The Washington times., 1905-03-26

tor smiled at the younger man. This
was as close as he ever came to being
demohstrative in his affection for Billy.
Il admired Madame Won Rreunen when
flrst met her two weeks ago. Now,
[ know / should like her.
The minute hand of the tail grand
fathers clock in the niche on the stairs
or Senator Langhorne's home pointed
at I'VE minutes 10 II. Muffied in his
great coat, for the night was cold and
light snow was falling the Senator
let himself olt of the front door and
walked down Connecticut avenue to
Rhode Island avenue. where he was to
meet representative of the Maltese
Cross Turning to his left along Rhode
Island avenue the Senator walked slow
~. waiting to see what would happen.
AS he approached Seventeenth street a
mans figure came out of the shadow
OF a tree
Senator Langhorne?" said this man
Yes, replied the Senator.
Please follow me- and The stranger
walked TO closed carriage standing on
Seventeenth street. He opened the door
and motioned to the Senator to get in.
Then he seated himself beside the Sem
ator The driver whipped up his horse
and they were off. Not a word had
passed between the Senator's guide and
the driver. None was necessary.
Where are we going?" asked the Sem
ator with pardona BILE curiosity,
II cannot tell you anything. Senator
Ianghorne- My orders were to meet you
anG bring you to my superiors.'
Seeing that 1t was useless to question
q ma ra
comfortably ana said nothing more. The
carriage rolled on and the Senator
could tell they were going into the
northeast section of Washington At
last Il stopped before house in that
part Of a dimly lit street whose name
designated a great body of water, which
lies between square named in honor of
famous Secretary of War and a street
whose name is number that reads the
same backward as it does forward.
The shadows on the street seemed to
the Senator's heightened imagination TO
take the form of Maltese Crosses.
The house WAS perfectly black, except
where the snow had chung TO the caves
and window sills. All the shutters were
closed Not a ray Of light was visible
It was silent as the grave The Senator's
! guide walked straight up to the door and
| knocked three times. II vas opened part
way. Still no light The interior of the
house was Us dark as the exterior Moth
/ ing daunted the Senator thrust his huge
| form through the door. He had rot gone
| two yards when he touched a heavy cur
/ tain An unseen hand pulled this aside
and the Senator found himself in a dingy
| hail lighted by candles. Before him stood
q tan, aristocratic man
/ 81 am glad you have come, Senator" ;"
he said, extending a hand. You remern-
| ber me? We met last in st. Petersburg. :"
Yes" answered the Senator. He APP
parently did not see the outstretched
hand for he put his own right hand to
| his eyes to shield them from the sudden
light. Yes, prince. / remember you. 1t
appears that you have remembered me
so we'll that you have Travelled across
| a wide ocean to see me again It was
kind of you, prince, but will you tell
me why"
Not in the hail.. and the prince wav-
ed him courteously into a large room.
| In it were two other men.
You know Paul. 1 think, Senator
Lan-horIe."
--Ah, the chemist. if I remember right
] ly. The Senator bowed TO a short,
| broad German with stained hands The
| third man was the nondescript charac-
ter who had been present at the meet
| ing between the prince and the million
aires in New York. The prince did rot
Introduce him 10 the Senator, but the
latter cast a searching glance at this
seine nondeseript Il know you, too, -
l he. Caid or l.
ist meeting in New York
The nondescriDt did not answer: ne
merely became more interested in the
| Senator's boots. He might have been
q shoemaker by trade.
Now, prince, kindly explain at once
why I am here tonight. instead OF be-
| ing in my bed at home. The Senator
spoke in a brisk husinesslIke tone --Of
eeerse / know wnat you represent.
Mercy tell me what you want me TO
do
| The prince offered the Senator a chair.
He. himself. stood with one arm resting
on the mantelpiece as he addressed tie
little group.
| I'VE have come TO you. Senator Lang
horne. for aid in oyerthrowing tyranny.
A. tyranny which has ground down the
poor of Russia since the days OF Ivan
the Terrible and Peter the Great. The
power lies IN your hand''-the prince
stretched out one of his own shapely
hands-.'in the hand of man who has
s!ways stood for justice and the uplift-
ing of the masses in a land notorious
for its love of freedom-to overthrow
this tyranny II is in your power tO
| rush aside forever the veil which has
for centuries kept Russia in darkness
and misery.
How arn l 70 accomplish this?" asked
the Senator. He spoke without enthu
siasm.
You know without my telling yo,
the condition of affairs in Russia today
The country is disrupted internally
From all quarters of the empire come:
news CT strikes, riots, asSaSsinauions. !
disc strous war is eating up. the eoun
trv's wealth, and stealing the lives o.
its men. Russia is ripe for revolution
but the government still holds the bal
ance of power. Should, however. tbs
war with Japan be brought TO Il close
with terms favorable TO Japan. the gov
el pment would lose its last hold upon
the people. Already, the faith OF the
people in the person CT its ruler has
been shattered. Today. Japan and Eng
land have the upper hand II peace