The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-05

pill. though this love his position for bade him to utter.
 Carlo had formerly been lover of Gorilla, the improvisatrice, but, since he had realized his love for Natalie, had forsaken her company. The two
 men whose sinister faces had peered through the branches of the overhang- ing tree upon the garden wall of Ma talies villa were the agents of Gorilla.
 In her love and anger she had hired them to assassinate the girl who had
 stolen from her the heart of Carlo. They had not killed Natalie that night in the garden because the elder and more
 cautious and experienced of the ruff fans saw danger of capture sh ould they jump down into the garden, so
 we'll guarded by armed servants and fierce dogs. So they waited.
 Natalie and Paulo went to the grand entertainment of the Cardinal Barnis, | where Natalie was introduced as the Princess Tartaroff. Her beauty and grace, as well as the mental cultiva- ton which she displayed delighted and charmed the august assembly. But as Natalie was walking alone in a sha- dowy part in the garden of the palace, whither she had escaped from ths crowd and heat of the rooms, a dark form sprang from a thicket and a Gleaming knife was raised to strike her. Before the knife fell. however, anoth- CT form threw itself upon that of the
 would-b assassin and Carlo. the music teacher, who had secretly followed the
 Princess, hurled to the ground the agent of Cori1las vengeance. In the
 confusion which followed the ruffian
 shook off his captor and escaped.
 | But the affair was the talk of Rome next
 day. and the incident. while inexpressibly
 shocking to the bewildered Natalie filled
 the soul Of Count Paulo, with the direct
 forbodings. In desperation he resolved to hurry to Russia and dare the worst.
 Leaving Natalie in the care of Carlo,
 whom he felt he might thoroughly trust,
 and of whose sentiments toward the girl | he had no idea, he took Cecil with him
 and departed. The Count Orloff, with
 whom he had an interview. assured him
 that he was only called back in accord
 ance with the law respecting absentees
 and gave him a written promise, sealed with the imperial seal, that no harm should come to him and directing that he have free access to and emergence from l the Russian empire. When Count Paulo
 had gone Orloff called in one of his Of ficers and said: Let courier take horse Immediately and give him the order signed by her imperial majesty for the arrest
 of Count Paulo Rasczinsky.l The courier l will follow him to the frontier and then,
 send him in chains to St. Petersburg. The
 courier will answer with his head for the execution of this order."
 l Left alone with Carlo, Natalie awaited I impatiently for the promised return of Paulo or for some message from him, but waited in vain Siberia had swallowed him up The Count Orloff had been l greatly puzzled by the attack made upon .I Natalie in the garden of the Cardinal
 Bernis. But by setting his secret agents
 at work he found out that it was scheme
 of Corillas. He had the man who had attempted the murder brought before him
 but found him 8 stupid fellow, vulgar
 ruffian, unsuited- to his purpose. But from him he learned the name of the other man who had watched upon the wall thai night. and Sent for him. This man proved 'l to be handsome, dashing, fairly wei educated rascal who had just come from serving in the galleys. His name was ,l Joseph Ribas, and he was brother ol Carlo.
 { Orion at once engaged him in his ser vice, created him captain in the Rus
 sian navy. as such introduced him to htl