Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1902-10-23
THE MYSTERY
IL OF GRASLOV
By Ashley Towne
Copyright. 1901, by
Charles b. Etherington
CHAPTER Nv.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Continued from last week

Gordon that, no matter how great
Jill the stress of social or other du-
ties, her mind never lost room
for such favorite schemes as were clos
est TO her heart.
1t was by reason of this characteris-
tic that, while her busy father was
deep in the mysteries and intricacies of
the Moscow conference, the subtleties
Of which increased as the time for sep
aration and departure drew nearer,
Frances bethought her of fitting op-
portunity to make good promise she
had made t. Vladimir Paulpofr, the
blacksmith.
During a conversation held several
weeks before Vladimir had expressed a
desire to study certain books which
were apparently beyond his reach.
Frances promised to obtain the books,
and she did so. These made quite re-
spectacle package. and a drosky was
called to convey her to the railway sta
ton.
1t was nothing new for Frances to
travel alone as far as from Moscow to
L
with some sort of premonition, begged
her to send the books by messenger.
"Oh, no." she said in her quiet man
ner Of insistence I'VE are about to re-
turn to the east, and | shall not see
poor Vladimir for long time"
"Hang Vladimir" exclaimed Gordon
as he saw his self willed young lady
Etep into the drosky.
Having alighted at Perm, she hired
another drosky to take her and the
precious books to the'forge.
The driver was a huge, surly indi-
yidual, whose face was covered with Il
thick mass of beard and whose voice,
when speaking to one not established
as his superior, was heavy and inso-
lent
Responding to the call of Frances, he
swung his heavy drosky in toward the
door OF her hotel \ police inspector
stood near, and the driver saluted in
humility.
Il hate women" he said to himself.
"They pay nothing and have things
happen to them. | shall get into trou-
ble before | lose her"
Frances stepped toward the vehicle,
and the drivers mouth opened.
Such woman muttered the dros-
ky driver she must be English or an
American. If she was a Russian, she
would be a princess"
Frances had had ample experience
with his class in all parts of Russia.
She calmly stepped into the drosky and
handed him a silver coin.
Il want to go TO the iron shops Of the
Paulpoffs, on the South road" she said.
"Paulpoff- Michael Paulpof and his
son Vladimir. Do you know them"
Yes. | know them. But do you
know-what has happened?
mo. Has any one been III"
"No; but
The police inspector came up.
Amy trouble here?" he asked sharp
ly.
Trouble? Oh, no. replied Frances.
81 was just asking the driver some
questions"
where is 1t you wish TO go?"
ITO the ironworkers'
A warning look that meant volumes
TO the initiated shot from the inspector
TO the driver.
The horses We're whipped up, and the
vehicle rolled clumsily over the road.
You said something had happened"
said Frances. rs any one sick at the
Paulpoffs?"
NO; it wasn't that" answered the
driver But the rain yesterday broke
up the road. did not think you would
wish to come"
Nonsense. There must be u safe
way to get there"
In truth the way was as safe and
comfortable as Ii had ever been, but
the warning look of the inspector had
prevented the driver from fmparting
the knowledge he had Of the Paulpoffs.
Let the police tell their own tales
they are always true then according
to police standards" muttercd the driy-
er
1t was a long drive TO the forge, and
when the drosky drew near having
passed through the wild aud almost
unsettled region between it and Perm,
Frances was struck with an air OF
mystery that seemed to have suddenly
enyeloped the place.
There was no sound OF the tlemen-
dous blows OF Vladimir that sent the
ring of steel far into the forest No
smoke came from the chirnncyS Old
Mamma Faulpon had been wont Ia run
to her door to see every arrival, but she
was not TO he seen
The wolfhound that had been Nladl-
mfrs pet sat whining upon the porch
and was evidently weak with hunger
"OId Boris" cried Frances, leaping
from the drosky. Where Is your hand
some masterf'
The bound. who remembered her
placed his cold nose in ber hand low
ingly He seemed 10 feel that he had
found friend
Frances stepped to the door and push
ed it open
"OhF she cried
She had opened the door on Prince
Nicholas NesIerov. who stood there.
about to depart. evidently, with paint.
ing under bis arm.
Mile Gordon" lie said. with bow
and smile
Where are the paulpofrs?" she ask
ed
why. you have not. then, been in
formed OF their misfortune"
"Misfortune' ! knew nothing OF any
misfortune What has happenedF'
They are dead"
Dead! All the Paulpoffs dead! I'm
posslble Papa PauIpoff and Mamma
Paulpoff might die, they were so old
but Vladimir, lmpossiblel So young
and powerful! Nothing but the weapon
OF an enemy could kill him in this
healthy place"
II spoke as we speak, mademoiselle.
The PauIpoffs are not really dead. We
peak OF a man who is caught in crime
md sent off-eyiled-as dead. He is
lead to his friends and to the world.
(ou understandF
Frances stood rigid and white, the
iackage Of books forgotten in the