SYNOPSIS.
! cour.se, ms alleged
the writer, and !    1 know nothing «t the duel which
Frederick Hardy, a fashionable Boston
Pociety man, lost his wealth, was Jilted
by a girl and sent by a friend to take
charge of an American Trading Company
•tore in Russia. On his Journey through
Japan lie met Stapleton Neville, sup-
posedly an Englishman. They agreed to
go together to Russia. Recause of sus-
picious circumstances they were several
times molested by the Japanese. Hardy
was arrested and found upon his person j .
Were papers showing maps of Jap forts i V J•
Hardy was proven guiltless. On a train
he met Aiiome Sano, daughter of a Jap
merchant. In Neville’s shoes Jap found
pictures of forts, proving him to h‘* 11
Russian spy. Hardy departed for Rus-
sia on a steamer, which was wrecked
shortly afterward. He was rescued uy
a Russian steamer. On reaching \    ,
voslok he was well treated. He started
for Siberia, meeting Princess Romanovna
on the train. Hardy boarded a vessel for
Amur. llardy showed the princess Ills
expertness as a riIK* shot. The steamer
was stranded. The princess and m r
maid were attacked by Chinese. Haruy
paved their lives. The princess thanked
Hardy lor his heroism. Manchurians
-    -    tv alow their 1
the hot headed, childish and unwur- j your honor alluded to as having taken
islanders. j place." replied Wang. 'Plus boy showed
ran table demands of
Well,” he commented, “even this not the slightest sign of fear. His yel-
does not mean war. Russia will sim-
ply wait—she has always been wait-
low face was flushed, lie held his head
high and looked the judge d tiantly
ing, and the Japanese must strike the in the eyes.
Hrst blow if they want war
Wait and see,” was Wang’s only j the latter
| the court
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
You know rothing of it?” roared
Ho not attempt to deceive
We know more than you
think Hid not this Hardy tell you
that he had fought a duel with his
highness?”
"He told me also that ho 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 4tell you
way station, facing the desolate, snow
covered plains. In the distance was a
miserable    peasant    village,    with
thatched roofs. The truin luxus, the
police, all the pa sengers, the mortal
remains of the murdered prince, were
gone. The hoy asked a stolid faced
stutlonmnster what had become of his
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
“Well, her highness consents to see
you, after all. Remember your man
tiers, 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
hack, and her lovely brows knit In
thought, the while she dictated let-
ters to her secretary The boy s keen
out, so Hardy rang for a bellboy and j that such a duel had been fought?’
asked him what was the matter.
"Matter!” cried the boy; "tin* .Tap-1
_ for Ids heroism.
chief. “Hurnlng urrows »\“re hutVu upon j anese have captured Port Arthur
Chris-
whole
the Pushkin’s decks. An attempt was They have murdered 100,000
made to board the vessel. The attacking |    '    .    ..
Chinese were repulsed. Romanoff sneer.-t | tians. 1 hej have sunk the
at Hardy's solicitude for the princess. Russian fleet, treacherously, falsely, in
SXd%o\Trcfsesnrnr*he,;hor°er To« | the night. The czar will send a great
end to the awful torture llardy himself j army all(j kill every cursed Japanese
put Stanka out of his misery, taking his    ti i nm eoin„ tvan Nekros-
own life in Ids hands. Forest tires men- ; on earth. 1 am going mui .>esn .
seed the vessel, llardy volunteered to sov js going—we are all going. Curse' aiice with the request ot the princess
go for help. Refused permission be j
"He did
“Ah! he did! That he was seriously
wounded in that duel its a result of Ills
highness' superior coolness and mark-
ntanship, we know. We also are ac-
quainted with the causes of said duel;
that his highness was obliged to chas-
tise this llardy for presumption and
insolence; and that it was in accord-
swim j the Japanese!”
