Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-11-26


~ ENToN presented an unrunied
~ Take me to the governor"
he said.
1.-THE governor is resting" growled o
fellow whose, face was mass Of greasy
hair. You will kill him."
Nonsense! Take me to the govern
or If you kill me. he will de-
why is that. builder of bridges? Is
there god who ayenges the death of
Americans"
ut will need no god to do that now.
The case is simply that Neslerov needs
better care than you can give him. He
is badly injured. 1t is necessary that
he shall be taken to Tomsk Mt once.
can start within the hour. There will
not be another train to the Obi in four
days. Do you desire to keep your pre-
cious governor here and have him die
on your handsI'
mo. Let us see what the governor
has to say"
II was solemn crowd that marched
In two columns, with Denton between,
to the hut Of the village priest, where
Neslerov lay.
"Why do you bring him here?' asked
the priest. Heard you not what his
excellency said?"
Hold your peace. Wait till you hear
them speak together" was the reply.
Neslerov looked up at his conqueror,
and an expression of hatred came into
his eyes. Denton made no show of sen.
timent or compassion.
II understand you commanded these
villagers to kill me-" he said, standing
Mt the side of the bed and looking cold
ly and sternly at his victim. Il just
wanted to say before they kill me-
which they certainly will do II you in
sist-that in that case you would prob
ably die here for lack of proper care"
you cannot help me - you would
not" answered Neslerov.
THAT is for you to say. am not n
murderer l had no desire to kill you.
You attacked me, and l defended my
self. am going back to Tomsk. pro-
vided your savage villagers don't kill
me, and merely came to ask II you
would be pleased to CO."
"How?" he asked.
"In the same car you came thus far
In"
"But how? There is no train due for
days"
II will take you to Tomsk IL you
promise never again to modest Mr..
Gordon or his daughter"
II promise" said Neslerov. 81 will
order the villagers to permit you to
60"
Denton then went to the car and ex-
nmined 1t. He discovered where a
flaw in the iron had weakened the
couplings.
He was followed at a short distance
by several young men, among whom
was the boy who had run to tell him
that woman was being roughly
handled by Neslerov, and who had
taken his horse to shelter. He ordered
the boy to bring the horse. Mounting.
he was soon out of sight. He did not
60 far, however. He rode along the
track until he reached siding short
distance from the bridge, where there
was an old construction engine.
Denton examined the old hulk. It
was fit only for drawing one or two
ears. Denton carried water from the
river and filled the boiler and built q
fire of wood.
Soon after the villagers were sur.
prised to see wheeZy, rickety old en-
CINE coming slowly, with prodigious
noise, into view Denton's horse had
no difficulty in keeping up with 1t.
The old engine was coupled to the
car, and then Denton went for
Frances.
1.-THE train is ready" he said.
1.-THE train! What train?
1.-THE train that is to carry you to the
Obi. where you will join your father
.'But there is no trainw
..There Is a train, and rs the steam
Is up and the track clear suggest
haste. Your father Is probably anx
ious."
She went with him. At the sight Of
tho engine she understood.
"You are wonderful-you are doinl
this for mer' she said.
Eyes, but Neslerov will be a passen
ger"
"And youY'
Engineer. conductor. guard-all."
He took her to the car and made he
comfortable.
Neslerov was carried to the car b!
the villagers. The backs of two seat
were turned down, a bed was made TO
him. and he lay there quiet and seem
ingly content.
"Of course, know that you are seri
ously wounded said Denton to him
''and the possibility of your doing an!
mischief is small. but l want to tel
you before we start that IL catch yo'
at any tricks will kill you as woul'
n dog"
Neslerov nodded, and Denton wen
on the engine.
1t was an exciting start, though tn
audience was small. The villager
stared, then laughed as the little oil
engine puffed and screeched and scrap
ed as 1t got under way.
But 1t had man in charge of 1t VIII
was accustomed to overcoming Difficult
ties. And the way he made it groa
and work would have made glad tn
heart of the man who had abandone
it on the siding six months before.
In the car was silence. Neslero
was too weak to talk; Frances woul
not talk to him ifShe wished. She RI
manned at her end Of the car, save t
go in mercy to him and offer him We
ter at intervals. At such times b
Would. look up at her with an earnes
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