Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-04-09

1t appeared upon investigation that
Francois could not be found, and upon
the back of this instructive incident the
police arrived In search Of Vera. Nat
uraily they did not find her. Gordon
and Darrell lied with calmness and dig
nifty. They denied all knowledge of
Mile. Shevaloff. and they nearly con-
WINGED the officers. though those indl-
viduals had come with their minds full
of perfect certainty.
At the expiration of fruitless hour
the police detail departed. doubtless
leaving scouts posted near the house.
Presently Darrell went out to search
for Vera. and he returned after mid
night, having learned nothing. No
word came from her during the night
or the succeeding day.
Late in the afternoon both Gordon
and Darrell were summoned to the
police station OF the district and were
questioned closely. Like the boy who
put cents into the contribution box
at church and took out half dollar,
they gave little and gained much more.
They returned .rom the station with a
very fair idea of the condition of the
Ladislov Investigation.
1t appeared that the police had trac-
ed Ladislov to the point where the cap
ture of Vera had been made and a
very little farther. They had then lost
track of the carriage in which the
princess was being taken away and
had failed to get any hint about the
facts of the rescue by Darrell. The
vehicle had been found, Of course, and
there was an inference that it must
have been attacked somewhere, but the
police were unable to understand how
Darrell or Gora6n could have figured
In the matter, and they dared not make
an arrest upon the evidence of Fran
co.'s alone, for he proved to be a man
of such shady record that, having
sold his information to minor officer
of police, he had disappeared because
of fear that his inconvenient past
would cause him trouble.
Thus the whole matter hung in the
wind, like vessel taken aback, for
several days, which We're among the
worst that John Darrell could remem-
Der to have experienced. No word
came from Vera, no hint of her fate,
and the conviction grew stronger in
Darrell's mind that the agents of the
car had again laid their hands upon
her.
ut is a certainty" he said to Cor
don; otherwise she would have sent
us word. She is not the woman to be
guilty of ingratitude. l am going to
Stavropol."
ITO Stavropol!" echoed Gordon.
"She told me that she would proba-
bly, be taken there for trial." replied
Darrell. 1T is a long chance, but l
have no other, and cannot remain in.
active. This thing is eating the heart
out Of me, Robert"
Gordon attempted to dissuade him,
but to no purpose.
II must CO." he said. II rely upon
you. Robert, to do everything that can
be done here. Get to the bottom Of the
Ladislov case If you can. Spend all the
money you can use to advantage
Here's check for my balance ut Nor.
gan's, and you'll see it is not small
You'll keep me posted. Thank heaven
there are telegraph wires leading tc
most regions Of the earth in these
days. You can reach me through oul
consuls."
Darrell took q train that afternoon
ut the Care de FEST, where he had the
extraordinary fortune to encounter
Getchikoff, whom in the past few
attempts to find. The Russian wa.
Just alighting from n very elegant pr
vate equipage belonging to yount
widow of enormous wealth and excel
lent family, but of reputation some
times attacked In whispers. Getchi
koff was evidently starting upon a long
journey, and his farewell to the lady
was somewhat strenuous, considering
the public place in which it occurred.
AS lie was about to board the trai1
Darrell accosted him. Getchikoff seem
ed startled, yet neither surprised MOI
altogether pleased. His manner was
somewhat puzzling to Darrell. 1t die
not lack cordiality. Indeed Getchikof
was making arrangements that they
should travel together, and before they
had ridden five miles he confided to thu
American that lie was engaged to thu
lady in whose carriage he had come t.
the station and that the marriage, fol
every reason, was the most desirabl,
thing in life for him.
From Paris to Stavropol is Ion!
way under the best circumstances. II
Darrell, with the burden Of his nearl.
hopeless mission. it was almost unen
durable. In conversations with Getchi
koff he approached the object Of hi
journey as nearly us he dared, and h
obtained the other side of Vera Sheva
lofts story. Naturally her father wa
represented by Getchikoff to have bee
a traitor to the car and justly con
demned. Yet Getchikoff treated tn
subject without malignity, almost wit
sympathy, speaking often Of the pr
vate virtues of Count Konstantin an
of the noble character of his wife. A
to Vera he professed ignorance.
"Shc was only u child them" he sale
II knew little about her. 1t is rumore
that she is now high in the counsels Q
the nihilists, but cannot speak Of tina
from my own knowledge. If she wer
in trouble in Stavropol. my fathe
would spare her to the last limit Of hi
power"
And somehow this final sentenc
seemed to ring true in Darrell's ear
and to give him hope.
Otherwise the journey was withou
incident, except that mysterious me
We're always bobbing up from unea
pected places to hold long and seriou
talks with Getchikoff.
81 will accompany you to good ht
TEL" said Getchikoff as they prepare
to leave the train at the end OF thel
long journey. Later l hope to hay
you for my guest ut the palace. BIT
this matter of your connection wit
Vera Shevaloff"-
"What do you know of that?" d