The Glenwood post., 1924-12-25

| agitation as the woman had displayed
Mingled with his emotion, however
WAS fear signs Of which were at
once manifested In the anxiety which
distorted his face. the eagerness of his
| demand.
1.-THE number?" he cried. "Tell me
the name or the number of the pris.
oner you desire?"
Number twenty-nine," Gerald re.
piled.
The governor struck the table with
his clenched fist, so that the glasses
ratified.
"a million devils curse and blast
you both!'' he shouted.
He kicked footstool which was
close at hand across the room. Then
he flung himself into an easy-chair and
sat there with his arms crossed, glow
ering at Elsa. The woman gazed at
him as though he had suddenly gone
mad,
Are you oul of your senses, Ivan?'
she asked. ''lwenty-nine or thirty.
nine what does it matter? Is not one
prisoner like another? Who comes to
visit lheH? Who knows which cell Is
emp,e? Bah"
50 y"u Thought you were rich for
life. did yon Elsa?' the man in the
'hair hitIiered. We'll, you can just
rid Yourself OF the idea And as for
you. sir, lr cnt on. with a malicious
g'nnfr ~ Gerald. you may think your
S.al : f,..
as easily as you entered It,"
The wnnn drew a little nearer to
him. There was the look of a wild
animal In her face.
''Listen lTanl" she cried. Are you
mad? III is a fortune which this man
carries in his handl What Is there
amongst the scum that infests your
prisons of account against that? You
terrify me, The money is for us. to
be divided Cash. Ivanl Money to
spend--tomQrrow-t next day-every
day u
"You fooli" the governor retorted.
''Of what use is money when your
feet dange in the air and your neck
is broken? That for you, and dozen
i''Ns" pN.'r.ta III Ii. littll. ou uiS Il
bold man who came to Russia on such
mission" he added, glowering at
Gerald.
She turned to her visitor
what does this madman mean7'
she demanded. "Who is this prisoner
whose freedom you seek?'
II do not know" Gerald replied. ~
am only an emissary."
The governor sat up in his chair
~ will tell you," he declared hoarse-
ly. "Number twenty-nine is all the
fortress records say of him, but his
name Is Paul. grand duke Of Volostok,
prince of Tamboff, hereditary grand
duke and ruler of all the provinces Of
the Dvina, nephew Of Nicholas, the
late tsar, head Of the house of Ro-
MANOR himself, If the people changed
their fancy tomorrow, tsar Of all the
Russias There, my woman, now you
know the secret Of my fortress! You
can guess where we might be II I
traded with this lunaticr'
The woman Topped upon the sofa.
She was pale through all her rouge
and powder. Her yellow hair had
broken loose from its band of ribbon.
Her dressing gown had fallen away a
little from her ample bust. She sat
breathing heavily for several moments.
Gerald, of the three, was the only one
who kept his head.
"All that makes for nothing" he
said calmly. "You excite yourself
greatly for nothing. The RomanOff
dynasty Is past. There will never be
another tsar In Russia. This young
man has rich friends and they want
him out of the country. should think
your government would be glad to be
rid of him."
Gerald's words we're not without
their effect. especially upon the
woman.
After ALL" she muttered, this man
speaks sense. Who cares about grand
dukes. nowadays7 There are plenty
of them who have already escaped
4 What does one more or less matterT'
/ "But this one-I have told you who
he isl" the man growled.
The woman WAS beginning to pluck
up spirit. She scoTed ut him openly.
When the people of Russia want
the days of tsardom back again." she
sad. ''they will find one of the brood
fast enough. But that day will not
come yet. This young man In your
fo"tr0~S Is Of no account You nrp Il