The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1904-08-31
CHAPTER XVIII.


"ARVEY broke the spell of ST.
H11M II thought you would see
V8EatU daylight. Now that we agree,
let us go on and plan. We must not
lose sight of the fact that we are deal
ing with unknown quantities. We have
no method of learning just where the
girls are. We must use measures that
will assist us. What was your idea
when you spoke Of becoming a traitor?"
II become a traitor the moment
give you your liberty and accompany
you upon the prescribed ground of Bo-
khara."
you must go even further than that.
We must use the robbers"
"Palpak! / must at least send him
and his brothers TO Tifls."
"You will then throw aside the one
staff that can assist us over the diff
Guilty"
"What use can the robbers be to usT'
"This fellow Palpak is chief of clan
called Zannucks, who hate the ameer
and all those who are faithful to him.
| overheard them talking in the cave.
1t seems the ameer levies such ex-
orbitant taxes that the Zannucks can
not pay. He taxes everything-wives,
children, cattle. That is the reason the
chief seeks to rob the ameer and his
people-to reimburse the Zannucks.
Palpak would not hesitate to help us
il by helping us he could work injury
to the ameer. Grant the robbers their
freedom. Let them take their booty TO
their people on condition that they as
sist us in rescuing the girls"
"Set free robbers who have attacked
Russian paymasters"
you said that you would not turn
back. Now you are trying to turn two
ways-one toward Tiflis, the other to-
ward Bokhara. 1t will not do. If you
wish to accomplish anything in this
affair, you must 90 the whole figure
stake all and win or lose. That is the
way | do business"
"What is your planT
Have Palpak brought here and let
us talk with him in straightforward,
businesslke way. Any man will help
another IL he can also benefit himself
by doing So
Il leave il to you. Your head is full
Of plans, while mine is simply taken up
with thinking of poor Koura."
II think of Alma as much as you do
of Koura. But simply thinking will
not rescue them. We must act, and act
quickly"
Orskoff sent for Nevisky. The lieu
tenant was pacing the bridge. eager to
be Off He could not understand why
the captain did not hurry to Tihis with
the prisoners instead of wasting the
time chatting in an apparently friendly
way with one of them.
Lieutenant, have the chief robber
brought to me-" said the captain.
AS Palpak was being led toward
them OrskOff said to Harvey: Conduct
the negotiations. ! will agree to any
thing you plan"
from the robber. When the three were
alone, Harvey said to Palpak:
1--WE have had you brought here to
have a buslnesslike talk. You appre-
ciate your situation, suppose"
Il am a prisoner of the car He
will perhaps kill me-"
Just so. And all Of your treasure,
the stealings of many months. is on
board this boat"
Eyes, to enrich a Russian officer. My
people can starve. The ameer's tax
must be paid or twenty of our best
young men and women must go to
Bokhara. 1t is wrong"
"Of course it is wrong We know
your people hate the ameer and that
the ameer is cruel. 1t was a strange
chance that took me to that island of
Ping Shong."
"You saved my life, for my brothers
were mad with wine"
"Your future course will show wheth-
er l. did well. Let me explain how