Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1906-03-15
THE IRON HAND
tOriginal.l

yich Vronsky who was also member
OF the secret police. Finding II TO his
interest to ruin young Ivan Tornovich,
him out loaded with revolutionary doc
uments and had him arrested.
Not long after this VrOnsky was sit
ting in his office one morning when a
young girl entered and asked if she
might have private interview with
him. Vronsky gladly listened to her.
ard she Informed him that under GER
tain viaduct over which ran the rail
road from st. Petersburg to Moscow Il
party of nihilists had stored explosives.
which were to be fired when the car
made his next passage over the road
Vronsky. much pleased ut the pros
pect Of saving the life of the car AMI
the prefermcnt sure TO follow, eagerly
listened TO all the girl had to say When
she had finished he said to her
But you have not told me where the
viaduct IS located"
Il will show you.'
"Very well Come on"
But do you not care to trap the con.
spirators?''
Certainly"
"Then wait till the car is about To
pass the place.
Vronsky made every effort TO get ell
the necessary information from the girl
70 that he could proceed without her,
but she was immovable, and he was
obliged to bc content few week ;
later he sent her word that the czar
would so TO Moscow the next day ana
directed her to come 20 his Office The
girl-Fedia Pavloyna She called herself
appeared promptly. but when Vron-
sky proposed to take party Of the po.
lice with him she refused to do her part
unless he would go alone, giving as a
reason that he would find no one but
boy of fifteen WHO WAS b ignite the ex-
plosivc. Vronsky, pleased with the idea
of gaining all the credit for himself.
consented
Fedia led him to the outskirts of the
city, where, tied TO = post, was a horse
harnesSed 10 Il taran'ass. Directing
Nronsky to get into tho tarantass. 'he
unhitched the horse ana drove into the
country. She soon complained that
the rays OF the sun on the white snow
hurt her eyes. and when Vronslly told
her that she should have hat with a
brim to shade them she told him that
If he were gallant he would lend her
his own hat. As he did not respond
she Dlayfully tried to take ii off his
head and put it on her own. This led
TO q scramble, during which Fedia got
possession CT tie lat and dropped it in
the road Passing the reins to Vron-
sky. she ran back for it, and while his
back was turned she slipped a paper
into the lining.
Come said Vronshy, ''wc must stop
this fooling. The cars train is due in
thirty minutes. How far have we to
go?"
"Oniy n short distance"
But Nronsky began to be worried.
Suppose he should not reach the place
in time He had permitted the ear to
incur this risk that he might gain o
larger reward. He should have pre-
vented his majesty from going, But
in that case there would be no great
service. as the ear was warned con
stantly and vronsky would not trap
the conspirators What Vronsky wish
ed to do was to flag the train, and
when his majesty had alighted he
would show lin the preparations laid
for his destruction. He even had n
red silk handkerchief In his pocket for
the purpose
Drive faster said Nronsky.
"Why 50? DO you wish to spoil all
by arriving before the boy who is to
fire the dynamite|
1--WE can take him as he comes up"
leave ii to me-" said Fedln. "Am
not interested III oar success? Have
not planned it all?"
Eyes You are very bright girl
Tedia kept asking the time ana ar
ranged their arrival so that when they
drove up to the viaduct they heard the
train coming.
Jump out quick she said, "and
seize the boy. will flag the train
Here. take this handkerchief"
Vronsky ran under the yiaduct and
Fedia climbed up out TO the track and
waved The train came to stop, and
the minister of police. who accompanied
the car a,ighted in great excitement
what is the natter
"There Is a man under the viaduct
intending to blow up his majesty"
Guards were sent below, but they
found no one except Vronsky, who was
climbing thp pmbuukmeut
That's the man" said Fedia.
you little villain! What do you
meanf Gentlemen, am Petroyich
Vronsky of the police"
"And member of the circle Of the
Iron Hand" said Fedia
search him." said the minister.
Vronsky was searched, and in the
lining Of his hat was found certificate
ct his membership Of the iron Hand
The yiaduct was examined and twenty
pounds of dynamite found concealed
under one of the Orders
Bring the girl before me- said the
car
Little girl" he said how can ! re-
I 49,