The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1914-12-10

the card in her fingers and smiled in
quiringly toward her guest
II confess she began. that | re-
call neither your face nor your name.
am sorry. Where have had the
honor of meeting you before?"
You have never met me before,
your highness," answered Olga
sweetly.
You came on a charity errand
then?"
That depends, your highness viii
you be so good as to glance at this? ?"
Olga asked, holding out her palm
upon which the talisman lay.
The princess shrank back, paling.
Where did you get that?! she
painted.
From the head" was the answer.
And you have followed me from
Russia?" whispered the princess, her
terror growing.
oh, no. The Black Hundred is as
strongly organized here as in st Pc
tersburg But we always keep track
of old members, especially when they
stand SO high in the world as your
self"
But | was deceived and betrayed"
exclaimed the princess They urged
me to join on the ground that the
organization was to attempt to bring
about the freedom of Poland
Olga shrugged You were rich,
highness. The Black Hundred needed
money"
And you need it now?" eagerly,
believing that she saw loophole
How much? Oh. | will give "a hun
dred thousand rubles on your prom
ise to leave me alone. Tell me!'
II am sorry, your highness, but
have no authority to accept such an
offer. Indeed. my errand is far from
being expensive. All the Black Hun
dred desires is four invitations to
this ball which you are soon to give.
That should not cause you any alarm.
We shall not interfere with your So
journ in America in any way what
soever, provided these invitations are
issued
You would rob my guests?" horri-
fed
Positively no! Here is a list of
four names Invite them; that is all
you have to do. Not Sc much as
silver spoon will be found missing.
This is on my word of honor and
never break that word. If YOU please.
Give me the list. said the princess
wearily. WHO gave you that ring?"
The head"
in Russia?"
No: here in America Olga dipped
into her handbag and produced slip
Of paper This she handed 10 the
princess. Here is the list nighness.
'Who is Florence Hargreave?"
"A friend of mine, evasively
Does she belong to the organiza-
ton"
No"
Then you have some Interior pur-
pose in having me invite her?'
Il have" answered Olga sharply
but that does not concern your high
ness in the least"
The princess bit her lips Il see
your name here also; a man named
Braine. and another, Norton"
Say at once that you do not care
to execute the wishes-the commands
of the order said Olga coldly.
Il will do as you wish. And | beg
you now to excuse me But if any
thing happens to any of my personal
friends"
"Well?" haughtily from Olga
Well, I will put the matter in the
hands of the police"
But so long as your personal
friends are not concerned" ."
Il shall then of necessity remain
deaf and blind 1t is one of the pen
alties | must pay for my folly | wish
you good-day.'
"And also good riddance," mur.
INJURED Olga under her breath as she
rose and started for the hallway.
Thus ii was that when Norton went
to the Office the next afternoon he
found a broad white envelope on his
desk. lndifferently he opened the
same and his eyes bulged. Princess
Parlova requests" and so forth and so
on Then he shrugged. The chief had
probably asked for the invitation and
he would have to write up the doings,
a phase of reportorial work eminently
distasteful to him. He went up to
the city desk
Can't you find some one else to do
this stuff?' he growled to the city
editor.
The city editor glanced at the card
and crested envelope. Good Lord,
man! Nobody in this Office had any
thing to do with that What lucki
Our Miss Hayes tried all manner OF
schemes, but was rebuffed on all
sides. How the deuce did you chance
to get one?"
Search me" said the bewildered
Norton.
IF were you I'd sit tight and take
1t all in" advised the editor. It's
going to be the biggest splurge of it's