"My God!” exclaimed Hardy as the
excited boy left, slamming the door,
jumped overboard and started to
with the princess’ distress message. Ro-
manoff was an^ry at Hardy for his htuve
efforts to rescue the princess. He wooed
tier in Ms own savage way. He    ; “they are at it in earnest, and the
* - * - Ian-
Hardy had made love openly 1° !l. JaP-
anese girl. Help came and the princess
was rescued. Hardy Journeyed on a raft.
chrar!;ie^/\Stehtradtg^\ny’eH bus'- S navy has been destroy, d it means a
Japanese have struck hard. This
means war, indeed. If the Russian
his cousin, that his highness shot him.
All this we know. You must tell us
what threats of vengeance the
wound* d man breathed out against
the prince."
"None at all, your honor—absolutely
none at all,” replied Wang, turning
had not oaten since noon, he did not g|anL-e detected that she was pale. As
feel hungry. Toward midnight a man }lt, entered and stood by the door, si-
entered the ticket office, opened the |.-ntly waiting, she turned to him eag
window and lighted a lamp. Wang (>rly and said
stepped up to the window.
"Do you expect a train?" he asked
"Yes, tu half an hour.”
“Going which wuy?”
“To Moscow."
“How muuh is the fare?"
The agent told him, and the boy
found that he had enough money with
him to pay for a thiid-e\;..~s ticket and
leave a few roubles over, sufficient to
buy food, lie procured a ticket, and
when the train thundered up to
the station he boarded it and soon
was speeding hack to the Muscovite
capital. Arriving there after two days
"Well! Wluit is this communica-
tion that you have to make to me?
Do you bring me a letter?"
"1 must see you alone,” replied
Wang. There was something In his
manner and expression that could not
be denied. The princess turned to I '’ope and
ward her secretary, saying;
"You may leave the room until I an, who
tended for the car containing Roman-
off and some of the nobles. I over-
beard the words, ’This Jew must die!’
and 1 knew that if a noble like Ro-
manoff had determined on the death
of a man without powerful friends he
would accomplish his end. 1 could
not expose them, for how could the
word of a hoy like me, a despised
Korean, stand against that of the
I’rince Romanoff. So, to save the life
of my master, I killed Romanoff. 1
crept into his compartment *at night
when lie was sleeping in a drunken
stupor and thrust n stiletto into his
heart. lie sighed—a long sigh—
shuddered, and kept on sleeping.”
"Who are you?" asked the princess,
"you who, for love, have done this
dreadful deed of hate?"
"I am Alsome Mosuro, known in my
own country as Alsome, the Fox. I am
supposed to be cunning, brave, heart-
less and patriotic to the last drop of
blood In no body. I am In the secret
service of my country, and have been
one of Its nmst trusted agents. I
speak many of the languages of Ku-
all the dialects of China.
And yet 1 am a woman—Just a worn-
at the chrlsmal touch of a
man's lips, find my whole nature
Hardy received a letter from a so- j long war. Wailg Will be wild.
1    *-■    -¥»    ,    .....I Iin.ifluil- tl'IlIH '    -    . •
rial leader in Boston and another trnin
Aisome. Hardy took lessons in Russian
of a J* 'v, tints connecting himself in a
way with that rare. Hardy received a
letter from the princess, thanking him
for his bravery. Hardy’s leat her was in
dang< r of death. 1 i*• employed Wang
a servant, liardv went to Moscow, whet*
he wa-» invited to call upon the princess.
He started for the palace home of l’r.n-
cess Romanovna. Hardy aroused unac-
countable jealousy of bis Korean boy by
announcing that he was going to call on
th«‘ prim ■ - He engaged a
drnve him to a Inrv house on a po.irlV
lighted s, 1 •• t. After entering the hum . ,
liardv *lis. overccl that it was a resort ol
nihilists who sid'pus* d lie was Felix II ■:
lin. oolite to tell them of II poviiul ex-
plosive lie had di.-eovered. 'the lv.t: I, ;h.i
arrived and dertouneed I tartly as an im-
postor. The nihilists determined to
Hardy in order to proteet 1 Items. 1\<
Finding an unloaded revolver in His o'.. r-
cont pocket, lie pointed it at Hnhn s
bomb, which lay on the table, and swore
to blow them all up together it to*
At this moment the Korean entered,
but, to Hardy's surprise, he was not j
carried away by excitement. There ;
was a hectic spot on each yellow
I cheek, and his eyes were burning, but !
he was self-contained.
