7r VI I'M! INTERNATIONAL FALLS PRESS Spy The Czar's W?VWVVTV VVVVVyTTTtTi'VVVVVvnr] Russian, dominions. Even that docu* Smirnoff has already been relieved of ment did not account for the length bis post as governor of Kajana, and he had gone to secure the release of many of the guards are under arrest tor complicity in the plot to allow the the woman I now loved in secret. tfoman to escape." I could not bring myself to leave whe "Ah, yes. I see from the dispatches The Mystery of a Silent Love Finland, and allow Elma to fall intc hat a reward is offered for her rerapture." .the clutches of that high official ARTER'S By Chevalier William Le Queux so persistently sought her No. "The governor general is deternined I would go to him and faee hi®. I ONVENIENCES that she shall not escape," renarked was anxious to see what manner of Author of "THE CLOSED BOOK" Etc. the other. man was "The Strangler ot Finland.*' "She is probably hidden in the forst, That same evening I left and ILLUSTRATIONS by C. D. RHODES somewhere or other." traveled by rail to Helsingfors. HOME, For the "Of course. They are making a thorough At noon 1 descended from a drosky Copyright by the Smart Set Publishing Co. search over every verst of it. before a long, gray, massiyg binding, SCHOOL, she is there, she will most certainly over the big doorway ol whtcis was found." large escutcheon bearing the Russia® or OFFICE. "And you are the drosky driver We heard a low growl like a muttered "No doubt," remarked Boranski* arms emblazoned in gold, .an4 ett :rom Abo," remarked the fellow, turnng imprecation within, and when 4 tering where a sentry stoeil on eif.hej to Felix. "Exactly as I thought. leaning back in his padded chair ana the door opened there stood upon Bide, a colossal concierge in a: iivery looking at me meaningly across the littered 5Tou are the pair who bribed the nun the threshold a tall, bearded, muscular ongnr. ana goiu came Torwara uk Dixie at Kajana, and succeeded in releasing table. "And now I wish to speak meet me. old fellow in a dirty red shirt, with to this Englishman privately, so please the Englishwoman. In the name of a big revolver shining in his hand. Following his directions, I crossed leave us. Also inform the other two the czar, I arrest you!" a great, bare courtyard, and, sscend* prisoners that they are at liberty." The old wood cutter turned pale lag a wide stone staircase, was cott» "But your excellency does this upon as death. We certainly were in grave fronted by a servant, who took my his own responsibility," he said anxiously. peril, for I foresaw the danger of falling card to Colonel Luganski, who fte iB* "Remember that I brought into the hands of Baron Oberg, the formed me was the baron's prirat# them to you under arrest." Strangler of Finland. Yet we had a secretary. "And I release them entirely at my satisfaction in knowing that, be the After ten minutes or so the tBAU own discretion," he said. "As chief mystery what it might, Elma had returned, saying: of police of this province, I am permitted escaped. Spreader Tube "The colonel will see you if yoa win to use my jurisdiction, and I "And on what charge, pray, do you conducted please step this way," and Photolibrary Paste exercise it in this matter. You are presume to arrest me?" I inquired as me into the richly furnished private at liberty to report that at Helsingfors, coolly as I could. apartments of the palace,, across a if you so desire, but I should suggest "For aiding a prisoner to escape." great hall filled with fine paintings, that you say nothing unless absolutely "Then I wish to say, first, that you and then up a long, thickly carpeted obliged—you understand?" have no power to arrest me and, secondly, Carter's passage to a small, elegant room, The manner in which Boranski that if you wish me to give where a tall, baldheaded man in military Regulation spoke apparently decided my captor, you satisfaction, I am perfectly willing uniform stood awaiting me. for after a moment's hesitation he Bottle to do so, providing you first accompany "Your name is M'sieur Gregg," he said, saluting: me down to Abo." exclaimed in very good French, "and Mucilage "If that is really your wish, then "It is outside district," growled my I understand you desire audience of I will obey." And he left. the fellow, but I saw that his hesitancy his excellency, the governor general. "Excellency!" exclaimed the chief was due to his uncertainty as to who I regret, however, that he never gives BOStPV of police, rising quickly and walking really might be. ME*t3FK audience to strangers." towards me as soon as the door was "I desire you to takeN me to the "The matter upon which I desire to closed and we were alone, "you have Chief of Police Boranski, who will see his excellency is of a purely private had a very narrow escape—very. I make all the explanation necessary. and confidential nature/"' said, did my best to assist you. I succeeded Until we have an interview with him, for, used as I was to the ways of foreign in bribing the water guards at Kajana I refuse to give any information concerning officialdom, I spoke with f-fe# same in order that you might secure the myself," I said. firm courtesy as himself. lady's release. But it seems that just "But you have a passport?" "If I write the nature of my bush at the very moment when you were I drew it from my pocket, saying ness and inclose it in an enyf-i^pe, will about to get away one of the guards "It proves, I think that my name is Photolibrary you then take it to him?" m^gested. turned informer and roused the governor what I have told you." He hesitated for a short