Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-11-19

diatc care.
Frances felt his touch and looked up
ut him with about the same expression
she might have worn had he been a
stern and high priced specialist called
in 10 make an examination.
"You are merely knocked out by the
Shock" he said, with assumed indiffer-
ence you win probably be all right
as soon rs we get 10 Tomsk."
Eyes. II could get there" she whis-
pered. MY father will be anxious"
eve must relieve his anxiety as soon
as possible. You must not worry"
what will you do: And NeslerovT
'.Nevcr mind Nesleioy now. Keep
cool You've got 10 be braced up lit
tie. l wish had some wine"
"There was some In the car" she an
swered 'Neslerov had H. He tried to
make me drink hut would not"
Denton went 10 the car, still on the
main track, and brought from 1t the re-
mains OF the bottle of wine Neslerov
had opened. This lie took with him to
the hut and offered some to Frances.
II don't want It, refused 1t before"
she said.
"Oh, don't you want it?" he asked
ironically. II suppose in your keen and
subtle mind there is no distinction be-
tween glass of wine offered by Nesle-
row when you were his prisoner and by
me when you are ILL.,"
II did not mean that" she said meek
~. She reached out her hand. took the
cup and drained it.
Now. them" said Denton, coolly seat
ing himself on u stool near her bed,
tell me this whole miserable business
from the beginning"
81 haven't thanked you yet, Jack"
she said. with return of color.
Never mind thanking me. did
merely what any other American
would have done. and, 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
Neslerov?"
1--WE were in Moscow" she said.
There was meeting about the new
railway"
Eyes, know. That was what took
Neslerov there"
ale had an interview with papa
while In Moscow-he'-
''Why do you hesitate? 1t is not a
rev experience to have man want
to marry you, is it? You gave him the
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 man 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 Parlpoff, an ironworker,
now sent
"Never mind, we will get to that
afterward. You started for the Obi,
where Gordon Is to take house in
Vashloy."
mo, not yet. must tell you about
| Vladfmir-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
n marvellous man, Jack. You would
think rs much of him as l do IL you
knew him. He Is so handsome and
strong. He is
"Do you mean young Paulpoff, the
blacksmith of Perm?'
Eyes, Jack. Do you know himY
"I've had him turn out some iron for
small bridges. Well?"
HE Is so intelligent, and was 80
anxious to learn, to improve, helped
him. l used to send him books, pa
pers, magazines. scientific works-any-
thing could get hold Of that would
l:elp him. He studied hard, poor fel-
low! He grew to-I think he loved me
4 he
"Of course you returned his affec-
ton. You've done it SOL mean II
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 ever marry him, and their
friendship had been almost cut asun
der. But he had saved her from Ne
slerov. Now he was Gliding her.
zone could not know Vladimir with
out admiring him." she said suddenly
with great accession of spirit. II fai
to see why should be put through this
catechism by YOU"
you needn't be II you don't wan
to-" he answered coldly. 'This is {
nice, quiet village. Neslerov is lying
not far away, somewhat cut up now
but he will get over that. could e
on my way and leave you If my ques
tons are distasteful. The thing is tina
there must be an explanation to THU
affair. and I'd like to know what 1t Il
to be. 1t is no trifling matter to Gu
the governor of Russian province t
pieces"
"Have you been tighting? she asket
quickly.
NO" he replied, with tinge of sar
casm. 'Neslerov and INDUCED in
few pleasantries. He doesn't feel a
gay over them as do; that's ALL"
"Oh. see your hand is bandaged-
never noticed 1t. Oh, Jack, forgive me-!
eve were following a course of in
quiry," he said, putting the bandage'
hand behind him. This Vladimir
you met-there was an attachments
far, so good. Now, how did that lea
to this AFFAIR."
II wanted to see Vladimir and wen
by train from Moscow to Perm.
| found drosky at the station and wa
driven to the shops. Shops, house-a
were deserted. l found Neslerov Their
with painting under his arm. He wa
, taking it away. 1t was a beautiful pi,
|, ture, n beautiful face. l asked til
prince where Vladimir was. He sal
| that all the Paulpoffs-father, mothe
, and Vladimir-had been sent to Sib,
, ria"
: "Sent to Siberia! That big simpl
hearted fellow! For what?"
"Conspiring with others to kill til
{ car. We We're alone; the drosky dri,
t er went out, and Neslerov tried to kis
me. l fought him; l shot him."
, stvol, Sbpt Nac1orpx,