"Well, Wang,” said Hardy, “you
were right, after oil, and the Japanese
have attacked. I have heard some-
very wild rumors. Have you learned
anything definite?"
"Yes,” replied Wang; “what seem to
i be ndiable reports have arrived. The
i mikado's fleet last, night attacked the
Russian ships at Port Arthur and sank
the Czarevitch and the Itetvizan, two
of the heaviest battle-ships in the
czar's navy, and the Pallada, a cruiser.
touched him. Holding flic nihilists at The Russians are very indignant,
bay, Hardy started to leave tin* room
when the police were heal'd at the outer
door. 11 tilin threw his bomb, killing sev-
eral policemen, the nihilists lied and H.i-
rnch the Jew. suddenly appeared and 1
Hardv to the cellar, launch conduct* •:
JHardy through an underground passage
to another house, from which he boldly
emerged find returned to libs hotel, llardy
visited the princss, contributed to the
fund for tlie relief of the victims of the
nihilists. He gave more than Roman i t
had. The latter, entering the room,
openly insulted him. Rotnanolf struck
Hardy, who challenged him to a duel.
The Russian accepted. Preparations
for the dud were made. The princess
asked Hardy to spare Romanoffs lit
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
many disastrous blows were, struck at (
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
In the hospital. He sent his servant to
the duel scene for a cuff button ot Ro-
manolf’s. which he purposely shot <>ir,
rather than violate the princess wwh.
This he sent to her.
____ _    ____ accommodations for himself, and the.
Hardy purposely missed Romanoff, but ; ♦ wo (|i»0vc to the great terminal sta-
was himself wounded. Hardy was placed j    commodlouB building they
found crowded with officers of every
rank, military officials and Red Cross
nurses hastening to Vladivostok and j
the front.
Among these, Hardy noticed the gal- i
hint, towering form of Boris Romanoff, ■
attired in officer's cap and cloak. The j
prince was surrounded by a group ol
officers, with whom he was talking.
He noticed Hardy and gave him a look
of hate. The American turned his I
eyes quickly away and busied himself
CHAPTER XXXVIII,
Murder and Mystery.
Hardy was able to leave the hospital
on February the first and return to his
quarters at the hotel, where he was
much more comfortable, for the hos-
pitals of Moscow are inferior to those
of other European cities of equal size. , with identifying his baggage and get-
He was pale and weak, but his appe- tJng jt aboard
tite was good and he was gaining ! Qn the morning of the ,hird day out
strength rapidly. Though lie had come , from jjorcow the prince was found
off second-best in the duel, to all ap-1 rnurdered ju hjs compartment. He
pearances, yet his countenance had
taken on a look not in any way char-
acteristic of the man who has been
beaten or cowed by punishment. There
was something new in his eyes, and
there was an expression about his
mouth that suggested rather the man
•who has fought a mental fight 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 In (,()bsacks Here it wa8 kept for three
Moscow and get back to Stryetensk
i 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 excitement on the train
luxus which was stopped at the next
station and surrounded by a band of
ring for you, Olga."    ,    ,    ..
