The Grit-advocate., 1905-10-13
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s D A II X F. ST II u S S l "A
I II. DONSELLY 3
Copyright 1926 by Street Smith All rights reserved {
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CHAPTER xII-Continued


The conspirators found in this
place, the hurried report which
reached him said, were evidently the
head and front of the whole conspir'
acy, and he had given orders to have
them brought before him, so as to
make terrible example OF them all
before proceeding 10 dispose Of the
rank and file. With such damning
evidence of their guilt there would
be no need for delay, and he would
act at once. Those guilty OF the cap
ital crime he would commit to prison
for trial that would surely end in
their conviction and ignominious
sentence TO Siberia.
He fairly gloated over the prospect.
and cast eager glances at the CLOCK
awaiting the news that the daring
and desperate leaders would soon
stand before him. BY Heaven!" he
exclaimed, after this there can be
no barrier to my successful advance
ment. The czar cannot AFFORD to pass
without signal recognition this evi-
denee Of my zeal and ability. and to
reward it as it deserves"
He was in this delightful frame of
mind when suddenly the door lead
ing to his private apartments opened
and the countess entered the room.
He turned. Congratulate me.
Katherine!" he exclaimed, and then
suddenly stopped.
His wifes face fairly frightened
him.
Katherine Karsicheff as she entered
the room was deathly pale. Her eyes.
meath the contracted brows, shone
with a fire that was almost of
greenish tint. Her features twitched
convulsively, and her whole manner
betrayed such frenzy of anger that
her husband stood aghast at the ter
rible appearance she presented. In
her hand, crushed and half torn, she
held an open letter.
For Gods sake. Katherine, what
has happened?" at length said Kars-
chef, after the countess, in a very
paroxysm of passion, brought down
her hand on the table till it quivered.
for an instant by the violence of her
agitation.
''Disgraced before St. Petersburg
Inundated before Russia-oh! but it
shall not stop here-I will go to the
czar myself-the insult must be
avenged-the-I will have satisfac-
ton" thus the countess raved in
broken sentences, and this was her
only reply to Karsicheff's inquiry as
to the cause of her agitation.
What does it mean?" thought Kar-
sicheff. Surely she can have heard
nothing of the czars growing impa-
tience with my administration. Even
so, the events of today will set all
right again. l."
The countess broke in upon his sur.
misses.
Rising to her feet, she came to
where he stood eXpectant, and in
voice choking with rage said: You
are my husband-Olgas father-what
can you do to avenge this INSULT"
and she thrust the letter into his
hand.
Karsicheff glanced at the paper 1t
was the letter written by Alexis Nazi-
moff. He could hardly trust himself
to speak. To give utterance to his
own feelings, which were scarcely
less intense than those of Katherine,
would be to fan the flames of her
raging anger to uncomfortable fury,
and Karsicheff well knew, that once
worked up to pitch Of hysterical
passion, his wife was about as easily
controlled as hungry lioness.
He waited and said nothing.
Katherine watched him for a Sec
ond. His silence had exactly the op-
posite effect upon her to that which
he had anticipated. He had made a
mistake.
Why don't you say something, you