Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-05-07

meet you.'';
Hardy stepped toward the door
with a light heart. but just as he
reached for the knob, the bell rang.
and one of the nihilists opened the
door and admitted the cabman with a
slender, dark man who wore eve
glasses.
Il am Felix Hulin," announced the
new arrival in perfect French, "antl
that man." pointing to Hardy, "is an
impostor!"
CHAPTER xxXIv
The American, In immaculate even
ing dress, his crush hat beneath his
elbow and his fur-lined coat thrown
over his arm. stood at bay with his
back against the wall silently cycling
the nihilists. The blood rushed back
to his heart, and his cheek paled a
trlfle, but the glance that he fixed on
those wondering faces, in which hate
and fear were beginning to dawn,
showed no flinching. The cabman,
In tall boots of patent leather, and
shining silk hat. stood at the door,
with his broad back against it. his
whip in his hand. He was thick
set, broad-shouldered muzhik, with lit
tie red eyes, red face, and profuse
red beard. His glance shifted un-
easily from Hulin to Hardy.
By his side stood the little French.
man, who sank his head between his
shoulders like turtle. and, stretch
ing an accusing left arm toward Har-
dy, shrieked:
am Felix Hulin, say. mon Dieu!
the great inventor, the great benefac-
TOT OF the human race. Behold, here
is the proof! If dash this little
sphere on the floor, poof! b--r-r-r!
The whole house will fall apart like
a castle of cards, the roof will leap
into the air. in one little second, by
gar, we shall all be in eternity. Gen
stlemen, are you convinced? Sooner
than have my word doubted, l shall
give you the proofs. Ten thousand
devils! am Felix Hulin. u say. no
man shall doubt mel"
He plunged his right hand into his
pocket and drew forth a sphere. about
the size of baseball. which he held
in the hollow Of his palm.
am Doctor Hulin," he added !;
behold the pill which l have pre-
pared for tyrants and spies!"
About twenty Of the breathen had
stolen into the hall and were press.
ing forward toward Hardy; stolen. in
deed, for these men all moved silent
~, as though accustomed to secret
and dangerous meetings. But at the
dreaded word Spy murmur arose.
"a spy! A spy! Kill him, tear him
to pieces!"
But the man who had welcomed
Hardy in French stepped in front of
them and raised his hand.
'Sh! Brethren" he commanded,
"are you all mad? Would you have the
police down on us? The spy is in our
power, If indeed he is spy, and we
shall know how to deal with him, how
to seal his lips. AS for you, Brother
Felix, do not drop your pill, in the
Virgins name! Put 1t in your pocket.
Preserve it for tryants and the foes Of
mankind. There! We shall breathe
freer now. Ivan," to the cabman, -
what is the history of this man2 How
did you happen to bring him here?"
II went to the Slaviansky Bazaar to
get a slender, dark man with eye
glasses" he explained, "who should
give me the password for the night
The Princess Romanovna.' This man
came out, hailed me, and gave me the
password l bring him here, and then
ten minutes later, along comes this
other slender, dark foreigner with eye
glasses, who, it seems, is able to find
his own way about! That is the truth,
Brother Bielinski, call the Virgin to
witness, =" and the pious soul crossed
himself.
very WE'LL said Bielinski, tall
man, stoopshouldered with thin, hook
nose and keen, furtive eyes. Very
we'll. May l ask, my friend" turning
to Hardy, whether you are member
of the Brotherhood, and if not. why
are you here?'
1.-THE explanation is very simple
replied Hardy in French. In which
language the question had been dir.
ected. Il am an American merchant.
residing in Stryetensk. have an
acquaintance with the Princess Ro.
manovna, on whom was about to
CALL told the cabman to drive me
to her residence, and he brought me
here. know nothing Of your amiable
Brotherhood, nor do wish to learn
anything" Here he took out his watch
and consulted 1t coolly:. AS we have
no possible business together, will
now bid you good night, and proceed
on my way. If do not hasten I shall
be too late for my call"
But why does he not speak Rus
sian"
do you understand Russian" ask
ed Bielinski.
II speak it imperfectly," replied
Hardy. II have been in the country
only short time"
"You speak 1t we'll enough to I'M
derstand," exclaimed Bielinslh, ''or
you would not have made SO shrewd
an effort to get away. | am not sure
now that you are not spy. At any
rate, 1t will be long time before you
will see your friend the Princess Ro-
manovna."
Hardy noticed that the last two
wnrIc vyovn ey,a1-n,1 will, e,