The San Francisco call., 1904-04-17

no task to arrange some hitch. The
soothsayers could be bribed (if there
were any rubles ieftD TO put the af-
fair of.
Such were my thoughts as my pony
stalked unsteadily over the stones OF
the gate and into the wide avenue ly-
ing beneath the moon. 1t was crowded,
as though another spring rice famine
was on the land and had brought a
dozen COXey's armies to Keinning: yet
this was not a famine crowd, for il
was wen dressed and not very drunk.
The merchants in their booths and the
candy boys with their trays strapped
to their backs were doing a big busi-
ness. How they would growl when
this celebration was postponed!
/ felt my pony growing weaker, and
at last the poor thing stopped and then
sank slowly upon the ground. KEEP
neff's servant caught me in his arms.
and tried to lift me TO his own horse.
] asked him to support me while / at
tempted to walk TO the legation, the
blaze Of its lights making it seem now
but short distance away. So we went
forward. but as I gazed unsteadily up
on the blur Of lights. my strength left
I neared the river shorei My compan-
ion dragged me along to the legation
gate where the Cessack guard came to
his assistance. From there they took
me in the first door, which happened
10 be the anteroom Of the throne
room where the new sarcophagus
stood awaiting the body that / did not
bring. Here 1 revived and asked to be
taken to my own room. With my last
bit Of strength ! closed the lid OF the
sarcophagus that no one might know
that 1 had failed in my errand. Then
I sank on a Cossack's shoulder and let
go Of everything.
When I became myself / was in my
own bed, a soft hand on my brow; my
boy PAX was standing beside Dulcine,
and in a chair pulled up before the
fire De5neff was sprawled out. his face
tilted deiectedly over into his great
beard. Nothing could have brought me
more quickly to my senses than that
picture Of Dejneff and 1 closed my
eyes and went to work on the miser-
able problem now confronting me.
I knew and felt at the time that
should have called Dejneff and Oranoff
10 me and made a clean breast of
= 4
had conceived a sort OF a plan which
10 my dazed brain bade fair to save
me from making a confession. would
go to the King and tell him that Ling
and Ii had perished in the fire which
consumed the temple Of Ching-ling.
and that I. being only an aide. had not
been allowed TO take the Queens body
from Lynx Island-the order Ii car
ried from the King being lost with him.
BY this ruse the funeral would be post
poned at least until another messenger
was sent to Lynx Island for the corpse;
in the mean time new and better plans
could be made.
So 1 lay quiet under the stroking Of
that kind hand until DeJneff got up
and went unsteadily out Of the room.
Then ] pretended to return TO con-
sciousness and attempted TO sit up. I
was surprised at my success; evidently
the nourishment given me was of no
weak character.
Lie down. Robert" Dulcine said
softly; you are i'll; the doctor is COM
ing soon"
Il must not be ill., I blurted out
Where is Colonel Oranoff?"
At audience with the king" Dull
cine hesitated. and then added reluc-
family. who has just sent for you"
Good" I said with a spirit I did not
possess. Il must go at once"-before the
doctor comes, I thought to myself.
For a moment there was silence;
then. unmindful of the servants, Dull
cine seized my hands:
Tell me first, Robert dear. have you
brought 1.-THE Queens body?''
GraaIa 10 haerfv, r,,x- 1,-sv- vofo
especially with this girl I loved. but I
could see no happier alternative. Her
face was pale, and l could see that
some one had been suffering beside my
self. The storm has been terrible. and
we were afraid the Dulcette might be
destroyed with all it contained" she
added.
This was a new turn to the black lane
was travelling. but ] gave the same
answer that had formed upon my lips
we came overland. Dulcine" A
great, happy light broke over the girls
face, and ! saw she believed I had
placed the Queens body in the new
sarcophagus Colonel Oranoff had pre-
pared for it. I ached to tell her the
truth, but I withheld il and let her
bury her face in my hands a moment
for very Joy.
When she left the room got up sick
at heart. and went over to the chair
Dejneff had left, and sent PAX for a
decsnter OF wine, from which I drank
and drank desperately. I did not know
how weak was, nor how much liquor
De3neff had poured into me before.
Then I asked to be taken to the
King.
CHAPTER XII
ONE LIE I NEVER TOLD.