THE "EAGLES"

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 192, 20 September 1909, Page 3

THE "EAGLES"

A SENSATIONAL STORY OF LOVE AND ADVENTURE.

By V.\rj. t-t;..,7 ;; \ ;;t.

r.-w.T r T went ot'i t». I'.'k for Flora, and, meeting her ui t f ie passage, drew her info a sitting-room. "I am sorry. Flora," I stammered, limply. "IH> not apologize for anything, please. Mr. Goscoigne. and do not attempt to M|»!ain anything. I am glad the night ha.s passed without serious disaster. My father would have l*een wry much upset ha«l any misfortune come to ft guest under his roof." "Your father. Flora" "Frnuleln von Ornhnun, plea.se, Mr. Clascoigne.**

"Your father." I went on. bowing stiffly nt the interruption, "is in St. Petersburg, doubtless. |,y this time. Mny 1 nsk when you follow him ?" • An soon as I have made nil orr.intr> i>« nt.t here and left the house in

-.viv keeping." "Hut tan you not send for the upward, or your lather's bailiff, or pom" functionary on the estate corresponding to those officers, and foni<> at once with me' After what has happened InM night t do not like leaving you here." "Have no l«-ar. Th-re will l>e willing defenders enough to protect the home from all hnnn ere long. Moreover. I do not think, from what you have told me we ore likely to Ik* attacked! again after"—— "After we have gone. So : I am quite convinced of that, or under no circumstances whatever would 1 consent to go. Itut in spite of that won't you come with me ?" "Ami with Countess fllaveski ? Xo f " This was terse, prompt, ami decisive. There was nothing left for me but to walk out of the room, and get my hivnkfo-t. A* we drove away to the station I turned and saw Floio standing on the steps of the rnMl-. I waved my hand to her. She howr-d stiffly and I ronfirsti.d lo look nt her fair, girlish form—a beautiful picture in the brfght. nutunin sunshine as sh- stood there with h*-r faithful retainers round her. "Quite a iir-nieMie Paradise." said the countess, unli a harsh laugh. I leaned ha*« in the carriage without a word, and in sib-nee we drove through the forest to the railway slot »,>n. Our enemies had dispersed to the four winds of nVRV.-n with the rising run. There was no trace of them on the railway, and with a sigh of relief I put ilonn a l»»ok I wis endeavouring to read ns we steamed into the Mnfien at ll*>rlin. "And I ran thoroughly tru-d your friends i.i this citv .* " I asked the c»»unt»'ss. "IVri rtly. Owe tin re 1 rdinll !»• t*afe till morning." "Po not s«ir in the morning- until I come to fetch you and Is- r» any to start fop St. IVi.r.burg «• once." At the Eiiiba*e»y I found my superiors had nfl left to dress for a social function nt which th«- Kaiser was to app-nr. and I was ord. red to follow tf.em there.

The stiff Court dress ««.'< torture sf'.iff to my «*liii«ET skin and hones. ii.tt I went to my hotel and juvpnrcd for the reception. The ivnp,<ror erect antl illjiniftetl. t;-.»v.-d ttirh an air of dignity among i , nut tiers and guests. How I lonsf.-d to nhisfvr in his ear a fragjnnt of what 1 hat! heard in the early ntoir.ing f It Would hove lieen worth a I-Eg ri-k lose.« this &--\(- '.ifrslied monarch disconcerted even b>r a niotii'-nl.

>tv older! ibrp. how. Ver. was not to try ps|icriiii-»tr? on the nerves of th»- Kaiser, t-ul to sevk out Ihf official from whom I was to tvr* ive in.«miction*. At the moin-nl he was rhalting pleasantly with a m-mlier pf the Ilnssian End ir»sy, antl I had to wait my i.pj>or;mi:s\ As *oon as I toiild I told my story. He listened wilh a jrrnvr» face, and was keenly interested—so interested that I was ' emboldened to add : "So if is evident that there will not l»> fvace in th<» Far EaM yet atvhile." "The Far East is not concerned I think, my hoy. in Ihb-. If is something nearer home The en-i»»H re- {, rrttl to ore not yellow, but while iM-n ami it mny !*• necessary for i>th-r interests to lie guarded " • "I-i it your wish that I should pror.'ed iu Si. Petersburg at once?" I n.-.k«'.l. anxious front every point of \-.-w- to start imiiK*dlately. I <.?'.niM never feel safe until I had l .Id the countess over to her own !»•,.;.|.- in St. Petersburg, although I .: ! not tell my chief that. He thought the matter over caret'nity for quito a couple of minutes, and then said slowly : "Yes. you had better go as soon as you ran moke it convenient, but I think under all the circumstances, you had lietter not report yourself at the Etul«is»y there for about fift»T»n days. We must take no risks. There mny have been covering prerout tons taken, and until I have »•» Fnmunitated what you have told me l»y other means, it will be ns well t»>r you not to seem occupied in an official copnclty," ' Then sdioll I Mart to-morrow v.tthoul even reporting myself?" "Not to-morrow, but to-night. You must get a sleeping-berth on the train." Ho moved away as he raid this, and left nut no time to argue the matter. This was a situation f had not bargained for. but there was no help for it. Ivnving the reception as toon as 1 could. 1 made my way to my hotel, seat up my belongings to toe station, and then proceeded cautiously to the quarter where the countess was staying. I kept a close eye on everybody who came near roe. and kept my hand wilh a revolver In It in the side pocket of my overcoat. So for however, my pursuers had not cought up on me. and I reached the houw of the rottnt'-'iVs friend i--th- ': miitm'.Af'.'in t'" ,, 'l rone »o ! t ],:;<■ «•(-..-p I •■-!-> " t f- •• Fi"<' - -• I'' *j.;. I :■■ .-x. <...;■•<: -.- : ■: r i ! •■- '.

