The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-03-10
DEN1soN, IOWA, TUESDAY, MARCH l,

audience was small. The villagers
stared, then laughed as the little old
engine puffed and screeched and scrap
ed as it got under way.
But it had a man in charge of it who
was accustomed to overcoming difficult
ties. And the way he made it groan
and work would have made glad the
heart of the man who had abandoned
1t on the siding six months before.
In the car was silence. Neslerov
was too weak to talk; Frances would
not talk to him if he wished. She re-
mained at her end of the car, save to
go in mercy to him and offer him wa
ter at intervals. At such times he
would look up at her with an earnest,
inscrutable expression on his face. She
would not speak, nor he.
Suddenly at a siding toward which
he had been aiming Denton turned the
engine to the right and brought the lit
tie train to a standstill. They had been
on the road sixteen hours and had trav-
eled 210 miles.
Frances and Neslerov both looked up
as the train stopped and saw the grimy
engineer enter the car.
"There is village near here" he
said, land just beyond this siding there
is small signal box. have just Wis.,
tied it, and there is train coming this
way from Tomsk. Undoubtedly, as
there is no regular train due, this is a
searching party out after Frances Cor
don. Now, have no wish to start an
international controversy. What story
shall we tell?"
Tell the TRUTH" said Frances. 1T
does not. as a rule, harm any person
who is innocent"
NO." said Neslerov; mot as rule.
But we are in a part Of the world
where customs are different from yours.
If you tell the truth you ~" never
make the world believe you
will not understand: | ,u."
II know what you III ram
ces scornfuIly. You l. your
reputation is so bad ll.... ;. IT were
known that you had that car left be-
hind to compel me to marry you every
body will be sure am your wife. Is
| that itY' -, ,;.
eyes; something like that"
'But. then, there is my word." said
Denton.
Your story will be believed by your
people, my story by mine." said Nesle-
rov. Let us each tell what we please.
do not care"
Denton nodded and went back to his
engine. But he did not start. The
whistle Of a speeding locomotive was
borne to him by the breeze. 1t came
one engine and a car the same as that
he was on, but a modern locomotive Of
American make. Gordon was in the
car with some officials from Tomsk.
"Hey. That you, Denton?" he gasp
ed as the grilny Dridgebuilder stopped
into the car, Which was stopped ut the
| side of the construction engine. My
| girl and the governor of Tomsk got
left behind in a car Seem
'I'm all right" said Frances as she
emerged from her car and flew to her
fathers arms.
Did Denton save you? What was
1t? Where is Neslerov?" asked Gordon
ooh. he is in there" said Frances
coolly. "We've had a lively experience.
thought at one time we'd be killed by
some savages. But Mr.. Denton and the
prince-oh, let's get on; Pm tired out
and hungry"
Denton heard and wondered.
In every new experience he had had
with Frances Gordon he had been made
more and more astonished by the un-
certain moods, the whms, the strange
turns her caprice would take.
Glitch on to this train and haul her
back to the Obi" said Denton. IF the
road doesn't want this engine, can
use it at the Obi bridge"
This attachment was soon made, and
Mr.. Gordon, after visiting the prince
and congratulating him upon his es-
| cape from the Saya"eS assisted in