Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-07-15
Blu JOHN ROE GORDON
Copyright, 1902, by F. r. Toombs

trying to get Koura Off to marry ner
or was acting as an agent for the
ameer, I don't know. But he was ar
rested and brought here. You will see
him soon."
what name did he give?"
HE gave the name, believe, Irons.
Said he was going to Mini Novgorod
to sell pumps and windmills."
Colonel Jurnieff nearly fell off his
chair. He stared at Orskoff till that
officer thought the governor of the pris-
on was daft.
"Do you know him? Did the lieu
tenant do wrongY'
do 1 know him! Now we have him
in our hands we will finish him. Do
know him! We have watched him for
year, but he is like rat. So he was
stealing Biartelkis and his daughter?"
II don't say he was stealing Biartel-
kis. We can find no trace Of him."
Call that orderly"
The orderly came in again and sa.
luted.
Alexander, that man of whom we
spoke is under arrest. He was not
content with following one of the most
beautiful of Russian girls, but it was
he who abducted the daughter of Biar-
telkis."
Has she been found?" asked the
orderly, forgetting his manners in his
intense interest.
Eyes, thank God! But her father is
yet missing. We shall know more after
we have heard them all. You under.
stand your duties. l charge you to be
shrewd and faithful Cor
The orderly, Alexander Borge, walk
ed through the corridors of the prison
with tagging steps. An officer passed
him.
MY captain, am not WE'LL" he said.
May l be relieved for an hour?"
The captain nodded and walked on
into the Office. Alexander hurried to
another portion of the prison, where
there were rooms luxuriously fitted up.
He knocked cautiously at one, giving
a certain signal. A young Russian girl
opened the door.
Alexander! You not on duty? What
has happened?"
II got relieved for an hour to tell
you something for Mile. Alma"
"Quick! In here!"
She ushered him into small stor-
nge closet and listened breathlessly.
"The colonel charged me again With
my Duties" he said "He had received
letter from his brother that the young
American whom we could not trace
was in Astrabad, Persia. He was to
go from there. to Mini Novgorod to
meet Mile. Alma, as last year. Later
learned that he is under arrest for tax.
ing away Koura Biartelkis."
"It is impossible. He has not been in
Tiflis."
81 know, but that is the charge. He
was on the boat that took her away.
Would you tell Mile. Alma7"
"Yes, certainly, must tell her ev-
erything. believe this is false
charge got up to put the American in
prison"
Perhaps. But must be off. will
watch. I will return If anything is
new"
In another suit of apartments love-
ly young girl, with pale face and long
ing eyes, sat listlessly looking from
window. The gin whom Borge had
just left entered.
Marie, what is the excitement in
the streets?" asks Mile Alma. Some
thing unusual, even for fair time, has
happened. One girl, one of the few
friends have made-I have always
met her when making purchases at
her fathers bazaar-is already missing.
hope the Turks have not found a
way to outwit the law"
"Koura Biartelkis is found, mademoi-
selle."
"Then that must be the cause Of the
excitement Oh, when will this cruel
exile come to an end? Marie, suppose
Alexander should be sent away where
you could never see him."
81 should cry, mademoiselle."
Cry? Tears alone will not unite
lovers. If they would, could shed
rivers. 1t must be grand to live where
love is not thing for prison walls"
"But you are not prisoner, made
moiselle."
"Am not? l have the privilege Of
driving out in my uncle's carriage.
But am I not watched constantly? Is
not my uncle forever giving orders that
no letters shall be allowed to reach me?
Gould I send letter even If knew
where-he-was?"
With burst of sorrow Marie fell at
the feet of her mistress.
ooh, mademoiselle! l have such bad
news for you! / would not tell, but l
know you wish to hear all. He is
here!"
Here! You mean NJ. Irons-here in
Tiflis."
eyes, mademoiselle, and will soon
be in this very prison"
Alma's fingers clutched at her bosom,
and she half rose from her chair, but,
swaying, fell back.
"Will you have water. mademoi-
selle?"
NO; want news. How-where did
they take him? Is it true? Did Alex.
ander tell your"
Eyes. 1t seems he was on the same
boat. They say he was taking away
Koura Biartelllis."
II do not believe it! No; know he
loves me- 1t was not NJ. Irons"
Perhaps not, mademoiselle. But we
shall soon know"
Eyes. but my heart will break with
apprehension. If they have taken him,
after warning him to keep out of Rus
STA, they will charge him with any