'
EVENING tEDGER-PHILADELPHIA, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, i017
Ptctarnl Sqcwmhi ' J
"T
mm
-J-4I
mSPU,mDEYILS4INT
"If in St. Petersburg Rasputin had been considered as a prophet, here, in this rpwwtg
corner of Siberia (his native town, Pokrowskoie), he was fast becoming a kind of mm
god at whose shrine a whole nation was worshiping."
I
(Cop)rltht, 10l7. rublle. I.fdzer Company. All rights rcsmed )
During the Few Months Which Immediately Pre
ceded the War the "Rasputin Craze" Became
More Violent Than Ever Before and Verged
Upon Complete Fanaticism for His Personal
ity by All His Worshipers, High and Low
When the President of France Came to Visit the
Tzar of Russia Rasputin Told His Friends
He Was Going Back to His Native Pokrow
skoie He Said He Had Tired of Life in the
Capital, but Others Insisted That He Was
Asked to Leave
M1
CHAPTER V (Continued)
fR. MANIULOFP was a spendthrift who never could deny himself
any of the good things of life. These are always considered to
be expensive ones, and consequently he had expensive tastes. His
capacity of police agent had allowed him to blackmail to advantage
people against -whom he had discovered, or thought he had dis
covered, something in the way of dangerous political opinions.
One of his favorite occupations consisted in going about among
theso people and hinting to them that unless they showed them
selves willing to minister to his numerous wants they might find
ithemselves one day in a very tight corner. Generally these tactics
proved successful, until ho was caught red-handed in Paris, where
he had been sent on u special mission, tampering with the funds
of which he had control. This accidtnt caused him to bo dismissed.
But the man knew far too much and had been far too advanced
in the confidence of his superiors for them to be able to do with
out his services, so he was allowed to return to Russia and enroll
himself in journalism, thus to make himself useful again. He
had a wonderful intelligence and was an excellent worker and
talked fluently in most of the European languages. He therefore
made his way up the ladder once more, until at last he became the
privato secretary of Mr. Sturmer when the latter was Primo Min
ister, nn advancement that proved fatal to him because it brought
him to prison. But of this I shall speak later on when touching
upon the events which culminated in the murder of Rasputin.
The "Monk" Becomes a "Prophet"
Such were the men who virtually controlled every action of
the "Prophet,"' and it is no wonder if guided by them he sometimes
contrived to influence never the Tzar himself, but the latter's Min
isters and officials, who had been told, they did not even know by
whom, but probably by the loud voice of the public, that to do any
thing to pleaBe Rasputin was to secure for oneself the good graces
of the highest people in the land. As time went on the "Prophet"
showed himself less and less in public, remaining among a small
circle of personal friends, whose interest it was to represent him ns
a kind of Indian idol, unapproachable except to his worshipers.
And in the meanwhile the ladies who had been the first artisans
of Rasputin's favor were still holding religious meetings under his
guidance and still seeking inspiration from his teachings. They
believed him to be a real saint, refused to admit that he could do
anything wrong and refused to accept as true the rumors which went
about and which, unfortunately for the "Prophet's" reputation, were
but too exact, that he was fond of every kind of riotous Hying, that
he spent his nights in drunken revels and that ho gave his best
The "Chinese room" in the Tsarbkoic-Selo. This chamber is considered the most exquisitely furnished in the Imperial Palace,
but it was not too fine for Rasputin's use.
attention to brandy mixed with champagne. His admirers persisted
in seeing in him the prophet of the Almighty nnd believed that they
could never be saved unless they conformed to all the directions
which it might please him to give them.
