Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-10-22
CHAPTER w.

raE MEETING AT THE FORGE
UT was characteristic Of Frances
Gordon that. no matter how great
the stress of social or other du-
ties, her mind never lost room
for such favorite schemes as were clos
est to her heart.
It was by reason Of this characteris-
tic that, while her busy father was
deep in the mysteries and intricacies of
the Moscow conference, the subtleties
Of which increased as the time for sep
aration and departure drew nearer,
Frances bethought her Of fitting op-
portunity to make good promise she
had made to Vladimir Paulpof. the
blacksmith.
During q conversation held several
weeks before Vladimir had expressed a
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
tion.
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. 1--WE are about to re-
turn to the east, and l shall not see
poor Vladimir for 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 a
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, he
swung his heavy drosky In toward the
door of her hotel. "A police inspector
stood near. and the driver saluted In
humility.
81 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 an
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 a silver coin.
81 want to go to the iron shops Of the
Paulpoffs, on the South road" she said.
"Paulpoff- Michael Paulpoff and his
son Vladimir. Do you know them"
"Yes, l know them. But do you
know-what has happened?
mo. Has any one been ill?"
"No; but
The police inspector came up.
"Any trouble here" he asked sharp.
ly.
Trouble? Oh, nor replied Frances
81 was just asking the driver some
questions"
where is it you wish to go?"
ITO the nworkers'-Paulpoff."
A warning look that meant volumes
to the initiated shot from the inspector
to the driver.
The horses were whipped up. and the
vehicle rolled clumsily over the road.
"You said something had happened
said Frances. "Is any one sick at the
Paulpoffs?"
mo: 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 a safe
way to get there"
In truth the way was as safe and
comfortable as 1t had ever been. but
the warning look Of the inspector had
prevented the driver from imparting
the knowledge he had Of the Paulpoffs
"I.ct the police tell their own tales
they are always true then-accordine
to police standards" muttered the driv
er.
1t was a long drive to the forge, anc
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 thf
ring of steel far into the forest. NJ
smoke came from the chlmneys. OlC
Mamma Paulpoff had been wont to ruI
to her door to see every arrival. but sh'
was not to be seen.
The wolfhound that had been Vladl
mfrs pet sat whining upon the porci
and was evidently weak with hunger.
"Old BorisT' cried Frances. leapint
from the drosky. "Where Is your hand
some maSter?"