10 THE OMAHA DAILY BEE : ( SUNDAY , 'NOYBMHER 1 , ISiMJ. = § 2 ? a THE PUPPET , HY CLINTON ROSS. < roi > > rlKhl IWJ. liy rilnton llo-s ) ClIAPTHIl V. HOW I AMUIUr.I ) ACU03S Till : SEA Hero was I In the strangest predicament Hero was mjstrry out of the house next dooi Rclrlng of my actual self that uncertalntj of the great town we ? arc loth to confess \vhlch l < oulR Stevenson makes ono foci In hli "New Arabian Nights. " I could lit ) certain an I haxo said , that thcru was no drean nljoiit It , for although tny head achvil am ray mouth was dry , I was palpable , and the Bvvlnh of Ilio water and the thud of the en glno left mo no doubt at all. I raised mjself to llnd 1 was lying In the berth fully drcsaed ; remembered that the ) had only to take mo to a boat at the fool of the street where I had been sel/ed foi what purpose I could not fancy ; only It wai patent I had been meddling with a powcrfu person or Interest ; yut not twenty-four hours since In my cousin's house , I had been talk Ins pollto commonplaces. And now I ralsec my face to a line with the port that frainct the green , scattered with white caps , agalns the blue of the further distance. mcrglii ! Into gray , that suddenly Glowed with tin splendor of the Rutting sun , stoking tin frothing crests of the wa\os. A dab o Irregular black marked a passing stcamshli on the opposite tack , and I saw from tin nun wo wore on a southeast course It was soinu time before I was able t < collect my dazed mind enough even foi Ihcsn nbflcr\alli > ns. 1 noticed then that tin room showed the prlvnto steam yacht tin wood carving , the scattered toilet appoint tncnts , the sire of the room , the motion o the vessel. J trlod the door , but It wai locked , then 1 turned back to n closer ob nervation of the place. Something canoe on the wall caught inv attention , and leaned forward to study It in the fudlni light entering the port. This was skill fully done , and showed a boar and a fo rampant on n flcld nniro , Hurmounted by i crown I tried to place the dc.vlcc. whlcl might mean nnj'thlng or nothing , when a thn moment the Key turned In the door which swung open , showing against a nar row corridor n % ery tall , bearded man. Hi looked at me attentively for n moment Ho wore a dark blue uniform with button1 bearing the same dexluas on the xxooi work In the cabin 1 suppose I looked xorj pale , and Indeed , the motion with the dun from which I waa recovering left a do elded ) nausea , which the gust from the porl through the opened door relieved I con eluded this person was the n'llpper , foi he bore evidence of belonging to the sen 1'or a moment wu stood thine blaring a each other "You would like something to eat , prob ably ? Thnt will make jou ferl l-etter. ' salt ho In very good rrench. and In n tnn < that apart from Its manner , sounded not uncivil The manner and the pronunciation of tin French ( which , how cur , I raw xvaa not III , tongue ) pUreil him at once u man who elthc : had been bnrn In gentle circumstances , o who had acquired some manner from nsso elation I had timeto reflect In the scrtltlii ; ho gave mo that It did not pro'lt particular ! ; to rage and fume and call elo'xn the law which my captors evidently held theniEelve superior to , and so I askid , In \oke sound Ing pcpulclually hollow hlmply for an ex planatlon. "You are at sca-r-a prisoner. " "I know that well , bill whose prlsone and w hat hnvn 1 dona ? " Ho shrugged his tihouldcrs. "I can't tell jou , monsieur. Your < iuca tlons are entirely useless. " "Hut I can Imagine- that It has soinc'M'i to do with mi occuirnco jestenlaj " "You need not question me , mo'islc have told > on I can say absolutely noilin ; on that or any subject " "And I am to be kept hero until " "Yes , until " Ho smiled. "I may ai well Icavo It 'until. ' Hut , really , as yoi appear to he a man of sense as jou see nm a servant jou will not trouble mo wit ! useless nuosllons " "If they are useless ' " "They me. monsieur. " he Interrupted wit ! gruff Impatience " 1 can tell you only that you arc to bo kept. Antonio1" he callul back Into the corridor , when a little dark waiter appeared , with a tiay 1 Uld there to toke the things away , as I certainly was not In the temper for food , when my reti cent keeper Insisted with a return of hi ? urbanity that I doubtless thonlil feel better for -aftrr the drug I had been under. 1 MU nnitAi.n CAPTIVI : ON Tin : YACHT. thought possibly hi > nilRht bo rlfiht , as proved to be the case Ho btood mutely \\atchlnK me , until Itas endi-d , I llnillni ; I could cat minu than I anticipated , and Indeed fooling much bettor fur It. When I hud fin ished ho motioned the waiter to remove thu thliiKs , and then turning , \\lthuut further word , left me , when I heard again the key on the outside ) . The motion began to Increase an It dark ened , nnd the ulndhlstled ontsldu thu port , which I closed , for It was growing cold In the room. And then I laid clown , to uako In the darkucxs to tlnd my brith tipped at right angles , and the sounds of feet obo\e. for wo had inn Into ono of those Htretchi's of dirty weather when the North Atlantlo. leaNCB a landsman sorrj. A gust } night \\hlitlliiR wind at ECU Is snniclentl/ elcirrssliis | when In ordinary clrcumtttancrt > ou wake nnil listen to thu thud of the cn- Klne which secnw to take the pl.ie-o of > our heait brats , hnw ominous It N when the icfiiilar beat of the piston mops. Hut mj prudlcamcnt was bad cnoiiRh In any ease uor did It need thu iffsatlon of that sound to have mo bcrlotiH rnouijli I ran en or all the phaxi's of thu aihcntnrb from tlrut to last. I had been warned by Ohullah Kotg : , but too laU > . und what In terest was It to that caieful solicitor ; I iiinat ho In the hands of omo government. The letter I had dellveied to the Italian consul pointed to that conclusion. And the womiiii plainly wai bornu political Mispcct. That wan clear to me now. 1 had meddled with