Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-06-14

defended by tact and individuality
the last named great power, for II is
the conventional creature. who must do
conventional things. while the strong
personality wins measure OF freedom.
She heard Fera's story. somewhat
more fully told than before. vet with
nothing OF real Importance added to
the tale as Darrell had received IL.
vera mentioned no names Of friends in
Paris and avoided any reference TO n
reason for her choice OF that city as
place OF residence. but the impression
was strong upon Darrell that his prin-
cess was not in the great capital for
the sake OF its climate nor to behold
ITS many beauties. He felt that this
woman's life must be directed by some
strong purpose. and II its mainspr,np
had been the desire for vengeance that
would have seemed natural Yer she
had denied completely with nihilsm.
and Darrell had taken her word. He
must therefore seek some other e4.
PLANTATION of the mystery surrounding
her.
An spite OF all that Americans know
Of the various injustices that are rife
in Russia, 1t is impossible to hear such
a narration as Vera's without feeling
that there is something novel, almost
incredible, in it; that men In high sta
ton, surrounded by the attributes Of
power and dignity, cannot be dragged
down In moment to the level of grind
ing, hopeless. unrewarded toll In the
mines of frozen desert; that gently
nurtured women cannot be cast out Of
palaces into novels buried IN arctic
SHOWS. Gordon heard the story with
a growing wrath, his elbows on the ia
bic, his head thrust forward, his eyes
shining, and his wife, who showed
less emotion, was yet moved to clasp
the hand that had slain the villain Cor
ski and to hO it firmly for some sec
onds after th;S incident had been dis
closed.
AT the last Vera showed signs of the
strain involved in the recital, with its
CHASTITY memories, and so when 1t was
done the others felt an impulse to with
draw her mind from retrospection as
soon as possible.
Let us have one more look at the
dancers" said Gordon, rising. "The
sight Of such light hearted people will
do us good"
He turned toward the larger hall as
he uttered the words, and at that mo-
ment two men came hastily up to him.
you are Mr.. Robert Gordon" said
one Of them, and as he spoke a third
man Joined the two.
81 am" reDlied Gordon
"And you are Mr.. John DarrellT"
THAT is my name" answered the
gray friar.
ut is believed that you have certain
information which is desired by the
police" said the officer in low tone.
will you accompany us2"
with pleasure" replied Darrell.
MAY ask the nature of the AFFAIR.""
The commissary will inform YOU"
said the officer. "Shall we go at onceY'
Darrell was perfectly willing. his
only desire being TO lead these solemn
faced detectives as far as possible from
Vera Shevaloff.
Pardon me one moment" he said.
turning toward Gordon. and ut that in
slant he heard one OF the officers Wits
per TO the spokesman OF their party.
The ladies are Mime. Gordon and Mile.
Lorrimer. Americans"
Mrs. Gordon also overheard these
words, and she said Instantly:
Robert will take Miss Lorrimer and
myself home, and then he will go TO
you. If these men viii give us the nee
essary Information"
To this the leader OF the detectives
replied that his orders were TO ask
Mr.. Darrell to accompany him TO the
station on the Rue Gluck. beside the
opera house. II ne should not be there
when Mr.. Gordon should arrive. there
would be no difficulty in learning
where he had gone.
Darrell did not wait for further
words. He gave his hand to Vera and
the Gordons and then hurried away,
attended by the officers who were kind
enough To avoid giving the affair the
appearance OF an arrest.
There was four seated cab outside.
and 1t conveyed the party TO the sta.
ton on the Rue Gluck. He could ex-
tort no information from his compan-
ions upon the way, and, indeed, he
made no great effort to do so, being sat
isfied in advance that it would be fu-
tile. In fact he was OF the opinion
that the time could be better passed in
thinking than In talking.
Undoubtedly Ladislov had made
some sort OF complaint, probably for
assault The purpose OF the action
must be the recapture OF Vera, for La
dislov was not the man to ask the law
to right any personal wrong so long as
swords and pistols or even bludgeons
continued TO be procurable for money.
Darrell had no fear either OF the public
or the. private vengeance of "the nj
rate" He was prepared to justify his
own conduct if necessary, but his first
concern must be to shield Vera. 1t
would have pleased him to do this
boldly-to tell the story OF the nights
adventure precisely as it had occurred
and then to defy the cars agents and
all other persons TO do their level
worst He did not believe that there