6 SYNOPSIS. 1 * Hardy, a fashionable Boston i > ty man, lost his wealth, was Jilted !J. a girl and sent by a friend to take I charge of an American Trading Company j store In Russia. On his journey through j Japan he met Stapleton Neville, sup- i posedly an Englishman. They agreed to | go together to Russia. Because of sus picious circumstances they were several j times molestut Stanka out of his misery, taking his ; own life in his hands. Forest iires men- ; aced the vessel. Hardy volunteered to j go for help. Refused permission he Jumped overboard and started to swim ; with the princess' distress message. Ro- - manoß was angry at Hardy for Ids brave efforts to rescue the princess. He wooed her In his own savage way. He said Hardy had made love openly to a Jap anese girl. Help came and the princess was rescued. Hardy journeyed on a raft. , Arriving at ills destination lie took charge of the trading company's busi ness. Hardv received a letter from a so cial leader in Boston and another from Aisome. Hardy took lessons in Russian of a Jew, thus connecting himself in a way with that race. Hardy received a letter from the princess, thanking him for his bravery Hardy's teacher was in danger of death. He employed Wang as a servant. Hardy went, to Moscow, where ; he was Invited to call upon the princess. He started for the palace home of Prin cess Romunovna. Hardy aroused unac countable jealousy of his Korean boy lev announcing that lie was going to call on tho princess. He engaged a cabman who i drove him to a large house on a poorly ' lighted street After entering the house. Tlar discovered that it was a resort of nihilists Who supposed he was Felix Hu- j lln, come to tell them of a powerful ex plosive lie had discovered. The real llulin arrived and denounced llardv as an im postor The nihilists d< i. rmined to kill Hardy in ord. r to protect themselves. Finding an unloaded re\ olv. r in his over coat pocket, he pointed it at Hulin's bomb, which lay on the table, ami swore to blow them all up together if they touched him. Holding the nihilists at bay. Hardy started t" leave toe room when the ) .lie e were heard at the outer door. Hulin threw his bomb, killing sev- , ■ral policemen, the nihilists fled and Ra fucji the J. w se- jl.nl • •• ip a red and led Hardy to the cellar. Haruch conducted Hardy through ail underground passage to another houso, from v hi' h h" boldly emerge.] and returned to Ids hotel. Hardy visited the prinee.ss. contributed to the fund 112 .r lie relief of the victims of tho 1 nihilists. CHAPTER XXXlll.—Continued. The American was puzzled for a fnoment. He know why this hand some daredevil Russian had sub scribed HO large an amount. That Doris Romanoff was touched by the Buffering of the poor was a thought to bring a smile to the fan; of any who chanced to know him. Hardy was not rich, as we know. He had saved a fi w thousands from his fortune, and his salary and profits from comnii -ions brought him a re spectable income. He held his pen for a moment suspended, as he re marked, looking tite piiucess quizzic ally in the eye: "Your cousin !s very tender-hearted, is he not—quite charitably disposed?" "H>' lias respond l d handsomely, has he not?" . he replied, carelessly, but there was an amused look in her eve. "But he is rich and doesn't mind a lit tle sum like thi.-. 15«itl< s, he knows that I am anxious to make these poor people comfortable." Hardy s<; ibbled his name on the pajwr and handed it back carelessly to the priii' • 4. "Ilut, monsieur!" she gasped, "my friend, I could not a< cept so much from you' You have made some mis take here!" He adjusted his gold pince-nez, looked critically at the paper, and read Hottii voce: "'Frederick Court land Hardy, ru b!es So, that is quite correct, your iitghn> s. J httll take great pleas ure In sending you a cbc< k In the morning. You have little Wea of how this can . appeals to no " The princess flushed and held the paper lii hei hand for some moments In silence, looking at It "1 he Americans are hi generous as they ar. brave," he aid at Inst, In a low vol "I shall ac. pt this noble gift on behalf of my poor people. In who •- name | thank you " At thl * moment a rvant appeared at the door and announced. ''Lieutenant tiortchakov!" "1 regret that I must be leaving you now," said the ttomniiovna; "but stay? I should like to Introdui < you to the lieutenant lie Is agn at admirer of America and Ann •! leans. Show the : .! The lleuit naut entered, tail, in hU • ■ '.in hd 1 -I . . H..1 ill ' ..(i.e.l ot • i- . • he bow "d ' iy low. « ll< KlUl' hi < hi • Is tog tU« I I hell tie . iked tplllly to ill t ' lid l.tf .. ( • ■ lips. Alt.