Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-04-09

way Sle HIS Nelicu uet Seciel tlIouSu-
out her talk with us? Perfectly frank
about herself and about her past sor-
rows, absolutely elusive OH matters of
the present and future! What is she
doing in PARISH"
II give 1t up" said Darrell. "but
hope she'll succeed. whatever it is, and
If can help her.
"Why, you'll plunge into any scrape
to do it said Gordon.
"Ill not drag you and your wife in
after me. however" rejoincd Darrell
firmly.
Don't worry about U.S." responded
Gordon, with n laugh. "Any friend Of
yours is more than welcome, even
though her baggage may be fall of
dynamite. And us to Mile. Shevaloff."
he added seriously. "my wife is com
pletely satisfied. and that decision is
final hereabout; also 1t is invariably
correct"
Darrell crossed to the eastern WIN
dow and stood for some time In silence,
looking out upon the gray morning. He
turned at the sound Of Mrs. Gordon's
voice.
II have to thank you. Jack" said she,
"for what believe TO be great and
splendid opportunity This girl you
have brought to me is wonderful
creature. full of glorious possibilities,
but she stands in great peril. She has
birth and breeding, and. unless l am
grossly mistaken, she has that which
Is much better-the instinct of true wo-
manhood. But she is as little fit for
vengeance as Hamlet was. and she
shall not waste her life upon 1t IL can
prevent"
Vengeance" echoed Gordon.
Beyond n doubt the girl is conspir-
ator of some sort" said the lady, com
mitted to an impossible plan that will
result inevitably in her own destruc-
ton. Selfish men are probably using
her for their own ends, playing upon
her fathers wrongs. squandering her
money. | have no doubt, ON the pre-
tense of furtherlng some mad design Of
extrajudicial Justice. am going to
see what common sense can do for her.
She cannot bring her parents back to
life. She cannot right the wrongs that
have been done. 1t would be better for
her to consider her own life and to ac-
cept such happiness as the world Of
fers."
II hope to heaven that you'll sue
ceed." said Darrell. taking her hand.
With Mrs. Gordon's amiable attempt
to stem the tide of destiny this present
record is not intimately concerned. 1t
is sufficient to say that Vera was for
several days member of that house
hold and that she revealed n many
sided and most interesting nature. But
she did not reveal the secret of her
mission In Paris. She continued to be
frank about herself, disclosing without
reserve the facts of her ancestry ana
earlier life. 1t appeared that upon her
mothers side she was descended from
princely house of Circassla, of which
she was almost the sole survivor.
Moreover. she had n strain of Amer
lean blood through an international
marriage two generations back, ana
to that, in her opinion, she owed her
chief distinguishing peculiarities both
of mind and body. Certainly her APP
pearance was most unusual for Cir
cassian.
She made no attempt to secure her
personal effects, and the Gordons were
not aware that she communicated with
the persons in whose charge the things
then were, but she obtained money
from bank where she had an ac-
count under an assumed name. OAR
rell presented the check for her, and 1t
was Tor n large su,..,---....a.- rid
without question. Such things as she
required were purchased for her by
Mrs. Gordon, Vera herself remaining
strictly within doors.
On the second day she asked leave to
receive two gentlemen, and as result
Of this permission and note dispatch
ed by n messenger there appeared at
the house about o'clock in the even
ing two persons of somewhat formi-
dable aspect. They were presented to
Mrs. Gordon as NJ. Kilziar and NJ.
Korna and We're subsequently referred
to by Darrell and Gordon in their pri-
vate conversation as the alliterative
duo.
NJ. Kilziar was bulky man, nearly
fifty years old, swarthy and keen eyed.
He had the air of one Injured to phys
ical hardships, familiar with the saddle
and the sword. NJ. Korna was under
thirty, slender and graceful. He mar
rowly escaped being handsome, but the
leanness of his yisage and consequent
unpleasant prominence of his high
cheek bones spoiled the effect Of brilliant
eyes and fine, firm mouth and chin.
What these gentlemen had to com
municate no one but themselves and
Vera knew, for Mrs. Gordon retired be-
You'd earshot when the serious CONVEX
sation began.
On the dry following gentleman Of
quite different type presented him
self. He was NJ. Jules Clery, very ell.
egant individual, a Frenchman Of dis
tinguished family. During NJ. Clery's
visit Gordon discovered Darrell in the
billiard room, walking around the ia
BILE, his hands deep in his pockets and
his broad and studious brow deeply
almost painfully, furrowed.
Gordon sank into n chair and watch
ed Darrell walk half mile. Then he
said:
"Old man, you're Jealous"
Darrell stopped short and for some
seconds regarded his friend with that
glance of careful. searching inquiry
which was so good mask for the RI
pidity of his thought.
''Bob," said he, do you know who
NJ. Clery ISL"
Certainly" replied Gordon, and Ii.
gave hasty sketch of the man.
| 'Do you know what he does?" de
manded Darrell.
"Does| repeated Gordon. "What d.
you mean?'
81 mean for living" Responded
Darrell. Il suppose 1t is not general!
known that he does anything, but tn,
truth is that lie is a man of business
He is a silent partner in the bigges
powder mill In France. He makes al
kinds of explosives, Robert, and sell