Kronstadt

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Kronstadt, that grim and forbidding looking pile of granite that rises out of the Baltic Sea and appears, by its very look, to give the mute but stem warning "Sheer Off" to all would-be intruders. Yes, this fortress was indeed a formidable and apparently impregnable guard to the capital of Russia, and had always defied the wiles of the ever-watchful and eagle-eyed spy. Yet its secrets and fastnesses were at length pierced by a frail girl who unwillingly lent herself to the most despicable of work, but stress of circumstances forced Marian Best to surrender both scruples and principles to the unpalpable task of "spying out the land." Left an orphan with no means of subsistence and her invalid brother to nurse and support, Marian found the burden too heavy, so when a relative offered what appeared to her untold wealth and the means of saving the life of her little brother, she succumbed to the tempting offer thus placed before her. This relative was a member of the International Secret Service, and he found it possible to place in the household of General Stefanovitch, Deputy-Governor of Kronstadt, an English governess. Marian's consent to do the work being obtained, she found herself established in the household of the Deputy-Governor and quickly became an immense favorite with everyone, with the exception of Colonel Bonzo, the general's chief of staff, who looked on everyone, especially foreigners, with suspicion and dislike. This was not the case with Captain Paul Zasaulle, who quickly succumbed to the charms of the English girl. After a few weeks the attachment became mutual. One day Paul proposed to take Marian and her charges on his yacht, the "Esmeralda," to explore Battery No. 3. This and other similar excursions gave Marian the sought-for opportunities. She could not, however, control her love for Paul, and when he proposed she consented, although recognizing her engagement was to a man whose country she was betraying. One day Marian received a secret letter, which to her delight informed her that as soon as she could obtain the plan of Fort St. Peter, she could leave Russia. The same mail brought a letter to General Stefanovitch, informing him that various sketches of the fort had fallen into the hands of the enemy. The suspicions of Colonel Bonzo, ever on the alert regarding Marian were now roused into activity and he determined to trap the spy. Marian had found out that the desired documents were kept in a secret drawer in the General's desk and having secured the key she made plans for obtaining them that night. On finding the key of his study missing, the General explained to Colonel Bonzo that he must have mislaid it. The latter having a duplicate one, was able to secure the door. Marian, who always entertained the Governor and his friends, after her charges had retired, pretended that evening to be ill and left the drawing room early. She had not, however, reckoned with Colonel Bonzo's cunning, who, now thoroughly suspicious wished to find out if Paul was her accomplice, so handing him the key. sent him on some trivial pretext to the study. There Paul discovered the spy was no other than his beloved Marian. In an agony of terror and remorse, she told him the reasons for undertaking her hateful role and implored him to save her. Paul had only time to whisper, "Trust me; there is only one way to save you," when the General, Colonel Bonzo and some soldiers entered the room. Paul, who had concealed the document, entirely disarmed suspicion by recounting how he caught Marian searching the room. He was then commanded to take her on board the "Esmeralda" and conduct her to the dungeon on the Island of St. Paul. On reaching the yacht, the escort was ordered to remain in their boat and allow it to be towed behind the "Esmeralda." Too late, they found they had been duped when the tow rope was severed, and they saw the yacht steaming away at full speed. When Colonel Bonzo found the plans of Fort St. Peter missing, he determined at all hazards to have the two runaways brought back, and he instructed the Russian Secret Service agents to trap them, so that when Marian and Paul arrived in Paris these sleuth-hounds were already on their track, and one night Paul was overpowered and dragged to the offices of the society. Marian called in the services of a clever and well-known detective, Robert Stevens. Meanwhile, Paul, finding himself imprisoned, discovered means of communicating with Marian, who, aided by the detective, concocted a scheme to rescue Paul. Marian wrote a letter stating that unless a free pardon was granted to Paul within an hour, the plans would be in the hands of the enemy. This letter was delivered by Stevens, Marian waiting outside with a number of detectives. Colonel Bonzo, who had arrived in Paris to take charge of the culprits, apparently agreed to Marian's terms and she was summoned to the room. Colonel Bonzo, always prone to treachery, as soon as he got the plans into his possession, gave a signal to his men to seize Marian, but the detective, who had taken precautions against such treachery, was too quick for him. With his whistle to his lips, he pointed out the guard to the Colonel, who, fearing the disclosures that would be entailed by a public fracas, was forced to capitulate and write a document granting a free pardon to Paul Zasaulle.