Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-23

ell ana tOOk lew steps nearer. III
TO make sure.
The millionaire was muttering weakly
as his rowing eye caught Ramsay. Fol-
Il moment his gaze transiiSed the Secre.
tary. He struggled TO his feet. his
eyes staring. one hand catching at HE
heart; the other wildly extended.
1T was he--my secretary-shot
An instant and Whitney collapsed
deal in the chair
The Prophecy.
/; was All that the omniscten, Flat,
needed He was on Ramsay in flash
As pr. Scarley sorrowfully pronounced
the masnatc dead. cndeavorius to com
fort Doris. who had nuns herself on
,he cold form in new transports OF
grief. Fiat motioncd to another OF his
men Together they began leading
Ramsay between them to the back o.
the room.
\ second. Scarcely and Abuer en-
changed slances. then both leuped after
the unfortunate secretary. Abner
brandiSned his fist in the young mans
face. Scarley. however. did not. so we'll
control his fury. Before Ramsay knew
il. pinioned by each hand. though he
was Scariev had struck him full In
the face Nerda flung herself between
them. too late to stop the blow. as the
policeman pushed them all back from
his prisoner.
"Si, down" hc srowieG showing
Ramsay into 4 chair
\ cgoan from the bearded stranger
on the divan diverted their attention,
and Flat cage" now TO Clinch his
ease sprau2 TO the mans side. Half
supported. TIN. man raised himself. GaZ-
ing wildly about as IL recovering from
u dream. Catching sight of DORIS. he
noiiuncd for her to come 10 him. No
one. however. paid any attention.
Your name-who are YOU" demand
ed Fiat.
Slowly. with dignity that WAS
unmistakabl. the mans lips framed
the reply. Il am the Grand Duke
AleXovitrh.'
Fiat shook his head. turning TO Alb
ner who happened TO be standing by.
and tapping his forehead with his ore
finger. "Nutty. he muttered.
The stranger. however. was rot so
easily disposed of. He motioned feeb!y
in.
Wei. III he bowed" ne exclaimed.
drawing forth d document bearing Il
royal coat ~ arms and seal. The
guys right"
Flat was now ready 10 pay more
attention TO the demand Of the Grand
Duke that Doris be brought nearer
10 MN.
Would YOU mind. Miss. stepping over
here:'' asked Flat. trying hard &c
polite.
The Grand Duke. Story.
For the moment Scariey stared
hlankly into the fireplace. Nerda had
eyes only for Ramsay. while Abner
tuned Wonderingly, Doris approach
ed AS she came closer. ii seemed as il
the eyes of the Grand Duke would pop
out of his head. not SO much at seeing
her as at the strange locket she wore
about her neck. Weakly. he stretch
ed forth and Erasped her ha nd. kissing
il ferventiy. IN her tears. she tried 20
draw her hand away.
DO not weep for Judson Whitney,"
fastened the Grand Duke. eagerly. lie
was not your father. You are my
daughter. You were horn eighteen
years a:o in the Winter Palace"
Utter amaZemen, now seized ali in
this room.
'Listen-ie, me tell you my story
your story-the story OF that iocket.
the divan, the Grand Duke began TO
speak as the others. TOO startled TO
Interrupt. listened.
Eighteen years ago ne began. to
Doris. when you were a baby. there
was at the court man who was my
have .utssed-Rascon, the Mad Monk,
who ruled the .Asia,ic Church. as lie
cal lied it. and kept the weak Emperor
i'll fear ct him.
"On the day that YOU were born
there cane TO this demon plan to
aNenEe himself on me. BEFORE the
Einpero: and Empress. this Rascon.
surrounded by his satellites. pretended
20 so into a trance, in which he pro-
fessed TO see visions OF the future.
There. III his evil mind, was born
lhc terrible thing that has happened
20 as In this false trance Rascon
mndr his fetal prophecy:
This day there is born in the
palace OF the Emperor a cir! baby who
will become the most beautiful woman
II! the world. who will cause the En-
peror 10 20 mad with love for her, and
a CO ON piish the destruction OF the EN-
p,re before her eighteenth birthday.
"Eascon chanted this prophecy in
low drone." continued the grand duke.
AS he finished the weak Emperor was
very frightened. looked at the En-
press. She was actually enrased and
jea lous knew that it was my own
child that the Mad Monk meant. And
even as ! prayed for mercy, The En-
peror threw me aside and begged that
rascally HaScon 10 tell him what he
should do. His only answer was TO
his weird chant until finally
he fell swooning on the noor. knew
that all was lost
The Empsrrr n!r.- =
from the floor and revived him.
There the fate of the child was
sealed. begged. | besousht. | prayed.
1t was all of no avail. The Emperor
waved his hand TO two of the Mad
Monks satellites, who rushed off to
tear the baby from her mother.
"A moment later they returned with
the innocent little thing. Pleading was
useless. | was sent into exile. The
srand duchess never recovered from the
shock. She died that very day. And
from that day TO this have never seen
my daughter.
The secret Service.
The grand duke again paused IN his
recital. Doris listened. petrified al the
tale. Could it be true? Was not Jud-
son Whitney her own father? Was her
rather really this stranger?
Ahner, on his part. was listening with
growing avidity. II was easy 10 see
what passed in his mind. As for Or.
Scar!eH. he still listened. but with his
race averted and hard set. Nerda was