- ,vhii>h | |t turned politely and Inquiringly to aid Hardy, who glial. "Until tiurU'balwtv, ' said the prlu American, «4 whiuu you havel ard Mi* i iMlrv >mu to Im (rlm4«. }\ s v—^ %i l"I < , ») 3 /' m " iii m i - s__. "He Became Infatuated with a Worn an of Disreputable Character." "It gives me great pleasure to make your acquaintance," said the lieuten ant, extending his hand. "The pleasure is mine, I assure you," replied Hardy. "Gen. Catkoff has already told me of your heroic deeds on the Amur," said the lieutenant. "1 have been hoping lor some time that 1 might have the honor of meeting you. I had no idea that you were in Moscow." Gortchakov was a frank, ingenuous youth, to whom the American took an immediate liking. "I shall leave you two together," said the princess, rising, "while 1 go and get my wraps. Oh, by the way, Alexir Tf, why can we not drive Mr. Hardy by the Slaviansky Bazar? The lieutenant has a new pair of white Arabian horses, which he Is anxious for me to see. I am suro that Mr. Hardy can appreciate fine horses." "I shall be most happy," replied the ! lieutenant, "if Mr. II ndy will accept." "Oh, 1 am sure he will," laughed the princess, "if lie is BUiilelently urged." She left tlie room, and Gortchakov began to explain th:»t he was driving her to a reception, and that the Sla vainsky would be on the way. He had not b< ' ii talking o\> r a minute, when Hurls Homanoff entered, superbly handsome in evening dress. An older man accompanied him. Romanoff shook hands cordially with Gortcha kov, whotu he addn cd us "Alexloff,'' and to whom ho Introduced hi-s com panlon. Gen. Koukolnik. He did not introduce Koukolnik to Hardy, but raid to the lath r with an #*ll, insolent smile: "Hello, Hardy, bow's trade? Hut these American- at enterprising!" Ik explained affably to the general. "Tills fellow her# Is a stor>- keeper, who. It Blu ms, I working the Itusslan nobility for all he is worth. What's your scheme now ? Tell us, that's a I; ml fellow! Y".i shall have our iu tluenco with the princess die ought to be an easy mark, tinder the cir cumstance#- eh, ri neral?" Tlie American paled with rage, but he look< d Homanoff full in the ejres, returning Insolence for insolence. CHAPTER XXXIV. Th« Princess Commands. "Helms only u tuer> hailt," replied the Americas, "I had It iih-i h .iry to cultivate good luanti* rs lo a <*« rtaln extent Were | a prince, I might also lie a boor " "limn my mil' . \>lailll'd (|e||. Koukolnik, "but thts i > a u ty p"t* • ' l.xeks ami Oi'Se were adorn* I with a network of varico*t vt-ius, tin re suit of innumerable d><-p |«rt:ttiii|t of *odka ll«* that anomalous com Miration, an * i- ltuble fnt man, and he hud ti habit of jerking »<• ti< rcfl> at hi*. biii. |iuiiiie,l t>ii|t4 ..to Iters that hi pulled down th« puffy uud* rlid of his eye, tltsclotting the re«| coujuitc tin. it..mall.iff Hushed With l iK" "Kello*," ».»e| he, I kui not suing to waste au» words Willi >uti I gram CAMERON COUNTY PRESS, THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 1910 ! you a certain degree of courage, con- j siderable shrewdness and any amount, of insolence. Rut you are making a | sad mistake if you hope to force your | way into high society simply because j you happened to kill a Chinaman or I two on tho Amur. You may take ad- j vantage of my cousin's good nature, | but you can not impose on tho rest of us. The best thing for you to do is j to accept a good, substantial check i for your services to the family, and take yourself off. How much shall it' be?" —and he pulled a check-book ! from his pocket. "Better take my | advice and accept it now, while we I are in the mood, and the offer is i open." "Upon my soul!" exclaimed Kou-j kolnik. "I suppose that I shall be offended ' at this later," drawled Hardy, "when i 1 get to thinking over it. At the pres ent. you are too interesting as a study in ah —zoology. I do not believe there is such another boor and ruffian j living in all Moscow as you. Certain-; !y, the Russians of the better class that I have met thus far have all been gentlemen." "I trust this doesn't bore you, ! Vlexi.-fT, nor you, general," said Ro manoff, "but 1 really must Fettle with this fellow once and for all, and have, it over \*ith. I met him first in Japan,' wher ■ he play.-d me a low trick, for i which lie, no doubt, received money from the Japanese authorities, lie be- 1 came infatuated with a woman of ilia reputable character there, and lie and I the woman had me put ou a boat, os-1 teiisiblv sailing for Vladivostok. 11 | soon found out that 1 was to lie iiu- [ prison, d or put to deuih. This fellow | remained in Japan with his para tuonr. and he came on here afterward at bis I leisure. | have bud him vs.itched t sine • by the police, and it Is certain ! that he is an enemy of the govern inept, and perhaps a Japan. ' ,y 'lt in Known that lie eon oris vwth J Jews, and I strongly suspect (hut h« is himself an American Jew The |{ ( » ; , manoff family Is, unfortunately, under i it ii obligation to linn, [->« nl < h ! I am offering to pay him liberally I i Come, now, my inau, how much hall: It be?" "There lll ust aurely be some nil* ! take here aid liort challos "I was I Introduced to Mr. iiaidy by the prln ! 