"Hilt Stti. lv," protested Olga, "your ‘’hanged, and am ready to give up all
highness does not wish to he left for him, friends, country, Individuality,
alone with this stranger? Let me j yes, oven life Itself, happy only If I
stay 1 big of you, to protect you!"    can In* near hint, can serve him, cat*
Romanovna smiled.    hear Ills voice! I-wben I think of It
-I fear you would he of small pro all. 1 nm ashamed of myself, sobbed
i the girl, pressing a handkerchief to
her eyes, “but I cannot help It. 1 ant
evt n now asking you to save me, if
you can, for his sake. I can never
j see him again. He will know now
that. I am not Wang, the Korean tiov,
and, besides, my hands are stained
with blood. But ho would be dis-
tracted If he knew that I were In the1
hands of the Hit.-: iau authorities; ho
! would he unhappy till his life if they
were to kill me. For ho loved Wang,
though he lias forgotten poor Aisome.
lection In cm e of danger. Besides,
glancing at the hoy’s slight form, "this
young man does not look like a dan
gerous person. Go, I insist!"
The girl gitlhot i d up her papers and
left, the room tit on* ■**.
“Do you know where my master
Is?" demanded Wang In p. rfect Rus
slan.
"Your master?"
“Yes, or my emplo: er, If you will,
(hough I love to >• 11 him my master. ;
I mean the American, Frederick Court-
land llardy."
"Oh! Bo you are tin* Korean boy
of whom 1 have heard Ills secretary? !
No, my poor hoy, I do not know where j
he is, further than that lie is in prison
in St. Petersburg charged with a ter- j
rlble crime, on presumptive evidence
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. tear me?”
"1 neither fear nor despise you," re-
plied the princess, sorrowfully,
"though 1 shrink with horror from
so strong that his conviction is almost | your dreadful deed. You are a worn.
tin and a sister, and I will save you*
if 1 can, for I believe you. Alas! I
knew too well my cousin's revengful
and violent nature. Listen! 1 shdf?
certain. Was he a kind master to
you?" asked the princess. "Do you
love him very mu. It? Why, what Is
th** matter?"
Wnng turned an ashen color, reeled I see the czar and use nty woman's wits
as if wounded and caught at the knob) to clear Mr. llardy without giving the
of a door.
“No—nothing,” he gasped, “just a
little faintness—tin* heat of the room,
perhaps. I am all right now. Mr
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
Hardy is the kindest man tlint-1 have here in my house till I return from St.
the bravest and
that walks
Petersburg, and tlu n go with me to
th**; the sea coast, whence 1 will send you
I across to Japan. I believe that Mr.
llardy would wish this, and there is
nothing I would not. do for his sake,
within honor. But if 1 find that It Is
necessary, In order to save his life—”
“—to tell my name? Then tell It,
and 1 shall be here to say that you
speak the truth!”
ever known and
truest, gentleman
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 ltave 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 j reived by his imperial majesty in
you! Does not your heart tell you small room of the Winter palace,
warehouses and* the great^aterVglv j tectiveB coul(1 be h''.rried t0 the scene I speak the truth. Repeat those threats j es of virgin white, ho found himself
from Moscow. Numerous aI rests to llSi an,l be careful that you conceal again in the great station and hastened
days until a squad of police and de-
Prince
pale, as he saw the drift of the ques-1
lions.
"None at all! But this Is Incredible.
We shall find means of making you
Officers.
and three nights of agonizing sus-
pense, during which the ponderous
train seemed to him to crawl like a
giant caterpillar over tit*■ vast stretch-
way that led eastward to Ute Pacific 1    ' and    the passen- to “
ocean, to that frontier of the vast j ^^“^Vestioned separatelj*    1 noth,ne
I Wang was one of these examined.
ocean,
Russian empire that lies close to Ko-
rea and scowls across the Japan sea
at Nippon and Its hive of angry, buz-
zing bees. In the preparations for de-
parture the Korean boy displayed a
competency and assiduity that were a
revelation even to Hardy. He super
Intended the shipment to Stryetensk
of large orders of goods, he made val-
uable suggestions, he worked till all
hours of the night, relieving his prin-
cipal of the labor of correspondence
and bookkeeping. In addition, he was
a cheerful and even amusing com-
panion, whose brain was fertile In del-
icate little attentions that made
Hardy's enforced detention In the ho-
tel less irksome.
