The sun. (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1906-05-12

injury TO Elma Heath"
"Of course. That is only natural,
m'sieur, II you have fallen in love with
her." he said. "But are not your inten-
tions somewhat ill-advised considering
her position as criminal lunaticf"
"She is neither" I protested quickly.
Every well. You know better than
myself" he laughed. "The offense for
which she was condemned to confne.
ment in fortress was the attempted
assassination of Madame Vakuroff, wife
of the general commanding the Uleaborg
Military Division"
Assassination! / cried. "Have you
actually sent her to prison as muir
deress?"
81 have not. The Criminal Court of
Abo did 3d." he said dryly. "The offense
has since been proved to have been the
outcome of political conspiracy, and
the Minister of the Interior in Peters
burg last week signed an order for the
prisoners transportation to the island
of Saghalien."
"Ah" / remarked, with set teeth.
Because you fear lest she shall write
down your secret"
"YOu are insulting! You evidently
do not know what you are saying" he
exclaimed resentfully.
81 know what am saying quite we'll.
You have requested her removal to Sag
halien in order that the truth shall be
never known. But Baron Oberg," I
ldded with mock polteness, "you may
10 40 you will, you may send Elma Heath
to her grave, you may hold me prisoner
il you dare, but there are still witnesses
If your crime that will rise against
YOU"
In an instant he went CHASTITY pale,
and | knew that my blind shot had
struck its mark. The man before me
was guilty of some crime, but what it
was only Elma herself could tell. That
he had had her arrested for an attempted
political assassination only showed how
ngeniously and craftily the heartless
ruler Of that ruined country had laid his
plans. He feared Elma, and therefore
had conspired to have her sent out to
that dismal penal island in the far-off
Pacific.
"You do not fear arrest, m'sieurH" he
asked, as though with some surprise.
"Not in the least-at least, not arrest
by you. You may be the representative
Of the Emperor in Finland, but even here
there is justice for the innocent"
A sinister smile played around the
thin, gray lips of the man whose very
name was hated through the great EN-.
pire of the Car, and was synonymous
Of oppression, injustice, and heartless
tyranny.
GAIL l can repeat" he said, "is that If
you bring the young Englishwoman here
| shall be quite prepared to hear her ap.
peal" And he laughed harshly.
"You ask that because you know it is
impossible" l said, whereat he again
laughed in my face--a laugh which made
me wonder whether Elma had not al
ready fallen into his hands. The un.
certainty of her fate held me in terrible
suspense.
81 merely wish to impress upon you
the fact that have not the slightest in.
terest whatsoever in the person in ques.
tion," he said coldly. "You seem to
have formed some romantic attachment
towards this young woman who at
tempted to poison Madame Vakuroff,
and to have succeeded in rescuing her
from Kajana. You afterwards disregard
the fact that you are liable to long
term Of imprisonment yourself, and &C.
tually have the audacity to seek audience
of me and make all sorts of hints and
suggestions that have held the woman
a prisoner for my own ends"
Not only do I repeat that, Baron
Oberg," said quickly "But l also al
lege that it was at your instigation that
in Siena an operation was performed
upon the unfortunate girl which deprived
her of speech and hearing"
AT my instigationf"
eyes, ut yours!"
lie launched nrnin hut mnen silr q