Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-05-18

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on him. waiting for MIN to speak.
You have our permission to pro
ceed," he said.
I come, sir" she began, 'to speak
to you of my cousins Boris Romanoff's
death and to tell you something of the
man who is accused of his murder
the American, Frederick Courtlan6
Hardy"
You have our deepest sympathy in
thls matter, my daughter" said his
Majesty. II understand from the min
lister of justice that you loved your
cousin that you were engaged 20
| him."
The Princess remained silent.
1T is sad" continued his Majesty
very sad, but be assured that, al
| though the case is a somewhat diff.
cult one, full justice shall be done,
Inc American minister has already in.
quired about the matter. and has de.
manded that the fullest investigation
be made. These Americans are very
meddlesome. / am Informed, however,
by the minister of foreign affairs that
there will be little difficulty in estab-
fishing this Hardy's guilt, as he is a
dangerous character and has bad re-
cord"
The Princess turned pale as she re-
peated:
"A dangerous character? A bad re-
cord? VIII you send for this record,
sire, that I may hear 1t In your Maj
esty's presence? For l come not to
speak against this Hardy. who is ac-
cused of numbering my cousin. but to
plead for his release, to pray that JUS.
tice may be done!"
You to plead for him?"
Yes, sire, for he did not kill my
cousin. VIII your Majesty grant me
the favor that may hear this record
IN your Majesty's presence? For I
know this Mr.. Hardy, and know much
that is good of him. and nothing bad!"
The czar rang bell and commanded a
servant to send a confidential secre.
tary to him. Five minutes later an
old man entered, "a stoop-shouldered
old man WITH cleanshaven face,
whose eyes denoted infinite snrewd-
ness, his manner infinite servility.
"Pypine," said his Majesty, "can you
bring to us Immediately the record Of
the American Hardy, concerning whom
the minister of foreign affairs was
speaking to us the other day."
Eyes, SIRE replied Pypine, "a copy
was ordered from the chief of police
of Moscow and is now in his Excel
lency's possession"
Bring it" said the car, "immed-
iately.'
Pypine disappeared.
While ne is gone you may tell us
what you know of this American, Har-
dy, and why you think he did not as
sassinate your cousin"
II know that he is a gentleman Of
high connections in his own country,
who mas come here to engage in COM
merce and retrieve his fortunes My
cousin first met him In Japan. Tnis
part of the story have from Boris
own lips Boris, being hard-pressed
by the police, put his telltale papers
In Mr.. Hardy's overcoat pocket and
tried to throw the guilt on him. The
plan did not succeed, and Boris suffer
ed many hardships, for which he I'M
justly blamed Mr. Hardy. / first met
him on the Amur River, where was
captured by Chinese brigands. He
came to the recuse and saved me
from terrible fate. This still further
enraged my cousin, who loved me and
was jealous of any one who served me
in any way He was very brave, was
Boris and would. have saved me him
self, but he was not there which
certainly was not Mr.. Hardys fault.
On the Amur we were again attacked
by brigands, and Mr. Hardy, as we'll
as my cousin, fought like brave man.
In my house In Moscow my cousin,
who was of violent nature, insulted
the American by Offering him money
and, wnen Mr.. Hardy Indignantly refus.
ed and Knocked his checkbook out of
his hand, struck him in the face. A
duel was fought, at which Mr.. Hardy,
at my request. spared my Cousins life
though he was himself severely wound
ed. He has wonderful skill with the
pistol. and he shot cuff button from
my cousins sleeve, which he sent me
as proof that he had complied with
my request. My cousin was boastful
of having wounded Mr.. Hardy, and
gave him the cuff button and told him
It's story. He became transported with
rage and swore that he would not
rest till he had rid the earth Of this
man. He conceived it his duty to-
dfSuSS luC JUL d6Su uuuOi Ol ZIG ItO-
manoff family, as he expressed It, He
thought he must kill this man for
other reasons" Here the Princess
halted and blushed.
go on" said the car, kindly and
much interested, this is most re-
markable story! In 1t this Mr. Hardy
appears as hero!"
"Sire, in Mr.. Hardy's employ was a
young Korean boy whose devotion to
his master surpassed anything have
ever before heard Of 1t was more
like that of a woman for a man she
loves when woman really loves. This
boy-I am ashamed to tell it, sir
but now your Majesty will understand
why l have wished to confide In you
alone this boy heard my cousin
plotting to kill Mr.. Hardy. Your Maj
esty will understand that my cousin
was no longer sane man; That rage
and and jealousy. perhaps, had
rendered him for the moment ire
sponsible. The boy, fearing for his
masters safety and believing that
Russian nobleman had the power to
ID bo u,iChod cto1a ipko y,,,y