Meantime, letters from Emery and
other advices were Insistent to the
effect that war was Inevitable.
On the morning of the 7th Wang
came Into the office and laid a paper
down before Hardy, pointing, without
a word, to a double-leaded article with
“scare" head lines.
JAPAN ENRAGED
HER MINISTER LEAVES PETERS-
BURG.
The mikado, In a fit of rage, withdraws
Count Kurtno from the Russian capital—
Peppery yellow people unable to conduct
civilized diplomatic negotiations — TI
czar's calm and dlgnifled- courae
immediately to the Sktviansky Bazar
The clerk recognized him, and from
tin* clerk Wang learned that his em-
ployer had been taken to St. Peters-
______________ _____ burg and there lodged in prison,
where sat a shrewd old man at a pine | Tkjs ke di(j out of r(1gard for the prln-! charged with the murder of Boris Ro-
"lle not only uttered no such
threats,” said Wang, "but he even
Hti was taken into a small, bare room j spared the worthless life of the prince,
on the second (loor of the station, j when he might have shot him dead
table. He was flanked by two younger
officers, while a stenographer, stylo-
graphic pen in hand, bent over a
writing pad.
"Your name is Wang?" said the of-
ficer.
“It Is.”
"Wang what?"
"Just Wang."
“What is your nationality?”
“I am a Korean.”
“You are in the employ of the al-
leged American, Frederick Courtland
Hardy?”
“I am In the employ of the Ameri-
can, Frederick Courtland Hardy.”
“Be careful, sir, do not be Insolent.
Do not attempt to amend the expres-
sions of the court. Make a note there
—‘witness very Intelligent and inclined
to be Insolent’—Got it down? Very
well. How do you know that he Is an
American?”
“Because he says he Is.”
“Oh, ah! very well.. Tell:us what
you kpow of the duel which was
fought on January 8 between this al-
leged AniuKah,. Hardy, and his high-
Hardy glanced through the article, | ness, the Prince Boris Romanoff. Speak
which set forth at length the Russian j the truth, or It will be Hie worse for
govern iu^
,cut's reasonable and ighteoua you!
cess, as he is a very knightly and per-
fect gentleman. He shot off Roman-
off's cuff button, which he sent to her
as proof of his wonderful skill, and
of how he employed it on that oc-
casion.”
"A pretty story, this!” laughed the
judge. “Do you not think so, gentle-
men ?”
Both gentlemen thought exactly as
did their chief.
“1 myself,” insisted Wang, “went to
the place of meeting, at Mr. Hardy’s
request, and picked up the cuff button,
which 1 gave Into the hand of the prin-
cess, who will, 1 have no doubt, cor-
roborate nty statement.”
The judge looked sharply at Wang
for several moments, and the boy re-
turned the stnre defiantly.
"Lock the witness up again," he
commanded, and the order was obeyed.
Wang was kept in close confinement
for four days, at the end of which
time he' was released, and informed
that nothiug further was required ot
hltn by the police, who doubtless re
garded bint as au unsatisfactory wit
ness. He found himself standing
alone on the platform of a small rail
rnanoff.
'The proof against him is clear,"
vouchsafed the self-important and
voluble clerk, "and I am sorry for him,
though he deserves all he will get.
You will never see him or hear from
hint again. He is, no doubt, at tills mo-
ment rotting away in a foul, damp
dungeon beneath the river Neva, feed-
ing on moldy bread and stinking wa-
ter, and little of that. Prisoners that
run foul of the nobility in Russia
have a way of disappearing, and God
knows what they suffer! But 1 feel
sorry for him, 1 say, for lie was a
courteous gentleman, and liberal with
his tips.”
It was now about ten o'clock in the
morning, and Wang went straight to
the palace of the Princess Romanovna.