1 ce. t, who recommended htm to iiu a» | a possible friend What bate >Oll to •ay to these accusation* of the prince. I >lr Hunt) " "Nothing," r* piled th«« A in* ru tn, "save that if wu were not under its roof of a ludy, I should toll Komaitoff that I can nut L»* tt< ve that he la tula ' taken ■" "You would have us think then 112 that b«> la undoubtedly lying!" "Have a rare'" cried Hoittutiog. rm lug hit vol«i< 'I Si not pr> uuie 1 too far on the protection of ib< prln ' reus' UHI m mote and tor ibe luat time, | ask you, bow uus li do you \ want V " and b« tlktust tfee ciu?cit imai under Hardy's nuae "You at.- positively grow lag ure isltl Hardy, and b« flipped iIM book from Romanoff's fingers, so that it llew fluttering half-way across the room. "Hell and furies!" exclaimed Ro manoff. "Take that, you son of a dirty Jewess!"—and he struck Hardy violently in the face with the flat of his hand. The blow Btaggered the American and left a number of red welts, that contrasted strangely with the marble whiteness of his cheeks. "This insult must be answered for elsewhere," he said in low, even tones. "Lieut. Gortchakov, I am a compara tive stranger here; will you do me the honor of seconding me in this affair?" "You want me to fight a duel with you?" laughed Romanoff. "With you, a Jew storekeeper? Leave this house instantly, or I shall have you kicked into the street." "1 am an American," Hardy ex plained to Gortchakov, "and the gen kIMA '!UMH PPM I if > I/afflfe • UL; ' ' "My Seconds Will Wait on You in the Morning," Said Hardy. tleuien of America earn their living by honest toil. Moreover, I am by birth and education a gentleman. Will you be my second?" Gortchakov caught sight of a stately white figure standing in a distant door —the iigurc of a tall womau, v. earing a long white opera cloak, a coronet blazing wiili diamonds surmounting her regal brow. 110 > xteuded his baud to Hardy. "I will be your secoud," lie said. ' \t< sou in. nl ' lid Romanoff. "I can not tight with this low fellow, this trad, uiian." ' I know Mr. Hardy through the in troducthm of the Prince „s lioman ovna " ii. dared AleM> ff; that is nilte sulllclent for ine." "You will either fight me or I will liorsi w hip you on the public streets," In*. Is ted Hardy, not raising bis voice. I knew sou to be a liar I did uot so tact that you were also a coward." ' ti. ntlemen, for nhatne!" critd the prim * - j . adsaticlng to the angry group, her eye. bluzlng with tudiKnu tion. "Ito you forget (bat you are lu my bouse?" "files my soul!" eYclaiiio d Koukol nlk. "it U th< princess! Madame, I i humbly salute you' and clicking bis I heels together, be made u low bow. "Ah ' UiUg, coii III.' aid lt<> maiioff. "| h**g your pardon for thl* | disturbance, but really, this fellow here Is io blame. I offered to pay blui toi tt. i'l'slei wbli h h" b I i.'hd red to a iio i.hr of the family He knot k> t| my check book from my hand, iiul I very properly chastised hie lu adencti by slapping bin face As tbe h. bvett liM|ad on you ua l»r Mtf Had! * "I will pardon him," replied Hardy, "after he has fought me, according to the custom among gentlemen in this country. He has struck me and he must give me satisfaction." "What!" cried the princess, "a duel? It is ainst the law. I shall not per mit it." "This Jew, this shopkeeper, wants me to fight him," sneered Romanoff. "Your highness has been pleased to express gratitude for certain services which I have been fortunate enough to render you—to express a hope that you might be able, in fact, to do some thing for me in return. I now demand a gentleman's satisfaction for this blow. It is all that I shall ever ask from the Romanoff family." "I shall also pay you for the blow," snarled Romanoff. The princess glanced Indignantly at Romanoff, then turned her eyes searchlngly on Hardy, who stood thorp, white to the lips, rlßid as a statue, looking scornfully nt her cousin. "You must light hiiu, lloris," she said nt lust. In u voice low, yet per feetly distinct In the tense ■ilence. Romanoff bowed gracefully, with an evil smile. "I shall kill him with pleasure, since you desire it,"he said. "My seconds will wait on you In the morning," said llurdy. "Madame, I am your debtor and grateful servant. I have iho honor of wishing you good evening"—and he walked from the room. CHAPTER XXXV. The Princess Entreats. In the preliminary arrangements for the duel, Lieut. Oortcliukov r» pre seiiti d the American with zeul and II delity. Itomanoff'a geronda, fully aware of llurdy's reputation for skill with the pistol, objected to that weapon. •Why, bloM my soul!" exclaimed lien Koukolnlk, "an exchange of bul lets would he nothing Una than mm der, and none of ua, as lluaahtng, could peruilt »hut. ThU American could -hoot hlii adversary through the h« arl or between the eye# without the leaat trouble In the world, aud hi* hntred oi him U so great that he will certain ly do It. We can't permit that upon my soul, we can't?" "CVic the time being," replied tiort chukov, with nrutßeM, »hall forgot that I nut a ltu» >uu, und shall demaail juatlcv for the man who has a«ked III" .11l I,Mil Nl\ in til I, I t little or Ho knowledge of (he rapier A 4«.