The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1902-04-12

that you were In search OF me. In
Stavropol you disappeared. and ! fear
ed that you had been murdered hy
some ayenger OF Ladlslov. Ii was al
most by guesswork. founded upon the
vaguest runner. that | came 70 believe
Won had been taken 20 Gredskov'
Darrell's voice was not free from n
tremor OF emotion rs ne rcjolned.
"How did you know anything Of my
fate? The mere fact that you were
sufficiently interested 10 make single
Inquiry repays me a hundred times for
all have suffered"
II had agents IN Stavropol, said We
IA, coloring upon other matters. HaV-
ing heard that you had travelled In that
direction with Ivan Getchikof, my
agents thought you worth an inquiry.
They learned that you had been ar
rested upon your arrival, hut neither
they. working secretly, nor the Ameri-
can consul, protesting openly, could
gain any knowledge OF what had hap
pened 10 you afterward II was given
out that you had been Immediately re-
leased and had left the city. Your bag.
gage was obtained 10y the consul. who
received also packet forwarded 10
YOU I'm his care from Paris by Mr.. Cor
/ don doubtless. These things We're in
I the consuls hands three weeks ago.
Three weeks ago. cried Darrell
rising slowly. Have you had word 50
lateT'
Neras cheeks were burning.
eve have still our agents in Stavro,
pol" she said. and occasional commu-
nlcation Is possible They have thought
II worth while TO report 10 me in re.
gard 10 your affairs"
Then nothing else in the world mat.
tiers In the least" he said. II do not
magnify your interest IN me, but
She checked him with look that
was both intense and smiling.
"You couldn't" said she almost In a
whisper, and nj that he laid his hand
upon hers which was palm upward on
pile of military reports.
Vera" he began. but suddenly
there was n clash OF guns and sabers
In the hall
The princess raped upon the table
with the scabbard of her sword, Il
much bejeweled weapon that had lain
across a chair beside her AT the sum
mons an orderly appeared with the
rigid haste of toy monkey on a
/. stick. Vera pointed to the door com
municatng with the hall, and pres
, emily the ORDERLY announced two 9th
cers who were admitted
They came with reports t,-- concern
ed the practical deta! n. and
Darrell heard them with divided at
tention, working meanwhile upon his
maps. one OF them spoke mostly OF
cannon, and Vera's questions showed
n surprising comprehension OF the sub
! ject. Singularly enough, Vera whei
speaking of ordnance ceased TO seen
! a play soldier. What she had 10 sal
about the capacity OF certain light bat
, teries whose disposition seemed TO b.
j., subject Of some question struck Oar
! rell as apt and accurate beyond crit
!. cism. Darrell had followed the char
lot of war In many quarters OF tn
: globe and indeed had ofiicered troops
: white black and yellow, In the with
OF various emergencies, for which rea
:. son this Circasslan campaign had nj
(. pealed TO him as n grim and awfu
Joke. But somehow when Vera talke
= OF artillery the thing seemed seriou;
: Perhaps ii was the surprise that
woman should know anything wha
is ever about the subject.
- Your excellency," he said when tn
. officers had withdrawn, and then,
=. beg your pardon, l am uncertain wha
= form Of address you prefer
: Under the present circumstances,
: she replied. CHANGING around the empt
room, Il prefer the style which 20
: used just rs these annoying peop
:. came with their reports
y "Nera," he cried, ~
:, "That is IT," she said but in publ
~ 'excelency' 'highness or anything TIN
-. suggests itself. am Indifferent Al
49, now the maps. the maps! You al
- slow, sir"
~ And Darrell. under the compulsion
her glance, fell 10 work earnestly.