a Kurnpean political plot of name kind. I had birn armtod against Amer ican law acnliut all law because because "thi'io | ii-oile | do not know how much the political nuspcct han told inc. " Hut khe had told' mu absolutely nothing , She had said BIO ! wnit ninnlns from enomles , that wais all. I decided nhe- win not a m d woman. I ic- r.icnilicri'il icelng htr In Vcnlc * , * , and again in London , and on the last occasion In the company of p oplo of ranl > , and vue had bcru HtniUiiely uUUunt. Her seciet , what It was. was not for her to declare. She had been Intercepted ostensibly 01 a mail woman In Ncn York. Her captora had held her In a rented house In the most marked neighborhood of the city , because ! there they would excite left * attention , The yacht whcro I wan a prisoner had been cent for her. It probably had nrrlved In New York hnihor the night pre\loiis , lint was ulu- , too , on this vessel. Had they recaptured bur after her rtiCHpo to my protection the night before' Slowly parti of the rlddlo unra\elled thorn- sohcs , whllo tin1 little steamship tossed In the grasp of the storm. Milt still It re mained u riddle Ami while I lay nleeplcsi thu gray dawn crept In through the port , and It wni a misty , tossing moinlng In tin North Atlantic. Agnln the Key turned ; again my keeper and the servant appeared. This tlmo I had absolutely nothing from him or the servant , nor In the long , miserable days following dh ! they answer me I only heard the sailors' volrrs above , and their tiamplng and the cre.iKIng of thu ship , fir It wait a continuous nine da > s' xtoim. Tor I counted In this tontine dismal day after dismal day , until the number was nine , and I wni almost crazy with my uncertainty of what would happen next. I had been taken away so suddenly that 1 hail had no time to notice In the newspapers the arrival of any foreign vessels In our har bor. I could not make any colncldcncui out of what 1 might have known. You < feu , 1 ran over all possible solutions of my riddle , nnd all left mo equally perplexed. About noon the ninth day , when I was 111 Indeed with my Inactivity , the cabin door was thrown open. Four sailors atood In the passageway with the man whom I have Ml ) led my Keeper lie said something In a tongue that sounded like Slav dialect to mo seeming to confirm my suspicion that thcro was the * Russian hand In the ixffalr. The four Immediately KPl cd , bemnd , gjggcd and blindfolded me. Of course , I Htieiggled , for who wouldn't vllh the sense of 8uir-pri'Hor\ntloii ? Hut I was \\eak with the long confinement My arms seemed 03 puii > as a thlld'R against their strength and numbers And then J was carried out nnd aboxo , and was lowered , I surmised , over the side , where I landed on the seats of a boat that rose and fell unsteadily ; that pioHcnlly was In motion on a ciim- mainl In the same tongue. Time passed , the rnln waa In my fare , wetting me through , and thru wo grounded. I was lifted out. the liomlH untied , the gag nnd last the bandage remo\od , when I found mjself mi my back , with the rain beating fiorn thu blarKiress The steps were retreating I raised myself and b.iw the boat putting to sea. Far away was a single ship's light , and Hint was nil. The boat was swUlowed by the mist. The breakers , that I had not noticed In my absorption In my fears , brake with regular thud on the rocks below. CHAI'TKIl VI. HO\V I CAMfi TO THU SIini'IICHD OK ST CUOIX. The October wind carried the scurr > lng lain In sheets about the rock where I was Watching the ship light. 1 presently siw It move- , then xa'ilsh Into the darkness , In which I probably saw better bccauso m > o > cs had hee.ii hnndagul I hhl\ered nnd felt weak Indeed after all I had been through. I roei to inv feet , chatterl'ig llki a man with a fever , for a Hash of Intolera ble ! heat followed I half decided to remall there and die and ha\o the fitful struggle. o\or. and then a repulsion at eli'ath took my heart , and I beganto walk Inland user the unwooded fields that scorned to stretch to the water's edge. As I strode on the Btlffnc s left my muscles and despite the rain a glow tint was better than the turn of feurlsh heat I had hail. Yet I was In bad plight , for I felt weak enough , c\cn if I might feel stronger for a slight use of the muscles I had stumbled on In thl ? mantiLt. the nobe of the surf becoming OMT > moment less , when I hud nn Illusion of a lighting of the sky. like the dlstan glare on low clouds of a town's lights I often haxe Jioarcl pi'isons who have beer long In the datk of a storm at night spcnl , of thU same phenomenon Per really . saw null'Ing of th Kind. It being merel } an effect , blinding darkness on thu c > eballs and in > low \itality Yet present ! ) , .slum bllng o\or the uneven ground , a point of light appeared that at first I took to be a part of the si mo phanta.smagotlu. Hut It persisted In presenting that welcome nlgn at ono spot , until sudilPiily 1 brought closr up on a low , rambling building , when a do , ; barked. The light now was outlined fit fully , as If fron1 o lire and thro Tmg hacK the door without asking of your leave , I was blinded by some burning peat on r hearth. A collie sprang toward me. when i querulous \olce called , and he slunk back The < owner of the \olro was a rough figure In a ehcepsKln. kneeling , the flaring ( lame rotealed before a crucifix , and without turning to make nuestlon of me. be\oml calling back the dog. I steppcel forward , when the heat of the place left mo faint , and I sank down In a heap hoforo thu flro When I came to mjaclf It was In this same Interior , lying on some sheepsKlns on the floor , one thrown over mo , a ver ? > old-appearing man with a t&nsle of white beard reading from a little red book by a single candle stuck In n rude stick , the collie that had announced me snoring as an otd dog will before the flame. "Whero am I ? " I asked. The man looked at mo a moment , when ho answered In a patois I ceemed to under- taiulWith With the shepherd of St. Crolx. " Where ? " 'Landes " Trance' " fJascony. " 'Whcio nro > ou from , friend ? " Ho spoke as wo were eeiuals. "Tho soa. " "Yon we'ie near perishing In the storm , " he answcrel , looking me ox or curiously , and oven then the wind shook the place. I saw ho thought mo mad , and suddenly It occurred - c-urred to me my story xxould not be he llevod no part of It I who had dlsippcared In New York now was In Krance. Hut the nature of my disappearance would he ho- lloxed by no one People xvould say that I hud wandered axvay when temporarily In sane. I'rohably my disappearance hnd been noted In the American papers but as 1 had a htiblt of golnp away on long Journeys without announcing my Intention my friends might not bo without hope of my ultimate return. Hut ccrtalnl ) no ono would , or In deed could , bollexo that I had had the ad- U'tittiro which really had brought me to this poitlon of thu French coast My abductors had made the occurrence of such a kind that the ) could tlcnj absolutely the mere evidence of my lips. A week ago men had envle-d me , and bete my power was taKcn away , nnd I was no more than a puppet In other's hands Ljlng there I saw suddenly the futility of all power ; I felt the mocktri of life- , which putR us all some time , on the same democratic phnc "The Christ sent you to me , " said the man , turning to me , nnd I saxv In his ejea the look of the iapt enthusiast. "Did he' " said I. "Do not mock , man , " said the other , speaking nox In r'arUiun Trench. "I came hero to live with the hecp on the moors because my life was a failure. " "I thank jou. friend , " said I. Plainly I must g.iln hlH fax or For I found that my captor , or captors , had left mo neither money not papers. I must have some xvoy of explaining I thought hoxv dlMicult It would bo when every consular olllco xvas bealeged by mendicants xvlth strange ctorlcs. And so. I began to curry the faxor of him , who railed himself the shepherd of St. Crolx. Of him I nuver knew navn that as he bad said ho hud fled the world. Perhaps the ilerujmun of the living of Ht. Crolx huexv. Hut for me , lit ) ban ulwayN hron a vamie mynlrry a heart .that v.a kind out of ro- llRlout devotion , a mind that bad become nttunul to the ullcncca and the noises of the moors to a sympathy xvlth the ahctp. even to a clone fiTondihlp with no ono except ing the old collie , who shortly became my friend. For I remained come dajs In that dcsotato placo. getting back my strength and wan dering with the flock , and listening to thu Miephcrd who lind no word on any subject excepting that of him who believes In * tuntly , and who knows the life of the gray bare Nox-ember stretchen of Gascon moor. Kxcn the mjstery bringing me to that spot conned to piiiiG | until iiiildpnly the longing for the world returned , ns It must to till nhoso blood still Is coursing I told tinnmit my Intention. Without denying mo , he told me that hi ) wnn sorry to haxo mu go , and that ho xxould accompany me to lUirrltz. And ( hero ono morning at the town at the foot of the Pjronpc ? we appeared , tramping together , the ahoph'Td In I.U skins. On the road near the' town a trap came bowling nhiiig , xvl'h some men In klekorhockers and with golfing sticks. Ono I knew. "HoAoll1" I cried Tor ono was John Mow < 11 , who I remembered had a villa nt Illarrlt/ . The trap stopped llowell stared , for I wns almost unrecognizable with the giotvth of ahaggj heard "Lend mo iwo lotils , " I said Again Ho\v- ell utiircil I turned to the shepherd ' No , " gihl he , "xvo have broken bread to- Rether. Give the gold to the beggars" I knew my mistake In offering him money , aa ho turned without another word after this 'liiopr exclamation , and I have never seen him since , although t have It now In my mind to write to the vlrnr of Bt. CroK about him. him."Where "Where do you come from ? " llowell be gan. gan."I have been Rcolns life , " said I , half Jok ingly " 1 ttnnt Home money .some clothes. " "Get up here , " he said , Introducing mo to the others , who scanned me with ciitesllon- Ing o > cs that almost had the better of thcli mannci.s 1 said 1 had been tramping I looked It. They plainly held me at the liast an eccentric And we ho.xled Into the American colony at Biarritz , where 1 xva.s not unknown. By i SAW IN HIS IYIS TIII : LOOK or A RAPT ; ENTHUSIAST. Howell's help I again apprarcO civilizes ! . Hut I did not tell him of my adventure He Him- plj would think me mad. He thought , as 'ho others , I had been on a rough walking tour. Hut I myself pondered the mjstery jou may believe I saw that Hlariltz would not solve It. ami three dajs after , bavins ; tcligraphed Ouesdale and my banker , I wont up to Paris. CIIAPTmt VII. HO\V IP YOU THINK INTENTLY OP A MYSTERY YOU MAY ARRIVE NEAR ITS SOLUTION. If the people at Hlarrlt/ knew Inil twltteJ me on my disappearance , which they had lieai'd from the Parisian Herald and Callgiunl's they hrd no American papers Issued since no Information of that which had happened In New York. To see the last Now York papeis , to riausuio my slater In Ireland and to cable my bdlcitor. w'-ere part of the re.Mi.itis kaillng mo to hastc'i to Paris , while another part was my earnest wish to get sonic light on the mj story I had not told , as I say , the truth to a soul In Hlarrltz. where formerly I had spent much time , lest they should consider I still was under tire aberration leading me to dis appear In New York nut In Paris I nhculd make Inquiries I had orre certain clew In the arms carved on tire wood work of the cabin , while I hiirmlscd the lady might be 'drawn from my own observation In the box at the Criterion theater the previous yiar. I readied the Gare U'Orleaua abrut 3 that afternoon , and the porter was loading a box containing .some things I had borrowed of llowell , when suddenly I saw a man whoso race was familiar , step Into a cab. appar ently without observing rao. If I were not mistaken this was the fellow who had en ticed mo Into the adventure. Giving my man li francs I told him to keep the ether < ab In sight , when there began a chase I know not to what end. AVe turned from ylrcet to street. 