Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-07-12
A SOLDIER OF
COMMERCE
By JOHN ROE GORDON
Copyright len. by F. R. Toonbs
Copyright. lsG2, by F. r. Toombs

a Russian soldier to step foot in thai
country"
''Tihis Is several days journey from
here; Bokhara but a short distance
Somewhere, in the clutches Of the Bo
kharans, are the girls you and I love
Your duty calls you to desert them II
their need; mine calls upon me to die
for them If necessary. Rather than lei
you take me back to Tifis I'll fight yor
to the DEATH"
Orskoff stared. Harvey turned an(
resumed his walk. He took severa
turns and closely watched Orskoff. The
Russian was deeply thinking, his brow
knitted in perplexity.
"Stopw he commanded suddenly al
Harvey reached him again. "You sci
windmills. To no one save those wht
employ you do you owe allegiance
You come and 60 as you see fit. You
are shrewd and brave and take you
wares to all countries and run risks o1
death to promote the commercial inter
ests of the company. You have spoken
of your love. Under the whiplash Of
your tongue l am torn in halves with
the bitterest conflict of my life. have
led Lily company in battle and have
faced the enemy without tremor, but
that is nothing compared to the hell
that is surging in my breast now. In
me, In this breast, there is a conflict
that >vershadows anything in my ex.
perie lce."
81 ont understand" said Harvey.
"You would understand II you were
a Russian officer and at the same time
q man in love. Remember. am per.
forming my duty when place you un.
der arrest and take you back to Tiflis'
You are a condemned prisoner who has
escaped. With your innocence or guilt
l have nothing to do. 1t Is my duty to
take those robbers to Tiflis. and 1t is
not my duty to permit one Of them to
talk. Yet. as against this duty. the
girl | love Is in the hands Of the b.
kharans. You. the man who Is most
wanted in Tiflis. and these robbers are
the only men on earth who can help
NE. For. once the girls are on Bokharan
soil. am helpless"
"Helpless?"
81 cannot stir regiments to cross the
border. The order must come from st.
Petersburg. BY the time we get that
order the girls will be married to the
princes"
."rhat is what I have been striving to
show you-the uselessness Of your
duty in this case. l claim your duty Is
to 60 after the girls"
impossible! There is secret corps
for such work. am not a soldier once
off Russian soil unless sent there
"Who asked you to be soldier? Come
with me. Let US rescue the girls. Alma
has really committed a crime, sup
pose. but We must risk the danger OF
Tifis. I'll take care of that part when
we get the girls"
"You would try to escape-would
even try to kill ME to escape"
Nonsense. If you will assist in res
cuing the girls and let Alma Jurnfefr
escape. will go back to Tiflis with you
and take my medicine"
"You would risk death and disgrace
for the girl you lover"
Eyes. I'd risk hell for the girl
love"
"That is love! That is love! 1t is as
I feel myself. Let me think! What u
problem for man to solver
He abruptly left Harvey. who sat
down, preferring to let Orskoff work
out the problem himself. Orskoff paced
gravely up and down, never once look
ing st Harvey.
"Have you a plan?" he asked sud-
denly. stopping before Harvey.
"Give me your answer to the prob
lem you have set out to solve, and
will give you the plan I have thought
Of"
Again that monotonous pacing up
and down the deck. 1t seemed to Irons
as though the Russian was growing
older looking each moment. Again the
feve eish eyes and working lips. II
came to an end at last. With sigh
as If exhausted Orskoff dropped into
the chair by the side Of Irons.
"Well, I have fought the fight" ht
said wearily.
"And won" asked Harvey.
"No; God knows it is no victory!
have lost. My patriotism goes dowr
before my love. 1 am Russian.
know the Russian cruelties to those
who defy the czar. know the pitless
rule that breaks the hearts and destroys
the lives Of those who even permit 8
culprit to escape. Knowing this-know
ing the punishment, the disgrace, tn,
horror Of treachery-I have resolved II
become-a traitor"
"a traitor! What nonsense!'
"Yes, traitor to the czar! You and
I will soon be under the same con
demnation. We will 60 together to th'
very throne of Bokhara If necessary
and rescue those we love or die in thu
attempt. 1t is settled. will not turf
; back"
rrr . nppND WITT