6 SYNOPSIS. Frederick TTnrdy, n fashionable Boston society man, lost his wealth, was jilted by h girl and sent by a friend to take charge of an American Trading Company store in Russia. On his journey through Japan he met Stapleton Neville, sup posedly an Englishman. They agreed to go together to Russia. Because of sus picious circumstances they were several times molested by the Japanese. Hardy was arrested and found upon his person were papers showing maps of Jap forts. Hardy was proven guiltless. On a train he met Aisome Sano, daughter of a Jap merchant. In Neville's shoes Jap found plot urea of forts, proving him to be a Russian spy. Hardy departed for R us " sia on a steamer, which was wrecked shortly afterward. He was rescued by a Russian steamer. On reaching Vladi vostok he was well treated. He started for Siberia, meeting Princess Romanovna on the train. Hardy boarded a vessel for Amur. Hardy showed the princess his expertness as a rille shot. The steamer was stranded. The princess and her maid were attacked by Chinese. Hardy saved their lives. The princess thanked Hardy for his heroism. Manchurians fired upon the oraft. llardy slew their chief. Burning arrows were hurled upon the Pushkin's decks. An attempt was made to board the vessel. The attacking Chinese were repulsed. Romanoff sneered at Hardy's solicitude for the princess. Stanka a messenger, sent for help, was nailed to a cross on the shore. To put an end to the awful torture Hardy himself put Stanka out of his misery, taking his own life in his hands. Forest fires men aced the vessel. Hardy volunteered to go for help. Refused permission he jumped overboard and started to swim with the princess' distress message. Ro manoff was angry at Hardy for his brave efforts to rescue the princess. He wooed her In his own savage way. Ho 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 his destination ho took charge of the trading company's busi ness. Hardy 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 Romanovna. ilurily aroused unac countable jealousy of his Korean boy by announcing that he was going to call on the princess. He engaged a cabman who drove him to a large house on a poorly lighted street. After entering the house, llardy discovered that it was a resort of nihilists who supposed he was Felix Hu lin. come to tell them of a powerful ex , plosive he had discovered. The real Hulin arrived an«l denounced Hardy as an im postor The nihilists determined to kill Hardy In order to protect themselves. Finding an unloaded revolver in his over coat pocket, he pointed it at Hulln's bomb, which lay on the table, and swore to blow them all up together if they touched him. Holding the nihilists at i bay, Hardy started to leave the room I whan the police were, heard at the outer | door. Hulin thr«w bis bomb, killing sev- | era! policemen, the nihilists lied and Ba- j HK-ii the Jew. suddenly appeared and led i Hardy to the cellar Baruch conducted | Hardy through an underground passage | to another house, from which he boldly | emerged and returned to his hole). Hardy j visited the princess, contributed to the , fund for the relief of the victims of the ! nihilists He gave more than Romanoff had. The latter, entering the room, ! openly insulted him. Romanoff struck I Hardy, who challenged him to a duel, I The Russian accepted. Preparations fur the duel were made. The princess asked Hardy to spare Romanoff's life. Hardy purposely missed Komanoff, but was himself wounded, llardy was placed In the hospital. He sent his servant to the duel scene for a cult button of Ro manoff's. which he purposely shot off, j rather than violate the princess' wish. , Tins lie aent to her. CHAPTER XXXVIII. Murder and Mystery. Hardy was able to leave the hospital ; on February the first and return to hid i quarters at the hotel, where lie was much more comfortable, for the hog- j pitals of Moscow are inferior to those of other European cities of equal size, lie was pale and weak, hut his appe tite was good and ho was gaining strength rapidly. Though lie had come off second best In the duel, to all ap pearances, yet hln countenance had taken on u look not in any way char acteristic of the uiau who has been beateu or cowed by punishment. There J was something new in his eyes, and there was au expression about his uiouth that suggested rather the man who has fought a mental light and won In his conversations with Wang he avoided all mention either of the princess or of her cousin His only desire was to close up the business ill Moscow aud g«-t back to Htryeteunk as soon as possible get back to the warehouses and the great water high way that led eastward to the Pacific oceau, to that frontier of the vast Husstau empire that lit s close to Ko rea aud scowls the Japan sea at Nipix.n and its hlv«- of angry, bu? sing bees In the preparation* lor de parture the Korean boy displayed a competency and assiduity that were a revelation even to llardy He sunei Intended t h:pin 1,1 ... si,.. i tug of large older* oI goods, lie made vai uable suggestions, |,„ worked mj „n homs of i|.