Year: 1876

madness to have attempted it in the face
of those desperadoes, who fought with i
halter around their neclls.


The detective touched me on the arm -
the door swung noiselessly back, enabling
us to take deliberate aim at the uneon-
scious scoundrels


The woman suddenly glanced towards
us, her eyes dilated with terror. but before
the scream could burst from her lips il
was drowned in the report of the two
pistols The room was filled with smoke,
but the detective had taken his bearings
correctly.


While | bounded forward to guard the
two rascal5 writhing in mortal agony on
the floor, he had grasped the woman firm
" in his arms. and. despite her efforts 10
the contrary, she was bound hand and
foot


Well, gentlemen, what followed is soon
told. That night, as was on the point of
retiring, the detective called upon me at
my apartment. He bade me wrap up
warm and to prepare TO accompany him
without delay. BE was extremely reticent
rs to what was required of me. but felt
too grateful to press subject which | saw
annoyed the brave fellow


fastening down stairs, we jumped into
a tirosky, which started off with the speed
OF whirlwind Drawing up in the shad-
ow OF a huge building, we alighted. The
detective, taking me by the hand, led the
way through IL narrow passageway, as
cended steep spiral flight of stairs
knocked in a peculiar manner at door
whispering in my esr to walk forward.
obeded, the door closed behind me and |
found myself face to face with q tall, COM
manding parsonage dressed in y semi
military uniform Of green cloth. devoid
however, Of all insignia of rank save q
jeweled order which sparllel on his LETT
breast


He greeted me with pleasant smile,
extended his hand, shaking mine cordial
ly inquired my name, rank and natlonali-
", and concluded as follows:


"Through you have been enabled to
break up a desperate gang of murderers
who for some time have bade defiance to
all law and authority. Accept this SOU
yenir as q reminder OF your adventure ;
and now You will accompany the officer
in waiting, who will consummate the last
act of this piece Of vilainy by a stroke of
Russian Justice"


bowed low, retreated from the pres
ence, and rejoined my friend, the detec-
tive, who, in deep silence, conducted me
from the building Upon reaching the
drosky found it surrounded by a mount
ed squad of police. On one Of the seats,
clad in a thin shirt and loose pair of pants,
covered a figure which | Immediately
recognized as Alexis Daghestan.


could scarcely repress a cry of aston
ishment asI seated myself by his side but
a significant gesture from the detective,
as he leaped into the vehicle. troze the ex-
clamation on my lips 1t was bitter cold
night, the mercury ranging far below
zero, the stars shining like SO many orll-
liants in the vault overhead Not a breath
Of air was stirring, and the bells from the
kazen Cathedral were tolling the hour of
midnight as the entire party dcbouched
upon the smooth frozen surface of the riy-
Ell Neva


Once | had attempted to wrap the half
frozen prisoner in spare bearskin-robe,
but the detective prevented me; and his
features, naturally stern in their express
sion assumed q harder cast in the dim star
light as the order was given to halt





tide under our feet was sweeping forward
at 81 headlong rate. With business like
precision the guard began at once to cut q
large hole in the ice. until the black, roll
ing waters were revealed. The prisoner
who had relapsed into a state Of semi-in-
sensbility, was now brought forward and
placed on the horrid brink. Then real
lied the terrible nature of the criminals
punishment. | turned away sick and faint
with horror ut the same time a splash
broke distinctly on the till air. When |
turned towards the group the white figure
had disappeared.


The lady who had used her fatal beauty
so successfully as a dc1oy | was fated to
meet once more. 1t was while driving to
the railway station, for | was anxious,
more than anxious, to leave forever u
country the recollections of which even
now at times cause me to start with cry
of horror from my sleep.


A long train of wretched, woebegone-
looking creatures for few moments de-
layed my progress. A guard of Cossacks
accompanied the party. whom | immed-
ately recognized as eXiles banished to the
Wilds of Siberia.


Despite the rude shapeless garb which
now formed her attire, it could not conceal
the matchless form of her who had 50 near
ly lured me to my death. Her wealth of
golden hair had disappeared meath the
rude hands Of the prison officials but, de-
spite the changes she had undergone, |
felt my heart beat wildly as our eyes met


1t was only for a moment. but the wo-
man stood motionless as q statue, the stern
word of command falling unheeded on her
delicate ear


The sharp ping of a leathern thong whis-
tied through the air. dealt by the brawny
arm Of a brutal Cossack; the lash cut deep
into the unfortunate wcman's flesh, who
screamed and leaped conTulsively forward,
as she was SO terribly reminded of the
doom which had overtaken her


Gentlemen, do you wonder now at my
aversion to port-wine negus? Here is the
souvenir which received on that memor-
able night (placing a superb watch and
chain on the table, and while you gentle
men are examining the relic, | will Join
you, Stationbill, in a goodnight glass.


The horticultural display at the Cen
tennial Exhibition promises to be some
thing remarkably fine. The horticultural
grounds comprise forty acres. The space
available Tor outside exhibits-besides the
walks, borders. building sites and spaces
for ornamental gardening-is about eight
and one-third acres. This is pretty near
ly all applied for by about 120 domestic
and foreign exhibitors The walks are
two miles in extent Parterres and sunk
en- gardens are laid off and planted SO as
to show leading features of ornamental
gardening, such as carpet bedding ribbon
and geometrical gardening; and these
will bloom near the opening time of the
Exhibition. About $4,000 Towering and
ornamental varieties Of plants and foliage
will decorate the beds and represent diff
ferent flower gardening methods. The
Horticultural Building stands on an artit-
cial elevation, ornamented by artistic ter
races and reached by flights Of marble
steps Its bright colors and graceful pro-
portions render it perhaps the most at
tractive of the principal five buildings of
the Exhibition. On the north and south
sides Of the central main hall-the cell
ings of which are brilliantly garnished
and the floors elaborately paved-are the