The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-03-20
CHAPTER XXxvI (Continued)

lpdS6dBe OUTSIDE WIS very udt N,
the man noticed nothing out of the
way.
MY friend" said Stepane,
take me to the cell occupied by
Princess Kryloff."
| The jailer fastened to obey.
| Four gray walls, q wooden stool,
deal table, and an iron bed
stead composed the furniture of
Wanda's cell.
She was sitting by the table
leaning her head upon her hand
as the jailer closed the door up
on Stepane, who, falling on his
knees, cried out, Wanda! Wanda!
it is l." -.
"You Stepane! in this dress?"
After telling her how it had
happened, he added, Il could not
resist the desire to see you, and
declare to you once more my love
and my devotion"
ooh, how imprudent!" cried
Wanda. GO away! Go away
suppose anyone should comet"
Let me stay here few mo-
ments; I only accepted Koroleffs
suggestion so as to see you alone
for one minute; you always man
age to place some barrier between
us, Wanda"
i Wanda was leaning against the
wall Her breast was heaving, her
eyes half-closed. She dared not
speak, lest she would betray her
emotion. He drew near, and took
her. hand; it was cold as ice.
"You are not angry with me,
Wanda, are your" he said.
/ She felt her knees tremble.
| .Etepane," she answered, strug-
Cling against the rising tenderness
thaN threatened to overwhelm her,
| II fAnnot be false to my promise. ;"
! What promise? Your promise
to Raymond?"
Remember, Stepane." she said,
he helped you to escape from
tprir0n."
/ Stepane dropped upon the stool,
buried his face in his hands, and
sobbed aloud.
"Stop, my dear friend" said
Wanda. "Your presence here
lfrightens me. We do not even
know what is to become of us.
Call the jailer; l am afraid of
1 Stackelberg;" and she related to
him the scene of the night before
1.-THE coward! the coward"
cried Litzanoff, Ito insult prison
err, a defenseless woman! The
wretch! I will kill him!"
81 implore of you, Stepane, do
mot be rash; you may ruin us all. .
ITO please you, Wanda, 1 will
TRY to CONTROL myself; but you
must tell me that you love me-"
Wanda gave him her hand, muir
muring family, 81 do love you"
But Stepane fell at her feet.
/ Wanda heard a footstep. Get
Iup, Stepane," she said. But he
would not heed, he would not lis
ten.
The door flew open; man
stood upon the threshold; it was
iStackelberg.
Litzanoff, with one bound,
seized Vassili, threw him down on
the hard floor, pressed his knee
against his breast, and twining
his fingers into his enemy's era
vat, twisted it round and round SO
as to choke him.
1--WE have an old account to set
tie. you coward" he growled
Through his set teeth.
| Wanda strove to free Stacked
berg. ooh Stepane!" she cried.
81 implore you! I command you!
let this man alone!"
Litzanoff needed her not. Stack
elberg's face was black: his eyes
seemed starting from their SOCK
cts; his tongue hung out of his
mouth.
Here are the soldiers!" ex-
Iclaimed Wanda. Litzanoff arose.
lStackelberg was unconscious, but
mot dead. He came to himself in
a moment, and painfully raising
himself upon his elbow said:
"Handcuff that scoundrel! put
him in irons, and shut him up in
the darkest of the classmates! He
lis ban escaped prisoner who has
tprdfaned the religious habit" said
Vassili. ARREST the man who
mas taken his place In the other
Icell."
The soldiers forgot to search
Koroleff. and he bore away with
him the bank notes hidden be-
tween the soles of his shoes, and
his dagger carefully tucked away
lin his girdle.