1 not noticing the Parisian panorama to which I was returning. Hev vend the Arc do Trlumphe the pursuit led , until finally the cab , evidently not Knowing It was followed , drew up before a hotel on the Avcruio du Hols d' Boulogne. The fel low left the cab. Its door closed. I told my man to draw to the curb. After sonic hesitation I decided to go In , thinking of this singular chance throwing In my way a clew to the mj.stcry which I was resolved not to neglect. Leaving the cab , I walked to the dcor , where was a plato bearing : "Mgr. lleux. " I rang , asked for "Mgr. Heux" on a ven ture "Yes. monsieur , whom shall I say ? " "M. Gerald , on an Important matter. " The servant scrutinized mo , deciding to let me enter. I had risked seeing Mgr. Unix. I wondered what would come of It. The servant loturnlng , said that his master would seeme , and he showed mo ! i o a simple room , bated of decorations , showing the owner's taste of simplicity. After Homo moments there entered by a s'do door A pale , dark little man | n a cler ical toat. His smooth-shaven face , the slight figure , emphasized his youthful ap pearance , which , nevertheless , seemed to hold great cleverness. Ho knew the world , men , their foibles , Intrlguo. Ho lookexl mo over , his gray eyes questioning. "To what do I owe the pleasure , mon sieur ? "Ucoause , Monseignetir , I wish to place the Identity of the person who entered the hoii.se before me. " "Masiinio ! What Is ho to you ? " Hut I saw the question had startled Mgr. Roux. "Ho Is Just from America. " "True. " "I , too , have arrived from America against my will , 1'osslbly monsclgncur may explain ? " The pi lest looked mo over narrowly , "I can't explain what I don't know , mon sieur ; I am only a poor mortal. " Tor the first tlmo I hesitated at my foolhardiness - hardiness In venturing Into the power of an unknown person , who might be one , at least In purpose , with those who had ab ducted me. "Mgr , Heux , I don't know you " "I am a Dalmatian , monsieur , " said ho ; "n humble servant of Uomo. " And then suddenly I recollected the name Mgr Heux , the scholar , the diplomatist , thegioat Mgr. Heux , and this jouthful priest was so different from my expectation of what thin pvrsonago should be. "You are not the Gerald the American Gerald , " ho aald at last , returning my recognition of his Identity by this apparent knowledge of my naino , "Yes. Mgr. Hcux , " said I. remembering again the potentiality my father had made , the ahccr force of money ; and , after all , I could buy men , I remembered. My sense of utter powcrlcssncss left mo , even before that cunning yet mobile Helix's face always WOH , I now noticed u certain aspect In moiraelRiieur's manner. The late Parisian afternoon lit his face , showing lines of thought that made him older. "And what can you know of Maasltno ? " "What should I know what shouldn't IT' "Humph everything , nothing that ho la en auont of " "Of , " I began. "A Dalmatian agent of the czar , " said monsolgnour- If defying mo , "Hut come , monsieur , this person has Agitated you. Nothing U accomplished for cither of ui by carrying oh ' ( his conversation In rid * dies. " "No , " nald > 1. For I reflected that hero was n man whb nllght understand the situa tion , and shcdr chance had brought me to him whether ! ! a Rood or bad , tlmo alone would chow , i But I would risk telling him my story , nd I ihegan with the lady I had scon on the IMirfcA San Marco In London In Now York. 1'iHei looked me over narrowly , "Her hlRhnctul'ithe ' cried. "You were the man. " ? I told him Urn , sequel. "That was only natural , " ho aald. "You were mcddllngi'li " " "with whit' " "Meddling , I began , Mgr. Hcux Itxujtjd. forward , suddenly tak ing my hand , i i "Monsieur. If I bo priest. I am Dalma tian Ills cyts sparkled strangely. He pressed my hand , looking mo over. "You are lucky or unlucky. You have been In volved In the fortune of the Homaga. " "Do > ou mean ? " I began , remembering something. "The- prince of Dalmatln , M. Gerald. " said Mgr. Heux , In excellent Kngllsh , "has en tertained a suspicion of a plot to dethrone him , and to place on the Dalmatian throne the native house of the Romans , repre- ocnted by " "Tho lady I have scon " "Tho Princess Ikatrlce nomaga " "And " I began , "The. Russian government and Prince PicderlcU , by gtaco of the w r. Prince of Dalmatla. decided to get poraisslon of the princess whom two deaths have made head of the house of Homaga. " "And she wan at rested In the United States' " "Arrested In San Francisco , for her high ness was traveling Incognito with only three companions , nnd then was returning from Jap-in. The Hoinagr. are rich. Mr Gerald , but the power df Kussl.i Is greater Your Department of State even permitted this arrest of the Princess Ueatrlce , whllo the public did not know of It The persons " "Including M. Massimo " "Yes , Including Massimo , simply Implle that they h.i/1 a mad woman. They re mained In Ndw York awaiting the arrival of Prince Fn < lcrck's | yacht from the Medi terranean. I&ire } oa appeared. The prln- crsa escaped tcTycmr door " | "Ah. I am madolo dlsappear.'lcst I know too much " "Kxactly The Dalmitlan vaeht bringing jou to Iluropo brought the Princess llcatrlct aa well " "And she , Mcnsolgneur ? " "Is a prisoner at Kara In Dalmatla by this time ' "And how will cho bo "treated' " "As a prlsoni' of s'atc to hold In check the Dalmatian plotters who want to replace the house of Heidelberg by that of Homaca. ' "Their successvcuTjl nuau. I uiirr | ! and then , the Prlt'crrs-Dcatrlrc on the throne. ' "And the English Interest In Dalmatla. " "Does the princess herself favor the move ment' " Mgr. Heux shrugged ha ! shoulders "Ah , sir , prlncra arci now more than eve. but puppets of destln > of political change Russia an. ) the heusc of Heidelberg think they hold the matter In chids because the > have the hereditary head of the Homaga. " "Hut they have nof" "I did not say that. " Mgr. Heux an swered. 