In I r 5- if I: U bwtywwswwsjWfaM)wwwiw DARKEST RUSSIA BV H. GIIATTA.N DONNELLY. Copyright, 1890, by Street & Smith, All rights rescryed. frVtf''iflfw,J!twgtfi CHAPTER XI I J Continued. Rndalolt had no Idea of the con .Mnts of tho letter. But when Ilda oad finished reading It lie gavo tho 'waiting" signal, and In responso to the Blnglo Btroko of tho bell enter ed the ofllco to meet the Conntess Karslcheff, with tho result already described. In vain ho attempted to axplaln to tho countess that ho found Ilda a prisoner, she having been captured In tho Nihilist ren dezvous, but tho haughty and Insult ing manner In which ho had been In terrupted each tlmo ho began his ex planation, had prevented him from giving that Important Information. Thus It was when Ilda entered her presenco tho countess knew nothing of her arrest. Tho two women stood faco to face alone. Each measured the other with a glance, and as their eyes met there was exchanged a look which meant that henceforth and forever theso two were enemies to tho death. For tho moment, however, tho feel ing that controlled Ilda Barosky was ono of deepest lovo for tho exiled father whom sho was to clasp to her boart after the long and bitter years of separation. She cast an anxious glanco at tho countess, who stood re garding her with a feeling of bitter est hate. Kathorlno saw before her her deadliest foe. It was to this girl she owed all tho humiliation sho had felt, all tho deep disappointment in storo for her, if Alexis' marriage to Olga should not tako place. "My father ho Is here?" said Ilda, "and I shall sco him? I shall see him once again?" "That depends upon yourself." Katherlno spoko theso words, look ing at Ilda. Thero was something In the tone and in tho look that placed Ilda Instantly on her guard. She felt, sho knew not why, that sho was to bo made tho victim of a cruel lie. With an effort she suppressed her feelings and said: "I do not understand you, madame." "i am tho Countess Katherlno Kar slcheff, wife of tho minister of police, and It was by my suggestion and at my desire that your father hn3 been brought hero to receive his pardon." "When was ho brought here, ma damo?" Tho question annoyed Katherlno. Ilda noticed the effect and her sus picions became stronger. "That Is not for you to know," said tho countess, after a momentary pause. "It is sufllclent for you when I say he Is here and that his pardon will bo granted on one condition." Ilda's heart beat rapidly. "And that is?" "That you leavo Russia r.t once and forever alone!" Ilda's lips became compressed. Her faco turned a trifle paler. "Let mo seo my father let me hear his voice let mo feel tho grasp of his hand before I answer." "It is impossible. Your answer must be given hero and without de lay." "I will not answer until I have seen my father." Katherlno's faco deepened In color, and her eyes flashed. "You are hero to suo for mercy," sho said, "not to make conditions. "I am not hero to suo for mercy. 1 am here by the written request of tho minister of police. His letter 'mMWYMtjsfr-myrjy. . . states that my father is here. I de mand to seo tho minister himself." Tho countess drew herself up haughtily. "Insolent girl," she said, "you forget yourself, as you did last night. Remember that you aro In tho presence of tho wife of tho minis ter of police, Countess Katherine Kar slcheff. I am not used to brook Inso lenco from inferiors." Ilda's eyes flashed with anger. Meeting the malignant glance of the ;ountess with a look of defiance, she replied: "I am not your inferior, madame. You aro not my equal. You havo taken advantage of my position to work upon too affection of a child for her father, for your own ends. Your trick is too transparent. It has failed. I can seo the lie upon your face my father is not here!" Katherlno lost control of herself. "Daughter of tho gutter," sho hissed, "yon aro In my power here. When you leavo this house it shall be for tho prison. You are not now In tho house of Count Nazi molt and Alexis is not here to save you." As tho countess spoke of Alexis, Ilda instantly divined th.e object her enemy had had In view. Tho countess continued: "Tou fool when ho disgraced hhJ uniform, !g "M" Insulted his father, and humiliated his guests last night to savo you from tho lash you deserved, ho simply play ed tho mock heroic to win a smile and tho reward from a