, 1905-02-22

the service of the secret police and that
you have arrested u friend, the
young American gentleman"
Polinski bowed without speaking.
To the surprise of every one, Elena
flung herself on her knees beside the
countess and buried her face in her
mothers lap, her whole slender frame
shaking with fearless sobs.
Instantly the yes of the countess
met those of her son in n sudden COM
~prehension, and she softly stroked her
daughters bowed head in silent sym
patty.
"Where have they taken him?" asked
the count. turning to Polinski.
II do not know-probably to Wilma"
"Of what is he accused" asked the
countess sternly.
"Of bearing dispatches to your son,
Count josef" said Polinski, with ter
rible meaning.
At these words the young counts
breast heaved, and he clinched his
hands to keep from flying at Polinski's
throat. Elena half raised her head
from her mothers lap, but before she
could speak the count tore off his false
beard before their eyes and CRIED out:
ut is false, as you see! NJ. Owen
has no dispatches, for here am l, Josef
Syszkiewicz. at your service!'
The servants began to weep, al
though they understood nj French, for
they comprehended the calamity of
EapinU thair r,octat. onot nCiIa bi, III,
guise. Josef turned and dismissed
them with a gesture.
"Ah." said Polinski, that was just
what l hoped to cause you to admit.
Now you also are my prisoner"
upon what charger asked the
countess, with a sternness which was
only a mask to conceal her grief from
the Russian.
"That he will be told soon enough"
answered Polinski.
Josef bit his lip at the insolence, but
1t would only make matters worse if
he struck him, so he kept silent.
"Will you have the goodness to tell
me-" said Elena haughtily. "how the
American gentleman is travelling? He
was in no condition to be moved"
Pardon me-, mademoiselle. He was
well able. | purposely bandaged his
arm tightly to cause him to suffer so
that his weakness would permit of his
capture"
"And l." cried Elena, with flashing
eyes-"I suspected it and loosened them
each day as soon as you were gone!
Stupid! Did you think | could be de-
ceived-I, who have studied incidence"
"And practice in Polish?' said Po-
linski o%minously. Have you not Po-
lish patients and two Polish nurses,
and have you not just admitted your
self guilty of breaking the lawY'
81 do admit began Elena proudly,
but her sister-in-law clasped her hand
over Elena's mouth, while Josef cried
out:
"Silence, Elena, Do you wish to be
arrested also?'
THAT | do!'' cried the little countess,
breaking away from her brothers
wife. Il wish to be near Carrot Owen.
for | love him. and if | have tn search
the world over for him | shall find
him! 1t is through us that he has
come into this misfortune, and it is
for us TO rescue him."
Josef stopped and kissed her, and
she hid her face On his breast. Then
he tenderly embraced his mother and
sister-in-law, and, going back once
more to kiss Elena, he left the room
with Polinski.
Although Elena had obtained her
mothers permission to attempt Il rec
onciliati0n with her aunt, Elena, the
Princess Ermoloff, in order to continue
the search for Carrot Owen, it was
with some t%repidation that she de-
seconded from her sledge and obtained
admitta nee to the magnificent house
of the princess i'll st. Petersburg.
Two months had elapsed since Gar
ret Owens mysterious arrest, and
even the American ambassador had
been unable to find him. They had OBJ
tanned news of him three times, but
each time he had been secretly re-
moved and all trace lost.
Elena shivered Il little even in her
sables as she waited in the glorl-
II room where everything spoke of
riches and power and the protection
of the mighty. She wondered how she
would begin if the princess received
her coldly.
Her doubts were soon put at rest,
for in a rustic of silks her aunt en-
tered, and, clasping Elena close in her
arms. the princess began to weep soft
". her tears dropping over the girls
theeks.