Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-04-26
THE SPUR OF FATE.
Copyright, 1901, by Charles B. Ethering ton

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 1t must
have been attacked somewhere. but the
police were unable to understand how
Darrell or Gordon could have figured
In the matter. and they dared not make
an arrest upon the evidence Of Fran
co.'s alone. for lie proved to be a man
of such a 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 were among the
worst that John Darrell could remem-
ber 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.
1T Is q certainty" ne 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 Stavropolv' echoed Gordon.
"She told me that she would proba-
bly, be taken there for trial." replied
Darrell ut Is long chance. but !
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.
81 must CO." he said. 81 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 a check for my balance at Nor
gan's, and you'll see 1t Is not small.
You'll keep me posted. Thank heaven.
there are telegraph wires leading to
most regions of the earth In these
days. You can reach me through our
consuls."
Darrell took a train that afternoon
at the Care de FEST. where he had the
extraordinary fortune to- encounter
Getchikoff. whom In the past few
dags-he had-made many Intellectual
attempts to find. The Russian was
Just alighting from a very elegant pri
vate eQuipage belonging to a young
widow Of enormous wealth and excel
lent family. but of reputation some
times attacked in whispers. Gctchi-
koff was evidently starting upon long
| Journey, and his farewell to the lady
was somewhat strenuous, considering
the public place in which 1t occurred.
AS he was about to board the train
Darrell accosted him. Getchikof seem
ed startled. yet neither surprised nor
altogether pleased. His manner was
somewhat puzzling to Darrell. 1t did
not lack cordiality. Indeed Getchikoff
was making arrangements that they
should travel together, and before they
had ridden five miles he cOnfidcd to the
American that be was engaged to the
lady in whose carriage he had come to
the station and that the marriage, for
every reason. was the most desirable
thing in life for him.
From Paris to Stavropol is long
way under the best circumstances. 10
Darrell. with the burden Of his nearly
| hopeless mission. il was almost unpn'
durable. In conversations with Getchl-
koff he approached the object of his
Journey rs nearly as he dared. and ne
obtained the other side Of Vera Sheva'
lofts story. Naturally her father was
represented by Getchikoff TO have been
a traitor to the czar and justly con-
demned. Yet Getchikoff treated the
subject without malignity. almost with
sympathy. speaking often Of the prl'
vate virtues Of Count Konstantin and
of the noble character Of his wife. AS
to Vera he professrd ignorance.
"She was only child then" he said.
II knew little about her. 1t is rumored
that she is now high in the counsels of
the nihilists. but cannot speak of that
from my own knowledge. If she were
in trouble in Stavropol. my father
would spare her to the last limit Of bis
power"
! And somehow this final sentence
seemed to ring true in Darrelrs ears
| and IN give him hone
Otherwise the journey was without
incident. except that mysterious men
were always bobbing up from uneX-
pected places 70 hold long and serious
talks with GetchikOff.
81 will accompany you to good no.
tel" said Gctchikoff as they prepared
to leave the train at the end Of their
long Journey Later | hope to have
you for my guest at the palace. But
this matter Of your connection with
Vera Shevaloff'-
"What do you know Of that?" de-
manded Darrell.
ITO be frank, I have heard rumors, v
was the answer. "And Russia Is not
America, you know"
"Thank God. America is not Russia,
said Darrell. "If ever q man learns
to love his country, it is when he appre'
ciates it's liberties and regard for the
rights Of it's people. Yet l anticipate
no trouble here"
pardon, colonel. By orders of bis
excellency"
Two men had stopped before them
on the street.
"What Is IT," asked Getchlkof.
HIInr 20 ,.n,1 a nnncsnnn tn mo from my