Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1905-03-31
A SOLDIER OF
COMMERCE
Blu JOHN ROE GORDON
Copyright + Tnmhs
Copyright. 1907. by f. Il. Toombs

ment or death" said Harvey. Come
with me! We will go TO America
where you will be safe and happy
Come, my darling, come"
Alma hesitated. Again sounded the
alarm gun. Perhaps the thought OF sol
itary Imprisonment. perhaps the knOut
perhaps Siberia. came TO her.
Il will CO." she said simply.
The two crawled under the hay, and
Charka lay down on the boat as II
asleep.
Everything happened as Alma had
supposed. The ball had been deprived
Of its most brilliant lights. With Alma
and Dellnikoff gone, it grew dull. a
half hour passed. and Colonel JurnieG
got uneasy.
Where are your beautiful niece and
DellnikoffW asked the governor.
The prince said they were going 10
find secluded spot and talk things
over. l asked Alma. and she consented
70 the announcement of their betrothal,
but said the prince had not asked her
10 be his wife. | sent him 10 her, and
they came TO an agreement. But they
wanted TO he alone to talk. | do not
know what keeps them"
at is not SO easy 10 leave of a con
versation with a girl like Alma. 1t is
almost time for the supper. hope
;hey will not forget"
The governor showed his anxiety as
.he time for him TO take the highest OF
his guests TO supper arrived.
7 am filed with misgivings. yom
excellency." said JurniefY. There is
something wrong"
Wrong. What can be wrongi'
Something, | know not what. The
girl bewitched us all tonight. | had
never seen her so gay, SO reckless. She
acted as If she had drunk too much
wine, and she seldom drinks any. and
now, when she is not here, with her
beauty and her wit to ensnare me,
recall how she hated the prince. She
never said SO. but she refused to marry
him. She was in love with an Amer
lean"
Where is the Americana"
HE is in our prison He is impli-
Gated in the abduction OF Koura Biar-
telkis."
And you think-what do you think
Speak, man.
Il cannot think. l am going TO the
prison to see what has happened"
He called for his carriage 1t was
gone. He took the nearest one-one in
which Chinese mandarin had come
10 "a ha IL hnrrfaI IN 40
He dashed TO the living apartments.
Marie was asleep. He roared for her,
and, trembling in every limb, she came
TO him.
HAS my niece returned from the
ban?'
"She did return. colonel. | went TO
her, but she dismissed me and told me
TO go to bed"
Jurnieff ran to Alma's rooms. On the
floor he saw her long brown tresses.
What deyiltry is here tonight" he
gasped.
He dashed TO the prison. The captain
Of the guard started when he saw the
pallor OF the colonel's face.
Has any one visited the prison to-
nightT"
Yes; the inspector general"
What! DO you mean Prince Dell
nikoffY
Yes. my colonel He had with him
also an orderly"
Was my niece hereT'
Il did not see the young lady"
What did the inspector general dor
He and his orderly went into the
dungeons where the prisoners for 81
IBERIA are kept They soon came back,
ae the orderly was not well. The In
spector general said they would go out
IN the air a short time and return.
They did not return"
open that door to the Dungeons
The captain took down the bunch Of
keys. He trembled and turned white.
What Is the matterT commanded
Jurneiff.
The key is gone"
Jurneiff swayed. He no longer
thought OF promotion. but how to save
himself from disgrace.
The door must be broken in. Go for
the locksmith."
The locksmith was reused from his
sleep and soon had the door open.
Jurnein rushed In and began opening
the cells. In one he found Dellnikon,
sleeping as IL drunk. He dragged him
out TO the light
"Drugged' he exclaimed. 1.-THE girl
has tricked us all! Where Is the Amer
icanT
His cell was opened 1t was empty.
Fire the alarm gun! They are still
in Tihis! The guards will find them.
Get out every man! Have the garrison
turned loose! | must go and report TO
the governor"
In ten minutes the ball was over
Chinese mandarins and Persian princes
were hustled of and chartered together
in bewilderment Every Russian at
the ball was sent out TO hunt the fugi-
tive. with orders TO bring him back
dead or alive.
CHAPTER XII.
THE SEARCH FOR THE FUGITIvEs-THE
HAYBOAT STARTS.