wanton." "It Is false! Ho loves me! I shall bo his wife!" cried Ilda. "His wife! Ha! ha! ha!" Kather Ino's Ironical laughter was almost maniacal In Its wlldness. "Ills wife! Tho only Intention Alexis Nazlmoff over held regarding you was to mako you his plaything not his wife!" "Woman, you He!" Ilda, roused to uncontrollnblo pas sion by tho stinging words of tho countess, hurled tho Ho in her tooth with a fury equal to that of Kather lno herself, and with heaving bosom sho stood gazing defiance nt her mad dened and baffled enemy. At tho snmo instnnt tho door opened and General Karslcheff entered from tho llbrnry, while Nicholas, who had Just return ed, appeared at tho other door. Katherlno, wrought up to uncon trollable frenzy, caught the arm of her husband, and In words so shrill as to bo almost a scream of rago de manded Instant vengeance. "I nc cuso her," sho exclaimed, pointing to Ilda; "sho Insulted tho czar last night, I accuse her. Sho Is here in my power punish her I demand it; punish her now! Do you hero now, with tho whip. Sho must feel the lash till sho writhes beneath it, till she crawls on her knees for mercy to me!" "Katherine, for God's sake, control yourself," appealed Constantine. "Your voice can bo heard in the square," ho said. "Then act act now!" yelled Kath erine. Tho ydoor leading to tho library opened.' General Cobb and the baroness ap peared. "Hello!" said tho American, as ho caught sight of Ilda and recognized her ns the girl of the night before tho woman whom Alexis vowed should be his wife "It is Ilda Barosky." Ilda, hearing her name In no un friendly volco, turned to tho speaker, and hurriedly stepped to his side. "Help me," sho appealed, "help me! I am in their power without a friend." "Well, not whllo I am on deck," said Cobb. "What is tho mattor?" "Stop, sir!" commanded Karslcheff. "This Is tho private ofllco of tho min ister of police. You havo n6 right here. I demand that you withdraw!" "Certainly! But first I must hear what this girl ha3 to say. She has ap pealed to mo for protection." "I havo been brought In hero by a, trick by a letter signed by tho minister of police," hurriedly began Ilda. Nicholas springing forward stopped her. "Hold! you havo no right to rjeak I command you to stop. You, sir," he continued, "you havo heard my father's order, Leavo tho room leavo the house!" "Read that, sir," said Ilda, attempt ing to hand tho letter of the countess to General Cobb. Nicholas rushed between Cobb and Ilda, and holding her at arm's length, he said: "You cannot give that let ter to any one. It belongs to the min ister of police. I again command you," ho said, addressing Cobb, "to leave tho room," Tho baroness quickly passed back of Nicholas, and taking tho paper from Ilda, handed It to Cobb with tho re bark: "Tho letter is on zo go!" Cobb opened tho paper instantly. "Hello," ho said, "tho girl's father here where is her father?" Katherine, who had been almost suffocating with rago all this time, now found her volco again. "Ruf fian," sho shouted, shaking her fist at Cobb, "rufilan, leave tho room or wo will havo you arrested." "Look here, General Karslcheff," said Cobb, "thl3 girl has boon made n victim of a trick for somo object that I do not know. She Is hero friendless and powerless, and It Is my duty as a man to stand by her a3 any true man should stand by a wom an in distress. Now, sir, I say, pro duce her father, or I will arraign you beforo Russia beforo tho world as a high official who can use his public position to ent his private spleen up on a poor girl." "I'll hear no more!" shouted Karsl cheff, stung to madness, and he sound ed tho bell. Radaloff entered. "Tako this girl Into custody!" shouted Karslcheff. "Pardon, your excellent?" replied Radaloff," sho la already in custody, Sho was one of the prisoners cap tured in tho Nihilist headquarters this morning. Tho others are below awaiting your excellency's pleasure." Radaloff laid his hand on tho shoul der of Ilda. Now for tho first tlmo Katherlno saw that she had committed a stupid blunder in sending tho letter, but she saw also that Ilda was thoroughly In her power. "You hoar, general, you hear," sho cried, pointing to Ilda. "There sho stands, arrested this morn ing. Sho Is traitor an assassin! You aro tho minister of police. Act at once. Sentence her now I demand J It!" "Stop," cried Cobb, "thero is no