Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-10-02
the Aoeal, Soeal agricultural and Gommertial 9neres
and again and pressed forward so i'm:
.petuously that the indignant policemen
could not drive them back.

could not drive them Dack.
Between the mingled embraces Of
the two boys and the jostling Of the
crowd Platoff was well nigh suffocated,
but finally they were all bundled into
the cab and were soon rattling up noisy
Broadway.
In husky, broken sentences PlatofT
related how he had gained the shelter
Of an American sailing vessel on that
terrible night of his escape, and how
the noble captain, Oh learning his story,
hid him 80 securely that the Russian
soldiers failed to find him. Two days
later the vessel left for home, and after
long voyage arrived safely at Boston.
"I knew you were safe," he said,
land I saw afterward by the papers
that you were coming home on this
steamer.
II knew it," said Maurice. II knew
you were not dead. What did I tell you,
Phil?"
That night Mr.. Danvers' up town res
idence was brilliantly lighted in honor
of the boys return, and many friends
called to offer their congratulations and
to shake hands with the brave Russian
whose heroic conduct was now being
discussed throughout the city.
One thing marred Maurice's pleasure.
Colonel Hercules Hoffman had been
thrown from his horse in Central park
q week before and died two days later,
leaving a sealed packet for his ward.
This Maurice opened on the first op-
portunity and read with sorrow the
shameful confession that threw still
more light on Vladimir Saradof's q
crime. The story Of the malachite box
Of jewels, the interview at the Hotel
Bristol in Paris, the later correspond
ence Of Vladimir Saradoff, all was told
without reserve, and the writer ended
by expressing hope Of forgiveness and
willing his fortune to Maurice as par
tial restitution.
1t must be remembered that Colonel
Hoffman, at the time Of writing this,
knew that the boys had been rescued
from their fate, and it must have been
great relief to his burdened conscience
to discover that they were not dead, as
he, no doubt. had believed.
Maurice generously determined that
his guardians reputation for honesty
and lprightness should not be blotted
with this foul story, 81 ne burned the
confession and locked up the secret in
bis own breast.
He was now possessed Of handsome
fortune, for Colonel Hoffman had been
worth nearly 800, 900 himself.
With great difficulty he compelled
Paul Platof to accept sum that would
make him Independent for life, and,
indeed, it was only through the most
dire threats that the brave fellow could
be induced to listen to such a PROPOSE
ton.
Platoff was, as we have stated, man
of education, refinement and ability,
and these attainments, which his own
government spurned, he now devoted to
his adopted country, becoming true
American at heart.
And now we must leave our heroes
happily freed from their perils-to en-
Joy the new life that opens before them
under the shadow Of the stars and
stripes, flag unstained by tyranny or
despotism.
To Paul Platoff, who has passed
through the furnace Of oppression. our
government will always be all that is
noble and just, while Maurice and Phil,
who have seen and realized for them
selves the oppression and misery that
lurk beneath the flag of autocratic Rus,
sia, will, we venture to think, be en-
abled more and more to reach and real
ize the truest ideal Of young American
manhood.
THE END