Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1913-12-12
fore the company. his arms raised az

in benediction.
do you believe? Do you believer"
whispered Count Gabel excitely in
Paul's ear. And Paul, looking, owned
that he had never seen clearer re-
presentation of the late Tsar than
this spectral figure with the gaunt
cheeks, gray beard, and mighty arms
stretched out over the company The
Tsar had fallen upon hts knees, the
courtiers followed suit, and somebody
among the audience was singing a
Russian hymn. 1t died away; the
figure still stood motioaless before
the curtain; then Nicholas; arose weak
ly and, prostrating himAelf 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 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, unnoticed, out of his chair.
and edged his way toward the 'FRONT.'
row, Immediately behind the PROSTATE
sovereign.
A candle flickered 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.
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
ting in Nicholas's chair. At any mo-
ment the monarch might rise anG
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 it in.
to the face of the figure. He had
planned to begin instead with the cal
cium, but this proved equally effica
cious
For everybody was upon his feet
shouting as Paul, leaping forward, hi1
lantern light flooding the room
grasped the tall man by the f1owigs
draperies he wore and whirled dowE
the steps with him and into the midst
of the guests. simultaneously tho
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, a 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 again he
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 better?" he asked,
smiling composedly "Then you can
tell me who you are. An English
MANI"
American"
Newspaper correspondent"
eff you like" answered Paul indif.
ferently
Cor perhaps an emissary of the
league" continued Apollodorus, smil.
ing more broadly.
Like yourself? No." answered
Paul.
my good American, you are
month out of the date" Apollodorus
answered 81 knew that had the
reputation of being member of that
organization, but one must not be-
lieve all that one hears. 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
"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 journalist Have
/ your word? Good. The man you
fought with was his late majesty
Alexander III. In middle life he