« night, ~|lc>,„g hi* pi in Clpal uf the Übor of corres|tonduSte sad bookkeeping in addition, lie wu» a chuwiftd i t .1 an, ing com pasion whuee brain *.. . fertile in d< I liotd> * i ti<oi.e.i U' t.titiiun in tin iu> Meant in to, Utters fiout Kiitwry snd course, as alleged by the writer, and the hot-headed, childish and unwar rantable demands of the islanders. "Well," he commented, "even this does not mean war. Russia will sim ply wait —she has always been wait ing, and the Japanese must strike the first blow if they want war." "Wait and see," was Wang's only reply. It was only two days later that Hardy became aware that something extraordinary had happened. Toward evening the city was seized with ex citement. Some great, some terrible news was in the air. Men were talk ing excitedly in the corridors of the hotel, groups were gathering in the streets, hoarsely shouting. Wang was out, so Hardy rang for a bellboy and asked him what was the matter. "Matter!" cried the boy; "the Jap anese have captured Port Arthur! They have murdered 100,000 Chris tians. They have sunk the whole Russian fleet, treacherously, falsely, in the night. The czar will send a great army and kill every cursed Japanese on earth. I am going, Ivan Nekres sov is going—we are all going. Curse the Japanese!" "My God!" exclaimed Hardy as the excited boy left, slamming the door, "they are at it in earnest, and the Japanese have struck hard. This means war, indeed. If the Russian navy has been destroyed it means a long war. Wang will be wild." At this moment the Korean entered, but, to Hardy's surprise, he was not carried away by excitement. There was a hectic spot on each yellow cheek, and his eyes were burning, but he Vas self-contained. "Well, Wang," said Hardy, "you were right, after all, and the Japanese have attacked. I have heard some very wild rumors. Have you learned anything definite?" "Yea," replied Wang; "what seem to be reliable reports have arrived. The mikado's fleet last night attacked the Russian ships at Port Arthur and sank the Czarevitch and the Retviian, two of the heaviest battle-ships in the czar's navy, and the Pallada, a cruiser. The Russians are very indignant, naturally, but they should save their feelings. The Japanese have only be gun." Within two weeks after the break ing out of the war, during which time j many disastrous blows were struck at j the naval prestige of Russia, Hardy was ready for the long railway jour ney back to Stryetensk. Wang secured a first-class compart-; ment for his master, and second-class j accommodations for himself, and the ( two drove to the great terminal sta tion, which commodious building they i found crowded with officers of every j rank, military officials and Red Cross j nurses hastening to Vladivostok and ! the front. Among these, llardy noticed the gal j bint, towering form of Boris Romanoff,! attired In officer's cap and cloak. The j prince was surrounded by u group of' officers, with whom he was talking He noticed Hardy and gave him a look of hate. The American turned his ; eyes quickly away and busied himself ; with identifying his baggage and get ting it aboard. On the morning of the third day out from .Moscow the prince was found murdered in his compartment. He was lying peacefully sleeping in his berth, the last long sleep, with a slen der stilletto sticking In his heart. CHAPTER XXXIX, Wang as a Witness. This tragic occurrence occasioned tremendous ex< iteiuent on tho train luxus, which was stopped at the next! tation and surrounded by a band of t'os-acks Here It was kept for three days uutll a squad of police and de-1 teethes could be hurried to the scene from Moscow. Numerous arrests j were made aud many of the passen gers were quest lulled separately. Wang wus one uf these examined. He was taken into a small, bare room on the second floor of tho station, j where sat a shrewd old uiau at a pine' table