Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-08-11


ious to see his nephew for lis sisters 3
sake.
He cabled to st. Petersburg.
Three weeks later letter came 70
Maurice Hammond, warm invitation
to visit the Russian capital before the
approach Of summer made it unpleas-
, ant.
The tempting prospects that the let
ter held out proved irresistible.
The two boys sailed from New York
late in February and, contenting them
selves with brief stay in London and
Paris, trave led BY easy stages across the
continent.
Vladimir Saradoff, at the time this
story opens. had reached the age of 45
years.
The last member Of an old and re-
nowned Russian family, his brilliant
birth, his political influence, and above
all the favor of the czar, gave him q
prestige at court and in st. Petersburg
society that was surpassed by few. His
education, acquired partly at home. part
ly in German universities, was lacking
in nothing, and he possessed fluent
knowledge d English language and
customs, the result of diplomatic term
Of service es the Russian legation at
London. In disposition he was crafty
and revengeful.
His sisters marriage had been se-
we're shock to his pride.
He was absent in the Caucasus at the
time it occurred. When he returned, she
had already left Russia, and the venge-
ance which he meditated Oh the dar-
ing American was beyond his reach.
The events of the past 20 years-the
death of his sister and her husband and
the fortune left to their child-had on
Iy added fuel to the fame of his wrath.
Today he hated Maurice Hammond
as implacably as he had hated Freder-
ick Hammond 90 years before.
Let Us add one m ore fact.
Vladimir Saradd df bad been all his
life addicted to that especially Russian
vice, gaming.
He was supposed ito be wealthy.
He owned o pal on the Nevskoi
Prospekt, :, country seat in the north.
His expenses were enormous, but his
income was reported to be fabulous. The
truth was not even suspected. Slowly,
but surely, Vladimir Saradoff's wealth
had been slipping away over the gam
ing tables. A crisis was at hand. He
realized that he must acquire large
sum Of money or lose all that he held
most dear-his prestige at court, his
position in society and his ancestral
heritage. He concentrated his thoughts
on two objects, the attainment Of long
deferred vengeance and the acquisition
of the badly needed wealth.
At the vast frontier station Of Wir-
ballen, which they reached at midnight,
cold and hungry, the boys obtained
their frst view of Russian life. Pass
ports and baggage were overhauled, and
then they were turned into the dreary
waiting room with many other passen-
gers.
Thore was little time for scrutiny or
observation.
The Russian train ratified into the
station. and almost before they knew
it their passports, properly stamped, had
been pressed into their hands, and the
train was rattling noisily on into the
night.
They were speeding over Russian soil
now. Before them stretched the domin-
ions Of the czar, on empire that reached
thousands and thousands Of miles across
Siberian wastes and deserts to the for
away Pacific coast.
Hour after hour the train rushed
through the gloomy snow clad country,
stopping at intervals at huge barnlike
stations, and at last, late on the fol-
lowing evening, they knew that the end
of the journey was near.
81 wonder what sort Of reception
this aristocratic uncle Of yours will give
me, Maurice?' said Phil Danvers as
he pulled cap over his curly black
hair and unfolded his big fur trimmed
coat preparatory to putting it on.
Don't you think it was rather
cheeky performance to invite guest on
your own responsibility"
Don't talk nonsense, Phil" " replied
his companion. HE will be only too
glad to receive friend of mine. He
had plenty of notice. I wrote to him
from London, and then you know we
telegraphed him from Berlin yesterday
morning"
"Petersburgr' shouts the smartly
uniformed conductor, and in an instant
all is hustle and commotion as the train
rolls into the vast station.
Maurice draws a long breath as he
hurries from the car.
This is his mothers native city-the
lovely, delicate woman whom he re-
membered so family.
A tall man in heavy cloak and as
trakhan cap suddenly confronts him.
I'M. Hammond?" he says inquiring-
ly in plain English.
Maurice mods his head, not knowing
whether to hold out his hand or not
The next word reassures him.
"The carriage waits" says the man,
with a servile bow, and taking the
boys luggage he motions them to fol-
low him through the crowd.
A huge sleigh is waiting. The boys
and their strange guide occupy the spa
cious seat and pull the rugs closely
around them.
The driver perched in front seizes the
lines, and presently they are gliding
through the streets of st. Petersburg.
A light fall of snow is coming down,
and in the lamplight the houses, the
people and the vehicles are seen as
through yellow fog.
1t seems a cherries reception to the