proof on which to sentence her." "Pardon," said Radaloff, advancing. "Where this girl was captured thero was found a mlna, a score of dyna mlto bombs, and a tunnel leading to the street along which his majesty the emperor was to have passed to day." it is enough," triumphantly ex claimed Karslcheff. "Ilda BaTasky, you havo been found plotting tho as sasslnatlon of the czar. I sontenco you to ton yews' Imprisonment In Si beria!" "Good God, man," cried Cobb, "you are Inhumnn on such testimony to pas3 a sentence liko that!" Tho bnroncss, ovorcomo by excite ment, sank on a loungo and Cobb flow to her assistance. "What of tho others, excellency?' snld Radaloff, addressing tho minister "They nro in tho courtyard below Shall they bo sent first to tho fortress, or shall they bo brought beforo you. Her brother Is among them!" Her brother! Tho words caught tho car of the countess. "Her brother is also ar rested! You hear, general, her broth or! He, too, must suffer! Sontenco him, too sontenco thorn all." Karslcheff gavo n silent signal tb Radaloff, who retired. "Action now merciless soverlty," whispered Nicholas, "It Is your onl hope, nrid," ho added In a lower tone to himself, "but a faint hopo nt that." A tramp of soldiers outsldo causod all present to turn their eyes In the ft I &- EEHr ill 'YSPi7Z7icr yzxs 7v zrs yrjnv dlrectlon of tho nnte-chnmber. The door opened. Radaloff stood on one sido nnd then appeared two soldlort anc' two police guarding Ivan Barosky The clock now showed about twentj minutes of twelve. General Karslcheff took his place behind tho desk. Ivan was brought beforo him. "Your name?" "Ivan Barosky." "You wore captured this morning In tho Nihilist rendezvous?" "I was arrested this morning," was tho reply of Ivan. "You admit then your guilt?" "I admit nothing." "What! Do you deny that you were in this don of assassins?" "I deny nothing." Karslcheff became furious. "I shall find a way to mako you speak, trnl tor!" ho exclaimed; "meanwhile, ponding further Inquiries, you are sen tenccd to twenty years in Siberia." "Poor Ivan!" It was from tho bnr oness. Sho heard no more at the tjmo, for her sympathetic heart wai overstrained and sho had fainted. Ivan had turned to Ildn. They were clasped for a moment In each other's arms, for both well know that in a few minutes more they would bo torr apart, In all probability to meet or earth no more. But tho vengeance of Kathorlno Knr slcheff was not yet sated. Sho leaned over "tho desk and hissed the wordt Into tho cars of her husband "The others, her friends, sontenco then, all, do you hear, all! I would have my revengo complete. Do not dlsap point mo, Constantine, or I swear yoi will regret It to your dying day!" Constantino Karslcheff needed nc urging. (To bo continued.) Damrosch Can Be Sarcastic. Walter Damrosch, tho musician, de lights to talk music, but only with those who havo a technical muslca. education. Ho has no sympathy with the amateurs who do not understand music, just as tho painter Whlstlei lmd no sympathy with the amateurs wlio did not understand tho technique of color harmonies and of brush work. Not long ago, at a dinner pan ty In New York, a voluble man bored Mr. Damrosch with a long harangue on music. This man said "Home, Sweet Homo," would Hvo longer than the bird music of "Siegfried," and that "After tho Ball" had more depth than the melancholy Mark motive oi "Tristan and Isolde." Finally tho man turned his atten tion to tho sentimental song, "Once I Was Pure as Thou," which has ol late grown popular in certain hum bio classes of society. "Once I Was Pure as Thou!" ho ex claimed, almost smacking his lips. "Ah, that's a song. Whenever I heat that song It carries mo away." "Will some ono sing 'Once I Was as Pure as Thou?'" said Mr. Dam rosch, looking anxiously up and down the table. Boston Post. Submarine Experiments. . An important series of experiments with submarines is to bo carried out at Portsmouth. Ono of the principal tosts will consist of "fishing" for sub marines with a wire net. For the purpose of the experiments a netting 200 feot long, mado of thin but strong steel wire, is to bo attached to three steam pinnaces, and by them drawn undor water at tho depth which It fs known submarines usually travel When ono of tho little craft bocomoa ontanglod In the meshes tho two out sido boats will close in around it. and so