lie was llaukd by two younger officers, while a stenographer, st; to gtuphi. p. u In hand, b« ut over a writing pad "Your name 1s Wang''' said tb> of I "Il la." ' Wang what?" ' Just Waul " 'What Is yuur nationality*" leg* a AMWrfe <n. Frederick Courtlaud I am la (he employ of the Auierl ; CAMERON COUNTY PRESS, THURSDAY, JULY 14, 1910. "I know nothing of the duel which your honor alluded to as having taken place," replied Wang. The boy showed not the slightest sign of fear. His yel low face was flushed, he held his head high and looked the judge defiantly in the eyes. "You know nothing of it?" roared the latter. "Do not attempt to deceive the court. We know more than you think. Did not this Hardy tell you that he had fought a duel with his highness?" "He told me also that he was an Amer ican," replied Wang, "and since your honor intimates that his word is unre liable—" "Make another note —'witness inso lent'—did he or did he not tell you that such a duel had been fought?" "He did." "Ah! he did! That he was seriously wounded in that duel as a result of his highness' superior coolness and mark manship, we know. We also are ac quainted with the causes of said duel; that his highness was obliged to chas tise this Hardy for presumption and insolence; and that it was in accord ance with the request of the princess, his cousin, that his highness shot him. All this we know. You must tell us what threats of vengeance the wounded man breathed out against the prince." "None at all, your honor —absolutely none at all," replied Wang, turning The Prince Was Surrounded by a Group of Officers. pale, as be saw the drift of the qties-1 Hons "None at all! Hut this is incredible*, j We shall find means of making you speak the truth Repeat those threats to us, and be careful that you conceal nothing." "lie not only uttered no such threats," said Wang, "but he even spared the worthless lite of the prince, | when ho might have shot him dead. I This he did out of regard for tho prln- j c.'ss, as h- is a very knightly and par feet gen tie Ulan He shot off Itolira- j off's i'.iff bull on, which he sent to her j a.i proof of his wonderful skill, aud of how he employed it on that oc-! casion " \ pretty story, this'" laughed the Judge l*i )ou not think so, gentle lu.ih g. iaieii.tn thought exauly as did IM . hi- r "l luy - 'lt," Insisted Wang, "went In Hio pl.ee of Ho etlbg, at -Mi Hardy"# reqie • and pi. kill up (hi « llff butt II ces«. who will, t have no doubt, ior-1 luWalu my slsUMtießt." way station, facing the desolate, snow covered plains. In the distance was a miserable peasant village, with thatched roofs. The train luxus, the police, all the passengers, the mortal remains of the murdered prince, were gone. The boy asked a stolid-faced Btationmaster what had become of hi 3 employer, and the latter only shrugged his shoulders and turned away. Wang entered the station, sat down on a bench and thought for a long time. Then he came out on the plat form and walked up and down for an hour—for two hours, after which he entered the station and passed anoth er hour on the bench. Though he had not eaten since noon, he did not feel hungry. Toward midnight a man entered the ticket office, opened the window and lighted a lamp. Wang stepped up to the window. "Do you expect a train?" he asked. "Yes, in half an hour." "Going which way?" "To Moscow." "How much is the fare?" The agent told him, and the boy found that he had enough money with him to pay for a third-class ticket and leave a few roubles over, sufficient to buy food. He procured a ticket, and when the train thundered up to the station he boarded it and soon was speeding back to the Muscovite capital. Arriving there after two days nud three nights of agoni/.ing sus pense, during which the ponderous { train seemed to him to crawl like n giant caterpillar over the vast stretch es of virgin white, he found himself again in the great station and hastened Immediately to the Stnviansky Bazar I The clerk recognized blin, and from this clerk Waug learned that his em ployer had been taken to St. Peters burg and there lodged In prison, charged with the murder of Ilurls Ho manoff 'The proof against him Is clear," i vouchsafed the self-important aud j | voluble clerk, "and lam sorry for hint, j though he deserves all lie will get. | You will never se« him or hear front | hiui again, lie Is, no doubt, at this mo ( uieni rutting away In a foul, damp . dungeon beneath the rlw-r Neva, feed lug on moldy bread and