1 asltel him then why the. Princess Ilcatrlcehad asked mo to carry a letter to tl'o Italian consul. "Heoauso aho naturally thought her mother having been of the house of Sardinia , the Italian government might Interfeie " "In short. " sail I. after a moment. "I have stumbled on a European complication. " "Which has to do with the Russian as- ecndancv in the southeast. " "Ho-v Is It that such a matter could be kept quiet ' " I began. "How Is ever ) thing done by the hand of power , monsieur , " said the priest , relapsing Into French. "And I take It. " I began , "that Mgr. Heux sMnpatlilits with the house of Helderbcrg In DalmiMa " "You forget I am a priest " "Is not the Homaga Interest the church's Interest In Dalmatla1 "Yes. And I , monsieur , am of the house of Homaga. " "And how , then , Monselgncur. am I to ex plain the presence of Moris. Massimo , the avowed agent of the Dalmatian government , in Monselgneur's house ? " In an Imtant Monselgneur's ejes sparkled almost defiantly , and again triumphantly. "Men have been bought " "And Massimo ? " "la ours for the moment. You can't tell how such a fellow v lll tuin. " "It appears. " said I , surprised at myself , "that the plot for the Honiara continues in Dalmalla' " "I did not say that , monsieur " Hut his eyes gave me the answer. I suddenly scorned to have becomt ) an acute student of physiog nomy. I suddenly was wondciing at my self , and then I Knew that It wcs only m > father's spirit In me the spirit that wanted to dominate men and was restless when others subdued It. This Dalmatian con spiracy had made me Us puppet so far. I would take a baud. Jlut was Mgr. Ucux sincere ? Was he with the Homaga ? I would risk It. I began : "I should like pearly , Mgr. Reux , to help the cause of the Homaga In Dalmatla out of " "Out of revenge' " "Exactly , and the dedlro for action of somci kind. " "True. You tylvo been through much Hut how may I\be fure of your sincerity ? " "Is not thai \vhlch I have suffered from your political vnemiw suiilclcnt ? " "It should be.V.he began , musingly. "But. monsieur , what cdn you do ? " "I can contrlmito to the revolutionary fund. " I besan \ 'True , " said ho softly. "What else can I do ? I can call on my government to resent the outrage , for It appears I was Interfering with the arrest of a political offender , or suspect. At any rate , such a course will bo tedious a mat ter of months " "Mr. Gerald , It Is late , " Interrupted Mgr. Reux , "but I trust you will dlno with me. Wo shall bo ( jylto alone , and after coffee seine Dalmatian Viuntlemcn may happen In gUAPTUH VIII. HOW I LEAVE * PAKIS FOR ZARA IN - DAUIATIA. I cannot even now resist surprise at the ciircnt of events that bore mo on irresistibly. For to the accidents which in a month had changed all my Ufa and Its purposes which had Involved mo In complications seem ingly nearly Impossible for mu to have * anv connection with at all there was nou added my own reckless wish to bo no longer the puppet of thu destiny that seemed to have taken up this period of my career , butte to control It. Possibly Mgr Houx'a charm of manner may have Influenced mo perhaps my memory of the Princess Ueatrlce. nut whatever the reasons I burned my bridges as merrily as a boy , reckless of cense quences. I Ingratiated myself Into Mgr. Houx1 confidence before that dinner was over. He , with his more Impetuous Dal matian nature , could understind how I full , and finally took mo Into his further conildonco to the point of letting mo know that Huron Mastlmo , whoso acquaintance I had made so unpleasantly In Now York , doubtless wan alining up thu very rebellion that he , as auuut of thu tcovurumcut of Dalmalta , had been trying to thwart by I arrest of Princess Uentrlce. "How olhcTw does ho dare to comn to mo ? Or U may ( hat ho Is here to find out our plans , shall know nothing. " "Hut P" I began. "Your story , Mr. Gerald. I know to absolutely true " "And you know , then , I can bo ( rusted "I ejn read my human nature , " M Reux laughed "Yw. when you once m bo committed , " IIP added. Wo were still over our coffee , for I had t comi on to my hotel to dress , nor to Dm dale , who was that vcar on the Engl ! legation nor to my bankers to make qulrles. My Interst In the affair was I absorbing , and became more so when t thrco Dalmatian gentlemen entered , t Marquis Hlanchl , Slg Hedl and the for Ilalhl. Wo hcpan to tall ; Italian over I situation , a tongue I undeistand very w from Home experience In Italy. The Daln ( Inns have continued to speak Hal Inn * lr their lind was n field of the Venetian i public , and many of their great fam name * are Italian to this day. At Ural tin so gentlemen regarded me wl a mu suspicion , when I recklessly told the I would contribute out of inv own reaourc n very considerable mini toward the cnu of the Roinigi. Mir. Rtux assured them my sincerity , and the personal oxporlt nc Interesting mo In the DMmntl.tn sltuatlo When they were convinced they talked to r with greater affability They , too. ngre that Massimo. In nppioachlng Mgr. lieu hrd not dropped his character of Rucsli agont. I was glad to hear this , for lesltated to think what I might do If tl Duron Mafcstmo had api-carcil In that loot I certainly would have tried on him a go < left-hander. However , that lontlngency d not appear , and rivilly felt better over tl prsltlon I had taken whcu I fttind that I hi MdNlmo'd wilts to light. Ono point was clearly brought out by th little conference , nnd that the Importance dossing the Adriatic /rom Venice to 5 ar and freeing the Princess Heatrlco