I'imt, twist' of the castle, with the result Paste in The fellow, standing astride, read it, ing his mustache, and t.he& replied that you all three nearly lost your and handed it back to me. Bottles with great reiuctanc-e: lives. The whole matter has been reported "Where is the woman?" he demanded. "Well, if you are so determined, you to me officially, and," he added "Tell me." may write your business ypnj} your with a grim smile, "my men are now "I don't know," was the reply. card." searching everywhere for you." "Perhaps you will tell me," he said, I therefore took out one, on tha "But why is Baron Oberg so extremely A Tall, Bearded, Muscular Old Fellow, turning to the old wood cutter with a back in French: anxious to recapture Miss With a Big Revolver. sinister expression upon his face. "Remember, "To give information regar$».g: Miss Heath?" I asked earnestly. these fugitives are found Elma Heath." "I have no idea," was his reply. A quick glance at us satisfied him that your house, and you are liable to Ringing a bell, he handed to the "The secret orders from Helsingfors tit we were not thieves, and he invited ue arrest." footman who appeared.. The fespottsf to me are to arrest her at all hazards—alive in while Felix explained that we had "I don't know—indeed I don't!" protested came in a few minutes,. or dead." landed from the lake, and our boat the old fellow, trembling Deneath "His excellency will give gmSieiice "Which means that the baron would having drifted away we had been compelled the officer's threat. Like all to the English m'sieu." hot regret if she were dead," I remarked, to take to the woods. The man h's class, he feared the police, and in response to which he nodded The apartment of the governor general heard the Finn's picturesque story, htld them in dread. in the affirmative. was splendidly decor# te?, and is and then said something to me which umw "Ah, you don't remember, I suppose!" I told him of, the faithful services the center of the parqyet 0&or, with Felix translated into Russian. he smiled. "Well, perhaps of Felix, the Finlander, whereupon he his back to the light, was Sto# thin, "Your excellency is welcome to all ycur memory will be refreshed by a said simply: "I told you that you wiry figure of an elderly «sajj fu the poor fare he has. He gives up Carter's nrtnth or two in prison. You are also might trust him implicitly." funereal frock coat, in the Sapel of his bed in the room yonder to the arrested." Photolibrary Paste for the Office "But now that you have shown yourself which showed the red and yellow rtfr lady, so that she may rest. He is "But, your excellency, I—" bon of the Order of St. Anne. HI* my friend," I said, "you will assist honored by your excellency's presence." "Enough!" blared the bristly officer. hands were behind his baclk fef Miss Heath to escape this man, "You have given shelter to conspirators. who desires to hold her prisoner in stood purposely in such a poe&fes that And while he was making this explanation You know the penalty in Finla when I entered I could not at firs* that awful place? They are driving her the wood cutter stirred the Ud for that, surely?" mad." red embers whereon a big pot was "But these gentlemen are surely not "I will do my best," he answered, simmering, and sending forth an appetizing conspirators!" the poor old man protested. but shaking his head dubiously. "But odor, and in five minutes we you must recollect that Baron Oberg "His excellency is English, were all three sitting down to a stew ud the English do not plot." is governor general of Finland, with of capercailzie, with a foaming light all the powers of the czar himself." "We shall see afterwards," he beer as a fitting beverage. la'ighed. "And if Elma Heath again falls into After we had finished our meal 1 his unscrupulous hands, she will die," A dozen times ^as the old wood cutte? asked the sturdy old fellow for a pencil, I declared. questioned, but he stubbornly refused but the nearest thing he possessed "Ah!" he sighed, looking me to admit that he had ever set was a stick of thick charcoal, and with straight in the face, "I swear that what eyes upon Elma. I knew, of course, that it was s«rely difficult to communicate you say is only too true. She evidently by what we had overheard said by the with our fair companion. Therefore holds some secret which he prison guards, that the governor general she rose, gave me her hand, Carter's fears she will reveal. He wishes to was extremely anxious to recapture bowed smilingly, and then passed into rearrest her in order—well—" he Handy Glue Pencil the girl with whom, I frankly adm't, the inner room and closed the door, added in a low tone, "in order to close I had now so utterly fallen in while we threw ourselves wearily upon her lips. It would not be the first love. And it appeared that no effort the wooden benches and slept soundly. Press time that persons have been silenced wsvs being spared to search for us. But Suddenly, however, at early dawn, in secret at Kajana. Many fatal accidents wl«at could be the truth of Elma's disappearance? we were startled by a loud banging at take place in that fortress, you Had she fled of her own the door, the clattering of hoofs, and know." accord, or had she once more fallen a authoritative shouts in Russian. The Stationery Store I victim to some ingenious and das1 old wood cutter sprang up, and, looking CHAPTER XIII. tafdly plot. That gray dress of hers through a chink in the heavy shutters, might, I recollected, betray her if she turned to us with blanched face, "The Strangler." dared to venture near any town, while