forco it to come to tho surface oi sink. London Engineer. r LOOKS DUBIOUS FOR CZAR TPA.ft HfltJmkl X - yr & . -- ; p . T v rt&rj jT j lJ HOROSCOPE OF At this llmo when tho eyes and nt Icntlon of tho entire civilized world aro focused on Russln, tho czar and his great army In tho far enst, tho horoscope of Nlchllas II. should provo of Interest, oven to thoso who do not believe that tho position of certain planets about tho tlmo of a person's birth has anything whntovcr to do with tho ups and downs of llfo. Tho czar was born nt St. Peters burg, May 18, 18GS. Tho tlmo of duy was noon, or to get tho tlmo down to astrological nicety at 11 h, GG m, 14 s, a. m., St, Petersbburg tlmo. Accord ing to a horoscopo published in an astrological magazine called "Des tiny," thero wero untoward aspects In ho heavens about that tlmo which dotormlno thnt tho czar at this tlmo Is In a most tcrrlblo position. An ovll Influonco has been at play about him all his llfo. Simple and un- SMALL BOY WA8 WANTED. Demand for Sustenance Evidently Fruitful of Results. Ho was not moro than six. Ho stood stood on tho curb In front of a largo hotel at Thirty-sixth and Chestnut streets. His sturdy Httlo legs wero bare aud brown, and ho looked a healthy youngster, with his arms akimbo and a shock of surly brown hair blowing to tho breeze. "Maw! Oh, Maw!" ho yelled with all tho strength of his young lungs nt tho upper stories of tho hotel. Tho policeman on tho post stopped, two maids who wero rolling perambula tors halted In tholr parade, tho pas sengers on a passing trolley cranod their necks, and two curious team sters pulled up to seo what was tho matter. "Maw! Oh, Maw!" yelled his cub ship, louder and moro petulantly, all oblivious of tho attention ho was at tracting. Tho volco reached Its mark. A window In tho fifth story shot up; n woman put her head out. At sight of her tho youngster, with all his strength, cried out: "Oh, Maw, throw down my hat an' n plcco of bread and butter with su gar on It inside!" Tho hfad at tho window disappear ed, tho maids turned uway, tho pas sengers on tho car laughed, tho cop grinned, and tho tradesmen wero Just saying "Git up" to their steeds when a bellboy appeared. As ho towod tho small boy into tho hotel ho said sig nificantly, "Your mother wants to sco you." Philadelphia Press. From Paris tho latest automobile fad has como, and tho dog that goes motoring with his master or mistress will horcafter wear goggles, coat and cap In Now Yoik Just as his European brother has been doing for several years. Woran will be vory prompt to tako up this new fad, tho automobllo supply dealers believe. It has long been a custom In Franco to protect pet dogs with the peculiar outfit of tho automo blllsts, and it is contended by thoso who havo set tho fashion that a dog needs such protection qulto as much as a human being. It is argued that tho dog's eyes aro even more suscep tible to tho injurious effect of wind BaBrMMrMMaMiHMCMBaMHMmMMiBa0aaMMrsk j AUTOMOBILE SUITS FOR DOGS j J THE CZAR. nssumlns In mnnnor, with both tho nblllty and tho dcslro to do his duty, ho stands surrounded by friends and counselors who nro fnlso and decep tive, and by enemies who nro power ful and unyielding. Ho. Is not a robbust man, nnd his constitution Is by no menus strong His norvous system Is weak nnd de ranged, and ho lacks stamina nnd forco of will. Heavenly signs nt tho tlmo of his birth foreordained that fato would bo too powerful for his weak framo nnd fooblo will to stnnd agnlnst. ' All of theso doomful, dubious signs tho astrologer who ciphered, out tho horoscopo interprets as disastrous. Tho portents point to tho defeat of Russian arms In tho present struggle with Japan, lnternnl eruptions In tho groat empire of tho bear, humiliation, dlsmomborment, and death of tho czar. GERMAN BICYCLE PATROL rtOMtsnnxMMstfeitfiasvttrtfkBinMBMnr This contrivance Is used by German soldiers In guarding the railways along the frontiers. Germans In Samoa. Tho German occupation of Samoa does not appear to bo a success. Tho landed proprietors, unablo to mako money out of tholr estntos, aro eml grating to America, and the heavy freight rates and Import duties nro a serious matter to tho smaller busi ness people. and dust than are thoso of the auto moblllst, and for this reason ho Is en titled to tho protection afforded by goggles. Lap dogs, accustomed