Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-10-09
s.; S. E /. s !, s ), !; !, !; !, S s. s s s s s s s s !: !, S S s s s s S" s s s s S S S s s s

COPYRIGHT, 1901, by Charles u. EtherfnGton

eOoos ! an ="
place is, your excellency. There will
be no more nesting"
"Do you know a forge on the forest
.oad leading out of Perm to the southT
"a forge? a ho%rseshoeing placer
"Well, that and all ironworking. 1t
s kept by a man named Paulpoff."
"Paulpoff. the giant who breaks horse
shoes with his thumbs and foreigners?
The simple minded son Of old Michael?
What has he to do with nihilists"
"He is their leader" Neslerov said
quietly.
Jansky turned white, whether from
surprise or horror at the devilish plot
he scented we do not know. But he
sat there waiting. The police of Tomsk
needed a chief. The chief would have
I palace and a large salary.
Yes" continued Neslerov, this Paul
poff, as I accidentally discovered, Is the
leader Of a band of nihilists who meet
there in the shops. l Glanced to pass
there yesterday and overheard a bit of
conversation between the son and the
old man. 1t seems there is to be a
meeting in a few nights"
"A meeting of nihilists in the shops
Of Paulpoff"
Eyes. Now, it has long been suspect
ed that there were many nihilists at
Perm, but the police have not been able
to 90 them. Let M advise you.
Keep this to yourself-a secret between
you and me. We will go to the forge
and arrest these P%aulpoffs. If we find
proof hat they are nihilists. they will
20 across the border and you will be
mentioned for promotion. Then the
opportunity will come to me to speak
to the minister of justice f-r you, and
undoubtedly you will be given to me as
he chief of the Tomsk police"
Jansky nodded. 1t was not for him
10 ask questions now.
II Am ready" he said.
"Then tomorrow. ! will make still
further Investigations in my OWL way.
and we shall be ready to act. We must
both go to Perm from here"
Jansky, not being asked to remain
longer, took his departure. And then
suddenly from his repose the prince be-
came a maj of quick action. He called
IIOiu ulS "Sldt IOul Z III "hOLI iC
knew he could place the most implicit
confidence. He spent some time at his
desk writing. To each Of the four he
gave a letter, unsealed. unstamped, but
addressed to each and apparently hav-
, ing been delivered by the hand of a pri-
vate messenger.
go with me, do what I bid you, and
you will have gold rubles for a years
pleasure" he said.
Inspector Jansky, happy and yet agi-
tated at the result Of the conference
with the prince, sat in his office in
Perm on the following afternoon. 1t
was growing late, and he had looked
hours for Prince Neslerov.
He was mistaken or he has failed"
be said. 'He would have come if there
was a possibility Of success
, AS he spoke the princes horse gal
loped to the door.
, Good! Then success is possible"
, said Jansky, grasping the hand of his
. noble benefactor.
: possible! 1t is certain. Come with
J me-"
.i'' NV ~ 81 rooh ~ IL cEs
Of the steed ridden by the prince.
II made it my business to ride pas
the shops of Paulpoff," said the prince
, II met there. just leaving, a man VIII
was, to say the least, discreditable i
appearance. I spoke to him, and h
= was frightened. l saw him crumple
paper in his hand. l snatched it fror
! him. 1t was a message addressed {
Number Five of some mysterious Gil
Gle, calling upon the person bearin
that name to come to the shops at
. certain hour tonight. We shall be /
time. Let us ride"
1t had so CHANGED that a number @
=, accidents to horses had taken plac
that day on the forest road. Whe
the inspector of police and Neslerov a.
rived, four men were within the shoI
their horses standing outside, and a
We're apparently in the greatest eagel
ness to have their horses shod. Pap
Paulpoff was visibly disturbed by thi
4 sudden inhnx of the horseshoeing bus
ness, but the giant Vladimir, who neV
er refused a request If he could help
|, human being, was beginning TO max
the shoes. The men did not apparent
know n another, and each growle
continually at the others for bein
. there.
h Neslerov, upon arriving at the shol
whispered to the inspector, and bot
leaped from their horses.
"Seize the old man and the SON. sai
q Neslcrov. Il will search these fe
lows"
). Poor old Papa Paulpoff turned whit
and sank in horror to the ground, su
- pccting what was coming, but Vlad
mir, in whose innocent mind there VIZ
- no suspicion. stood gaping at the new
a corners.
:. 1T Is the prince!' he exclaime'
n what have these poor men done, yol
ia excellency|
~ Neslerov did not answer him. +
n turned to the nearest Of the four, wre
70 tied with him a short time, while II
N others showed evidences Of terror, an
n then pulled from his pocket a letter.
See" he cried, waving it in the a
7 and then showing it to the inspecto
1T is a message to Number Three
N We have here the Eve constituting IL
% circle"
LET me read" said the inspecto
"a while Vladimir still looked on unco
sciouc nf tho t.o uaIv that Uns haiI