The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 3 — page 112: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

BY RIGHT OF SWORD.* A tale of Moscow, the Nihilists, and the Czar—T he extraordinary experiences of an Englishman who assumes the name and obligations of a Russian army officer—Complications that bring the bold adventurer within shivering distance of Siberia, and the tactics which earn for him a notable nickname. SYNOPSIS OF CHAPTERS PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED. HAMYLTON TREGETHNER is an Englishman who has lived a great part of his life in Russia. Deceived by the woman he loves, he is about to go to St. Petersburg to offer himself for the field in the event of war with Turkey, hoping somebody will put a bullet through him, when at the Moscow railway station he is approached by a stranger, Olga Petrovitch, who takes him for her brother Alexis, to whom he bears a marvelous resemblance. ‘This Alexis is a good for nothing roysterer, a lieutenant in the Russian army. He has become involved in a quarrel with Major Devinsky, who persecutes Olga with unwelcome attentions, and fearing to meet the major on the dueling field, is about to flee in disguise. Tregethner becomes interested in the case, and being reckless of what he does in any event, gives Alexis his passport as Hamylton Tregethner and decides to remain in Moscow as Alexis Petrovitch. He fights the duel with Devinsky, utterly routing him, but presently finds himselfin a tangle because of a love affair his prede- cessor had.with Paula Tueski, the wife of the chief of police. She is deceived, as are all other friends of the lieutenant, to say nothing of the Nihilists, with whom it turns out he has had dealings. The latter commission him to assassinate Paula Tueski’s husband, but Paula kills him herself with Alexis’ dagger, the hilt of which she holds in readiness to exhibit in case Alexis offends her. Meantime Tregethner meets at a ball a beautiful and powerful princess, sister to Prince Bilbassoff, high in government service. The princess takes a great fancy to him, which she is at no pains to conceal, and the prince promises the lieutenant his sister’s hand and great honors if he will consent to put out of the way a cettain high dignitary, who, it is claimed, has insulted the princess, Realizing by now that he loves Olga, and that Olga loves him, ‘Tregethner is in sore straits to know a way out, and in the height of his perplexities he is confronted by new trouble. Olga is arrested on the eve of taking her departure from Moscow. ‘Tregethner goes to Prince Bilbassoff for help and tells him the whole story of his identity. ‘‘Let Olga Petrovitch go,” he adds, ‘‘and you shall do as you will with me.” ) “I take your word,” is the prince’s reply. ‘ Your identity will continue unknown. You remain a Russian.”’ —_—- CHAPTER XXV.—Corrs THat No MAn Covutp BREAK. ey most determined effort could not make me believe that I should ever again set eyes on the woman I loved after the parting that now con- fronted us. Nor could I prevent her seeing something of this. She was, indeed, so quick to appreciate the meaning of what I told her that all the sweet pleasure and gladness she showed when welcoming me changed in a moment to sadness. ‘ I would ten thousand times rather not go,’’ she said. ‘‘I do not care what they do to me. I have brought you into this, and it is me they should punish,’’ she said more than once. This story began in the July issue of THe ARGOSY. The three back numbers will be matled to any address on receipt of 30 cents. * Copyright, 1897, by Arthur W. Marchmont. Conniclooolks (S@)