The Rasputin craze became more violent than ever during tho
few months which immediately preceded the war, and it very nearly
verged upon complete fanaticism for his personality. Everything
that ho did was consideicd to be holy. His insolence and arrogance,
displayed with increasing violence every day and hour, were almost
incredible. This illiterate peasant dared to send dirty little scraps
of paper on which he had scribbled a coarse message to ministers
and public men ordering them to do this or that according to his
pleasure, and presuming to give them advice, which was
own, in matters of tho utmost public importance. At first
had laughed at him, but very soon they had discovered that h
rovengo himself on them quickly and effectively, nnd this h4,V
to tho general determination not to interfere with him any mora
but to leave him severely alone, no matter what extravagance hm
might commit or say. And when it camo to tho extortion of lari
hums of money, thoso who were challenged to pay them generally
did so with alacrity, as happened in tho case of several bank to
which Mr. Maniuloff applied for funds, with tho help of these 51H4-'
crato scraps of paper upon which Rasputin had scribbled his desiiv ,
that tho money should be put at the disposal of hia "protege." '
What I have been writing is fact, which has been proved pub
licly, and never contradicted by so much as one single word of presen
tation. It nccounts for tho hatred with which the "Prophet" came
to bo viewed. As time went on it was felt that something ought to
be attempted against the impostor who had contrived to break
through barriers ono could have believed to bo absolutely impreg
nable. But no one knew how this was to be done, and at the time ,
I am referring to tho idea of a political assassination of Rnsputia
had not entered into the people's heads. It was a. woman who was to
bring it beforo tho public in the following circumstances.
Rasputin's Return to Siberia
During the spring of tho year 19i4, Rasputin, to tho general sur
priso of everybody, declared to his friends that ho intended to leave
the capital and to return for a few months to his native village of
Pokrowskoie in Siberia to rest from his labors. Strenuous efforts
were made to detain him in Pctrograd, but he remained inflexible
and rudely thrust aside those who would fain hove kept him back.
He declared that he was tired and weary of the existence which he had,
been leading the last year, and that the various annoyances and diffi
culties that had been put in his way by his numerous enemies had quite
sickened him. Such, at least, was the explanation which he chose to
give and to which ho stuck. Others, it is true, declared that tho real
reason for his departure was that ho had been given to understand ,
that ho would do better to absent himself from St. Petersburg dur
ing the timo when the visit of the President of the French Republic '
was expected, as his presenco there might provo embarrassing from
more than ono point of view. The hint had enraged him, and he
had determined to go away for a much longer time than he had been
told to do. He had even declared to a few pf his closest friends that
he was not going to return to tho capital any more, but that ho would
remain in Siberia, whero, as he graphically put it, "there was a
great deal more money to be made than anywhere else in the world."
Whether the above is strictly true or not, I am not in a position
to say, but it docs not sound improbable. The fact remains that
Rasputin left St. Petersburg for Pokrowskoie, where he arrived in
the first days of June, 1914, accompanied by the "Sisters," who were
his constant companions. He was received with such honors that he
might have been the sovereign himself instead of the simple peasant
he was. A crowd composed of several thousand men and women met
him at the gates of the village and threw themselves at his feet
imploring his blessing and calling upon him to pray with them, and
to show them the real way to God which he was supposed to be the
only one in Russia capable of indicating. For a few days this kind
of thing continued, and Rasputin's house was literally besieged by
crowds of people who had gathered at Pokrowskoie from all parts
of Siberia eager to pay homage to their national hero, for such he
was considered to be. Rasputin smiled and chuckled and rubbed his
hands, as was his wont in those moments when he allowed his satis
faction at anything to overpower him. If in St. Petersburg he had
been considered as a prophet, here in this remote corner of Siberia,
he was fast becoming a kind of small god at whose shriifo a' whole
nation was worshiping. This was just the sort of thing to please
him and to make him forget any small unpleasantnesses he might
have experienced before his departure from the capital.
(CONTINUED TOMORROW)
RAINBOW'S END
By REX BEACH
SJ' Author of "Tho Spoilers," "The
Barrier, ' "Heart of the Sunset
&?
A novel of love, hidden treasure and rebellion in beautiful, mys
terious Cuba during the exciting days of the revolt against Spain.
CopvrlKht. 1017, Harper & Urot.
CHAPTER III (Continued)
poSA'S face, as she looked at tho two
men, was white and worried. For a
time the three of them Bat silent; then the
American said slowly, "You'll bo shot If
jou're caught."
Rosa whispered, "Yes! Think of It!"
"Some one must run chances," Esteban
amred. "We're lighting, tyranny; all
Cuba Is ablaze. I must do my part."
"But sooner or later you'll bo discov
ered then what?" persisted O'Reilly.
Esteban shrugged. "Who knows?
There'll be time enough when "
"What of Rosa?"
