, 1904-06-22
CONTINUED
CHAPTER VII.

XII decision YETI" asked Aim
WUd4N Jurnieff as she met Orderl
u XIII Alexander Borge in the col
Fidor of the living rooms a few day
after the trial.
mo decision has been made public
Mile. Jurnieff. There is much secrecy
There is to be a squad of prisoners sen
to Siberia in a month. l believe tn
American is numbered among them"
"Siberiai They would not dare! II
send an innocent American to Siberit
would bring on war"
mot if he died." said Alexander
with a shrug. "Some who are number
ed for Siberia never start. They die
before the time comes. Hushl Here
comes Colonel Jurnieff"
He walked away without salutine
her, and her face was devoid of expires
SION when her eyes met those of her
uncle.
81 have news for you" he said, close
II observing the girl. 1.-THE governor
ia to give a ball to Prince D%ellnikoff.
He will attend to his new official du-
ties while here, and the governor wish
% to entertain him."
"There Is no objection, is there?
What are the new duties of the
princeT
HE has beer appointed inspector
general of prisons for S%tavropol, Tifis
and Astrakhan. 1t was probably
through the influence of the general,
your father, that he obtained this i'm
portant post. l received a letter from
your father today. Would you like to
read it?"
81 will read it If you WISH" answered
Alma listlessly.
sit will save me the trouble of re-
peating his wishes to you. Take the
letter to your room and study it. Con-
slider well its contents. You will profit
by meeting your fathers wishes in this
matter. You have been severely pun
ished, l know, by your semi-imprison-
ment here. Hereafter l am going to
permit you to have your W way. |
want you to meet the prince at the
ball. 1t may be necessary for you to
make purchases. You are at liberty to
use the carriage any day between 2
and d."
'Thank you," said Alma. She bowed
and went to her room
"Some plot" she murmured as she
shut her door. what deviltry is afoot
now? So am asked to read a letter
from my father, the first of his letters
that have been even spoken of to me-"
She sat down and read:
MY Dear Br~other-You will doubtless be
surprised to hear of the appointment Of
Prince Dellnikoff to the important post Of
inspector general of prisons. 1t was a
happy thought of mine to a him ap-
pointed to a position of power and impor-
tance, sufficiently so to please him and
make his sojourn in your portion of Rus
sia not unwelcome. 1t will bring him
often to Tifis and give you an opportunity
TO bring the prince and my obstinate
daughter together. 1t is probable that the
governor will entertain the prince. II SO,
inspector general OF prisons. she seem
ed pleased after that"
Jurnieff turned away.
"What was there in the generals let
ter to produce this changer" he asked
himself. sit is remarkable. l can now
write to him that he is in a fair way
to have his dearest wish gratifed. ]
ought to be promoted myself if that
comes off"
what did my uncle ask you, Ma
rie?" inquired Alma as the carriage
was being driven off.
HE had noticed that you were gay
and smiling of late. He asked me thu
cause. l said l believed it was be
cause the prince was coming. l TOLD
him you had studied the uniforms O.
the inspector general of prisons ant
had seemed pleased"
81 must be cautious"
Arriving at one of the largest ba
zaars, Alma left Marie in the c~arriag
and proceeded to do her shopping alone
She was attired becomingly, her gov.
setting off her form to advantage
Among the things she purchased was
long cloak, reaching almost to tn
ground, having a hood for covering tn
head in winter.
Permit me, lady, to carry your pun
ehases to your carriage" said the me-
chant.
you may, but not yet. | shall nee
some more things. ! am going to
cafe for lunch and shall wear my nev
hood and cloak. These Persians an
Turks stare at n so. When return
i shall make more purchases"