stinking wa , tor, and little of that. Prisoners thut, , run foul of the nobility in Russia! i have a way of disappearing, and (iod ! - knows what they suffer! Hut I feel j , sorry fur him, 1 say, lor lo was a , < out icons gentleman, aud llbural with , "Well, her highness consents to see you, after all. Remember your man ners, young man, and if you have any begging scheme, don't impose on her too much. She has a very soft heart." Wang disappeared within the pal ace. CHAPTER XL. A Princess and a Woman. The Princess Romanovna received Wang in a small library on the second floor. She was walking to and fro, with her hands clasped behind her back, and her lovely brows knit in thought, the while she dictated let ters to her secretary. The boy's keen glance detected that she was pale. As he entered and stood by the door, si lently waiting, she turned to him eag erly and said: "Well! What is this communica tion that you have to make to me? Do you bring me a letter?" "I must see you alone," replied Wang. There was something in his manner and expression that could not be denied. The princess turned to ward her secretary, saying: "You may leave the room until I ring for you, Olga." "But surely," protested Olga, "your highness does not wish to be left alone with this stranger? Let me stay, I beg of you, to protect you!" Romanovna smiled. "I fear you would be of small pro tection In case of danger. Besides," glancing at the boy's slight form, "this young man does not look like a dan gerous person. Go, I insist!" The girl gathered up her papers and left the room at once. "Do you know where my master is?" demanded Wang in perfect Rus sian. "Your master?" "Yes, or my employer, If you will, though I love to call him my master. I mean the American, Frederick Court land Hardy." "Oh! So you are the Korean boy of whom I have heard—his secretary? No, my poor boy, I do not know where he is, further than that he is in prison ! in St. Petersburg charged with a ter rible crime, on presumptive evidence j so strong that his conviction is almost I certain. Was he a kind master to ! you?" asked the princess. "Do you love him very much? Why, what is j the matter?" Wang turned an ashen color, reeled I as if wounded and caught at the knob of a door. "No—nothing," he gasped, "just a little faintness—the heat of the room, perhaps. I am all right now. Mr. ; Hardy is tho kindest man that I have : ever known —and the bravest and truest gentleman that walks the earth." "I am glad to hear him so well ; spoken of," said the princess. Her hands were still clasped behind her back as she stood gazing fixedly at Wang. "My acquaintance with him would lead me to have the same opin ion, were it not for this terrible accu sation, so strongly substantiated by evidence." She was talking with this wonderful boy as though he were an equal. "And do you believe this accusation —you, who love him? Shame upon you! Does not your heart tell you that he is innocent?" It was now the Itomanovna's turn to grow pale and stagger, as though she had been struck a physical blow. "How dare you?" she cried; "you Insolent boy! Did he tell you that I loved him? But no! He Is a gentle man. He could not do such a thing. Hut something, though it cannot be my heart, tells me that be Is inno cent." "Then something tells you right," said Waug, quietly, "for he did not ! kill your worthless cousin. I killed j him!'' "You—you killed him!" Her ex I pression, as she said these words, de- j noted perplexity, quickly followed by ! pity. "You poor boy!" slio erled, "your sufferings have affected your mind. Those little hands have never committed murder —aud such a ter rible uiuriier!" "Listen," said Wnng, "and you will understand ami believe. The Prince | j Hoinanoff hated my master from the , begiunlng of his acquaintance with | hiiu, because he could not make him his tool. In Japun, where the prince came as a spy, ho attempted to thro« , suspicion uu Mr llardy, but did not j succeed in getting hi in Into any seri , ous trouble. His hatred was increased i on the Amur because It was my mas f tar who saved your life, aud not In 1 The uffitir of the duel, In which tie \ ,| American figured as the real hero b> . changed Ills Mllillioslty luto 4 rceui iii. ill whii ii Mr Hardy's death alone could have satisfied , tended for tlie car containing Roman off and some of the nobles. I over* heard the words, 'This Jew must die!' and I knew that if a noble like Ro manoff had determined on the death of a man without