The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-08-21
CHAPTER XIII.
Continued

"Kito, you have your ORDERS" be
says in English, which language most
Hindoos speak.
"Oh, yes, sahib-the hotel; it is ali
right" replies the Hindoo driver, who
has been bought, body and soul, with
Russian gold.
Away they 60; anil en- route the bar
on chuckles to himself a dozen times
as he pictures the CONSERVATION and
jealous rage of his Yankee rival at
finding him so favored by the fair
American. He caresses the scented
note from time to time, and has read
It 80 often that each word comes dis
tinctly before him, thus:
1.-THE writer begs leave to inform the
baron that she will receive him at
eight this evening and be at home to
no one else. Regarding the proposition
contained in his letter, the near future
can decide better than the present"
What can he make Of this other than
a willingness to surrender? He, the
cunning diplomat, who in times past
has met and successfully wrestled
with the most mastery questions OF
the day, now finds himself in the tolls
of the merciless little god Cupid, who
throws dust in his eyes and temper
arily blinds him.
At the appointed time the vehicle
pulls up before the hotel, and Baron
Popoff alights. He bows to several
people, looks at his time-piece, smiles
to note the exactness of his arrival;
for the diplomat is a great stickler at
punctuality, and, if going to his exc
cution, would want the volley fired at
the proper time to the second.
Then he enters the caravansary and
gives his card to a waiter. Presently
that functionary returns with the in
formation that the lady is in the par
lor, and conducts the baron thither.
He finds Molly and her father. in the
small parlor, quite alone. The pres
ence of the senator is not exactly to
the liking of this ardent lover; but
since the game seems to be playing
into his hands, he does not see how
he can feel very badly about it. At
ter all, the question is only one OF
time. He believes he has won by Vir-
tue of his name, and the father as well
as the daughter favors his suit.
No one knows better how to carry
himself in the drawing room than the
baron, for he has mixed much with
ROYALTY in his own land and other
countries where he has been sent as
Russia's agent.
He apologies to Demosthenes Tan
ner for the scene in Cairo, and hopes It
has been quite forgotten. At this the
giant from Illinois laughs good-natur-
edly and declares that all parties
ought to be- satisfied; at least, as he
and the baron came out of the small
end Of the horn together, there is no
reason they should be foes.
Conversation becomes general, and
the Diplomat exerts himself to make
a good impression on the stout legisla-
tor and his daughter. He has large
bump Of conceit, and believes that as
the evening passes he draws nearer his
goal.
Several times he finds an opportunity
TO whisper to Molly. She bushes beau
tifully and holds q warning finger up.
saying:
"Not yet, baron. You must wait un-
til we know each other better"
Then the courteous Russian bows
and smiles and mentally pats his
shoulder as he sees victory in the near
future. Poor fool! So the mighty
Samson Of old may have congratulated
himself when making love 70 Delilah,
never dreaming that he would awaken
to find his head shorn and his strength
gone. So many another giant in the
history of the world has been brought
to his Waterloo by means Of the blind
ing god Cupid.
One thing gives the baron the keen.
est delight. He drinks the sweet cup
to the dregs. While engaged in an
animated conversation with Molly, as
he describes the glories Of the Russian
capital in winter, he chances to glance
toward the end of the little parlor.
Here q fine mirror is set in the wall,
for the furnishings Of the room are
superb. 1t is in this glass he sees what
pleases him.
A man stands in the large drawing
room-a man he has good reason to
remember, since it was his sword that
pierced the baron's shoulder under the
palms on the bank Of the Nile. Myn-
heer Joe makes no move to advance.
He seems to have come upon the scene
by accident, and is rooted to the spot.
The willy diplomat sees his opportun'-
ty. He will now proceed to put q
weapon more painful than sword IL
to the Yankees heart.
'If you will pardon me for taking
your hand, Miss Tanner" pleaded the
baron, Il will explain to you how the
LADIES are supposed to act when being
presented to the czarina, as hope ere
long you will have that pleasure
She allows it, Of course, although
half understanding his motif. That
is the picture Mynheer Joe gazes upon
his hated rival in the act Of raising
Molly's sweet hand to his lips.
All the while the baron has one eye
on the mirror. He sees the look of
fury upon Joe's face, notes that he
presses a hand against his brow, as
though struck a blow, and turning,
rushes out Of the room.