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

on the engine.
1t was an exciting start. though the
audience was small. The villagers
stared, then laughed as the little old
engine pulled and screeched and scrap
cd as 1t got under way.
But 1t had n man in charge Of 1t who
was accustomed to overcoming Difficult
ties. And the way he made it groan
and work would have made glad the
heart Of the man who had abandoned
1t on the siding six months before.
In the car was silence. Neslerov
was too weak to talk; Frances would
not talk to him II he wished. She re-
manned Mt her end Of the car, save to
go in mercy to him and offer him wa
ter at intervals. At such times he
would look up at her with an earnest,
1nscrutable expression on his face. She
would not speak, nor he.
Suddenly at a siding toward which
he had been aiming Denton turned the
engine to tie right and brought the lit
tie train to a standstill. They had been
on the road sixteen hours and had trav-
eled 210 miles.
Frances and Neslerov both looked up
as the train stopped and saw the grimy
engineer enter the car.
"There is village near here" he
said, land Just beyond this siding there
is small signal box. have just WIS.,
tied IT, and there is train coming this
way from Tomsk. Undoubtedly, as
there is no regular train due this is a
searching party out after Frances Cor
don. Now. have no wish to start an
international controversy. What story
shall we tellf"
Tell the truth" said Frances. 1T
does not, as a rule, harm any person
who is innocent"
NO" said Neslerov; mot as a rule.
But we are In part Of the world
where customs are different from yours.
If you tell the truth. you will never
make the world believe you. But you
will not understands; cannot tell you"
II know what you mean." said Fran
ces scornfuly. You mean that your
reputation is so bad that II 1t We're
known that you had that car left be-
hind to compel me TO marry you every
body will be sure l am your wife. Is
that itT
yes; something like that"
"But, then. there is my word" said
Denton.
Your story will he believed by your
people, my story by mine" said Nesle-
ROY. Let us each tell what we please.
/ do not care"
Denton nodded and went back to his
engine. But ne did not start. The
whistle of a speeding locomotive was
borne to him by the breeze. 1t came
one engine and car the same as that
he was on, but modern locomotive Of
American make. Gordon was in the
car with some officials from Tomsk.
Hey! That you. Denton?" he gasp
ed as the grimy bridgebuilder stepped
into the EAR, which vas stopped at the
side of the construction engine. my
girl and the governor Of Tomsk got
left behind in a car. Seem
I'm all right" said Frances as she
emerged from her car and few to her
IA lltT dTIIlS.
Did Denton save you? What was
1t? Where is Nesleroy?' asked Gordon.
"Oh. he is in there said Frances
coolly. "We've had lively experience.
| thought at one time we'd be killed by
some savages. But Mr.. Denton and tie
and hungry"
Denton heard and wondered.
In every new experience he had had
with Frances Gordon he had been made
more and more astonished by the I'M
certain moods, the whirns. the strange
turns her caprice would take.
Hitch on TO this train and haul her
back to the Obi" said Denton. IL the
road doesn't want this engine, l can
use it az the Obi bridge"
This attachment was soon made, and
Mr. Gordon. after visiting the prince
and congratulating him upon his es-
cape from the savages, assisted N
transferring to him some Of the COM
forts to be found in the other car. The
Russian officials swarmed around him
and praised his courage.
And that American! He is a brave
one too" they said.
Yes; he is brave-braver than L."
said Neslcrov weakly.
The train started back toward
Tomsk. 1t had about ninety miles to
go to reach the Obi During the jour
ney Denton and Frances found them
selves side by side in the rear car,
with no one near enough to hear their
low spoken tones.
~ cannot understand you" said
Denton. You first said tell the TRUTH
then you yourself told the first daliber-
ate lie. Why?'
Frances looked at him coolly.
Because thought ii over. There
was good deal in what Neslerov said
TLen. again, you and my father have
work to do, career to make, money
to earn. and with the enmity of Ne
slerov you would be ruined. studied
it well. 1t is better as l said it. Let
It pass"
Here we are Mt Vashlov." he said
"For the time being you are home
again"
Yes" she replied, with the slightest
tremor in her voice. Thanks to you,
l am home again-in my temporary
home"
CHAPTER X.
JANSKY, SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE
L., t.. Ii. l..