At this question tho brother stirred un
easily and dropped his eyes. O'Reilly
laid a hand upon his arm. "You have
no right to Jeopardize her safety. "With
out you, to whom could she turn7" The
llrkflashed her admirer a giateful glance.
"Senor, you for ono would see that
the "
"But I'm going away." O'Reilly felt
ratne'r than saw Rosa stoit, for his face
was verted. Purposely he kept his gaze
upon' Esteban. for he didn't wish to see
the slow pallor that lose In tho girl's
cheeks, the look of pain that crept Into
her eyes. "I camo here to tell you both
good-by, I may be gone for some time.
I I don't know 'when I can get back."
O'Reilly Joins the Rebels
"I'm sorry," Esteban told him, with
genuine regret. "Wo have grown very
fond of you. You will leave many friends
here In Matanzas, I'm sure. But you will
come back before long, eh?"
"Yes, as soon as I can. That Is, If "
He did not finish the sentence.
"Good. You're one of us. In the mean
time I'll remember what you say, and
at least I'll be careful." By no means
Minting In tact, Esteban rose briskly and,
tter shaking hands with O'Reilly, left
t the two lovers to say farewell as best
suited them.
But for" once O'Reilly's ready tongue
M silent. The laughter was gone 'from
his blue ey?s when he turned to the girl
M his side.
'''You say .you ara coin? awav?" Rosa
Inquired, breathlessly. "But why?"
" ''I'm going partly because of this war
and partly because of something: else. I
trjed to tell you vesterdav. hut T couldn't.
fhen the revolution started everybody
I tnought jt was merely1 a local, uprising,
ft 0d I wrote, my company to that effect;
pbift, bless you, it ha spread like Are,
and now the whole eastern end of tho
wna is ablaze."
("Esteban save It will bn mom terrible
F'tuh tY h-.. v.. . ot .
S i. J.eara war.
fj4 forbid! And yJt all the old fighters
ack, aaln, Nobody believed that
'
OeflkeajlMrt Mtur
IjJUt
true. And the Maceos are here, too,
from Costa Rica. Antonio has already
gained control of most of Santiago Prov
ince, and he's sweeping westwaid. Of
course, tho Spaniards minimize tho re
ports of his success, and we, here, don't
understand what's really going on. Any
how, business has stopped, and my em
ployers have ordered me home to find out
what's happened to their profits. They
seem to hold me personally responsible
for this Insurrection."
"I see. And when you have told them
the truth ou will come back. Is that It?"
"I Perhaps."
"You said thcie was bomethlng else "
O'Reilly's hesitation became an em
barrassed silence. He tried to laugh It
off.
"There Is, otherwise I'd stay right hero
and tell my penurious friends to whistle
for their profits. It seems I'm cursed
with a fatal beauty. You may have no
ticed It? No? Well, perhaps It's a mag
nificent business ability that I have. Any
how, the president of my company has a
notion that I'd make him a good son-in-
law."
"I Oh!" cried Rosa.
And at her tone O'Reilly hurried on:
"These rich men have tho most absurd
ideas. I suppose I'll have to '
"Then you aro In love, senor?"
The young man nodded vigorously. "In
deed I am with the sweetest girl In Cuba,
That's the whole trouble. That's why
I'm hurrying homo to resign before I'm
fired." Not daring to look too long or
too deeply Into Rosa Varona's eyes until
she had taken In the whole truth, lie
waited, staling at his feet. "I'm sort
of glad It has come to a show-down and
I can speak out. I'm hoping she'll miss
me." After a moment he ventured, "Will
she er will you, Rosa?"
A Woman's Charms
"17 Miss you?" Rosa lifted her brows
in nrotended amazement. Then Bhe tip
ped her head daintily to one side, as If
weighing his question earnestly. "You
are amusing, of course, but-I won't have
much time to think about you, for I am so
soon to be married."
"Married? What?" O'Reilly started
violently, and the girl exclaimed, with
well-feigned concern:
"Oh, senor. You have wounded your
self again on that thorn-bush. This place
Is growing up to brambles."
"It wasn't my finger! Something pierced
mo through the heart. Married? Non
sense!'" "Indeedl Do you think I'm so ugly
nobody would have mer
"Good Lord You" O'Reilly swal
lowed hard. "I won't tell you Jhe truth
.,. n -vnu know It so wrell."
