Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-07-12

stavropol you disappeared. and i fear
ed that you had been murdered 10y
some avenger OF Ladislov. IL was al
most by guesswork. founded upon the
vaguest rumor. that l came 10 believe
you bad been taken to Gredskov."
DarrelPs voice was not free from a
tremor OF emotion as he rejoined:
How did you know anything of my
fate1 The mere fact that you were
sufficiently interested to make q single
inquiry repays me q hundred times for
all have suffered"
II had agents In Stavropol." said We
n, coloring. upon other matters Hav-
Ing heard that you had travelled in that
direction with Ivan GetchikofY. my
agents thought you worth an INQUIRY.
They learned that you had been ar
rested upon your arrival but neither
they. working secretly. nor the Ameri-
can consul protesting openly. could
gain any knowledge OF what had hap
pened to you afteTwxrd IL was given
out that you had been immediately re-
leased aud had left the city. Your bag.
gage was obtained by the consul. who
received also a packet forwarded to
you In his care from Paris. by Mr.. Cor
don doubtless These things were In
the consul's hands three weeks ago"
Three weeks ago!' cried Darrell
rising slowly. Have you had word so
later
Vera's cheeks were burning
I'VE have still our agents in Stavro-
pol" she said. land occasional commu-
nication Is possible. They have thought
II worth while to report to me in re-
gard TO your affairs'
Then nothing else in the world mat
tiers in the least" he said. "I do not
magnify your interest I'm me. butt
She checked him with a look that
was both intense aud smiling.
You couldn't" said she almost In n
whisper, and at that he laid his hand
upon hers, which was palm upward on
pile of military reports.
Vera he began, but suddenly
there was clash OF guns and sabers
In the hall.
The princess raped upon the table
with the scabbard Of her sword. a
much bejeweled weapon that had lain
across 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
muhlcatinG with the hall, and pres
ently the orderly announced two on
GERS, who were admitted.
They came with reports that concern
ed the practical details OF war, and
Darrell heard them with a divided at
tention, working meanwhile upon his
maps. One OF them spoke mostly OF
cannon, and Nera's questions showed
a surprising comprehension OF the sub
ject. Slngularly enough, Vera when
speaking OF ordnance ceased 10 seem
play soldier. What she had to say
about the capacity or certain light bat
teries whose disposition seemed to be
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 the
globe and indeed had officered troops,
white, black and yellow, Ia the whirl
or various emergencies, for which rea-
son this Circassian campaign had ap-
pealed 70 him as n grim and awful
or artillery the thing seemed serious.
Perhaps II was the surprise that a
woman should know anything what
ever about the subject
Your sxcellency." he said when the
ofhcers had withdrawn, and then. 81
beg your Pardon; am uncertain what
form OF address you prefer"
Under the present circumstances"
she replied, glancing around the empty
room, Il prefer the style which you
used just as these annoying people
came With their reports"
Vera" be cried. u
That is &C." she said, but In public
'excellency, 'highness' or anything that
suggests Itself. am Indifferent. And
now the maps, the mapsl You are
slow, sir"
And Darrell, under the compulsion
her glance. fell 10 work earnestly.
(To BE ooErINUED.)