The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1902-11-06

deep in the mysteries and intricacies OF
the Moscow conference, the subtleties
Of which increased as the time for SEN
aration and departure drew nearer,
Frances bethought her of fitting op-
portunity to make good a promise she
had made to Vladimir Paulpoff, the
blacksmith. -. ..-.. -
During a conversation held several
weeks before Vladimir had expressed
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 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
Perm, but on this occasion her father.
with some sort of premonition, begged
her to send the books by messenger.
"Oh, no." she said in her quiet man.
ner of insistence. eve are about to re-
turn to the east, and I shall not see
poor Vladimir for a long time'
Hang Vladimir!' exclaimed Gordon
as he saw his self willed young lady
step into the drosky.
Having alighted at Perm, she hired
another drosky to take her and the
precious books to the forge.
The driver was huge, surly indi-
vidual, whose face was covered with
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, h,
swung his heavy drosky in toward the
door Of her hotel. A police inspector
humility.
II hate womenw he said to himself.
''They pay nothing and have things
| happen to them. shall get into trou-
| BILE before lose her,
Frances stepped toward the vehicle.
and the drivers mouth opened.
"Such womanw muttered the dros-
ky driver. "She must be English or All
American. If she was Russian, she
would be princess"
| Frances had had ample experience
with his class in all parts of Russia.
| She calmly stepped into the drosky and
handed him silver coin.
II want to go to the iron shops of the
Paulpofs, on the South road" she said.
*Paulpof- Michael Paulpoff and his
son Vladimir. Do you know them?'
eyes, I know them: But do you
know-what has happened?'
mo. Has any one been ill?"
mo; butt
The police inspector came up.
ANY trouble here?" he asked sharp
ly.
'Trouble? Oh, no." replied Frances.
II was just asking the driver some
questions''
,"Where is it 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 were whipped up, and tn.
vehicle rolled clumsily over the road.
"You said something had happened"
said Frances. us 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 q safe
way to get there"
In truth the way was as safe and
comfortable as it had ever been, but
the warning look of the inspector had
prevented the driver from imparting
the knowledge he had Of the Paulpoffs.
"Let the police tell their own tales
they are always true then-according
to police Standards" muttered the driv-
er.
1t was a long drive to the forge, and
when the drosky drew near, having
! passed through the wild and almost
unsettled region between it and Perm,
Frances was struck with an air Of
mystery that seemed to have suddenly
enveloped the place.
There was no sound of the tremen-
dous blows Of Vladimir that sent the
ring Of steel far into the forest. No
smoke came from the chimneys. Old
Mamma Paulpoff had been wont to run
| u uei uOOi " See every arrival, DuL Suc
was not to be seen.
The wolfhound that had been Vladi-
Mrs pet sat whining upon the porch
and was evidently weak with hunger.
"Old Borisv' cried Frances, leaping
from the drosky. "Where is your hand
some MASTERY"
The hound, who remembered her,
placed his cold nose in her hand low
ingly. He seemed to feel that he had
found q friend.
Frances stepped to the door and push
ed it open.
"Ohv' she cried.
She had opened the door on Prince
Nicholas. Neslerov, who stood there,
about to depart, evidently, with paint
ing under his arm. '.-.>
''Mlle. Gordon" he said, with a bow
and smile. .. -.
"Where are the Paulpoffs?" she ask
ed.
"Why, you have not, then, been in