"The richest man In Matanzas asked
for my hand this very afternoon."
"Who? Mario de Castano?"
"X."
vO'KeiUy If ughed with relief! and though
Rosa tried to look offended, sho was forced
to smile. "He's fat, I know," sho ad
mitted, "and ho makes funny noises when
he breathes; but he Is richer than Croesus
and I adoie itch men."
"I hate 'em!" announced O'Reilly. Then
for a second timo he took Komi's dimpled
hand, saying earnestly: "I'm sure jou
know now why I make love so badly,
dear. It's my Irish conscience. And
you'll wait until I corao back, won't you?"
"Wilt jou bo gone very long?" sho
asked.
O'Reilly looked deeply now Into the
daik eyts turned to his and found that
at last there was no coquetry In them
anywhere nothing but a lonesome, hun
gry earning and with a glad, incoher
ent, exclamation ho held out his arms.
Rosa Vurona ciept Into them; then with
a sigh she upturned her lips to his.
"I'll wait foreveo" she said.
CHAPTER IV
RETRIBUTION
ALTHOUGH for a long timo Dona Isa
bel had been sure in her own mind
that Pancho Cueto, her admlnlstrador.
was robbing her, she had never mustered
courage to call him to a reckoning. And
there was a reason for her cowardice.
Nevertheless, Do Castano's blunt accu
sation, coupled with her own urgent
needs, served to fix her resolution, and on
the day after tho merchant's visit she
sent for the overseer, who ot the time
was living on one of the plantations.
Once the message was on Its way, Isa
bel fell Into a condition bordering upon
panic, and was half minded to counter
mand her order. Sho spent an evening of
suspense and a miserable night. This
last, however, was nothing unusual with
her; she was accustomed to unpleasant
dreams, and she was not surprised when
old familiar shapes came to harass her.
Nor, In view of her somnambulistic vaga
ries, was sho greatly concerned to find.
when she woke In the morning, that her
slippers were stained and that her skirt
was bedraggled with' dew and filled with
burs.
Scarcely a month passed that she did
not walk In her sleep.
Cueto was plainly curious to learn why
ho had been sent for, but since he asked
no questions, his employer was forced to
open the subject herself. Several times he
led up to It unsuccessfully; then she
took the plunge. Through dry, white lips
she began:
A Battle of Wits
"My dear Pancho, times aro hard. The
plantations are falling, and so" Pancho
Cueto's eyes were set closo to his nose,
his face was long and thin and harsh; he
regarded the speaker with such a sinister,
unblinking Btare that she could scarcely
finish; "and so I can no longer afford
to retain you as admlnlstrador.''
"Times will Improve," he said.
"Imposslblel This war threatens to
trlns utter ruin! ana" now that Esteban
THE STORY THUS FAR
DON ESTEBAN VARONA, one of the wealthiest Spaniards in Cuba, has
hoarded the jewels and gold acquired through the sale of slaves and
the profits derived from his extensive sugar plantations in a secret chamber
at the bottom of a well. Rumors of his treasure have spread throughout
the land, and after the death of his first wife, the crafty, scheming Isabel
finally becomes the second Dona Varona.
SEBASTIAN, Esteban's most trusted slave, is the only one to share
the secret of the hoarded wealth, and Isabel vainly tries to get information
from the black. She een seeks to get at Sebastian by suggesting that
Esteban sell the slae's daughter Evangeline. This the master steadfastly
refuses to do, until one night, after he has become drunk in attempting to
escape his wife's nagging, he places Evungelina as the stake in a game
and loses.
ROSA and ESTEBAN, the children of the distressed planter and his
first wife, leae their beds and appear in the room before their father to beg
that Evangelina, their nurse, be retained. But their prayers are to no avail.
When Sebastian pleads with his master not to let his daughter go, Don
Esteban, infuriated, turns upon the slae and for the first time in his life
has the black chained to a window grating and flogged.
Sebastian is djing from thirst and the torture of the flies upon his
wounds when Isabel appears at the window and asks him again if there
is a treasure. He finally says yes. But further information she fails to
get. When Esteban once more attacks Sebastian the slave tears himself
free, kills his former master and several others before ho is finally shot.