AH sot AS she tihould have been freed n hlondlci revolution woiild follow , every one decide agreeing that the governmental policy 1 seizing the joung lady , who Is hcrcdltat hcud f the Homaga , was founded In utron common sense , which theRomaga mu. combat. The Venetian adventure charmed me , an I asked to be In It. At last this w s allowci my enthusiasm carrjlnt ; uiy eud , I bellevi For I thought of the 1'tlDc.ess Ilcatrlo Once she had thrown herself on my moiec tlcn , and now I should trv to help her. Yet neither my new fi lends nor I mjsr underrate. ! the danger of the attempt whlc put mo at once completely bovond an chance of mj own government's protectloi At once I became avowedly a political li trlgucr a meddler In the policy of anothi nation. Hut the spirit of adventure xtlrrci and my blooJ was warm fcr the undcrtaktiif and all my previous lifebtennd to have ha a hapless monotony from which now I po ; slbly might escape. I did InilcHl. I'll HIV , remember m > dntlr : I vvlrciV both New York and my sister , an looked up I ord Diu.-Jale. one of iiy bc friends , vhotatc-d me soundlv en my nutho of dlsaprrarlng Hut I did not explain eve ID Mm. I considered that Mgr. Heux ha made me a confidant that my honor wn pledged to the plot for the restoration of th iloniain Dalm.itlu. A vvtilc later I was en route for Venlci where- one cuiiing I sit agnln at a table a r'loilan's where llrst I had seen Ilcatrle ll'incca and vhere. cs on that occasion , th icsllctis , gny Venetian crowd surged pis ml fean Mnrco faced the scene. Its brll llancy merged into the darkening blue. CHAPTER IX. HOW WE SAILED Ot'T OF VENICE A DAWN. To go out from Venice at dnwri , whll lour gondolier sings and the craft that lo heir jou on the Adriatic llts at the edt : ) t the lacoonn this Is to enter at once In ! the land of imagination , while the ranal In ? palaces , the rcd-xtalncd lulls of tli uggers take on an Infinite variety. It ws Kill as wo walked th" Pia/za , where th loves worn coning , and Venice blept all is wo embarked on the pondolas walling I ho Grand canal , and over all was tha nvstcry cf God which In the sordidness t life of thi * vlrugRie of the survival of th Htcst wo call l.caut > . Mvo gondolas held Ballil , Rent , me an lalbl'a twelve men from his Tuscan w atcs. Mgr. ( since he has been create ordinal ) Rcux , who hod really planned th cpMltlon , wo lud left In Paris. Ho was ousln of the , Princess IK all Ice Romaga , hi nolhor having been of that ftunllv. Hi IcvorncBS was behind the whole attempt vhlch was In Its nature foolhardy , > ct I mcccfsful , the very step to foil the pollc > f the lelgnlng German house In Dalmatlo lalbl and I talked It over. The count ilack eje.s flashed , rnd he looked vcr iravo. very handsome , while the sea breeze aimed his face , bringing a languid cole here Francesco Il.ilbl is a > oung man mt his tace trices Itself to the Hornuns li ho old d.ija lils family hid preserved at ndepLndc-ncc In a Tuscan fastness agalns ; hiK. prince , duke and city and now then . as something of that old blood kliulllii ! ilm to the adventure. Slg Kent Is an oldei nan than.either Dalbl or I. Ho may hi 0 or any ago uhr.r.st. jet his muscles an 1 the , his wits quick. He was hero because 0 was first a Dalmatian , and because he atcd the foreigner who occupied the throne 10 would have sooner had the red le ubllcans hold Dalmatla , rather almost aiv rchy. And I ? I who had lo reasons save that had been piqued , because I was wear > f the ordinary , and because I had the ycl- iw hair and dark ejes of Ueatrlce Homaga Iways In my mind. Near the Lido a sloop was waiting , and a > Ing our gondoliers , and the wind helm ; ivorable , wo put to aca. The master , c lalmatlan , was In the secret , and that we itcndcd landing near the coast fortress of ergamo , where wo had Information the rlnccss Heatrko was detained. The men am llalbl's Tuscan estates did not once uestlon their master's right to do exaetl > s ho wished , for the medlaevallsm still lin ers in that part of Ti'scany The morning wind whistled softly In tin irouds The garrulous , Inquisitive Vene- an gondoliers were far astein. The pano- ima of roof and tower of the seaport city as left. In all the world are Constantino- le , New York and Venice moat dlstln- nlshcd by the sea , which surrounds them 11 and lends them beauty and the sweoi t the wind out of the spaces and the op- ortunltlcs for the commerce that humbles ic world. Wo beat out towaid the sun. The sailor * ing. The gorgeouanesa of the colors liangcd Into gray and blue and bright > el- iw , and the day was over the Adriatic ml back In the canals Venice was Stirling Iccplly , and the many-colored sails of tin shlng craft scatteicd the horizon. The day passed lazily. We talked over our lam and Ilalbi and I grew Into that warm rlemlshlp which makes his memory dear , enl , the older man , whllo I know him well , over has been so near me as Francesco alhl. It was long past dusk when vvo heard the roakers on the Dalmatian coast , not far om Bergamo , which , In ancient day a tronghold of the Ramaga , who held It gainst the Vcnetlal corsairs , was at this mo a political prison of the government t Frederick of Heidelberg'Our vessel hovt" 1 and wo embarked over the side Into the i > stery of that coast. My father had followed trade , using keener It than others at his calling , but back of H all were the long years when our an- cstors , whether we know It or not. likely illowcd arms as a trade ( for I caxiot bo- eve my father came of a peasant strain ) , hen position was kept by the ntroug arm , ml might was rlgkt , as , Indeed , Is even ow not Infrequently the case. So then that Id something and Its Bavugery possessed 10 , as wo embarked under the wtnra on the last of Dalmatla Dalbl marshalled his dozen men and , nowing that all depended on effrontery , we : > I > reached the keep of Ilcrgamo , which waa mined In lingo mass on Its