. . '::;, ■■- ■<:v.i. 'h- :-r;trht .\j!wir of . • : '•-, -.- -'-■ :n iiiii'r.'.* 1 lo 'V '•■> nitiif with in.- at one" I ai.i "I have hooked sleeping- ':> rrhs. and I will make arrangements «::h tin* p-.-oplc on tit.- train to see : twit you're not disturbed." She had slept continuously through 'the journey during the day. and assured me she was not tirtd. "We will travel in an ordinary carriage." she said. "You can sleep, and I will keep watch." "As you will." I replied. T was dying to get my clothes off anri have a comfortable rest, but I could *<v she was terrified at the thought »f being left alone, even under the •are of the railway officials. It suited my purpose belter from a iiplomatic point of view, as well ns from the persona! aspect, to travel a* an ordinary touring passenger, so jilt hough 1 had wasted money in hooking berths which I did not canto give up. as it was not desirable to face the necessary explanation and inquiries. I took my seat in an jrdinary first-class carriage, well wrapped up about the chin and with my hnt drawn well over my eyes. lie■dde the countess, who was wry ■limply dressed and very heavily veiled.

Fortunately there were not many passengers, and as soon as we had got well started" on the journey weary Nature assert <•«! herself. I fell into a heavy sleep an«l forgot all about diplomatists, and dynamiters, and plots and counterplots. I had lieen sleeping some hours when with a v.-ry guarded, hut very delil»er»te nudge, the countess woki* me np. Kuohiiig my eyes and trying to rcrollect where I was antl what I was doing. I noticed that the countess, still veiled, was listening intently. Feeling in my pocket for my revolver—for I hatl made up my mind that I would have no halfmeasures with M. IV Kisque. I too, listened, without speaking. Two men in the corridor were talking just outside our compartment. "It seems to have lieen a most determined assault on the place." said one of them. "The people inside the house were fortunately reinforced by an English officer, antl they managed between them to drive the fellows off. although one or two of the servants were badly wounded, and the)' made several attempts to fire the house." "But what on earth led to this demonstration against obi Von (Jrahaun ? The dear old chap is lieloved by everybody. If there is anything wrong about him it is that he has 100 much sympathy with the common people." "I think the police are satisfied there was no political reason for the murderous business. There was a lady there temporarily, so Frau Von Crahaun hns informed them who rather unwisely, travelled with some very precious jewellery about her. She is supposed, indeed, to have, in her possession a famous emerald and *he has lieen followed by this famous gang of thjevi-s. who thought they hatl an easy capture at this lonely house in the fore.'t."

Flora, then, despite h -r resentment at the way we had imposed upon her had lieen loyal to us. The dear little girl hat! untl-rstootl that for tfome special reason the countess and myself desired her antl the rest of the world to lielieve that the men followed us for the purpose of stealing the countess's jewellery ; and she had given out this version of the affair. The news must have spread tfuickly and gathered point. I thought, although I don't know why | should suppose tho (Jcrman papers leys anxious to get holtl of an exciting story like this than the English pa|iers would have been if some mansion on the Yorkshire moors hatl l»een carried by storm. "Who was this absurd lady '.' " one of the gentlemen in the corridor, asked. "I don't know." replied his companion. "It seem* Fraulein von tlrahann very wisely refused to give ony information on that point, contending with a shrewdness that does the girl credit that if the name got out it would only in nn that more scoundrels would get on her track. She left the house, it seems, very early* In the morning accompanied by the English officer, who undertook to get her to some safe keeping I daresay he is taking her to London."

If all girls were as sensible as Flora von tJrnhaun society would be almost worth living up to. So far the fates were on our side. I gently nudged the countess, antl although she neither moved nor spoke. I could see she wns considerably relieved by what she had heardSow 'that I was awake I shook myself up antl liegnn to lake an interest in the journey. I hatl slept myself into daylight, and it would not lie a bail id. a to have a look round the train and see what sort of a crowd our fellow-passengers were. As I strolled abmg the corridor I saw they were just about the usual type of sleepy, early morning travellers, and there was nothing much of Interest to bo got there. It was tolerably safe to take the countess to the breakfast car. and I was getting comfortably hungry myself. We were moving' slowly along the corridor, past a series of reserved compartments, when the door of one of them suddenly opened. The countess started back as a face appeared in the opening, and acting mechanically curtseyed low, with as much grace ns the narrow passage permitted. Instantly the door slammed, but, not before I. too, had seen the face of the man and recognized it in spile of its prompt withdrawal. Then both Emperors had come on to Berlin, after all. Nicholas probably following or preceding hi-strong-willed relative. Surely Ik would ho v « done belter had he gone bock by same route where he was not likely to meet people who knew hfm. But for that matter the big cities ore, after all. the safest hidingplaces, and the Czar is such an or-dinary-looking person that no one who bad not been brought so closely in contact with him as the countes? and myself would dream that thi* common-place traveller was the Emperor incog. Hurrying the counVess along the corridor to the dining car I managed to get n seat in a corner so that wc had only to wat<-h what was going on in frot>f of iis. "You ...iu >• «he m'i".. r „d, '-•>ft!>, in Eng!r-h.

