The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-12-20

! the curtain; then Nicholas arose weak
| ly and. prostrating himself upon the
| lowest step, held communion with the
| figure, which bent over him. Only the
whispers of their voices were audible
in the room
/ The ewes of all were on the pair. ]
All watched. all wondered; perhaps of ,
that assembly half believed and hard
ly one was wholly sceptical Paul |
slipped, unnoticed. out of his chair. .
and edged his way toward the front /
row, Immediately behind the prostrate
sovereign. Under his coat he clutched .
the dark lantern tightly. Disgust ana
contempt had driven out his doubts
He felt sure now that this was the
masquerading monk
A candle hickered IN one corner
and the light fell clearly upon the
face of the tall figure Paul was
amazed. This could not be Apollodo-
rus-some confederate perhaps but
never that asCetic little man Why, this
man had muscles like a SandCw's and
his hands were covered with hair and
twice the size of those of Apollodorus.
Some confederate he might be, but
not the monk. He sat down weakly.
indecisive. waiting for the opportun-
ity.
A voice whispered in agitation on
one side of him. Others took up the
words Hands Clutched at him. Paul
l did not understand that he was sit
ting in Nicholas's chair. At any mo-
i ment the monarch might rise and
Il come back and perceive this intruder
> They laid hands violently upon him,
= and Paul, thinking his purpose had
been discovered tore the dark lantern
It from under his coat and flashed 1t in
to the face of the figure. He had
planned to begin instead with the cal
cium, but this proved equally eiiica-
cious.
:, For everybody was upon his feet
shouting as Paul. leaping forward, his
a lantern light flooding the room,
;, grasped the tall man by the flowing
draperies he wore and whirled down
the steps with him and into the midst
of the guests. simultaneously the
whole company preclpitated them
selves upon Paul and him whom he
held fast. Whoever it was. it was no
ghost, that much was certain. but
giant in strength. giant who sought
for him and found him among the
stumbling men and crashing chairs
and wrapped his great arms around
him like wise and slowly crushed
the breath out of his body. Pinned
helpless in the grip of his antagonist,
Paul felt his senses leaving him. lie
heard the shouts of the courtiers
blend and mingle into a sullen roar as
of the sea; lights flashed before his
eyes; he felt himself lifted up and
carried away The last things that
he saw were Clothilde's terror-strick
en- face and the Mortified eyes o.
Count Gabel
When he opened his eyes again hi
was lying in the little cell which haC
been assigned to him on his arrival
Overhead an electric light burned
brightly. Beside his bed cowled fig
ure was seated-the figure OF Apollo
dorus. AS Paul stirred the monk pu
down the missal which he had bee
reading and came toward him.
h You are feeling better?" he asked
!. smiling composedly. Then you ca
/ tell me who you are. An English
man."
American"
+ Newspaper correspondents"
4 "If you like" answered Paul indi
|. ferently.
n "Or perhaps an emissary Of tn
/ league" continued Apollodorus, smi
y ing more broadly.
Like yourself? No." answere
Paul
My good American, you are
month out of the date" Apollodorr
answered. Il knew that | had Ii
reputation of being a member OF tn;
organization, but one must not b
lieve all that one hears. | have be
ter things to occupy my mind-ete
nal things, not those of this wretche
world. That his majesty has been /
clined toward the league was dr
to the counsels of his father; late
Alexander has counselled him othe
wise"
by whom you mean yourself. sa
Paul Now let us be frank. Wh
are you going to do with me-"
The monk stared at him thoughtft
ly:
"If you will give me your word
honor to keep the secret which shs
reveal. you may go Free" he sal
ITO bs equally frank, you have us
an unpleasant position. If we had n
dragged you away before the ligh
went up
YES"
His majesty might have guess
at your purpose. AS 1t is, everybo
thinks you were a journalist Ha
WITH I YOUR word? Good. The man y
cred fought with was his late males
steal Alexander Ill In middle life
, he wished to withdraw from the VOL
orus TO give himself up to meditation.
her the Tsar cannot abdicate he follow
he the example of his predecessor, Al'
q of ander l.. and withdrew to this mon'
.eak. terry after a mock funeral, and NTH
form bis majesty comes at times to recel