The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1905-12-01

yes. and why not?"
II cannot leave them," answere'
Paul. 81 cannot go away now tina
there is trouble among them. Wha
it is goodness only knows! They woul,
never have got like this by them
selves. Somebody has been at them
and don't think 1t is the nihilists. l
is worse than that. Some devil hai
been stirring them up, and they know
no better. He is still at 1t. They ar,
getting worse day by day, and l canno
catch him. If l do, Steinmetz. II
twist his neck"
Steinmetz smiled grimly.
YES" he answered; you are capa
BILE of it. For me, / am getting tired
of the moujik. He is an inveterate. in
durable fool. If he is going to be
dangerous fool as well. l should almost
be inclined to let him go to the devil in
his own way"
81 dare say, but you are not in my
position"
mo. that is true, Pavlo. They were
not my fathers serfs. Generations of
my ancestors have not saved genera
tons Of their ancestors from starya-
ton. My fathers before MI have not
toiled and shaved and legislated for
them. / have not learned medicine
that / might doctor them"
IF 1 agree to make a bolt for Peters
burg tomorrow, will you come?' re-
torted Paul.
NO." answered the stout man.
Il thought not. Your cynicism is on
ly a matter of words, Steinmetz, and
not Of deeds. There is no question OF
either of US leaving Osterno. We must
stay and fight it right out here"
"That is So" answered Steinmetz,
with the Teutonic stolidity Of manner
which sometimes came over him. But
the ladies-what of themT'
Paul did not answer. They were
passing over the rise of a heavy drift.
This is no place for Miss Delafield,"
added Steinmetz, looking straight in
front of him.
II know thatw answered Paul sharp
ly. II wish to God she was not hereIl'
he added In a lower tone, and the
words were lost beneath the frozen
mustache.
Steinmetz made no answer. They
drove on through the gathering gloom.
The sky was of a yellow gray, and the
earth reflected the dismal hue Of it.
Presently it began to snow, driving in
a fine haze from the north. The two
men lapsed into silence.
"Stop!" cried Steinmetz suddenly,
and Paul pulled the horses on to their
launches.
Il thought you were asleep" he said.
There was no one in sight. They
were driving along the new road now,
the highway Paul had constructed
from Osterno to Tver. The road itself
was, Of course, indistinguishable, but
the telegraph posts marked it's course.
Steinmetz tumbled heavily out of his
furs and went toward the nearest tele-
graph post.
Where is the wire" he shouted.
Paul followed him in the sleigh. To-
gether they peered up into the dark
ness and the falling snow. The posts
were there, but the wire was gone A
whole length of it had been removed.
They were cut off from civilization by
lao miles Of u%ntrodden snow.
Steinmetz clambered back into the
and drew up the fur apron. He
gave a strange little laugh that had a
Of boyish excitement in it. This
man had not always been stout and
THAT settles n question" he said.
(Which question:" asked Paul.
He was driving as hard as the horses
could lay hoof to ground, taken with a
sudden misgiving and a great desire to
reach Osterno before dark.
1.-The question of the ladies'" replied
ut is too late for them to
90 now"
At the castle all seemed to be in Or
Ter. The groom in his great ~sheepskin
coat was waiting in the doorway. The
servants threw open the vast doors
md stood respectfully in the warm,
brilliantly lighted hall while their mas
:er passed in.
"Where is the princess?" Steinmetz
lsked his valet while he was removing
he evidences of a long day in the open
lir.
I'm her drawing room, eXcellency."
'"Then go and ask her if she will give
ne a cup Of tea in q few minutes"
A few minutes later Steinmetz, pre-
himself at the door of the little
lrawing attached to Etta's suit /,
f rooms, found the princess in a :
natchless tea gown waiting beside a
able laden with silver tea appliances. :
you see," she said, with a smile, for .
he always smiled on men. 81 have ,
beyed your orders" :
81 begin to think" said Steinmetz, +
oming to the point in his bluff way, =
that you are a sort of beautiful Jo- .
ah, a graceful stormy petrol, a fair :,
Wandering Jewess. There is always l
where you CO." L
She glanced at his broad face and Il
cad nothing there. d