>litj <( Ml» *Vi C'uiau.«t< l> for Uort. ti«k«»'g ton teniiuit, the li.iuiu l. ut.oiiis, Koukot«j , atk a a .<« tai> (•« lit >*»4 Hardy a rep i upiin.u fur skill greatly nagg-faun _ The I 11" *i* a pi> tmua, hi-, urged, "a mere tradesman, who will lose his nerve when made to stand up and be shot at. Take rny word for it, Koukolnik, his arm will tremble like a dog's tail when you pat it on the head. If it were I, I'd rather shoot him down than dirty my sword on him, and I've no doubt in the world that Romanoff will feel the same. If we insist on the rapier, too, when this American is, as you know, the ag grieved party, we shall be casting a slur on our man's courage. No Rus sian nobleman fears any adversary, with any weapon." By this time Koukolnik had taken so many potations of vodka that the bravado in this sentiment appealed to him. "You are right!" he cried, "and pis tols it shall be. Prince Romanoff shall shoot this tradesman down—he shall not soil his rapier on him." Gortchakov was jubilant over this arrangement and he hastened to Hardy's quarters in the hotel to tell him of the success of his negotiations. "All you have to do now," said the dapper young Russian, "is to shoot the great bully through the heart, or between the eyes." Hardy glanced at , Gortchakov's flushed face. He was struck by the eagerness of his manner, and his evi dent delight at Romanoff's mortal peril. "Don't wait till he shoots first," counseled the lieutenant; "for he has a sort of awkward skill with the pistol himself. Take aim and shoot just as you hear the word 'throe.' My associ ate and I will see that you do not get into serious trouble with the law. We shall testify to the grossness of the insult. The princess, too, will stand by you. Whatever her feelings for Romanoff, she is too much of a thor oughbred to see an injustice done, and she has great influence with the czar." There was a slight break in Gort chakov's voice when he mentioned the name of the princess, an agitation in his manner that suggested a possible explanation of his hatred of Romanoff, llardy remembered the adage: "All Is fair in love and war." The princess' beauty was of the sort that breeds murder in the hearts of men. "If her highness loves her cousin," Hardy said, sadly, "killing him will not make her love him the less, or—• or—us the more. She is not the sort of woman who loves twice in a life time." "She does not, she can not, know what a worthless bruto he is!" cried Gortchakov. "If she loves him, it would be saving her from a iate worse than death to kill him. And think of the insult which he heaped on you! And I assure you that you can kill him with perfect safety." Hardy laid his hand on the younger man's shoulder. "A gentleman does not think of the consequences to himself when ho is vindicating his honor. I shall settle this score with Komanoff with a full realization of all the aggravating cir cumstances." Gortchakov seized the American's hand Impulsively. "Pardon me, my friend," he said, "I intend no imputation on your cour age; but there are others besides my self who are tired of this great bully, Komanoff." "When is the meeting to tak* place?" asked Hardy. "To-morrow morning at eight, In a grove on the banks of the river. If you will permit me, I shall call for you at half-past -■ ven with my sledge, ami shall drive you there." "I shall be deeply Indebted to you. And now, if you will take no offense, I shall ask you to excuse me, as I must get a good night's rest. There is no metlicin-' like sleep, and plenty of it, to make the hand steady and tha eye clear." The young Russian glanced at thw other admiringly. "You huvi the nerve of a Itu "Or of an American." replied llariy, smiling. "You will find me ipu* tat ion of being a tail- shot, though how much tbi* lie it to Ituaoia, llardy had uu ueau . of Judging, Probably nut niurtt, t«<' "Mints to American standard,*; hut ■ u a poor shut vk ill suuteflttw* hU tie tuark Was the prim *» l« love Willi tior n ii.' -"i'' I lardy U-ha I*4 thit* possibility in ilia tut ltd, the utore It limit on He sh «p d most be uo custard Mure over, Hardy had t sk«n ad»aulag« of her uti (ifiHi >ly s.Hd tu htiusoll slid had claimed rultiillmnii ol th« promts* t&at sfcw had lt.ud<- to hint. (To KM CONTtM hU) «