The indicator., 1904-07-23

koff's eyes. His sword was
Vs5e at the throat of the American.
kaSsa) 'Stealer of womenl Scoun-
drel who has twice stolen the daughter
of Blartelkis. Where have you hidden
her? The searchlight of the gunboat
revealed the hayboat, but she is not
there. Where have you hidden her?'
Nov, captain" said Harvey, don't
be too hasty in this matter. l did not
steal Koura Biartelkis, but I know
where she is"
you know! OF course you know!
But you lie when you say you did not
steal her You came down the Kur in
hayboat belonging to the Astrakhan
Charka with n woman disguised as a
man? Who else was that but Koura1"
you are getting excited! Kindly
take that confounded 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 if 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 Titiis.
Convey all the treasure on board
Turning again to Harvey, his face re-
suming its expression of hate, he said:
you know that love Koura, and to
rescue her l am willing to parley with
you. l had determined to kill you on
aight Come with me-"
Harvey followed his captor to the
entrance of the cave. Here he found
guard of additional soldiers with lam
terms. In the distance n brilliant
searchlight sent Its CLEAN upon the is
land, lighting 1t ms by day, In the
great light from the gunboat Harvey
could see that the old haybont had
stuck in the mud near the island. At
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 Eve prisoners were jostled rude
ly while getting into the boats and at
command from Orskoff We're soon on
the way to the waiting gunboat. They
were received on board by young Of
Anar who cnIuto1 nrSloa
81 congratulate you, my captain. I
am told by the men that you not only
captured the American who stole the
daughter of Biartelliis, 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 menT'
81 could not be mistaken. The leader
is Palpak, chief of the tribe of Zan-
nucks, nominally under the rule Of the
ameer. but hating him."
Guard them well then"
"shall we get under way at once, my
captainT
mo, lieutenant As you know. we
want to find Koura Biartelkis. l have,
1t is true, captured the man who stole
her but l have not succeeded In find
ing the young woman. Remain here
while investigate. 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
II will find way to unlock your
lips. If l cannot find Kourn on that
island in the morning, l will hang you
by your thumbs till you tell the truth"
But am anxious to tell 1t now. You
won't listen"
Orskofr 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 squad and returned
to the island. He examined every foot
Of the place and returned TO the gun
boat chagrincd and angry.
Bring up that American!" he COM
manded. Harvey was hustled to the
deck
Lieutenant Nevisky, attend" said
Orskoff. Nov, stcaler of women,
will give You one more chance to tell
the truth. If you do not, your thumbs
will be torn out. Your life depends
upon your answers. Tell where you
hnve 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 is
~ have searched the island. l am
convinced that Koura is not there"
II could have told you that and saw
ed you trouble and time. Koura is get
ting farther away every minute. You
will never find her"
you fiend, / will have your lifev'
howled the captain as he sprang to his
feet
"You do seem inclined that way, but
before you take it. reflect. Just show
a little common sense. IL you have any.
II you kill me, how do you expect to
fnd Koural'
But you say you do not know where
she is