The Grit-advocate., 1905-09-29

uiu Lpt dlteT tuelT puTpOSe. llud SpOht
again: 'Wait-a moment-more:
wait, and-and-listen." The voice
was broken with emotion. but she
gained strength as she went on
She felt that now, if ever, she must
succeed in swerving them from their
purpose. Listen, dear brothers-sis
tiers of the people-listen to me-t0
llda-to the sister of Ivan; listen one
moment mors-for Gods sake hear
me-hear me to the end. There. to.
night. among-among all that throng
of mobiles there was but-but one to
protect me. 1t vast was-this-
this young officer. Believe me, for
Gods sake; for dear Gods sake, be-
lieve me! He was my-my defender
my rescuer. Do not-do not harm
him! Have pity on me! I-I-oh.
brothers and sisters, he is no spy!
know it: be merciful. for me, to
him; spare him. and let him go."
No, no, he is spy! he is Nazi.
moff! He is here to betray us; ne
must die!"
The words rang in the ears of Ida
There was no hope for Alexis; he
would be murdered before her eyes.
Hersy had waited for a chance.
She had laid aside the hatchet and
had grasped a knife-a murderous
weapon-and with a fiendish look she
sprang forward with it uplifted.
With a cry of mingled anguish and
despair. but with the strength of a
lioness. Ida sprang between the
murderess and her victim, and,
wrenching the knife from her grasp,
fairly hurled Hersy back dozen feet
into the arms of her companions.
Back, murderess! Stand back, all
of you!"
The words rang out in startling
contrast to the tremulous tones in
which her appeal had been uttered a
moment before, as Ida Barosky,
standing in front of the PROSTATE
Alexis, her eyes fairly ablaze with
the courage Of despair. met without
quailing the maddened looks of the
surprised and astonished conspira-
tors. The weak, pleading, helpless
woman OF a moment before had Civ
en- place to the desperate, courageous
and unflinching heroine. who, stand
ing majestically alone, with the knife
held in her uplifted hand, looked the
incarnation of sublime defiance to the
murderous gang who sought the life
Of Alexis.
To say that they were amazed at
the Transformation but family de-
scribes the effect Ilda's words and
actions produced. They looked one
to the other and then again at the
young girl who stood before them.
There was not one of them who did
not know that Alexis Nazimoff could
only be reached over the dead body
of his defender. and that Ida would
fight to the death.
There was hurried whispering
and kirshkin moved to the front.
Suddenly he made spring for
Ida.
But not too quickly for her not to
detect his object The knife descend.
ed, and Kirshkin, the blood streaming
from his breast. was borne back.
"Oh, wretches. towards that you
are! l was weak but moment since.
now am strong More of you will
die. Stand back" This as another
movement was made. Stand back,
for l swear by the soul of the mother
who bore me. the first one of you
to touch him dies by my hand. More
- tn i,
you to the gallows. cutthroats and
assassins as you are."
AS Ida spoke she moved back
ward, and with a rapid movement
passed her hand behind her. 1t was
but the work Of an instant for Alexis
Nazimoff to run the cords which
bound his hands against the keen
edge of the weapon. In another mo.
ment he had unloosed the cord which
bound his feet, and. springing erect
grasped the sword which had fallen
when he was overborne.
Brave Ida! you have saved me-
Stand by my side-we are more than
match for the cowardly dogs"
Alexis, we will live or die to-
gether!'
They are but two; are you COW
ards?" cried Oraminsky. IF they es
cape we are betrayed; perhaps even
now"
He spoke no more
The sound of a hurried advance
toward the door on the outside-a
quick. metallic sound of key as II
touched the lock-arrested the atten
ton of all. To the fevered minds OF
the conspirators the sound suggested
the police-the metallic ring fetters
the hurried footsteps surprise THAI
panicky feeling which spreads in
stantly took possession of them
Their bloodthirsty expressions chang
cd to one of fear, and as Oraminsky
turned they interpreted his movement
as the signal for fight.
I'VE are trapped" Someone in cb
ippt torrcr uttoraA tho