The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1910-04-14

"He struck you," cried the Korean.
Il could spit on his corpse could
spurn Il with my FOOT"
Il have no doubt you could, thereby
displaying your devotion TO my I'M
worthy self Your plan is imprac-
ticable. however, for the simple ren-
son that there Is no corpse. Romanon
is alive and well at the present. mo-
ment and is no doubt gloating over my
discontinue"
"He is not even woundsd!" asked
the boy.
Not even wounded"
but why did you not kill him when
you had the opportunity? II surely
would not have been difficult to hit
that great hulk of flesh. Is II then
safe TO strike an American gentleman
In the face?"
Not always. Ny reasons for not
killing him are too complicated for q
boy TO understand. They involve
ladys sanction OF duel, and then her
subsequent multiplying OF that sanction.
They involve, in general. n lady's re-
quest, which can hardly be overlooked
when she is, In reality. the cause or
the hatred which made the meeting
necessary. DO you follow me. Wang?"
IL think do" replied the boy.
YEARLY. you spared him because
the princess asked you to- You have
been magnanimous, whatever the cost
TO yourself. and given the princess her
admirer, for whom, in his moment OF
extreme peril. she found that she
cared more than she had supposed.
And now you are done with the whole
Romanoff family"
Hardy forgot his pain for the mo-
ment and started at the boy In open.
mouthed wonderment.
If you were not boy" he said
at last. sinking back on the pillow. II
should think you we're a woman. Your
intuition in such matters IL positively
marvellous And now I mustn't talk
too much. for Il makes this shoulder
ache like a bad tooth. must get
} well. and we must 60 back to Stry.
eteusk and the store. But there Is one
little thing that want you to do for
me, Go TO the place whore the duel
was fought this morning. shall de-
scribe the location exactly 10 you. Ro-
manor stood near a large oak tree.
whose trunk divides about ak feet
from the ground into two trunks equal
in size Look about there and see U
you can and in the snow a gold eutf.
button. Il is there. and. shining
against the white. should be easily
found. Bring II TO me as quickly as
possible" 4
Wang left without another word.
Not long after the boys departure
the nurse brought in bouquet OF
priceless orchids. which she arranged
In vase and set on a table near his
bed.
AN isvoschik brought them" she
explained TO Hardy. Here is the
note that came with them
She handed him a tiny billet.doux
and raised one OF the shades. Holding
the note in his teeth. he opened tho
envelope with his good hand. and
read:
My Friend; I do not know what your
feelings are toward my unhappy self.
had no idea that this deplorable affalr
would end as II has. VIII you allow me
TO come In person and express my regret.
and do whatever lies in my power TO al
leviate your sufferings? Thank God you
are not killed.
ELIzABETHA RoMANovNA.
Tell the man that there is no an.
swer at present." said Hardy to ths
nurse. :
Wang was gone two hours. When
he arrived he came straight TO Hardy's
couch and handed him a small gold
object, with a bit OF linen hanging
to It.
Here II is" he said; at is stamped
with the crest OF the Romanoff family.
| thought you had lost one of your
owD cuff buttons"
Bring paper and envelopes" Hardy
requested of the nurse, "and then
leave us alone for a few minutes"
The woman complied.
Now take my indellble pen from
my waistcoat pocket and write"
Wang sat down at the table and
looked inqpiringly at his master.
your hishness." dictated Hardy. IT
hope that you will not give yousef the
slightest uneasiness on my account. Ny
wound Is very trifiing matter from
| which snail soon recover / am great
ly honored by your kind offer TO call
and see me, but I must deny myself tho
pleasure OF receiving you. I can not
allow you TO compromise your exalted
position by thus yielding to the dictates
Of your good heart. VIII you allow me
10 add that feel I have already tres
passed too far on your good nature and
am quite unwilling TO continue the in
Fiction? As you have frequently admired
my skill with the pistol. 1 am inclosing
little trophy OF the same, his high
ness cum button. which I hope will con-
vince you that 1 have not disappointed
your expectations. VIII you kindly hand
IL TO him with my compliments? Wish
ing you all happiness in tho years to
come, / remain
Your humble servant
FREDERICK CORTLAND HARDY"
Wang laughed-a queer, hard little
laugh OF mingled exultation and hate.
without waiting for any further direc.
tions from his master, he put the Gun
button in the envelope with the note.
sealed II and directed it to the Prin