rocks over thn drlatlc. Ilalbi went boldly to the draw anil ing. A Dalmatian soldier appeared sleep' y , with a lantern , the first person vvo had > en since wo landed Ilalbi pushed pant tin , calling to us to follow , and vvo en- ircd with drawn pistols Into the court , hero already was confusion , and the com- andant rushed down half dressed to auk to explanation of this unexpected assault. "You aurrondcr ? " The Dalmatian looked about him at a ilf-dozon men , evidently the whole force ' the place. They looked gratcgquo In torr uniform , which resembles thu Servian a mixture of Russian and German appoint- cuts , with a fine disregard of any appro- rlatonens. Our commandant , after some parleying , concluded , as vvo were Insldo tils works , surrender , which ho did lamely , expla Ing , how over , that It waa a matter of | to him that ho served the house of Held berg Instead of that of Rornagu Never suppose , except In South America- win they Indeed Romet lines kill two or thrci wai a revolution InnugurnU'd to bloc lessly. Ilalbi and Rent went to Inform t princess , leaving mo to man the woi with our peasant * and to look over our hn do/en prisoners , which I did as well ni could considering 1 had no pievlous ml tary training. In the great hall of the Ke - a Iwricti. rough place , not changed sir : the thirteenth century my friends return with the hcjtd of the house for which th hid Inaugurated this revolt. She raino down the grnt Malr. calling UK below , her face Hushed , the- light of t candles ami from the log on the heat tangled in her hair. "Thank joii. gentlemen. " she said prettl "Thank vou much. " I believe we cheered , although there wi ao few of iw , for UeatrUo. pilnccss of 1) ) , matla , cnuntoss of Spc7la In Sardinia. She appeared In this selling different frc her who had fled to my door , now It neom fct ) long ago. "Ami , Monsieur. " she said , for she do not speak English , "I have made jou doil of tumble. " "Which I hnvo accepted , " I said , ns s extended her hand graciously. "Let us hope there will be no moi Them's n great risk In this " "Not to him who dares , " ald I , lookl Into her eyes ; and I fancied she blushc nnd then KI passed on and left us for further conference with the count and SI Hen ! , That night messengers were .sent rig nnd left , summoning the country sl.le to r \olt Halbl and Renl were sleepless , i though I HUccumbed , there appealing lilt enough for me to do At davbieak 1 walk' ' Into the court , looking out on the Imi brown hills A led banner bearing tl black hound of the Homaga was Hying fro the tower. The many atrangers some pea anta , some evidently of the upper class , we gathered In thu court The countrj > plain was aroused even as I heard the eomrmui ant vvo had sin prised jcstcrday say another person of some evident quality th ; ho had gone over to the Romagri ( To be Continued ) ' ii. ; VMSTOM : . London Trufi The vvnrrlor worn hv m.tny u light had t Ilk home retlit ( I. There , 'moiiRst his household goiK to see the rest he so cleslietl ; Tilt re , 'mongHt hN books and friends , t P.IKS the evening of his ilnys , Fur from the utr.iln nnd Mtrcss of strife an c-tiish of paily frajs. He from his how.d : ind vvearjfr.une hi minor had it-moved. Hail laid the trusty mvord n liU- that ho s oft hail piovecl ; And MI he snt , lilHOU | serene , to wnll fn lift's slow ebb , Whilst o'er the vizor of hN helm the xnldt spun KM web. Hut hnrk ! what means that piercing of ilnnger inn ) tlexpulr ? What Is Mint piteous call for help that fill the eniiti'in nil- ? See , the old warrior JiMira the Hound , h ( lushes at the cry , And leaping to hit feet again , wrath ilasin- from hla cj'o. Ills armor 'loiind his aged limbs with ai dent luiMto he chups , Ills oft-proved swoul , i\eallbiir : , once mor lui Htrrnlj * grasps. " 'TIs not , " ht erica , "for pelf or powei 'tis not for p.irtjgain ; A hclpteiM people pleads for help ; It imis not plead In vain ! " And so he hastens to Its aid , his soul vvlthl him Htlrrod , Ami trumpet-like , < . 'eil as of old , IiN nobl voice Is he. i id ; Nay , 'tis with all the strength of yore h marches forth to flglit "Justice , " hln trenchant buttle ciy ; hi vvatehwoiiN. "Truth ami right. " And who shall hU br.ivo course condemn Who , In his Inmost lie.irt , Does not applaud the strenuous way li which he's pl.iycd lils pirt ? C.ill him CJuKotle If you will , Utopian 1 you cnn ; Hut still don't deny that ho Is still a Orea ami Ciraml Old .Man. The following notice was copied frcm tin leer of an English country church"Thh Is to give notice that no persons Is to hi juried In thin churchyard , but those llvlni : In the parish , and thcae who wish to IK juried , are desired to apply to me , Ephraln Irub , Parish Clerk. " Salvation I.a.s War Cry ! Wnr Cry ! Irishman ( who thinks she has addrossotl ilm ) Wh 'a the war bechiino' SihMtlnn Lass It's the eume old war be ween God and thedevil. . It Unman Ah ! go on wld jez ; I'll not In- erfeiv. A certain rector In an English village vho WHS disliked In the parish , had u cuiati Aho was very popular , nnd on his leaving vas presented with n testimonial. This ex Ited the envy and vviath of the lector , ami ncptlng with nil old lady one day , ho t-ald 'I ' am surprised. .Mis Illoom , that jou should lave subicrlbed to this testimonial. " "Wh ) , Ir , " sold the old lady. "If you'd bin a-going 'd 'ave subscribed double. " At the recent general Methodist conference t Corning several good slorlea were told ml one that caused more than ordlnarj musenicnt was relate il as follow d Three ulnlstcrs were Interpreting the meaning of ho te\t "David danced before thn aik of ho Loid. " The first minister tald nnjone ught to know what that meant. It nit ant hut David dani'pil while facing the ark of he Lord The second minister nald Dav Id an red hofoio Instead of behind the ark nil the third said that It simply n.e.uit tha' > avld danced before the ark