The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1910-04-06

defercntally. ''linleSs we liken ii to Gin
derelll and transform the beautiful wronged
1t masquerade. l am not what l scent
You are not what you seem. Your whole
expedition is not what it seems. We are
all masked. But the time for unmasking
is at hand. "
Florence stared at him languidly.. Il
suppose you know what you mean," she
remarked, insolently But don't
'.llow should YOU until explain: First.
princess. am not priest
~ knew it. What are You: A wzard:,.
II am Baron Ivan Demidrof chief of
the third section of the Russian police
Perhaps YOU know what that means. Your
yacht has been watched ever since it en-
tered the Baltic and | am here for the
press purpose of meeting you. If may
advise, princess. ii is not well to scoif al
ways. This affair is not for laughter"
"Oh. Splash. Excuse these tears of
gret! Knocked the girl GO ahead. I'll
be good.
For II moment the baron studied the
girls face. Then he shrugged his Shout.
ders. Privately he revising his former
opinions about American training and man
ners. He had not met Florence's type be-
..You have always supposed yourself the
daughter of Professor Shishiin, have you
not, princess: he questioned.
Florence lodged; Well. got right
self.
Il know. He did you a grave injustice.
Listen princess: Twenty mt, years !. ago, the
gagged in plot 10 murder my imperial
master the ear. The plot was detected,
and its authors were thrown in prison.
Three years after Shishkin escaped. In
| some way he had gotten the idea that his
hghnesS, the Grand Duke Ivan, had been
responsible for his arrest. 1T was not
true, but he believed it. So he Slipped into
the palace of the grand duke and stole
away his daughter. the Princess Yves Ma
praxine. He escaped with her 10 America
and passed her off as his daughter You
princess. Yves NapraNne, daughter of the
late Grand Duke Ivan, cousin to his i'm
perial majesty the car. and heircss to a
great fortune. All this would have been
yours from birth up had not that wicked
old man stolen you away and robbed you
of it,.
Ever since Professor shishkin had ap.
preached her in New York she had been
wondering to what the adventure would
lead. Naturally romantic, in spite of :. her
fippancy. she had thought out half q
dozen possible examinations, the least OK
which left her rich and honored. But
never in her widest imaginngs had she
dreamed of being identified as Il princess
and cousin of the car.
delightful excitement raced through
her veins In imagination she was as already Ne,
of great nobles Then, all at once, the
pipe went out" None of this could be
hers. 1t all belonged to the real Olga,
married and settled three thousand miles
pear: all she could do was to get all the
pleasure possible out of the situation while
It lasted. Perhaps she might manage to
feather her nest by that time.
Her thoughts flew to the professor So
keep the real Olga out of Russia. He had
Well! She would help him as long as she
could that is. long as his interests did
not clash with hers When they did, OF
course
rIn lnr., l,nl hon ,xt.nt ah hpr 11n
trying to read her changing face:
'.Ah IIa' he exclaimed. you under
stand now perhaps Some things YOU could
not guess before. Perhaps you remember
details of your childhood, almost forgotten
You We're three years old when you were
stolen, and some recollection sticks in your
mind. Is 1t not 500"
Yes. Some recollection sticks In my
mind. Florence wondered srimly what
the baron would say if he knew what hei
recollections really We're.
birthright." he repeated. with what seemed
To be rising wrath. But now 1T shall al
be restored Yes.''
Florence nodded, not trusting herself tt
speak. The situation was too new ant
strange and she must move circumspectly
Resides she was certain the baron hat
more to say She had been taught In
hard school, ana was very sure that his ac
tions were not disinterested. So she mere
Baron Dcmdroff did not delay Yes
he reiterated. ut shall all be restored
and the robber shall be punished. Blu
there is more To tell princess To whom
think you. belongs the gold for which TN
Sea Spume is seeking"
what gold:' Florence looked innocent
ly into the baron's eyes. She would ADM
nothing until compelled to do so.
What gold: Mon dien! princess d.
YOU think police are fools! Every Stel
of the so-callcd Miss Fitzhugh and of Mon
sieur Caruth has been known To us. AL
most we captured the letter on the fir
escape in New York. But monsieur
valet was too cunning for us. However. W.
watched and waited and when Miss Fit2