The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-06-04
CHAPTER XXIIL.
IContinued.1

tCOnllnued.1
"Kito, you have your ORDERS" he
says in English, which language most
Hindoos speak.
"0h. yes, ~sahib-the hotel; 1t Is a.!
right" replies the Hindoo driver, who
has been bought. body and soul, with
Russian gold.
Away they go; and Ell route the bar
on chuckles to himself a dozen times
as he pictures the CONSERVATION and
Jealous rage of his Yankee rival at
fnuing him SO favored by the fair
American. He caresses the scented
note from tine to time, and has read
It SO often that each word comes dis
tinctfy before him, thus:
.HThe writer begs leave to inform the
baron that she will receive him at
eight this evening and be at home to
no one else. Regarding the proposition
contained in his letter, the near future
can decide better than the present"
What ian he make Of this other than
q willingness to surrender? He, the
cunning diplomat, who in times past
has met and successfully wrestled
with the most mastery questions o.
the day, now finds himself in the tolls
Of the merciless little god Cupid, who
throws dust in his eyes and temper
erily blinds him.
AT the appointed time the vehicle
pulls up before the hotel, and Baron
Popoff alights. He bows to several
people, looks at his time-piece, smiles
to note the exactpess Of his arrival;
Cor the diplomat is a great sticiler at
ppnctuality. and. if going to his exc
cation, would wan the volley fred at
the praeer time to the second.
Then he enters the caravansary and
gives his card to a waiter. Presently
that furctionary returns with the in
formation that the lady is in the par
icr, and conducts the baron thither.
He finds Molly and her father in the
small parlor, quite alone. The pres
snce Of the senator is not exactly to
the liking Of this ardent lover; but
since the game seems to be playing
Into his hands, he does not see how
he can feel very badly about it. AZ
ter all, the question is only one Of
time. He believes he has won by vir-
tue of his name, and the father as well
as the daughter favors his suit.
No one knows better how to carry
himself in the drawing room than the
baron, for he has mixed much with
royalty in his own land and other
countries where he has been sent rs
Russia's agent.
BE apologies to Demosthenes Tan
ner for the scene in Cairo. and hopes It
has been quite forgotten. At this the
giant from Illinois laughs g~ood-natur-
eddy and declares that all parties
ought to be satisfied; at least, as he
and the baron came out of the small
end Of the horn together, there Is 40
reason they should be foes.
Conversation becomes general, ana
the diplomat exerts himself to make
q good impression on the stout legisla-
tor and his daughter. He has a large
bump of conceit, and believes that rs
lhe evening passes he draws nearer his
goal.
Several times he finds an opportunity
TO whisper to Molly. She bushes beau
tifully and holds a warning finger W.
saying:
@Not yet, baron. You must wait un-
I'll we know each other better"
Then the courteous Russian bows
and smiles and mentally pats his
shoulder as he sees victory in the near
future. Poor fool! So the mighty
Samson of old may have congratulated
himself when making love % Delilah.
never dreaming that lie would awaken
to find his head shorn and his strength
gone. So many another giant in the
history of the world has been brought
to his Waterloo by means Of the blind
ing god Cupid.
One thing gives the baron the keen.
est delight. He drinks the sweet cuo
to the dregs. While engaged in an
animated conversation with Molly. rs
he describes the glories Of the Russian
capital in winter, he chances to glance
toward the end of the little parlor.
Here a fine mirror is set in the wall,
for the furnishings of the room are
superb. 1t is in this glass he sees what
pleases him.
A man stands in the la2ge drawing
man he has good reason to
remember, since it was his sword that
pierced the baron's shoulder d the
palms on the bank Of the Nile. Myn-
heef Joe makes nc move to advance.
BE seems to have come upon the scene
By accident. and is rooted to the spo:.
The willy diplomat sees his opportun'-
ty. He will now proceed to put a
weapon more painful than a sword IL
- v-t-~tn 11N.y