Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-04-02
COPYRIGHT, 1901,
BY CHARLES n.
ETIIEPTNGT0N

pe lnat lietchikoH assisted him in tina
enterprise?"
IF 1t was he, did not recogniz,
him. she replied. ~ doubt, indeed
whether should know Ivan in broat
daylight. and this man l scarcely saw
ut ALL"
II think he would be above sucl
work" said Darrell.
The Getchikoffs are proud" sh,
said. but cruel as wolves. They ar,
all powerful in Stavropol today, boil
In the city and the province. 1t i.
probable that should have been taker
there for some form of trial, though
as to that am merely making a guess
! have no means of knowing what
would have been done with me except
that should eventually have beer
sent back to Siberia"
sent Dack!'' exclaimed uarreiI
Have you been there?"
Il accompanied my father" she an
swered calmly. Upon the downfall
of my family four years ago lie wa.
eXiled, and my mother and myself
chose to share his fate, though VIZ
might have avoided it. AS to what VIZ
suffered, there are now many books
which describe the long journey ant
the horrors that are reserved for those
who survive it. My mother lived more
than two years after we reached the
prison settlement to which we were as
signed; my father, some months Ion
ger. In Stavropol, my friend, there is
a cathedral which my father built, and
within 1t is tomb of white marble
The SHOWS of Siberia are winter than
the marble, and perhaps my father and
my mother sleep as well in one place as
another. Let us not think of it."
But you'll" exclaimed Darrell. "You
escaped?"
II was released"
"Then how can you be sent back?"
Because" said Vera, extending q
White hand from the folds of the cloak
into the light and holding 1t clinched in
n peculiar manner, "in order to avoid
fate worse than Siberian exile ]
drove knife into the heart of Nicholas
Gorski, governor of the district"
"Thank God" gasped Darrell invol
UNFAIRLY.
'The order for my release had al
ready arrived" Vera continued, land
Gorski dared not suppress or delay it
l knew what must happen the instant
that heard Of the arrival of the order
and so prepared the knife for myself
But circumstances made it possible fol
me to sheath 1t elsewhere than in my
own breast. 1t was all very fortunate
am told that six months had elapsed
and was far from Siberia before the
suspicion arose that l had struck him
down. His death was a mystery
Even now, If were disposed to deny
it in a fair tribunal, the act could moi
be proved. That is why shall never
be openly arrested outside of Russia"
You came to Paris"
Eventually, yes. But have been in
many parts of Europe, even in Stavro
pol, though that was a great risk, for
the Getchikoffs, who plotted and &c.
complished my fathers destruction
would make short work with me. l
went to obtain funds that he had hid
den, and was successful. Since com.
ing to Paris have harbored with nj
hilists, and that is why am unable to
seek any refuge this night. If am an
object of pursuit upon my own ac-
count, must not attract the hounds
toward another quarry. Now you have
my story. Shall you tell it to Mrs.
Gordon?"
'sAIost certainly" answered Darrell,
"and the sooner the better. I am only
sorry that you cannot go with me into
the ball. but unmasked it would not be
best. am afraid to leave you alone in
the carriage"
ut is impossible that they should
lave followed me-" she said. 81 shall
not be alarmed"
Darrell glanced out of the cab win
dow.
eve are in the Rue Blanche" he
said. sit is the Church of La Trinite
that we have just passed to the left
there. 1t is u matter of five minutes
now. By heaven, wish it We're not
necessary to leave you!"
81 think it would be best for you"
said she, ito leave me forever. / am
a dangerous companion for you or for
your friends. It is monstrous that /
should permit you to interest them in
me. Why is it not best that 1 should
take the hint you have given me and
ride in this cab all night?"
"Alone" cried Darrell. eff 1 am to
desert you in that way, let the driver
take us to the river first. am not the
man who could live after such treason.
And. besides, you haven't any money to
pay the fellow in the morning, which
reminds me that mus lend you some,
for it isn't safe to be without it in Par.
is for a minute"
II cannot take it." protested Vera,
and while they We're disputing upon
this point the carriage rolled out into
the Place Blanche and presently stop
ped amid a press of vehicles before the
portals of the Moulin Rouge.
Darrell directed the cabman to go on
little way, and then alighted. Imme-
diately he was aware of two figures,
man and woman, who We're hurrying
toward him. The man was frocked
like a gray friar, with cord and cowl;
the woman wore a fawn colored domi.
no, and she twirled mask by its cord
She had abundant dark brown hair,
and she was tall, like Vera. Her COM
panion was six footer, and he looked
n giant in his gray robe.
81 beg your pardon" he said in Eng
fish. "Are you done with the cab? All
these are engaged"
.You leave the ball early" said Oar
rell, without answering the question.
as it less interesting than usual?"
'We say goodby to Paris at SUNRISE y
the young man replied. isn't that
beastly? We have just time to get to
our lodgings and finish packing. You
are an American, aren't you?"
"Yes," replied Darrell, Pm an Amer
lean, as you are. and Pm in bit of a
fix also. us you are. You want a cab,
and want to go into the ball with my
friend, but we can't do 1t without cos
tunes. If we don't get any, shall be
obliged to go in alone, and she will
wait in the cab: SO Won can't have n