powerful friends he would accomplish his end. I could not expose them, for how could the word of a boy like me, a despised Korean, stand against that of the Prince Romanoff. So, to save the life of my master, I killed Romanoff. I crept into his compartment at night when he was sleeping in a drunken stupor and thrust a stiletto into his heart. He sighed—a long sigh— shuddered, and kept on sleeping." "Who are you?" asked the princess, "you who, for love, have done thiiJ dreadful deed of hate?" "I am Aisome Mosuro, known in my own country as Aisome, the Fox. I am supposed to be cunning, brave, heart less and patriotic to the last drop of blood in my body. I am in the secret service of my country, and have been one of its most trusted agents. I speak many of the languages of Eu rope and all the dialects of China. And yet I am a woman—just a wom an, who, at the chrlsmal touch of a man's lips, find my whole nature changed, and am ready to give up all for him, friends, country, individuality, yes, even life itself, happy only if I can be near him, can serve him, can hear his voice! I —when I think of it all, I am ashamed of myself," sobbed the girl, pressing a handkerchief to her eyes, "but I cannot help it. I am even now asking you to save me, if you can, for his sake. I can never see him again. He will know now that I am not Wang, the Korean boy, and, besides, my hands are stained with blood. But he would be dis tracted if he knew that I were in the hands of the Russian authorities; he would be unhappy all his life if they were to kill me. For he loved Wang, though he has forgotten poor Aisome. I am asking you to save me for his sake, and let me go away to my own country. You do not despise me, do you, and you do not fear me?" "I neither fear nor despise you," re plied the princess, sorrowfully, "though I shrink with horror from your dreadful deed. You are a worn' an and a sister, and I will save you if I can, for I believe you. Alas! I knew too well my cousin's revengful and violent nature. Listen! I shall see the czar and use my woman's wits to clear Mr. Hardy without giving the name of the actual perpetrator. I am going to Port Arthur to take charge of a hospital there for our sick and wounded heroes. You must remain here in my house till I return from St. Petersburg, and then go with me to the sea coast, whence I will send you across to Japan. I believe that Mr. Hardy would wish this, and there is nothing I would not do for his sake, within honor. But if I find that It is necessary, in order to save his life—" " —to tell my name? Then tell It, and I shall be here to say that you speak the truth!" CHAPTER XLI. Imperial Favor. The Princess Romanovnn was re ceived by his imperial majesty in a small room of the Winter palace, a room which, equipped with graceful and dainty furnlturo of tho sixteenth century, was a cheerful symphony In a delicate shade of blue. The fact that she was a favorite at court, to gether with her high connections and her noble descent, through which she even claimed distant relationship with the Imperial family Itself, rendered It comparatively *n«y for her to obtain a private and informal Interview. Mis majesty was standing when Ro manov na entered, looking out of the window on tho semi-circle where stands the huge monolith In honor of Alexander I. He turned, as her name was announced and niuiled. She no ticed that he was pale and careworn, and that his expression, even as ha smiled, was very sad. Her heart went out to liiui In mingled affection and reverence. She bowed low with exquisite grace as his eyes fell oe \»er, then to where he stt>od, and, kne«Ulig. kins"d his hand lie in! her to arlie, and, still ho'ding her hand, led bar to a sofa. ' Sit, my daughter," h* said, "and speak freely. There Is uone of our subjects to whom we will give a more iniluU:< nt ear than to yon," n* dropped wearily 011 th« divan "rfli," he repi'itu il, us she remained respect fully standing, "it is our command." She Ml down on the divan, at sont dlMtaiue from hl«u, and turned her eye* OR him, waning for hliu to speak. "You have our permission p*o i t ed." lie said • "I Co lite, sire," »hu begin, "to sj uak to you o< M|- toxins, ijoria JU man H(!S, d' tth slid to till ywt eometttlns ol the man who is at fused at his mur der the Atnerii -»n. Frederick four* Ihl* . iiu r, 11 y daughter," said his ut«j *ty. "I uudei sh.ud from the > wne m u .tg«id «« livj UK CO.NCt.UUk.u4
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