Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1902-11-13
CHAPTER VII.
Continued from yesterday)



shock" he said, with assumed indiifer-
ence. you win probably be all right
as soon as we get to Tomsk.'
Yes, if l could get there" she whis-
pered. My father will be anxious"
1--WE must relieve his anxiety as soon
as possible. You must not worry"
"What viii you do? And Neslerov"
"Never mind Nesleroy now. Keep
cool. You've got to be braced up lit
tie. l wish had some wine"
"There was some in the car" she an
swered "Neslerov had it. He tried to
make me drink, but | would not"
Denton went to the car, still on the
main track, and brought from it the re-
mains of the bottle of wine NesleroV
had opened This he took with him to
the hut and offered some to Frances.
Il don't want it. l refused it before"
she said.
ooh, don't you want it?' he asked
ironically. Il suppose in your keen and
subtle mind there is no distinction be
tween a glass Of wine offered 10y Neslc-
rov when you were his prisoner and by
me when you are ILL.,"
Il did not mean that" she said meek
ly. She reached out her hand, took the
cup and drained it.
"Now, then, said Denton cooliy seat
ing himself on a stool near her bed,
'tell me this whole miserable business
from the beginning"
81 haven't thanked you yet, Jack"
she said, with a return Of color.
''Never mind thanking ne. did
merely what any other American
would have done, ana, seeing you in
danger, it would not have been manly,
indeed, to stand off. accept your
thanks, but let's get to the business.
How did you happen to be herewith
NesleroyE"
1--WE were in Moscow" she said.
"There was a meeting about the new
railway"
Eyes, l know That was what took
Neslerov there"
"He had an interview with papa
while in Moscow-he"-
"Why do you hesitate? 1t is not a
new experience to have a man want
u lldIIy you, - ll' ltu save nm TIC
usual answer, l suppose"
ooh. Jack! There was but one an
swer papa could give him. | do not
like the prince, and papa knows | will
never marry a man l do not love"
Everybody knows that-who knows
YOU" said Denton soberly.
"He told him about you-and about
Vladimir-and the prince got angry"
"About Vladimir! Who is he?"
vladimir Paulpoff, an ironworker
now sent
"Never mind, we will get to that
afterward. You started for the Obi,
where Gordon is to take a house in
Vashlov"
"No, not yet. I must tell you about
Vladimir-poor fellow! l met him in
the forge-in his shop-one day while
the railway was being put through
Perm. Papa and | went there. He is
a marvellous man, Jack. You would
think as much of him as | do if you
knew him. He is so handsome and
strong. He is
'Do you mean young Paulpoh, the
blacksmith of Perm?'
''Yes, Jack. Do you know him"
ave had him turn out some iron for
small bridges. Well?"
He is SO intelligent, and was so
anxious to learn, to improve, | helped
him. used to send him books, pa
pers, magazines, scientific works any
thing | could get hold of that would
help him. II studied hard, poor fell
low! He grew to-I think he loved me
he
"Of course you returned his affec-
tion. You've done it sol mean it
came quite easy"
Tears glistened in her eyes, and she
turned away her head. She had quar-
relied with this man and had said she
would never marry him, and their
friendship had been almost cut asun-
der. But he had saved her from Ne
slerov Now he was chiding her.
zone could not know Vladimir with
out admiring him." she said suddenly,
with a great accession Of spirit. Il fail
to see why l should be put through this
catechism by you"
you needn't be if you don't want
to-" he answered coldly This is a
nice, quiet village Neslerov is lying
not far away, somewhat cut up now,
but he will get over that / could 90
on my way and leave you if my ques-
tions are distasteful. Tie thing is that
there must be an explanation to this
affair, and I'd like TO know what it is
to be. 1t is no trihing matter to cut
the governor of a Russian province to
pieces"
"Have you been fighung?' she asked
quickly.
NO" he replied, with a tinge Of sar-
casm. 'Nesleroy and INDUCED in i
few pleasanries He doesn't feel as
gay over them as I do; that's all"
ooh, l see your hand is bandaged-G
never noticed it, Oh, Jack, forgive me"
Eve were following a course of in
quiry," he said, putting the bandaged
hand behind him. This Vladimir
you met-there was an attachment-s0
far so good. Now, how did that lead
to this AFFAIR."
81 wanted to see Vladimir and went
by train from Moscow TO Perm. l
found drosky at the station and was
driven to the shops. Shops house-all
were deserted. / found Ncslerov there
with a painting under his arm. He was
taking it away. 1t was beautiful pic
ture, n beautiful face. asked the
prince whore Vladimir was lie said
fhat all tho paUIpofTs fp thor Tpot Gnr