The pompous butler Informed hint
that it would be impossible to see her
highness, but vouchsafed to take a
note to the princess, which Wang
wrote in French, much to the butler's
disgust. The door was shut in Wang's
face, but he was not left standing in
the cold for more than 20 minutes. At
tite end of that time the butler threw
wide the door and announced:
that he is innocent?”
It was now the Romanovna’s turn
to grow pale anil stagger, as though
she had been struck a physical blow.
“How dare you?" she cried; "you
insolent boy! Did he tell you that 1
loved him? But no! He is a gentle-
man, He could not do such a thing.
But something, though it cannot be
iny heart, tells me that he is inno-
cent."
"Then something tells you right,”
said Wang, quietly, "for lie did not
kill your worthless cousin. I
hint!"
"You—you killed him!” Her ex
CHAPTER XLI.
Imperial Favor.
Tite Princess Romanovna was re-
ft
a
room which, equipped with graceful
and dainty furniture of the sixteenth
century, was a cheerful symphony In
a delicate shade of blue. The fact
that she was a favorite at court, to-
gether with Iter high connections and
her noble descent, through which she
even claimed distant relationship with
the imperial family Itself, rendered It
comparatively easy for her to obtain
a private and informal interview.
Ills majesty was standing when Ro-
manovna entered, looking out of the
kill**] window on the semi-circle where
stands the huge monolith in honor of
Alexander I. He turned, as her name
pression, as she said these words, dc*- [ was announced and smiled. She no-
noted perplexity, quickly followed by i tired that In* was pale and careworn,
pity. "You poor hoy!” she cried, ! and that his expression, even as he
“your sufferings have affected your j smiled, was very sad. Her heart
mind. Those little hands have never | went out to him in mingled affection
committed murder—and such
rible murder!”
ter- 1 and reverence. She bowed low with
! exquisite grace as his eyes fell on her.
“Listen,” said Wang, "and you will | then advanced to where he stood, and,
understand and believe. The Prince | kneeling, kissed his hand. He assist-
Romanoff hated nty master from the j *>(i her to arise, and, still holding her
beginning of his acquaintance witli ■ hand, led her to a sofa,
him, because he could not make him j “Sit, my daughter,” he said, “and
his tool. In Japan, where the prince i speak freely. There is none of our
came as n spy, he attempted to throw subjects to whom we will give a more
suspicion on Mr. Hardy, but did not indulgent ear than to you,"—and he
succeed In getting hi tit into any seri- dropped wearily on the divan. "Sit,"
ous trouble. His hatred was increased ] he repeated, as she remained respect-
on the Amur because it was my mas-
ter who saved your life, and not he.
The affair of the duel, in which the
American figured as the real hero by
sparing ills life at your request,
changed his animosity iuto a resent-
ment which Mr. Hardy's death alone
could have satisfied.
"1 overheard the prince talking in
the station at Moscow with two of his
associates. He mentioned the name
fully standing, "it is our command."
She sat down on the divan, at some
distance from him, and turned her
eyes on hint, waiting for him to speak,
"You have our permission to pro-
ceed," he said,
“I come, sire,” she began, “to speak
to you of my cousin’s, Boris Roman-
off's, death and to tell you something
of the man who is accused of his mur-
der—the American, Fr* derick Court-
of llardy with murderous hate, and I < land llardy.'
shadowed them for two days. 1 j "You have o'*r deepest sympathy In*
learned that the prince was planning | thiR matter, my daughter,” said hl»
to kill my master. They were going i'majesty "I understand from the niln-
to have the coach In which lie was igt*.r of Justice that you loved your
traveling blown up with dynamite amt cousin—that you were engaged tar
the rumor, spread that a mistake had. him." •    ,    •    .
been fhuily, as bus happened bcfort>,, pbe princess remained silent,
and that ,the .explosion hud been In-1    m> ue CONCLUDEDJ
f:
• *