, sire" {
If the emperor did not notice I
ne strange, dark look of the duke {
5 he turned away, the Greek did,
nd he fancied, too, that he knew '
hat it meant. But he said nothing t
len.
Olga bowed low as he clutched the
'der, and, having once more prom \
ed obedience, he hurried from the t
nperial presence. AS he passed :
1T through the wide court he walk t
slowly and thoughtfully and with !
IS head bowed. But soon he start i
up, his hands came together with II
emphatic movement, and he NOV
on more quickly. He had gained II
le street and approached a small D
'urt within which stood house
entertainment, where he stopped.
| few moments more man came