Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-10-09
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was CnarHCteTlStlC 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.
1t was by reason Of this characteris-
tic that, while her busy father was
deep in the mysteries and i%ntricacies OF
the Moscow conference. the Subtleties
Of which increased as the time for sep
aration and departure drew nearer.
Frances b%ethought her of a fitting op-
%portunity to make good a promise she
had made 70 Vladimir Paulpoff, the
blacksmith.
During n 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 a re-
spectacle package, and a 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 sem the books by messenger.
ooh, 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 a long time"
Hang Vladimir" exclaimed Gordon
as he saw his self willed young lady
step into the drosky.
Having alighted at Perm, she hireO
another drosky to take her and the
precious books to the forge.
The driver was a huge, surly indi-
vidual, whose face was covered with a
thick mass of beard and whose voice,
when speaking to 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.
Il hate women!" he said to himself.
"They pay nothing and have things
happen to them. l shall get into trou.
bic before l lose her"
Frances stepped toward the vehicle
and the drivers mouth opened.
"Such a woman!" muttered the dros
ky driver. "She must be English or ar
American. If she was a Russian, she
would be a princess"
Frances had had ample experience
with his class in all parts of Russia
She calmly stepped into the drosky ant
handed him a silver coin.
Il want to go to the iron shops Of tn,
Paulpoffs, on the South road she said
"Paulpof-Michael Paulpoff and hi!
son Vladimir. Do you know them?'
Yes, l know them. But do you
know-what has happened"
"No. Has any one been illT"
"No; but
The police inspector came up.
"Any trouble here?" he asked sharp
ly.
"Trouble? oh, no." replied Frances
81 was just asking the driver SOM
questions"
where is it you wish to goT"
ITO the Observation-Disclosures"
~ NdllJiuS iOoh VIA hiCuht oiui
to the initiated shot from the inspecto
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 tn
P~aulpoffsT"
mo; it wasn't that" answered tn
driver. "But the rain yesterday brok
up the road. l did not think you woul
: wish to come"
Nonsense! There must be a SAT
way to get there"
In truth the way was as safe an
> comfortable as 1t had ever been, bu
the warning look of the inspector ha
prevented the driver from impartin
the knowledge he had Of the Paulpoff!
"Let the police tell their WI tales
/, they are always true then-accordin
to police standards" muttered the dri,
= er.
1t was a long drive to the forge, an
when the drosky drew near, havin
passed through the wild and almos
unsettled region between it and Perm
Frances was struck with an air c
mystery that seemed to have suddenl
q enveloped the place.
There was NJ sound Of the tremel
dOus blows Of Vladimir that sent tn
ring of steel far into the forest. \
smoke came from the chimneys. Oh
8 Mamma Pnulpon had been wont to III
to her door to see every arrival, but 81
VA not to be seen.
q The %wolfhound that had been vlnd
Mrs net sat whining upon the pore