Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-02-18
THE TX" PAPERS.
A Dramatic Story Of the Russian Secret Service.
BY MARY BARBER.

| the Zenner; it was the right moment,
right weather, right everything.
During the afternoon 1 wired to
headquarters for particulars and the
whereabouts OF Prince di CongratZa.
The following morning was glorious
The snow scintillated against the deep
blue of the heavens and the Zenner
| looked no more than an hours stroll
away.
The Prince had arranged everything
guides, ice axes, ropes and proyis-
| ions.
Stephanie Dutour was late-she gen.
orally was.
Madame and will go on" said the
Prince. you will soon overtake us,
but don't delay, or we may tap the
| lunch baskets"
AS l waited in the little salon one of
! our cipher kilograms was handed to
me- 1t ran: "Height, five feet eight;
dark, clean shaven, spare, good voice,
musical; tattoo portrait on right up
per wrist, travelling in Europe; where
abouts unknown" Well, our new
friend corresponded pretty WELL so far,
| to his description!
| 1t was half an hour before Nine. Du-
tour appeared, clad in bewitchingly
smart and workmanlike costume, the
| promise of which her performance on
the snow utterly belled.
! "Oh, monsieur, in pity, one moment;
was ever poor woman so puffed? she
would exclaim. "You can run up ice
mountains, but be merciful and look
at the view, that l may breathe!'
| To feel irritated was brutal; convent
| walls do not produce deep-chested,
| free climbed climbers such as her native
| hills of Arran had made my Kirstine.
| Still it was disappointing to see my
bride only as one Of four black dots on
the SHOWS whiteness-for the advance
| party had taken both guides-during
the best part of the morning.
At lunch time at last, they awaited
us on little plateau, into which the
path widened before the sleeper part
of the ascent began.
Instantly I observed that not Hans
| and Amsler, but two new guides, were
uuSuOuluerllS tlle DaShetS'
"a thousand apologies! Three of my
| countrymen who arrived late last night
We're anxious to attempt the Kurhans-
bergh, and begged the more eXper-
fenced guides" explained the Prince,
| following my eyes. "That with us
they are only part of the mise en- scene,
and my friends are pressed for time,
| is my plea for forgiveness"
| "Of course, it doesn't matter, Prince
said Kirstine.
"Of course not" added.
But the Prince must have known
: that he was watched from that mo-
! ment.
! After lunch Kirstine and 1 made cof-
fee, while Stephanie and Prince di
Congratza smoked many cigarettes.
"What nice picnic it is" said my
wife. "The Prince is so merry and
charming, and he has been telling me
all about the revolution and his lost
principality. Do you know, begin
| quite to like him."
"Kirstine," I said softly, and stoop-
/ ing low over the little braZier, will
you do something for me?"
l saw my wiGe's expression change
suddenly. She nodded.
THE sun will be hot on the sleeper
path. If it makes your head ache you
will have to return"
Looking in her eyes I saw she under
stood.
A moment later handed the Prince
the coffee cup.
Make a long arm, Prince" l
laughed, leaning across the tablecioth
which was still spread on the snow.
As he did so l saw his right wrist
white and bare between the bronzed
hand and linen cuff.
There was no tattoo mark!
Suddenly l heard cry from Kir-
stine; she had fallen dangerously near
the plateau's edge.
As ran to her she struggled up.
NO I'm not hurt, Maurice. l only
tripped on something; it must have
been a stone"
"Ies. I think It was a stone" said
/, Nine. Dutour, as l stopped to brush
the snow from kirstne's gown.
, That is absolutely my last clear rec
objection. The next is binding clout
Of snow-clutching a crumbling white
, -falling-falling- nd-darkness-
> When l crept out Of that strange
blank l felt numbed and stunned. Ny
first impulse was to rise. In red-ho
physical anguish l realized that
could not move-my right side wa!
} helpless!
: The sweat stood on my forehead
! With held breath and clenched teeth
+ made another effort-merciful heavens
S Then lay without other thought thai
. my fierce agony.
n Slowly -cruelly- slowly-it lessenet
1 to the bearable, and | began to thnl,
G l was now lying on tiny plateau sim
liar to that whereon we had picnicket
e so gayly, a series OF which, l knew
= formed the painless side of the Zenner
n What had happened? With my lef