PANCHO CUETO, manager of the Varona plantations, also feels certain
that there is a treasure, and he lays plans to get it.
DON MARIO DE CASTANO, a wealthy sugar merchant, calls upon
Isabel to ask for the hand of Rosa. He is fat, unattractive and well along
in years, but is conceited enough to feci that his wealth will win the step
mother's support. But despite the latter's willingness, she holds out little
hope. Rosa loves another.
JOHNNIE O'REILLY, more commonly called THE O'REILLY, is a
young American representing a New York firm in Cuba. He is Rosa's lover.
While the two arc talking in a secluded part of the estate Esteban Joins
them nnd confesses that he is a spy for Colonel Lopez, leader of the Cuban
insurrectionists.
and Rosa aro homo they spend money
llko watpr. I groan with poverty."
"Yes, they are extravagant. It Is the
more reason for mo to remain In your
service."
"No, no! I tell you I'm bankrupt."
"So? Then the remedy Is simple; sell
a part of your land."
Although this suggestion came natu
rally enough, Dona Isabel turned cold,
nnd felt her smile stiffen into a grimace.
Sho wondered If Cueto could bo feeling
i,,. nut deliberately. "Sell the Varona
lands?" she queried, after a momentary
Btruggle with htrself. "Esteban would
rise from his gravo. No. It was his wish
that the plantiUons go 'o his children
Intact.
"And his wls'i Is sacred to you, eh?'
Cueto nodded his approval, although his
smile was disconcerting. "An aamiraoie
sentiment! It does you honor But speak
lng on this BUbJect, I am reminded ot
that dispute with Jose Oroz over the
boundary to La Joya. He Is a rascal, that
Oroz; ho would steal the sap out of your
standing cane If ho could. I have prom
ised to show him the original -deed, to La
Joya and tp furnish him with the proofs
about the boundary line. That would bo
better than a lawsuit, wouldn't It?"
"Decidedly! But I will settle wUlWUm
myself."
Cueto lifted cm admonitory hand, his
face alight with the faintest glimmer of
Ironic mirth. "I couldn't trust you to the
meicios of that rascal," ho said, piously.
"No, I sliall go on as I am, even at a sac
rlllco to myself. I love Don Esteban's
children as my very own; and you,
senora "
Isabel knew that she must win a com
plete victory at once or accept Irretriev
able defeat.
"Never!" she Interrupted, with a tone
of finality. "I can't acept your sacrifice.
I am not worthy. Kindly arrange to turn
over your books of account at once. I
shall make you as handsome a present as
my circumstances will permit In recogni
tion of your long and faithful service."
Then Pancho Cueto did an unexpected
thing: he laughed shortly and shook his
head.
Dona Isabel was ready to faint and her
voice quavered as Bhe went on: "Under
stand me. wo part the best of friends de
spite all I have heard against you. I do
not believe these stories people tell, for
you probably have enemies. Even If all
they say were true I should force myself
to be lenient because of your affection for
my husband."
Pancho Cueto Scores
The man rose, still smiling. "It is I
who havo been lenient," said he.
"Eh? Speak plainly."
"Gladly. I have long suspected that
Don Esteban hid the deeds of his prop
erty with tha rest of his valuables, and
now that you admit"
Dona .Isabel recoiled sharply, "Admit!
Are you mad? Deedsl What are yu'
talking about?" Her eyes met his bravely
enough, but she could feel her lips trem
bling loosely.
Casting aside all pretense, the overseer
exclaimed: "Por el amor de Dlos! An end
to this! I know why you sent for mo.
You think I have been robbing you.
Well, to be honest, bo I have. Why
should I toll as I do while you and thoso
twins live here In luxury and idleness,
squandering money to which you havo no
right?"
"Have I lost my reason?" gasped the
widow. "No right?"
"At least no better right than I. Don't
you understand? You have no title to
thoso plantations! They aro mine, for I
havo paid the taxes out of my own pock
ets now theso many years."
"Taxes! What do you mean?"
"I paid them. Tho receipts are in my
name."
"God! Such perfidy! And you who
knew him!"
