Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1909-10-23
: CHAPTER XVII.

| W y the roof of the building had col
lapsed and had left the persons
IA there assembled In the room con-
fronting death itself, there could
have been no more complete astonlsh-
ment
II was Horace who FIRST appreciated
the somberness of the crouching. ter
ror stricken woman upon the floor.
"HeleneT he whispered, but Pike
| stepped forward and waved him back
"You stand backw said the lawyer
"Shes his wife!" And mt the words
Horace fairly staggered. Daniel went
on. pointing TO the cringing Hawcas-
tie. "And there's his best friend"
The words seemed to rouse some of
the fighting st. Aubyn instinct In the
earl, and his eyes flashed.
Its lie!' he cried hoarsely. II new
er saw the man In all my life before"
1.-THE lady seemed to recognize him."
said Pike grimly. II guess you won't
have to jab your memory too hard.
It's only ten years to St Petersburg.
Mr.. Glenwoodw
"Almeric. go for the policer' ordered
the earl.
"No. nor cried the countess. ~
can't stand itp'
Pike laid his hand upon Ivanoff's
shoulder and spoke loudly:
"Call 'em in! We're readyp'
Almeric. with q frightened glance
around. stepped to the doors and threw
them wide. calling as he reached the
| passage:
"Tel that officer to bring his men
herev'
He turned and again entered the
room, and Pixies face lit up unpleas-
antly as he looked at him. then soften
ed as he turned to Ethel
II want you always to remember
that consider It cheap ut the price,"
he said
There was quick step without, and
Won Grollerhagen entered, followed by
Ribiere For an instant he glanced
about the circle and then spoke In
clear. ringing voice
There will be no arrests tonight, my
friends" he said and at the words
Hawcastle sneered openly.
This man goes. toor' he declared
violently. "Call those carabinieriv' he
reiterated to Almeric.
Won Grollerhagen smiled sweetly
and raised his hand deprecatingy.
"The officer is not there. You see,
the carabinieri have been withdra wn."
He turned to Daniel, For you. my
nito." Pike stared at him uncompro-
misingly, and the German turned to
Lord Hawcastle.
This man Ivanoff." he said, lis in
my custody"
For a moment the two men measur-
ed each other, and then Hawcastle
burst out violently:
by whose authority Do you know
you are speaking to the Earl of Haw'
CASTER"
Won Grolerhagen smiled. Ribiere
stepped forward and addressed Haw-
castle directly.
More respect. sirr' he cried you
are addressing the Grand Duke Vasili
Of Russian
Hawcastle paled and fairly stagger.
ed into the arms of his son. who
reeled from the shock. The others
stared uncomprebendingly. and Pike
looked up with a curious frightened
look upon his lean face. Quite slowly
he moved to the table and rested a
hand upon 1t and with the other ca
ressed his chin His eyes were look
Ing straight ahead. and he murmured
in awestruck tones:
Good Lord! And think what-why,
I've been calling him-docv'
The grand duke perceived the agi-
90
ward to take his hand.
my friend" he said gently ut has
been refreshing" He spoke to Ribiere.
81 shall take the man Ivanoff's state
ment in writing. Bring him to me
with you"
He turned on his heel quickly and
went Off through the door on the other