to tho atmo sphere of a house, cannot stand the chilling effect of tho draught created by the swift motion of tho automobllo on country roads, It is asserted, and for this reason they must havo an au tomobllo coat. So tho New York dog that goes rid ing in touring car henceforth, if he bo a real stylish dog, must put on all tho "toggery" of his master or mis tress, be ho pug, bull torrlor, grey hound or Great Dane. New York Press, HE SOLD HIS COAL SCOTCHMAN "HELD UP" UNITED 8TATE8 GOVERNMENT. War Vessel In Pursuit of tho Confed erate bruiser Alabama Filled Its Dunkers with Fuel at a Cost to Un cle Sam of $80,000. "Ono of the pecullnr businesses that grow up ns a result of tho civil war was the establishment of prlvato coal ing stations In all sorts of out of tho way places," remarked E. McKeo, late of tho United States navy. "You sco, tho government could not tell on what part of tho earth's surfaco Its war vessels might havo to crulso In tholr chnno for privateers and other, craft menacing Its operations, and, oj? courso, could not mako arrangements for coal. As a consequence tho cap tains wore authorized to sccura tho best bargains they could nt such ports as they might touch when n supply was needed. Thrifty ones In tho most unfrequented wntors prepared for a posslblo visit from a United States wnr Btcamcr with low coal bunkers, and when tho AbIi entered tholr net thoy chnrged up for tho tlmo their hnd to wait. Thoy wero not patriots, but were on earth strictly for tho root of nil evil. "I was a marlno on tho Vanderbllt during her 25,000-mllo chaso nfter tho confederate cruiser Alabama. Wo left tho port of New York In 18G2. Wo took Capt. John A. Wlnslow to Fayal, In tho West Indies, where ho took com mand of tho Kearsargo, tho vessel that ovenluttlly roundod up tho prey. At that tlmo tho ocean was dotted With tho bIiIpb of Undo Sam In quest of tho greatest and most formidablo of tho onomy's crulsors. "At nenrly every port wo stopped wo would got more or loss misleading in formation, nnd would hopefully follow overy clow. Whllo in tho South At lnntlo wo heard from what appeared to bo a most authentic Bourco 'that tho Alabama wns at tho Capo of Good Hopo. As wo approached St. Helena Napoleon's Island, tho coal bunkers got low, nnd wo Btopped thero, and opened negotiations with a Scotchman for n now supply. Ho serenely de manded $30 a ton in gold, without going to tho troublo of removing his pipe whllo stating his outrageous J terms. Tho exchange wns $285, mak ing tho total prlco Undo Sam was asKod to pay $80 a ton, and wo wore using 400 tons a day running at mod erate speed. "After a run of ton hours tho ship's ofllcors hold a consultation. The al most impossibility of reaching tho cape without coal was only too clear, and if a storm should como up tho ship would bo absolutely helpless. It was a hard thing to do, but thoro didn't seem to bo any alternative. Tho ship was reversed and put back to St. Helena. 'Scotchy' was occupying tho identical position wo had left hlra in on his black gold mine. This tlmo ho was a trifle moro Interested, because ho know wo wero going to trade with him. Ho gavo us his philosophy in this way: Ho had been sitting on that coal pllo for eighteen months, waiting for a ship to como that had to havo It. Ho observed from tho height of tho Vanderbllt above tho water that she came In light, and that her officers would not dare risk a storm whllo sho stood up so high. Our return did not surprise him a bit, and ho soon got his men to work and loaded l.OOJ). tons in the hold, for which, the federal' government paid $80,000. He said somebody had to pay for his tobacco' and his patience, and we happened to bo tho ' victims. He admired tho United States and sometimes felt sympathetic but sympathy wouldn't buy whisky and things liko monej would." Kansas City Journal. Taught by Phonograph. A book agent recently obtained ad mission to the ofllco of Thomas Edi son, and assailed him with such an ag gregation of arguments in favor of tho publication Bho represented that tho famous Inventor hurriedly subscrib ed. After a gradual restoration of his energies Mr. Edison asked: "How did you. ever succeed In mas terlng such a long and convincing speech as that?" "Oh, our speeches are taught us at tho homo ofllco," responded tho lady, sweetly, "by means of tho phono grnDh "Harper's Weekly.