The Idaho Springs siftings-news. (Idaho Springs, Colo.) 1905-19??, 1916-02-18
CHAPTER XIII.
1.-THE Stranaler."

| 1.-THE strangler."
| Where was Elma? What was the
cause Of her inexplicable disappear
ance into the gloomy forest while we
| had slept?
l returned to the hotel where had
stayed on my arrival, a comfortable
place called the Phoenix. and lunched
there alone. Both Felix, the Finn.
md my host. the wood cutter, had re-
eived their douceurs and left, but to
he last-named l had given instruc-
ions to return home at once and re-
,ort by telegraph any news of my lost
| ne.
| A thousand conflicting thoughts
| arose within me as l sat in that crowd
d sale a manager filled with a COB
| bling crowd Of the commercial men OF
| Abo. 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 prisoner. The tragedy of the
dastardly manner in which she had
been willfully manned caused my
| DlOOu " UOll Wltulu 1 udQ never
believed that in this civilized TWEEN
tieth century such things could be.
Why she had disappeared withou;
warning | was at loss to imagine, yet
| could only surmse that her flight
had been compulsory. Another very
curious feature in the affair was the
sudden manner in which Michael Bo-
1 rapSEi had hic
| f1uence in order to render me that
service.
There was, l 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 l now loved In secret.
! l could not bring myself to leave
Finland. and allow Elma to fall into
the clutches of that high official who
SO persistently sought her end. No.
would go to him and face him. I
was anxious to see what manner Of
man was THE Stranger of Finland"
| That same evening l left Abo and
| Travelled by rail to Helsingfors
| At noon l descended from a droshy
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, 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 wide stone staircase, was con-
fronted by servant. who took nv
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 small, elegant room.
where a tall. baldheaded man in mil
itary uniform stood awaiting me.
/ Your name is M'si,ur Gregg he
exclaimed in very good French. land
l understand you desire audience of
his excellency. the governor general
l regret. however. that he never gives
audience to strangers"
lhe matter upon which l desire to
see MS excelency is of a purely pri-
Vate and confidential nature" l said,
for used as l was to the WAYS OF for
eign officialdom, spoke with the same
hrm courtesy as himself.
If l write the nature OF nv busf
ness and inclose it in an envelope. will
you then take it to him." suggested.
he hesitated for short time, twist
ing his mustache, and then replied
with great reluctance:
We'll, if you are so determined. You
may write your business upon your
card"
l therefore took out one, and ON the
back in French:
To give information regarding Miss
Elma Heath"
Ringing bell, he handed 1t 20 the
footman who appeared The RET ponse
came in few minutas