The Final Straw
"The deeds have been lost for so long
that the property would have reverted to
the crown had It not been for me. You
doubt that, eh? Well, appeal to the court
and you will find that It Is true. For that
matter, the officials make new laws to fit
each case, and should they learn that
Esteban Varona died lntestato they would
arrange somehow to seize all his property
and leave you without a roof over your
head. Fortunately, I can prevent that,
for I have a title that will stand In want
of a better one."
There was a momentary silence while
the unhappy woman struggled with her
self. Then:
"You took advantage of my Ignorance
of business to rob me," she declared.
"Well, I know something about the Gov
ernment officials: If they would make a
law to fit my case they will make one to
fit yours. When I tell them what you
have dona perhaps you will not fare so
well with them as you expect." She was
fighting now with the desperation of one
cornered.
1 ;Perhaps." Cueto shrugged, 'That Is
what I want to talk to you about, If only
you will be sensible. Now then, let us
be frank. Inasmuch as we're both In
much the same fix, hadn't we better con
tinue our present ' arrangements?" He
stared unbllnklngly at his listener. "Oh,
I mean ltl Is It not better for you to be
content with what my generosity prompts
me to give rather than to risk ruin
for both ot us by grasping for too much?"
"Merciful God! The outrage 1 war
rant you have grown rich through your
stealing." , Isabel's voice had gone flat
witl. consternation,
"Rich? Well, not exactly, but comfort'
abty'tvell off," Cueto actually smiled
again, "No. doubt my frankness Is a
shpek U you. You are angry a t my prop
osition, eh? Never mind. You will think
better of It In time, if you ore a sensible
1 FoasaH" t j -,,'i.
X.V- 7
Have you no sentl-
". $
"What a fiend!
mont?"
"Oh, senora! I am all sentiment. Don
Esteban was my benefactor. I revere his
memory, nnd I feel It my duty to see that
his family does not want. 'That Is why
I have provided for you and will continue
to provide In proper measure. But now,
since at last we enjoy such confidential
relations, let us havo no more of these
miserable suspicions of each other. Let
us entirely forget this unpleasant mis
understanding and be the same good
friends as before."
Thief Versus Thief.
Having said this, Pancho Cueto stood
silent a moment in polite expectancy;
then, receiving no intelligible reply, he
bowed low- and left tho room.
To the avaricious Dona Isabel Cueto'a
frank acknowledgment of theft was mad- .
denlng, and the realization that she was
helpless, nay, dependent Upon his char '
Ity for her living fairly crucified her -' ,
proud spirit.
All day she brooded and by the -tlfe
evening came she had worked herself into
such a state of nerves that sho could eat
no dinner. Locking herself into her
room, she paced tho floor, now wringing
her hands, now twisting In agony upon,
her bed now biting her wrists In aA en
deavor to clear her head and to devise
some means of outwitting this treacher
ous overseer. But mere thought ot the
law frightened thcr; the longer Bhe pon
dered her situation the more she real
ized her own Impotence. There was bo
doubt that the courts were corrupt; they
were, notoriously venal at best, and this
war had made them worse. Graft ws
rampant everywhere.
To confess publicly that Esteban Va
rona had left no deeds, no title to his
property, would Indeed be the sheerest
folly. No, Cueto had her at his mercy,
Isabel's Torture ' r
Some time during the course ot th$sfM
Aveninir a wild Idea came to Isakm1" 1
Knowing that the manager Would sptmt
the night beneath her roof, she plame4
to kill him. At first It seemed a eifnpW
thing to do merely a matter ot o At
ger or a pistol, while he slept but fur
ther thought revealed appalling risks and
difficulties, and she decided to wait.
Poison was far soior,
That nght she. lay awaVe a long ties
putting her scheme Into final shape, weA
then for an Interval that aeeroed onfM
sho hung pglsed in those penumbra!
regions midway between wakefulness s4
slumber. Through her rolnd mertWW
there passed' a whirling phintawaett,
an interminable procession joI ti&trm.
liemorles.Teal yet unreal, aMYVWW
unconvincing. When iM did at leflt
all awareness of reality the elfect m
merely o enhan.ee the -yivMneen U tbp
phantoms, to waa sunsittfice, io ner -t
ous YMttta
W'fr-fi
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