The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-04
CHAPTER XII.

whispered cry, "we are lost" she fell to
the floor unconscious.
CHAPTER XII.
PRINCESS OLGA BEGINS TO ACT.
"Now, Therese, tell me what you have
| learned Why did the fact that the pic
! ture of Alexandra hangs upon the wall or
Neslerovs room make you faint? You
| have learned something. Tell me-"
| Tell me-"
| Therese was sitting in chair, her face
| white and drawn, and in her eyes was
bewildered look. ..--..
| ct was not so much what I heard, prin-
| cess, as what 1 knew and suspected she
| answered.
Il know what you know. I suspect
i what you suspect. Tell me what you
| heard,'' she said sternly.
1T was in the serf's hail. she said in
| reply to the princess. ~ was eating; no
! one seemed to ask who l was, and they
| talked as servants do. Vladimir Paulpotf
! is in danger OF his life
| Princes Olga gave start, but recovered
| her composure.
Go on" she said. Tell me all"
1T seems there is an Americana do
not remember what they called him-but
| he is an American who builds bridges over
! the rivers for the new railway. He
knows Vladimir Paulpoff. He is also
! friend0 Of that American girl-you re-
| member-we met at the fair in Moscow
| Frances Gordon? 1 remember her.
| She gave literally to the charities. Well?'
! ut would seem from what heard that
/ the governor is in love with her, and that
| she rejected him. These things are we'll
| known among the servants. 1t seems the
| American and Neslerov had a fight and
| NeslerOy was injured.'
He told me he fell from a horse. Go
on -
TT is believed among the servants that
| Vladimir is also in love with the Ameri
can girl and that she is in love with him.
! And the Americana don't know-but he
may be in love with her Also
Three lovers! She is fortunate-no, I
would say most unfort innate. With one
true and honorable lover any woman is
fortunate, but with three-and one like
Neslerov! 1t is too much"
''You do not seem to suspect where the
picture came from"
do you mean the oil painting of my
cousin the Princess Alexandra ?"
Il mean it. You say it hangs on the
wall of Neslerov's room. 1t is undoubted-
ly the one painted by Vladimir
And when Vladimir and his parents
were sent to Siberia Neslerov took the
| painting?"
Eyes, Vladimir is talented, as you know
at least as have told you
Then Vladimir must be near this
place.
Therese shuddered again.
| HE is-he is in the dungeons under this
palace" she whispered in terror.
A sudden change came over the princess.
She walked in agitation to and fro across
the room.
''Then Neslerov must suspect that
Vladimir holds the key to the mystery of
Graslov,'' she said, stopping again before
Therese.
81 do not know what he thinks. The
American also is here under a charge of
conspiring against the czar.''
"Oh, then it becomes clearer. These
Americans are shrewd. This one, per-
haps, in order to crafty his love Of truth
has set himself the task of discovering
the truth about Graslov.''
"Who knows?" asked Therese. "But
how would he know anything about the
mystery of Graslov?"
TRUE, but you say Vladimir and the
American girl are in love. Vladimir may
have discovered something and told the
girl. She may have told the American
who may not be lover, but friend
She may have enlisted his efforts in the
task of unraveling the mystery"
, at is possible"
what else did you hear?" -
. Nothing: that is all. The American
) was arrested as he was about to leave
for Perm. vladimir was brought from
Tivolffsky, a small village near here
"By the orders of Neslerov?"
ut must be, since they are in the
dungeons of his palace"
"And that is all you heard?" be
"All-everything.' >,
cit is enough to place me upon the RICH
scent. You must not however, give wa.
! to these fits of Inconsistencies. b
stronger, be brave"
ut is all very we'll, princess. But i
:, you had lived for twenty years with thu
horror of that crime overshadowing you
with constant fear of the Siberian
mines weighing upon you, you would no
be calm" 49,.
r '"Poor woman! I appreciate your feel
. ings in the matter. But try to maintain
. your composure, for one mistake now, tn
: slightest suspicion on the part Of Nesle
row, may destroy the efforts we have mad
> during the last two years"
, "Six months, princess"
. For you, since your husband died.
y have been working upon this myster.
since l returned from Paris two years age
: | If God spares my life, l will avenge tn
crime that was committed against on
! branch of the Neslerovs."
: That evening the princess met Neslero
in the dining-room with no show of emo
e ton. Her smile was as winning and he
wit as sharp as ever.
II have not seen you during the after
' noon, fair COUSIN said Neslerov. "But
have not forgotten you. I have bee
gathering the resources of Tomsk to Civ
e you fitting welcome to our city. To
morrow night there will be receptio
v and fete here in your honor"
Q ''To- morrow night? That is quick
DONE
. ''It does not take long to arrange sucl
l thing here. We have so few socia
e pleasures that when the opportunity oc
t ours we grasp it greedily. The officer
of the garrison and the head officials
d with their families, will attend. Yo
must not expect to see the grandeur Q
= fete in ST. Petersburg or Paris
= "It would weary me- said Olga.
e The perfecting of arrangements for tn
fete made Neslerov hurry away, and dig
: was soon left to herself She had resolve
d upon certain plans, but, the activity OF n
d palace in the preparations for the comm
Re festivities seemed destined to balk he1