The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1913-12-12

4
| ly and, prostrating himself upon the
is~vest step, held communion with the
figure, which bent over him. Only the
whispers of their voices were audible
in the room.
The eyes 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. unactiSed, cat of his chair,
and edged his way toward the front
row, Immediately behind the PROSTATE
sovereign. Under his coat he clutched
| the dark lantern tightly. Disgust and
contempt had driven out his doubts
He felt sure now that this was the
masquerading monk
A candle fiickered in one corner
and the light fell clearly upon the
face Of the tall figure. Paul was
amazed. This could not be ApoIlodo.
rus-some confederate, perhaps, but
never that ascetic little man. Why, this
man had muscles like a Shadows 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
did not understand that he was sit,
T.
ment the monarch might rise and
come back and perceive this intruder.
They laid hands violently upon him.
and Paul, thinking his purpose had
been discovered, tore the dark lantern
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 eftica,
cious.
For everybody was upon his feet
shouting as Paul. leaping forward. his
lantern light flooding the room,
grasped the tall man by the flowing
draperies he wore and whirfed down
the steps with him and into the midst
of the guests. simultaneously the
whole company precipitated them
selves upon Paul and him whom he
held fast. Whoever it was, it was no
ghost, that much was certain, but a
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. He
heard the shouts Of the courtiers
blend and mingle into 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 of
Count Gabel.
When he opened his eyes EgSSN be
was lying in the little Cell which had
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 put
down the missal which, he had been
reading and came toward him.
you are feeling better2" re eSSed.
smiling ccUsneSily. "Efen you can
! t.c& InR who you ere. an English
man."
American"
| Newspaper correspondent"
eff you like" answered Paul indft-
ferently.
COR perhaps an emissary CS TIC
league" continued Apoliodorus, sntl.
ing more broadly. ..
Like yourself? No." answered
F1ul. ...
my good American. you are a
month out of the date" Apollodorus
answered. Il knew that l had the
reputation of being member OF that
organization, but one must not be-
iieve all that one bears. l have bet
ter things to occupy my mind-eter-
nal things, not those of this wretched
world. That his majesty has been in
clined toward the league was due
to the counsels of his father; lately
Alexander has counselled him other
wise" .....- r....... ....
by whom you mean yourself" said
Paul. Now let us be frank. What
are you going to do with me?"
The monk stared at him thoughtful
ly.
"If you will give me your word OF
honor to keep the secret which | shall
reveal, you may go free" he said.
ITO be equally frank, you have us in
an unpleasant position. II we had not
dragged you away before the lights
went up"
"Yes"
His majesty might have guessed
at your purpose. AS it is, everybody
thinks you were a journalist. Have
| your word? Good. The man you
fought with was his late. majesty
Alexander III. In middle life he
wished to withdraw from the world
to give himself up to meditation. AS
the Tsar cannot abdicate he followed
the example of his predecessor, Alex
lander l., and withdrew to this monas-
terry after mock funeral, and hither
his majesty comes at times to receive
counsel You understand, my friend
that with a sovereign of his majesty S
type of mind we cannot always be