The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-04-10

was for the purpose of blackmailing the knowledge they seek from my hus- band.
 Had he been convicted of cheating at cards his career would have been blighted He would have had to leave the war department. He would have been socially ostracized. They intend ed to hold this club over him-the price of an avowal on their part that the count was but the victim of the plot of enemies who wished to bes1nirch his name was to have been the papers they seek.
 ''You thwarted them in this. Then they concocted the scheme whereby my reputation was to be the price in stead of the counts. Was it not too horrible? But happened to know something of M Paulvitch that would send him to the gallows In Russia if it were known by the police of St Pc tersburg I dared him to carry out his plan and then I leaned toward him and whispered name in his ear. Like that''-and she snapped her fingers The flew at my throat as a madman- He would have killed me had you not interfered.. 7
 sThe brutes,' nruttered Tarzan. seyvhy do you not turn the scoundrels over to the authorities2 They should make quick work of them"
 She hesitated for moment before replying.
 ssThere are two reasons. she said finally esOne of them 1t is that keeps the count from doing that very thing. The other, my real reason for fearing to expose them, I have never told only Rokosf and I know it. I wonder why it is gHfat I want to tell you the thing that have not dared tell even : to my husband. believe that you would understand and that you could tell me the right course to follow. believe that you would not judge me too harsh1y-s
 .sI fear that should prove a very poor judge, madame" TaHan replied, ssfor if you had been guilty of murder I should say that the victim should be grateful to have met 50 sweet a fate. 7
 'sOh, dear. no,' 2 she expostulated. ssIt is not so terrible as that But first let me tell you the reason the count has for not prosecuting these men; then, if I, can hold my courage,I shall tell you the real reason that I dare not. The first is that Nikolas Rokof is my broth CT. We are. Russians. Nikolas has been bad man since can remember. He was cashfered from the Russian army, in which he held a captaincy. There was terrible scandal for a time, but after awhile it was partially forgotten and my father obtained po- sit1on. for him in the secret service.
 ssThere have been many terrible crimes laid at Nikolas' door, but he has always managed to escape punish ment. Of late he has accomplished it by trunped up evidence convicing his l victims of treason against the czar, and the Russian police, who are aI- ways only too ready to fasten guilt of this nature upon any and all. have accepted his version and exonerated him. ;
 'aHave not his attempted crimes against you and your husband forfeit ed whatever rights the bonds of kim ship mfgfk have accorded him ?'' asked Tazan. s@The fact that you are his sister has not detered him from seek ing to besmdrch your honor. You owe him no loyalty, madame.
 sfAh, but there is that other reason. If I owe him no IoyaHy, though he be my brother, I cannot so easily dfsavow the fear I hold him in because of a certain episode in my life of which he is cognizant.
 q might as well tell you all, 2 she resumed after pause. flor T see that it is in my heart to tell you sooner or later | was educated in a convent While there met a man whom sup posed to be a gentleman. I knew lit 1 tie or nothing about men and less about love. got it into my foolish head that I loved this man, and at his urgent request I ran away with him. We were to have been married
 ssI was with him just three hours all in the daytime and in public places t-railroad stations and upon 8 train When we reached our destination, where we were to have been married, two officers stepped up to my escort as we descended from the train and placed him under arrest. They took me also, but when had told my story they did not detain me, other than to 1 send me back to the convent under the scare of a matron- It seemed that the man who had wooed me was no gen. tIeman at all, but deserter from the 1 army as well as fugitive from civil justice. He had a police record in nearly every country in Europe. ..The matter was hushed up by the authorities of the convent Not even my parents knew of 1t. But Nflzolas met the man afterward and learned the whole story. Now he threa atens to tell the count if do not dosjust as he wishes me to.''
 Gro hs Continuedl