Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-01
CHAPTER XV.-Continued.

The cotton broke off short: a steady
kissing warned them that 1t still burned
inside.
"Give 1t here" Sta ief commanded col
lectedly. Get your penknife.
The two men bent over the oval. gray
messenger of hate and death. Around
them ragged indescribable disorder; r."
very coachman and footmen had fed
from the carriage.
IF you would go!' Allard painted. his
voice tense.
Ball. said Stanief, and forced the
bomb from him.
An 'ominous swapping came from with
in. Stanief's strong white fingers fitted
themselves to the crack and with q su-
perb effort he twisted the thing In half.
"Ah.' gasped Allard. blinded. as a
great cloud of smoke rushed forth.
Stanief drew out the fuse as 1t reach
ed the end and flung it into the street.
Lighted too late" he explained. Our
terrorists are clumsy"
They meant it for Adrian" he an
| swered. You were right
They found each others hands through
the choking fumes: Allard's fingers
scorched by the guncotton. Stanief s
bruised and bleeding from the force used
to open the machine.
AS the smoke cleared they looked
around then back at each other. They
were alone in a deserted street. Distant
cries, increasing tumult, announced the
spreading panic Three blocks away
flashed the green and gold of the palace
guards as they charged to the scene.
| over pavements Uttered with fallen gar
ments, the contents of overturned We
hicles and the vehicles themselves. The
| we'll trained horses Of the royal carriage
| demonstrations of a different nature but
similar violence.
Really" Allard exclaimed, on the
verge OF laughter. Really. monseig-
neur-"
There has been some excitement"
Stanief assented. "Wil you go on to the
! palaSe and explain to the emperor? l
am going back to reassure madame
Their attendants were creeping shame
| facedly back to their posts, seeing all
was over. The line of soldiers. swept
down upon the carriage, very pale off,
| Ger in command.
II will do" said Allard, anything you
want"
II the uproar had been great at the
attack. II trebled as the furious crowd
| surged back In search Of the assailant.
| The guards were obliged to close around
the regent to shield him from the frenzied
and hysterical joy OF the people at his
safety. The slow return to his home
was one continuous ovation, almost the
cheering masses prevented advance.
Long before Stanief reached his goal
AIldIO ndO arrived dt the pdldCc. XNO
| less excitement reigned there. Without
need OF explanation. Allard was hurried
| to the emperor, questioned and con-
graduated on every side.
He met Adrian In the hall. and at sight
Of his messenger. blackened with smoke
hatless. still pale with the strain OF those
perilous moments. the emperor sprang
forward and caught his arm.
"Feodor?" he cried. fiercely. his voice
ringing through the lofty corridors.
| Speak, speak, where Is Feodor?"
.'Sire. he has returned to madame the
grand duchess"
Safe? You arc not deceiving me, he
He is unhurt: he destroyed the bomb
| before It exploded" Allard explained. in
| coherently. His hands are cut, no
| more"
Adrian dropped the others arm and
| drew back; for hours Allard felt the
| bruise Of that feverish grasp.
ITO madame" he repeated.
"Sire, he ordered me to bring an &C
count of the affair to your imperial mai
| esty. He can be sent for" Allard sug-
gested. eagerly. catching daring hope
from the apparent emotion.
| Adrian favored him with a saber-Kee
glance.
demanded, harshly. IF he is uninjured.
very good; We will send our congratula-
| lions. You are exhausted, Monsieur AL
| lard; go to your apartments and recover
yourself. ANSO1, nGs luTneu upon the
group of listeners. you will inform the
chief of police that I shall replace him
next week IL he completes this exhihi-
ton Of inefflciency by letting the assassin
escape. And when he captures the man.
he will report to me. not to the regent"
| Scarlet enough. now under the streaks
of CRIME Allard moved aside to let him
| pass All his self-control could not
smother the blazing indignation in his
gray eyes. But Adrian brushed past
without regarding him and went alone
| into the room beyond.