Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-10-16

E% Take me to the governor"
he said.
THE governor Is resting" growled a
fellow whose face was mass Of greasy
hair. You will kill him"
Nonsense! Take me to the govern.
or. IF you kill me. be will die"
"Why is that builder of bridges? Is
there a god who avenges the death Of
Am"ricansW
at will need no god to do that now.
The case Is simply that Ncslerov needs
better care than you can give him. He
is badly injured. 1t is necessary that
he shall he taken TO Tomsk at once.
can start within the hour. There will
not be another train to the Obi in four
days Do YOU desire to keep your pre-
cious governor here and have him die
on your hands,?
mo. lie; us see what the governor
has to say"
1t was solemn crowd that marched
IN two columns. with Denton between,
to the hut of the village priest where
Neslerov lay.
"Why do YOU bring him here?" asked
the priest. Heard you not what his
eXcelency said"
Hold your peace. Wait till you hear
them speak together" was the reply.
Neslerov looked up at his conqueror.
and an expression of hatred came into
his eyes. Denton made no show Of SEN
timent or compassion.
Il understand you commanded these
villagers to kill me-" he said, standing
at the side of the bed and looking cold
ly and sternly at his victim. Il just
wanted to say before they kill me-
which they certainly will do if you in
sst-that in that case you would prob
ably die here for lack Of proper care"
You cannot help me - you would
not" answered Neslerov.
That is for you to say. | am not a
murderer. | had no desire to kill you.
You attacked me, and defended my
self l AMI going back to Tomsk, pro-
vided your savage villagers don't kill
me, and | merely came to ask if you
would be pleased to CO."
How" he asked.
"In the same car you came thus far
in"
But how? There is no train due for
days"
II will take you to Tomsk II you
promise never again to modest Mr..
Gordon or his daughter"
Il promise" said Neslerov. II will
order the villagers to permit you to
CO."
Denton then went to the car and ex.
amined it. He discovered where n
flaw in the iron had weakened the
couplings
He was followed at a short distance
by several young men, among whom
was the boy who had run to tell him
that a woman was being roughly
handled by Ncslerov. and who had
taken his horse to shelter. He ordered
the boy to bring the horse. Mounting.
he was soon out of sight. He did not
go far, however. He rode along the
track until he reached a siding a short
distance from the bridge, where there
was an old construction engine.
Denton examined the old hulk. II
was fit only for drawing one or two
cars. Denton carried water from the
river and filled the boiler and built a
fire of wood.
Soon after the villagers were sur
prised to see wheeZy, rickety old en-
CINE coming slowly, with prodigous
noise into view. Denton's horse had
no difficulty in keeping up with it.
The old engine was coupled to the
car. and then Denton went for
Frances.
'The train Is ready" he said.
'"rhe train! What train"
"The train that is to carry you to the
Obi, where you will join your father"
But there Is no trainw
There Is a train, and as the steam
Is up and the track clear suggest
haste. Your father is probably anx-
ious."
She went with him. At the sight Of
the engine she understood.
"iou are wonderful-you are doing
this for me" she said.
Yes. but Neslerov will be a passen-
ger"
And your"
Engineer, conductor. guard-all."
He took her to the car and made her
comfortable.
Neslerov was carried to the car by
the villagers. The backs of two seats
were turned down. a bed WAS made for
him, and he lay there quiet and seem
ingly content.
"Of course. know that you are seri-
ously wounded" said Denton to him
"and the possibility Of your doing any
mischief is small, but ! want to tell
you before we start that IL l catch yon
At any tricks l will kill you as would
n dog"