daiiLCd. Rabbi Unill ( J. Hlrsch of Chicago has made new translation and revision of the .lew- jh prayer bcok , prepared by Dr. David Unborn. Dr. Earl Cranston , who was recently ap- lolnled n Methodist bishop , la winning olden opinions on the Pacific coast by his surtcsy and tact. King Albert of Saxony , although a Roman athollc , lately gave $1.000 to the brillillng und of a poor Lutheian congicgatlon in liittpntag , Saxony , and , fuithcrnioro. guar- ntecd an annual subscription of f7 , * > lo , ard the support of the pastor. The bishop , dean and minor cunons ! ho illoeeco of Hlpnn , England , aie ardent , and Dr. Hoyd Carpenter , the Ishop , It Is milil , puts his feet up wl.cn coasting , " In spite of the Spectator's as- ertlon that It Is Improper for a bishop to 0 so. Canon Mcnagor , cure of Tallies In Hrlt- inj' , Is the senior priest In active service In 'lance ' Ho Is 91 ycais of age , lias been a ileat for seventy ycam , anil has been for fly-two years In chargn of his present par- ill , He attends to all his parochial duties ml picaclirs often. Thi' Orthodox Russian church Is to ostab- ish Jii organ in the United States , to be ubllshed In New York City , at first OH a [ monthly. It will bo pi luted In parallel alurnns of Russian and English , and la In- % ndcd for the suppoit and Increase of Its icmbcrshlp In America. The prcarheis to fill the pulpit of Apple- Jn ohapol. Harvard university , for the ext four Sundays , represent four different cllgloua denominations , and the Crimson lys the dealro is to have the utmost fiee- om In inattcis of ci ue.il and spiritual be ef to try all things and "hold fast that hlch Is good. " Father Tonaty , one of tho. three priests hoao names were sent to the pope to he ) nisiilered by him for the rectorship of 10 Catholic university , Is the president ' the Catholic niimmcr school at I'latts- iirg N. Y. , and rector of a parish In Wor- xitcr , Mats Ho la nboul 40 years old anil a native of Ireland , but came to this miitry when very young. He Is the editor ' a weekly paper called the Catholic School a/ctto. and Is ranked as a conservative' id a firm supporter of parochial schools lie other two clergymen are Vicar General ooney and Dr Rlordan. The former U 10 of the best known Catholic clergymen In ow York City. Dr. Rlordan Is a brother 1 Archbishop Rlordan of San Francisco. Life I * BO vhort. Coak'o"Impcrlal Extra ry Ohampagno will help you to enjoy It alda dlueatlou and vslll prolong It , h.uuuimi The paper * are full of ctcAths from Heart Failure Of course the heart fails to Act when A man dies , but " HeArt Failure , " so called , nine times out of ten Is caused by Uric Add in the blood which the Kidney * fail to remove , And which corrodes the heart until It becomes unable to perform it * functions. Health Officers in many cities very properly refuse to accept " Hc.irt FA- ! ! lire , " AS A cause of de.ith. It is fre quently a sign of Ignorance In the physician , or may be given to cover up the real cause. A Medicine with 20 Years of . . Success behind it . will remove the pobonous Uric Acid by putting the Kidneys in a healthy condition so that they will naturally eliminate it. es & Searles , srmuisisiN Nervous , Ciiroaic Prlvale'iilseases. ' * WEAK MEN \llAUY. . ; Ml Private DNcnsc * uid l > lMon1ertnf vion Treatment bj mill Cotmiiltittloti fno SYPHILIS Cund for life and the po s n thoroughly clennxnel from 'he HjM.'in lJUis ris'in x. and UKCTAI , UI I'KRS in IMlOi ! M t H ami VMtirofCLi : permanently nn.l su , - cossfullj cured Method new nnd unfailing STRICTURE AHD Uy new method without pilii or cutting , Call on or address with Ktiinip , Dr. Scarlcs K Seailcs , J J ) Mill St \\o t ill ti.o r r < ni u Ui.m t > CALTHOS rrvr < u * i > i ami I . .ul iunr.ritep ; lint i AI rn > * ulll tif f 4 f * Till * Dlftchiirgr * u lit 1 rnl * lun itnCi3 ? B * I" sp riu iorilicn , lu ' ' - ! il-MOt' ! < ' \amiur.H i OKI : i.c. - - ' - 3 VOM MOHl. CO. , 332 O. Hot * inrrl-nj isrM * . elo.lrrill. IIMo , HABIT PAIHUSSIY FtRMAIUHTlY CURIO . ai. PAINLESS © PSMBH ANTIDOTE ORIGINAL AND ONLY GENUINE IIEMEDY. Discovered In iGC.D. "TIIEriAKI" Book Frco. Ol'icc 312 , 70 Montuo Sired , P. 0. Drawer 653. , . JfilllANrprr i o , cunifortlblfHU.r AUJl -\ttrrt \ hetril , PflPP TFST u covsui.TiTiov iojrocic" . rtniscmri ) sro , t . . 'K ' 053 Unutvi/ o Votk. benil for BOOKhmLt. Mexican 1'arrcts ' $5. Pioe Isliind " $6 Every parrotl sold with a written guarnn- o to talk Don't tlolnj in ordorlng If you itend to get a joung parrot this xenr vi t i our last assignment of this si-naon ban rrlved. Illrds sent by express \\ltb safety on rc- : > lpt of price 01 C O I ) islsler's Bird Store ' , 3 rasIH , ! ) ! fctabllbhcjl JSSS. Omaha FREE 209 PAGE BOOK mi rrrorxif Youth , liimt \ IKIIF ami Ulx-.i-iM of Illi , tj'lt's lluiv t < ili > niiiic > will mill niniiiir N.IIHIIM. l r. SI. W. .OH ; .B2U h.i.iili flf.I'hllii.fa. Y iMiivh.-ising ioots ! inaclo at tins followlim Ncbni' , . Un f ictorlcH. If yon cannot - not Jiiul what you want , coininiiiiicntuvitJ > the mumit'.icltiror : ; as to iv li a t dealer hniullc. their IJAOS. IJUULAP AND TWINE. * iimii.s OMAHA IIAO co MnnutnLliireiK < it nil kluJ at lotion unrt oiii"r1"nno lwl"B" OMAHA Cnr loiul ihlpincnta in.ido in n nfr. aleir u rb. ' ll.ue lllbbon. Wi t Vtni\ ! to all p" Iriin mill lli.iHK Hanuructurpm nnd JnlLcr * of JIn.liln < r\ i > jn. al ifpalrlnu a frcialiy j j 1103 ami JH ickson Bircit. Oniim. . . Nell. lMllVritlAI , IIIO.N Manufacturlni ? anil rtialrln | of jill - " ' " - - - pjinpie , | v.on | ann i AATO. > .V VIUUI.IM- Manufaciurcii ni .ttcliltu iilral Jrsn Work neral Foundry Mac.ilne anc ! Illnclcimlll i iKlnecru mid Cnniractori for Kli . Pro f llull , ] . , Oinco nnJ wotkn . ' . , . . U. 1' Jiv. , „ " "a ( > ; h itri-tt. Omnhn NIQHT WATCH , PIIIJJ JHSTIUOT Tr.LIJUUAI'll. fj only perfect protection to 8HIUT FACTOU1E8. II. K ftlllUl' COM1'A > V. iclualvt ciutom tlilrl Ullwt