Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-08-05
CHAPTER XVI.
AN ARGUMENT AND AN EXPLANATION

CHAPTER XVI,
AN ARGUMENT AND AN EXPLANATION.
~ 1ENGEANCE cleaned in Ors-
" koff's eyes. His sword was
~ at the throat of the American.
"Stealer Of women! Scoun-
drel who has twice stolen the daughter
OF Biartelkis. Where have you hidden
bert The searchlight of the gunboat
revealed the hayboat, but she is not
there. Where have you hidden herr"
NOW, captain" said Harvey, don't
be too hasty in this matter. I did not
steal Koura Biartelkis, but I know
where she IT," %
you know! OF course you know!
But you lie when you say you did not
steal her. You came down the Kur in
a hayboat belonging to the Astrakhan
Charka with a woman disguised as a
man? Who else was that but Koura ~
"You are getting excited! Kindly
take that COMPOUNDED sword from my
throat. I'd like to talk with some COM
fort"
Comfort! A stealer Of girls asks
for comfort! That Is the limit of
American effrontery. I'll run the
sword to the bone"
IF you do, assure you that you will
never see your Koura again."
"See, he admits he has the girl! He
has accomplices who will kill her IL he
Is harmed" shouted one of the soldiers.
Something in the words and manner
Of Harvey impelled Orskoff to lower
his sword. He turned to the soldiers
who were guarding the four robbers
and said:
"Take them on board the gunboat.
1t is evident that they have robbed
Russians. for here are bags of rubles.
They must be taken at once to Tifis.
Convey all the treasure on board.'
Turning again to Harvey, his face re-
Stunning its expression of hate, he said:
you know that I love Koura, and to
rescue her am willing to parley with
you. l had determined to kill you on
sight. Come with me-"
Harvey followed his captor to the
entrance Of the cave. Here he found
guard of additional soldiers with Ian
terms. In the distance brilliant
searchlight sent Its CLEAN upon the is
land. lighting 1t as by day. In the
great light from the gunboat Harvey
could see that the old hayboat had
stuck in the mud near the island. At
a little distance was a sailing vessel,
evidently the property of Palpak and
his robber brothers. On the shore were
two boats, which had landed the Rus
SLAMS.
The five prisoners were jostled rude
" while getting into the boats and at q
command from Orskoff were soon on
the way to the waiting gunboat. They
were received on board by young Of
deer, who saluted Orskoff.
II congratulate you, my captain.
am told by the men that you not only
captured the American who stole the
daughter Of Biartelkis, but that you also
had the good fortune to seize the four
robbers who attacked the paymaster
and robbed him at Mogda."
"Are you sure these are the menu"
n could not be mistaken. The leader
10 Palpak. chief Of the tribe of Fan
nucks, nominally under the rule Of the
ameer. but hating him."
"Guard them well then"
"shall we get under way at once, my
captainr'
"No, lieutenant. AS you know, we
want to find Koura Biartelkis. / have,
It Is true, captured the man who stole
her, but have not succeeded in find
ing the young woman. Remain here
while I Investigate. I shall go on that
island In the daytime and search.
can see little at night even with the
searchlight."
Harvey stood waiting to be question.
ed but Orskoff paid little heed to him.
"Put the prisoners in irons" he said
to subaltern.
"But irons won't unlock my lips,'
said Harvey.
Il will find a way to unlock your
lips. II I cannot find Koura on that
island in the morning, l will hang you
by your thumbs till you tell the TRUTH
"But / am anxious to tell it now. You
won't listen"
Orskoff waved his hands, and Har.
vey was dragged away.
The gunboat remained, and as soon
as 1t was sufficiently light In the morn.
ing Orskoff took a squad and returned
TO the island. He examined every foot
bf the place and returned to the gun.
boat chagrined and angry.
"Bring up that Americana he com.
manded. Harvey was hustled to the
deck.
Lieutenant Nevisky, attend! said
Orskof. "Now, stealer Of women, !
Will give you one more chance to tell
the truth. II you do not, your thumbs
Will be torn out. Your life depends
upon your answers. Tell where you
have hidden Koura. Your punishment
Will be worse than death If you do not
koura was to have been my wife,
you said something like that before
but that she was to be your wife is
news to me. For my part, am willing
to tell you where she u.s."
II have searched the island. Lam
convinced that Koura is not there" s
II could have told you that and say.
ed you trouble and time. Koura is get.
ting farther away every minute. You
will never find her."
you fiend, I will have your lifev'
howled the captain as he sprang to his
feet.
"YOu do seem inclined that way, but
before you take 1t. reflect. Just show
little common sense. If you have any
II you kill me, how do you expect tc
find Koura 2"
But you say you do not know where