Canyon City news. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1903-1908, 1904-03-25
CHAPTER I.
CENT'I ETt I.
THE FATHER AND THE LOVER OF An AMER.
lCAN GIRL.

had progressed as far to the
eastward us the Obi, and
trains carrying soldiers. con-
vets. sigltscers. railway constructors,
laborers and supplies. with some goods
for trade with Manchurla. ran from
Moscow.
The possibilities of this immense line
OF railway made the people Of Eu.
ropean Russia gasp. 1t opened up such
dreamed of. 1t gave them speedy
entrance into a region Of their domain
the crossing Of which had formerly oc.
cupled months and involved much
hardship.
What change there was from the
Old sledges or foot trains Of conyicts to
the swiftly moving cars that were
drawn by the putting, screaming loco
motives. at once source Of delight
and terror o the people whose terri
tory they crossed!
Among ose who had made this
change SO remarkable q success was
James Gordon. an American engineer,
who had charge Of much of the ad-
vance work of the road.
Gordon was n typical American,
ready to 90 anywhere to build n rail
way so lon as the pay was sufficient
TO make 1t an object for him to take
his daushte' with him.
For Frances Gordon was her fathers
companion. secretary and comfort.
Left motherless at an early age. she
had been brought up by strict aunts
till she revolted. Her father had been
surveying route across New Mexico
for Il new road. fondly and longingly
thinking Of his daughter In her far
away home in New York. when. 10. the
young lady herself. then aged nineteen,
put in an appearance mounted on a
broncho and accompanied by half
breed guide. to whom she spoke In SO
authoritative tone that he bowed be-
fore her slightest wish in abject obedi-
cnce. Since that day Frances Gordon
was to be found wherever her father
was.
A year and n half after they had
finished the work in Mexico they jour.
neyed together to Russia. where Cor
don was TO take charge of the impor-
tant part of putting through the rail-
way that was destined to revolutiOnize
the trade and commerce of the world.
This great railway had progressed as
far as the Obi river, in the government
Of Tomsk. Siberia, when meeting Of
managers. ngineerS and government
officials was ordered at Moscow. Thith-
er from the Obi journeyed James Cor
don and Frances.
Thither also journeyed Nicholas Ne
slerov, prince of the empire and gov
ernor of the province Of Tomsk.
Prince Neslerov was one OF the
weal,hiest mobiles of the land. was
about thirty.tive years Of age and had,
Of TomSk. es'lteS In various parts OF
Russia. particularly fine one Al Gras-
low. IN the government Of Perm.
81 1t was after the convention, which
hnd to do with certain concessions and
arrangements that were necessary as
tIe IDuu uIFN utlll wv Ouluti VI SAuu
churia. the crossing Of certain noun.
talns. the bridging Of certain streams,
that Mr. Gordon was preparing to re-
turn to the Obi. where the western end
Of his operations was laid. the opera.
tons themselves reaching eastward to
Lake Raikal In lrkutsk.
To him one day as he sat smoking at
his hotel in Moscow came Prince Nesle-
rov.
Good morning. your excellency."
said Gordon. who had met the prince
at several conferences and now knew
him because of the fact that the opera
,ionS had passed almost across his
province. "Glad 10 see you. When do
you return to Tomsk?"
II shall not be long behind you. my
friend" replied the prince. 1T Is a
fact. however. that upon your answer
to certain question which shall put
10 YOU depends many of my acts in the
immediate future NJ. Gordon, you are
an American"
$50 | believe: have heard II hinted
at" said Mr.. Gordon. wondering what
was coming.
"And | am Russian Of the Rus.
SLAMS
THAT. too. believe. is a well au.
thenticated fact"
II am wealthy. a governor Of prov
incp and shall soon be promoted to a
better station. Since you entered the
rude territory in the southern part Of
nv government we have met frequent
ly: we have been friends"
"Yrs." replied Gordon. rather dubi.
ously. stroking his chin.
when you needed protection. my
power protected you"
II believe you" said Gordon. failing
th., tina ,x-hup "a u1aJs1