Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-28
ITO be continued nett Sundayl
Synopsis of Preceding Chapters


CRANK ARMSTRONG, a young British army
officer, who had acquired intimate knowl-
edge of the Russian language and customs, was home
in London on leave, where he renewed his acquaint
ance. begun in St Petersburg, with the Earl of
Vaetort and his wife, Lord Cunningham their son,
and Lady Ermyntrude their daughter. The party
attended lecture at the Anarchists Club, where
they conversed with Russia in the audience. At
g party at the Nalletorts' home at Ascot, Arm
strong found that the Russian Prince. Boris
trude, with whom he in love, but dared not
aspire to high above him socially. When out
riding, bomb was thrown at Melnikof, who escaped
uninjured however, though he enraged at the
loss of opal talisnan that he wore. Armstrong
found the opal and curious to note that it bore
side three golden trianges, or pyramids, the
same design he had seen on the handle OF a knife
owned by the Russian at the Anarchists Club.
When he returned 1t to Melmkof, the latter ap.
secret. When he started back to London Arm
strong encountered at the station the same Russian
at the meeting and accosted him. Menlkoff
explained to Ernyntrude that there tradition
that when the opal was broken his family line would
cease to exist He proposed marriage to her. but
they were interrupted before she could answer.
The Russian (whose name was Ivan Stephanovitch)
introduced Armstrong TO a young woman named
the pighted wife of Melnikoff. The body of
Russian woman, tied with cords was found in pond
where Melnikoff assailed. When Arm
strong told Menikoff of meeting the Russians, the
Prince displayed considerable trepldatlon; but SAID
he and Ivan were of the same house, that Natushka
was Ivan s ward, not his sister, and that a " foolish
marriage compact for him (Melnikoff) and the girl
had been made in their infancy by their parents
Melnikoff's valet iured Armstrong into vacant
house in London and left him there locked in
Frank escaped, and departed for Anglo-lndia
where he was assigned to work with boundary
commission. A letter from Birmingham announced
that t,rmyntrude would marry Melnikof that
Carlinghan the Earl and Ermyntrude going
to spend the winter the Princes estate at Ban
nofka and that the girl found murdered in the
Ascn pond named Vera Sassutch. Arm
strong caught of his servants copying his
letters The latter explained that he had been paid
to copy all letters containing the name Melnlkof
Boris, at Bannofka, begged Ermyntrude to marry
him at once, on the plea that his promotion to the
governorship of the Province prevented his going
to England A Russian, Vladimir Sassutch, who
secretly entered her apartment, informed her that
his daughter Olga Sassulitch married to Meni-
kof and that the Gar had declared the marriage
morganatic. ErInyntrude refused to marry Boris
the DukhOf Monastery; but disObeyed the hint.
On the way home the party was attacked, and her
father and brother disappeared, evidently having
been taken prisoners. Armstrong reached Moscow
on his way home, and sent a telegram to CARING
ham, asking for meeting This was answered by
Melnikof, who replied that Carlingham was away
on shooting excursion. He was followed about
Moscow by Russian SPIES and II was Joined
meet the latter at Saratof Ermyntrude dis
covered that she virtually a prisoner in
Melnikoffs palace Lord Valletort wrote to Errnyn-
ers, but that if she married Melnikoff they would
be liberated. Ermyntrude consented to enter the
compact for the sake of her relatives When the
ceremony about to take place at Dukhof Chapel
the marriage party attacked suddenly, and in
the melee frunyntrude disappeared. She found her
self directed through secret door and along dark
tunnel, with Frank Armstrong and a party of Rus
slams. She went willingly, and finally found herself
In the apartments of Natushka the woman Frank
had encountered in London. After Lord Vaetort
and his attacked the way home from
the Dukhof Monastery they were driven in round
about way to the same monastery and kept there
prisoners. An attack upon the place
pulsed by the attendants. Then they were hidden
to get ready to depart for Bannofka. Dumanet,
the Princes valet, proposed to Julie, Ermyntrudes
maid that they two form compact to stand to-
gether in all developments at the castle, offer
ing to scheme against Melnikoff.