whispering breathlessly: her affliction would, of itself, be plain Where was Elma? What was the "The police! What can they want cause of her inexplicable disappearance ev-dence of identification. All I hoped of me?" was that she had gone and hidden into the gloomy forest while we "Open!" shouted the horseman outside. herself in the forest somewhere in the had slept? "Open in the name of his majesty!" I returned to the hotel where I had vicinity to wait until the danger of -erapture had passed. stayed on my arrival, a comfortable Felix made a dash for the door ol place called the Phoenix, and lunched For as long as possible I succeeded the inner room, where Elma had retired, there alone. Both Felix, the Finn, in delaying our departure, but at but next second he reappeared, and my host, the wood cutter, had received lergth, just as the yellow sun began gasping in Russian: DONT ORDER YOUR AUTO Until you have seen the their douceurs and left, but to to struggle through the gray clouds, "Excellency! Why, the door is open! the last-named I had given instructions the lady has gone!" we were all three compelled to depart to return home at once and report tn sorrowful procession. "Gone!" I cried, dismayed, rushing METZ" 25 by telegraph any news of my lost At nine o'clock I stood in the big, into the little room, where I found the one. He Turned Slightly. I Then Saw Krg truckle couch empty and the door leading ba 'e office of Michael Boranski, where A thousand conflicting thoughts Bony Face. outside wide open. She had actually orwity a short time before we had had arose within me as I sat in that crowded disappeared! such a heated argument. As soon as see his face against the strong, graj salle a manger filled with a gobbling The police again battered at the opposite thft chief of police had entered, he light behind. crowd of the commercial men of door, threatening loudly to recognized me under arrest, and dismissed FULLY EQUIPPED WITH (To be continued next week.) Abo. I had, I recognized, now to deal my guards with a wave of the break it in if it were not opened at with the most powerful man in that once, whereupon the old wood cutter tia id—all save the officer who had GRAY & DAVIS ELECTRIC country, and I suffered a distinct disadvantage drew the bolt and admitted them. Two brt ught me there. He listened to the by being in ignorance of bit# big, hulking fellows in heavy riding officer's story of my arrest without Lapland Reaches Liverpool. LIGHT AND STARTER- the reason he held that sweet English mating a word. coats and swords strode in, while two New York, Aug. 23.—The W girl a prisoner. The tragedy of the others remained mounted outside, holding The prisoner, your excellency, deBlr^d Star line has announced that fftfsteamer FULL STREAMLINE BODY dastardly manner in which she had the horses. to be brought here to you before Lapland arrived at Liverpoo& been willfully maimed caused my "Your names?" demanded one of the being taken to Helsingfors. He at 9 a. m. This announcement dbki 32 BY ZV2 TIRES, FOR ONLY blood to boil within me. I had nevei sai'l you would be aware of the facts." fellows, glancing at us as we stood pelled fears in shipping circles $600. believed that in this civilized twentieth together in expectation. And so I am," remarked Boranski, the steamship had met with century such things could be. Our host told them his name, and witli a smile. "There is no conspiracy. while passing through the war zos& Why she had disappeared without asked why they wished to enter. Yo'i must at once release this gentlemaTi warning I was at loss to imagine, yet "We are searching for a woman and the other two prisoners." Wires to Mexico City Opea, I could ondy surmise that her flight who has escaped from Kajana," was Laredo, Tex., Aug. 23.—"] "»3ut, excellency, the governor genera* had been compulsory. Another very the reply. "Have you seen any woman and railway communication by as International Machine Co. has issued orders for the prisoner'? curious feature in the affair was the here?" direct route has been opened from arrest and deportation to Helsingfors," sudden manner in which Michael Boranski "No," responded the wood cutter. to acco-rd£s£ border here Mexico City, had exacted his power and influence of "We never see any woman out in to statements Carranza officials fas "That may be. But I am chief of in order to render me that these woods." poltce in Abo. and I release him." Nuevo Laredo. The route is via Taffi*-' service. "Who is your chief?" I inquired, as pico and San Luis Potosi, the diree£ The officer looked at me in such There was, I felt convinced, some a sudden thought occurred to me. lines to Mexico City being under control blank astonishment that I could not hidden motive in all that sudden and "Melnikoff, at Helsingfors." Subscribe For The Press of Villa authorities at SaU5I2& resfst smiling. marked friendliness. That he really "Then this is not in the district of The fall of that city, however, is "I am well aware of the reason of hated the English I had seen plainly A.bo?" pected hourly. Should Saltillo full tlii& Englishman's visit to the North," when we had first met, and I had only "No. But what difference does it to the hands of Carranza forces, £& lidded Boranski. "More need not be compelled him to serve me by presenting nake? Who are you?" is said, direct communication will }ai*. Has the lady been arrested?" the order signed bv the emperor, jr®-established promptly. "Gordon Gregg, British subject," I "No, your excellency. Every effort replied. which made me his guest within the (!s being made to..find hen Colonel s&:. DEFECTIVE PAGE