The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1902-09-27

uCl SOul pdH1Ou- 1lOPO Wdo LIZ" Oily .
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 lula 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, 'Swhat 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 well
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 few evenings since
he Knocked down one of our holy
priests and robbed him of all he
had. He is at the head of a numer-
Gus band of desperadoes."
els it possible ?"
81 know it, sire"
''By st. Paul, I should not have
believed thisl''
."Nor would 1 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, Oh
ga" interrupted Peter.
"Ah, sire, because I gave direc-
ton that you should not be troubled
with the affair. But have them
now. 1t is only last evening that I
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"
Il do remember me now that the
fellow had bold bearing and
fearless look" said the emperor half
% himself, ''and if such man turns
Tlllain there must be danger in it."
AYE, sire, you speak truly, and
low, with your order, 1 can appre-
lend the fellow at once"
L can send and have it done, nv
lear duke"
"But your officers may not find
lim. l know where he is and can
lave him taken at once. He has
everal hiding places"
We'll, then you might do the
york withmore advantage"
"Aye, and l can have him tried
md disposed of without further
rouble to you, sire"
mo, no. wish to see him. re-
'urned the emperor. "I will give
7ou the necessary order, and you
nay bring him here"
Peter then turned to his secreta-
y and babe him fill an order for Ru-
1c Neve's arrest. The stout mas
er at arms looked on with trou-
lied countenance, and his chances
oward the duke were anything but
owing. He did not seem to relish
ne business at all, and the express
ION of his oountenance void seem
o indicate that he did not believe
Ii that the duke had said.
However, the order was soon
lade out and in the dukes posses
ion.
:, ",Remember,' said Peter, "you
all bring him before me.'
You shall be obeyed, sire"
Ii the emperor did not notice
ne strange, dark look of the duke !,
he turned away, the Greek did,
nd he fancied, too, that he knew /
hat 1t meant. But he said nothing
hen.
olga bowed low as he clutched the |
rider, and, having once moro prov,