The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1905-05-26
CHAPTER XVIII.

CHAPTER XVIII,
yHEN the Osterno party reach.
wv ed home that same evening
Wv the starosta was waiting to
see Steinmetz. His new was
such that Steinmetz sent for Paul, and
the three men went together to the lit
tie room beyond the smoking room in
the old part of the castle.
"Well" said Paul, with the uncon-
sc1ous hauteur which made him a prince
to these people.
The starosta spread out his hands.
Your excellency," he answered, II
am afraid there Is something in the
vnlage-something in the whole coun-
try. I know not what it Is. It is a
feeling-one cannot see it, one cannot
define it. But it is there, like the
CLEAN OF water at the bottom Of a deep
well. The moujiks are getting danger
Gus. They will not speak to ME. I
am suspected. l am watched"
II will 60 with you down to the vii
lage now" said Paul. "Is there any
excuse-any illnessT'
"Ah, e%xcellency," replied the chief,
"there is always that excuse"
Paul looked at the clock.
II will go now" he said. He began
his simple preparations at once.
'There Is dinner to be thought Of"
suggested Steinmetz, with a resigned
smile. 1T is half past T."
"Dinner can watt" replied Paul in
English. you might tell the ladies'
that l have gone out and will dine
alone when I come back"
Steinmetz shrugged his broad Shout
ders.
II think you are a FOOL" he said, ito
60 alone. If they discover your iden-
tty they will tear you to pieces"
II am not afraid Of Them" replied
Paul, with his head in the medicine
cupboard, 'any more than 1 am afraid
Of a horse. They are like horses; they
do not know their own strength"
with this difference" added Stein
metz, that the moujik will one day
make the discovery. He is beginning
to make it now. The starosta is quite
right, Paul. There is something in the
air. 1t is about time that you took the
ladies' away from here and left me to
manage it alone"
"That time will never come again."
answered Paul. II am not going to
leave you alone again"
He was pushing his arms into the
sleeves Of the old brown coat reaching
to his heels, a garment which COM
manded as much love and respect In
Osterno as ever would ar angels wing.
steinmetz opened the drawer Of his
bureau and laid a revolver on the table.
"At all events" he said, you may
as well have the wherewithal to make
a fight of it If the worst comes to the
worst"
"As you like" answered Paul, slip
ping the flrearm into his pocket.
The starosta moved away a pace or
two. He was essentially a man of
peace.
Half an hour later it became known
in the village that the Moscow doctor
was in the house Of n Ivan Krass,
where he was prepared to see all pa
tents who were now suffering from
infectious complaints. The door Of
i, this cottage was soon besieged by the
sick and the idle, while the starosta
stood in the doorway and kept order.
Paul, standing by the table with
two parafln lamps placed behind MN
saw each suppliant in turn, and all the
while he kept up a running converse
> ton with the more intelligent, some
!, Of whom fingered on to talk and watch.
) "Ah, John, the son Of John" ne
would say, what is the matter WIN
; YOU? 1t is not often I see you. 1
thought you were clean and thrifty"
To which John, the son Of John, re-
plied that the winter had been hard
and fuel scarce, that his wife was dead
and his Children stricken with ihhu-
enza.
"But YOU have had relief. Our good
friend the starOsta"-
"Does what he cam" grumbled Johh'
. 4hnt he dare not do much. The BARNS
will not let him. The mobiles want al
the money for themselves. me eh-
peror is living in his palace, "ieie
!, there are fountains Of wine. we pay
for that with our taxes. You see my
:, hand. / cannot work, but ! must pay
the taxes or else we shall be turheu
, out into the street"
!. "But the winter Is over now' rhos
are mistaken about the mobiles. lucy
do what they can. The emperor pays
= for the relief that you nave hau a.,
these months. 1t is foolish to tax Us
! you do" ,an,,ad tho