The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-04

sue FOaneu InrOusn ln6 great rooms
alone, scanning the faces Of those she
met, speaking to few, but watchful for the |
opportunity she crayed.
1t was nearly midnight when she became
discouraged and went to her room. The
servants of the palace were still at work
arranging the rooms for the dance.
But the princess did not retire. She sat
down near window and waited.
From the ballroom windows the glare
of lights spread out upon the surround
ing trees and buildings. From below
came the voices of those who were making
ready for the reception.
Therese came in to prepare her mist ress
for bed.
Not yet, Therese," said the princess
YEARLY. 81 shall not retire"
''You will make yourself ILL.," said The
reese nervously.
do not fear-T shall not be i'll. But
l am not ready for bed. l must wait
and act'
you will learn nothing tonight
cit is a night to learn. Leave me
alone.'
Therese stood moment watching the
princess with Wistful, loving glance,
and then she went to her own room.
The princess sat with scarcely a mo-
ton for more than two hours. An OBJ
server might easily have supposed she
had gone to sleep. But suddenly the glare
of the lights from the ballroom died away,
and the princess rose to her feet.
1T is finished she said, land they
are weary. Tomorrow night will be a
severe one, and they will retire at once.
Some one must be on guard-and gold Is
powerful. Tonight I must learn some
thing
Still she waited and soon all was silent
in the palace.
81 wonder if Neslerov is asleep" she
said. "Neslerov! I could almost hate the
G
cruel and heartless man became mem
Der Of our family cannot conceive. Even
though the relationship is remote, some
cousinships removed, l believe, yet re-
greet that any should exist. No-not now
| i am glad; for were he not sufficient re-
| lation to warrant my presence in his de-
! testable palace 1 could not have this OPP
portunity to learn the truth. Oh, Nesle-
| row! Vengeance will be mine-and it will
! be sweet
She had incased her feet in light Pa
! risian slippers, and in these she stepped
noiselessly from the room. The great
| bare corridor was dinlly lighted and no
person could be SEEN
While caution was necessary, it was not
because Olga feared. She was too power
| full herself to fear injury in the palace of
| Nesleroy. If the governor suspected the
| purpose of her visit, she would be no
| longer welcome, and the solution she had
so long sought would be delayed.
Silently she crept down the great wind
| ing stairs into the main hall. This was
| wide, high apartment, and from it opened
| many doors into other apartments. On
one side were the offices Of the govern
| ment of the province, on the other the
! living rooms Of the governors house
hold.
| The doors upon the left, leading to the
reception room, the governors room, the
| great ballroom and the dining room, were
closed. Two Of those on the right were
| open. In one room there was light, and
from it came the subdued voices of two
! men and the odor Of tobacco. The Other
| room was dark.
The princess remembered these rooms.
| She had seen them in her inspection of
the palace. That from which came the
voices and in which a light was burning
| was the Office of the superintendent of
police. The one next to it was a smaller
room, connected with the other by door,
which was locked. This small room had
| been intended for an office, but was now
| been in tended for an Office, but was now used
| for the purpose of storing books records,
| police material and desks. 1t was part
of the suit allotted to the superintendent
of police.
Olga stood in the hall and listened.
| She heard the. name of Paulpoff. With
| a fluttering heart she darted into the
| darkened room and took up her position
near the closed door between that and
| the Office ,.....
The two speakers sat near that door,
| with a round table between them, and
upon the table was a supply of liquor and
| cigars. ... .-. e.. Z.
The work of preparing the palace for
the festivities on the following night did
not come under the supervision of the
police, but all connected with the palace
| were interested, and these two were the
last to retire.
The speakers in shat other room were
Jansky, superintendent of police, and
| Inspector Unsgethop.
1.-THE whole thing is a complete mys-
terry to me-" said Unsgethop, speaking
somewhat thickly, having drunk consid-
cradle liquor. ut is mystery. First
we receive one command, then another,
and we do not know what to do. The gov
ernor is not wont to act thus
"You are not the first to have felt the
influence of this great mystery" said
Jansky. '"The governor is discreet"
| "Oh, + said complete mystery. would
not call it great mystery. That would
bring it to the dignity Of a celebrated
| case"
$50 it is. It Is one of the most cele-
brated cases in all Russia ~
THAT is too much! One of the most
celebrated cases in all Russia, and they
have not been in the dungeons more than
three days! The matter could scarcely
have gone beyond Tomsk."
Nevertheless I spoke truly
"Then there is something about 1t
do not know. When I reflect, it seems
of course that this must be the case
Else why should we receive secret orders
to capture-arrest, if you like-an Amer
|. lean and convict already punished and
we'll, see that they become lost to the
world?"
Princess Olga gave gasp as she heard
this. ...
"There Is one thing about it, said Uns-
gethop, who was now getting drunk
enough to be independent and indiscreet
"if something Is not done soon I shall
wash my hands of it. l don't like the
looks of it. OF course, one might kill a
blacksmith convict and no inquiry would
be made, but that American-that is diff
/ ferent." a#1 H.. =.
Keep quiet for a few days. Have yor
not seen that the governor has guest?'
Eyes, beautiful one. p
"That is Princess Olga Of the great
and powerful Neslerovs. She is distant
, ly related to the governor. And since
you are interested, I will tell you the
story as know it,
ooh, there is a story, then. thought
t So"
Y "There is story, and it is one which
tbo like have