T mer.•:;.• im'in ■d. and busi <! myself with (i s.-l.iiion of food from tho :ard. "Y'-s. there are more poople than ourselves anxious for a quiet journey." I said, ns the waiter moved off. I did not feel inclined lo tell the rountess what I knew about her P,oval master. I had thoroughly mado up my mind that for her .sake as well as for my own. and for the sake :>f some other consideration whi.h I Jid not define, even to myself, our acquaintance, save for the ordinary formalities of society, must cease when I had seen the lady safe and •sound among her own friends in St. Petersburg. "This seat will do. Pardon, fn'sieii " Two men sat opposite us. They lad looked round the car for other •seats, but the place was full, and they hat! no option but to thrust themselves upon us. Their conversation at first was slow and trivial, and one of them casually asked me in Kussian to pass the mustard. The rountess kicked my foot the instant the man spoke. I looked stupidly -at him. and as he continued his interrogatory look towards me, 1 said, in Knglish. "Can I pass you anything, sir ? " pit-king up each article near me and offering it to him, and, if course selecting the mustard last 3f all. CHAPTEK YIII. He thanked me with a bow, and, turning to his companion, spoko again in Russian.

Their conversation in an ordinary Knglish railway carriage would have been harmless enough, but that the countess was interested and agitated I could tell from the impatient tapping of her foot under the table. She hatl finished her breakfast—of which she partook very little—and had again completely drawn her veil down, which she had only raised an inch or two, and leaned back as she waited for me to finish. I gathered from her movements that she was not particularly anxious I should hurry up and I ministered with exceeding care and deliberation to the interests of my digestion. At home I should have considered it a bit low down to listen to the conversation —harmless though it .appeared to be—that was not intended for me, and I was beginning to realize, or rather I was not realizing. I was unconsciously fouling out how demoralizing contact with treachery becomes. In the midst of plots one instinctively becomes a plotter. "It is very good of you. I know your heart beats for the troubles of your neighbours, and that your good will antl gentle disposition will not permit you to lie unkind even to those who oppose you. But the men who make history are the men of action."

The man who spoke was the person who had asked me lo pass the mustard—a gentleman with stiff black hair antl a heavily-bearded chin. The other, a man of benevolent appearance antl a voice which possessed the music of a good heart, replied quietly : "I agree that men of action make history, but men who act wisely niake good history. Violence has never lieen a lasting good." "Hut violence is sometimes necessary when other means fail. You cannot reason with a man who holds you by the throat. You must cither cut tiff the hand or it will choke you." "The analogy is not, I think, a fair one. We look beyond the men who temporarily guide and direct the niind of one 1 need not name, and we see before us the glorious destiny of our country antl our people." "Inspiring words antl thoughts, my dear friend. Hut thoughts and words arc of no effect without deeds. How do you propose, in this generation or the next, to obtain that which you desire ? "- "Hy peaceable -methods. By convincing those whom we desire to convince of the justice and moderation of our plea." The conversation had certainly warmed up since the two men began :alndy discussing constitutional law and order. The)- got up and left us, still continuing their argument, and with a quiet pressure of her nand on my arm the countess motioned me to stay. The breakfast;ar was by this time less popular, and the passengers having satisfied their hunger, were moving back to their more comfortable seats for their second sleep or for a morning rigaretle. The countess waited till the place was empty before sho spoke.

"Fate ! Fate !" she murmured. "What fate has brought us all together in this way ? " "All ? Arc there any more of us with a past ? "- "Every . person who has come to years of maturity in Russia ha.s a past.""And a past that is likely to be reckoned in the future, I suppose. Do you know our friends ? " "I know both by sight. I know one more closely. The quiet man wilh the zealous eye is Father Gapon, an ex-priest and the champion of the people." "Not a coadjutor of Do Risque, surely ? "- "Xo : the leader of a very different movement." "So I gathered. Hut the other, apparently is of tho De Risque type, antl is doing his liest to convert his companion. Is that why you fear him-" The countess paused a long time liefore she answered. "He is not one of the Organization of Combat.""Then he is a physical force reformer of some sort, surely." "So, he is a man of noble birth and of high position in St. Petersburg. His name Is Iloutcvski. a creature of Mirski's—a prince whom I hope you do not know—and he is " She dropped her voice, and putting her mouth close to my car whispered the words, "an agent provocator." (To be Continued.;