Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-06-21

put cents into the contribution box
at church and took out half a dollar.
they gave little and gained much more.
They returned from the station with a
very fair idea of the condition of the
Ladislov investigation.
1t appeared that the police had trac-
ed Ladislov to the point where the cap
ture of Vera had been made and a
very little farther. They had then lost
track of the carriage In which the
princess was being taken away and
had failed to get any hint about the
facts of the rescue by Darrell. The
vehicle had been found, Of course, and
there was an inference that 1t must
have been attacked somewhere, but the
police were unable to understand how
Darrell or Gordon could have figured
In the matter. and they dared not make
an arrest upon the evidence Of Fran
co.'s alone, for he proved to be a man
OF such shady record that, having
sold his Information to a minor officer
of police, he had disappeared because
OF fear that his inconvenient past
would cause him trouble.
Thus the whole matter hung in the
wind, like n vessel taken aback. for
several days, which were among the
worst that John Darrell could remem-
Der to have experienced. No word
came from Vera, no hint of her fate.
and the conviction grew stronger In
Darrelrs mind that the agents of the
car had again laid their hands upon
her.
at is a certainty" he said to Cor
don; otherwise she would have sent
us word. She is not the woman to be
guilty Of ingratitude. 1 am going to
Stavropol"
ITO Stavropol" echoed Gordon.
"She told me that she would proba-
bly, be taken there. for trial" replied
Darrell. 1T is a long chance. but |
have no other, and cannot remain In.
active. This thing is eating the heart
out Of me, Robert-H
Gordon attempted to dissuade him.
but to no purpose.
II must 60" he said. 81 rely upon
you, Robert, to do everything that can
be done here. Get to the bottom of the
Ladisloy case If you can. Spend all the
money you can use TO advantage.
Here's check for my balance at Nor
gan's, and you'll see it is not small.
You'll keep me posted. Thank heaven.
there are telegraph. wires leading 10
most regions of the earth in these
days. You can reach me through our
consuls."
Darrell took a train that afternoon
st the Care dc FEST, where be had the
NY1i, o.
Getchikotf. whom in the past few
days he had made many Intellectual
attempts to find. The Russian was
just aEghting from n very elegant pri.
vate equipage belonging TO a young
widow Of enormous wealth and excel
lent family. but OF reputation some
times attacked In whispers Getchi-
koff was evidently starting upon long
Journey and his farewell TO the lady
was somewhat strenuous, considering
the public place in which it occurred.
AS he was about to board the train
Darrell accosted him. Getchikoff seem
ed startled. yet neither surprised nor
altogether pleased. His manner was
somewhat puzzling to Darrell. 1t did
not lack cordially. Indeed Getchikoff
was making arrangements that they
should travel together, and before they
had ridden five miles he conflded to the
American that he was engaged to the
lady in whose carriage he had come to
the station and that the marriage, for
every reason. was the most desirable
thing in life for him.
From Paris TO Stavropol IS a long
a.
Darrell, with the burden OF his nearly
hopeless mission, ii was almost unen-
durable. IN conversations with Getchi-
koff he approached the object of his
journey as nearly as he dared, and he
obtained the other side Of Vera Sheva-
lofts story. Naturally her father was
represented by GetchikofP to have been
a traitor to the ear and Justly con-
demned. Yet Getchikoff treated the
subject without malignity, almost with
sympathy, speaking often of the pri-
vate virtues of Count Konstantin and
of the noble character Of his wife. AS
to Vera he prOfsSsed ignorance
''She was only child then" he said.
II knew little about her. 1t is rumored
that she is now high in the counsels of
the nihilists, but cannot speak OF that
from my own knowledge. If she were
in trouble in StavropoL my father
would spare her to the last limit OF his
power"
And somehow this final sentence
seemed TO ring true in Darrelrs ears
and TO give him hope.
Otherwise the journey was without
incident, except that mysterious men
were always bobbing up from unex-
pected places TO hold long and serious
talks with GetchikofR.
81 win accompany you to a good ho-
tel" said Getchikoff as they prepared
to leave the train at the end of their
long journey. Later hope to have
you for my guest at the palace. But
this matter OF your connection with
Vera Shevalon"-
what do you know Of thatT' de-
Darrell.
ITO be frank. have heard runnors," /
was the answer. 'And Russia is not
America, you know"
"Thank God America "a NOT RnSsia - L