The Green Forest tribune., 1915-10-08
CHAPTER XIII.
"The Strancler."

"The straneler." Where was Elma? What was the cause of her ineXplicable disappear. ance into the gloomy forest while we had slept?
 returned to the hotel where l had stayed on my arrival, comfortable place called the Phoenix, and lunched there alone. Both Felix. the Finn. ana my host, the wood cutter. had re- celved their douceurs and left, but to the last-named 1 had given instruc- tons to return home at once and re. port by telegraph any news of my lost one.
 A thousand conflicting thoughts arose within me as sat in that crowd. cd salle manager filled with a gob. bling crowd of the commercial men of Apo. l had, l recognized, now to deal with the most powerful man in that country, and l suffered a distinct dis. advantage by being in ignorance of the reason he held that sweet English girl a prisoner. The tragedy of the dastardly manner in which she had been wilifully maimed caused my blood to boil within me. had never believed that in this civilized twen- tieth century such things could be.
 Why she had disappeared without warning I was at loss to imagine, yet could only surmise that her flight had been compulsory. Another very curious feature in the affair was the sudden manner in which Michael Bo- ranski had eXacted his power and in fluenee in order to render me that service.
 There was, I felt convinced, some hidden motive in all that sudden and marked friendliness. That he really hated the English l had seen plainly when we had first met, and had only compelled him to serve me by present ing the order signed by the emperor, which made me his guest within the Russian dominions. Even that docu- ment did not account for the length he had gone to secure the release of the woman I now loved in secret.
 could not bring myself to leave Finland, and allow Elma to fall into the clutches of that high official who SO consistently sought her end No. would go to him and face him. was anxious to see what manner of man was The Strangler of Finland" That same evening I left Apo. and travelled by rail to Helsingfors.
 At noon 1 descended from drosky before a long, gray, massive building, over the big doorway of which was a large escutcheon bearing the Russian arms emblazoned in gold, and on en- tering where sentry stood on either side, a colossal concierge in livery of bright blue and gold came forward to meet me.
 Following his directions, crossed a great, bare courtyard, and. ascend ing a wide stone staircase. was con- fronted by servant, who took my card to Colonel Luganski, who he in- formed me was the baron's private secretary.
 After ten minutes or so the man returned, saying:
 "The colonel will see you if you will please step this way" and conducted me into the richly furnished private apartments of the palace, across a great hall filled with fine paintings. and then up long, thickly carpeted passage to a small, elegant room. where a tall, baldheaded man in mil itary uniform stood awaiting me.
 Your name Is M'sieur Gregg" he exclaimed in very good French. "and I understand you desire audience or his excellency. the governor general. I regret, however. that he never gtves audience to strangers"
 The matter upon which l desire to see his excellency is of purely pri- vate and confidential nature," l said. for, used as I was to the ways of for eign officialdom. spoke with the same firm courtesy as himself.
 If I write the nature of my busi- ness and inclose 1t in an envelope. will you then take 1t to him?" suggested.
 He hesitated for short time, twist ing his mustache, and then replied with great reluctance:
 well, if you are so determined. you may write your business upon your card"
 therefore took out one. and on the back in French:
 "To give information regarding Miss Elma Heath"
 Ringing bell, he handed 1t to the footman who appeared. The response came in a few minutes.