Montour American., December 11, 1902, Image 3

• AAAAAAAA«2>AAAAAAAA \ 4AAAAA '•>
| THE MYSTERY
I * OF GRASLOVi
By Ashley Towne £
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t'opyriyhl, 1001, /.y t
("ft arlea It. Etherington ►
I Continued from last Week. |
'lt is. Then, if we work together,
justice will be done."
"First we must work to get out of
here," said Olga. "How were these
chains fastened?"
"With a small iron key. It was on a
long chain, so 1 presume it hangs in
that passage at the head of tin stairs.
The stairs are not far from this spot.
It was not a long distance when i was
brought here."
"It may not be far, but in what direc
tion?"
"There was a stupid kind of fellow
down here once after I was brought in.
He brought me some food. I watched
him and think I can guide you to the
stairs. Count three passages to the
left from that black stone in the wall."
"Yes; this is the third."
"Now go hrough that till you reach a
heap of rubbish in a little court.l re
member the rubbish heap, for I stum
bled over it. At this rubbish heap the
passage divides, and one lane leads to
the Jeft and the other to the right. The
one on the right will load you to the
stairs."
"Come, Therese!"
Taking her lantern. Olga again start
ed, carefully following the directions of
Denton. She found the rubbish heap
and, taking the passage to the right, I
soon came to the stairs. She left The- i
rese at the foot of the stairs while she
crept softly up.
In the guardroom ltzig still lay snor
ing, and Olga glanced at the door to
make sure the bolt had not been dis
turbed. If a dozen Cossacks had been
hammering at the door she would not
have faltered now. She searched in
the little passage and found a small
iron key suspended from a peg by a
chain.
"It must be the one," she said, and
she seized It anil sped below.
"Remain Irere," she said to Therese,
♦'and if I am lost again you can guide
me back to the s'l.rs as the American
guided us to him."
She wound her way through the pas
sages and at last reached Denton.
"You are a brave little woman," he
*aid. "I did not think there was a wo
man like you in the world—except one."
"I suppose you mean Frances Gor
don." said the princess.
"What! Do you know her?"
"I met her at the great fair in Mos
cow. She was very charitable."
While she talked she tried the key.
It fitted the locks in the chains and one
by one they dropped clanging against
the wall, and Denton was free.
"Xow, then," she said, "Vladimir
Faulpoff is here. Do you know how to
find him?"
"Xo: I do not know where they put
him. I know it was not near me, for I
have been calling him. I received no
answer."
"We cannot remain here in safety
much longer." she said. "The day
light will briLg activity in the palace. j
Jansky, superintendent of police, is |
lying drunk in his office, and ltzig, j
the guard, is also unconscious. The j
superintendent will be discovered and j
there will be an uproar. It will spoil •
a!l if we are now discovered."
"We must make haste and find j
Vladimir," said Denton. "I do not j
feel that w can leave him. If they i
discover n j absence, they may kill
him."
"Find liiui if you can. If not. I must
watch over his welfare till you re
turn."
"Return! From Perm?"
"Xo. Perm is too far. I have work
ed to bring the denouement in the pal- ]
aee. I have sent a message to the I
governor general at Tobolsk. I have I
with me a woman whose testimony is j
worth millions. All we need now is j
what Papa I'aulpofT can tell us. You j
must bring him."
"I will."
He tried to find some clew to the
place where Vladimir was incarcer
ated, but there was nothing to guide
him.
"I cannot find him, and I believe he
is safer than you will be if Xeslcrov
traps you here. Xeither you nor I will
ever get out alive. We must leave
him."
"Then come, and may Clod give him
bis protection till we can give him
justice!"
They hurried to the stairs. The door
was relocked, the iron key hung in
its accustomed place and the door to
the guardroom unbolted. The halls
were still lighted by the brilliant
lamps of the fete, though daylight was
coming on. But there was no one
stirring.
"Quick!" said Olga. "Let us under
stand each other. Therese, who is
here as my attendant, is the widow of
a servant of the Graslov household
loyal to the old duke. She is willing to
tell the truth. Has Paulpoff spoken?'
"Yes. He told me all, and I was
about to start for Perm with the por
trait of Princess Alexandra when I
was arrested by Jansky and brought
here."
"And now you are free! Why did
jou take this interest in the mystery
of Graslov?"
"Because," he answered after a slight
pause, "Miss Cordon, whom I have
known for a long time, loves Vladimir,
and I think Vladimir loves lu r."
"Ah," she exclaimed, peering at him
closely, "and for her—for her sake
yon wanted to publish—the truth?"
"Yes, and for his sake also."
"Then lie is not the only one who
loves her, this American girl," she said.
His face became flushed, but he did
not answer.
"Xow go," she said. "Fiud PaulpolT
and bring liitn here. You know where
he is."
"He is still in the hut at Tivoloffsky,
If Jansky has not spirited him away."
"Then look for him there, and if he
is gone the governor general will help
us find him. <>h, I wish Do Muloff
would come!"
She sped Into Jansky room and re- j
placed the keys in his pocket. Then, ;
returning, she aid:
"God bles- you.' Help me establish
tl tr'ilh, ami the gratitude of the No
sh nivs will lie yours."
" Vou 111;icount oil me." he answered
as he parsed through the palace door.
"I will bring old Paulpoff to tell the
truth."
t'HA PTKR XV.
NESLKROV KNOWS IIIS PERIL.
AP 'T'T the time Governor Xesle
io> was rousing himself from
t a(P ep shiinbi which had not
refreshed him after the ball,
Jansky, superintendent of police, was
groaning ami muttering in his own ef
forts to wake up. lie knew he was
awake, out tuc erreet of tlie heavy drug
was still upon him. ltzig. however,
having succumbed to a lessor quantity
than was taken by Jansky, was sooner
awake and had been relieved by the
day guard and gone to his own qtiar
ters. The first question Neslerov asked
was for Princess Olga. When lie learn
ed that she was still sleeping, he went
to see Jansky.
"What is the matter with you?" he
asked. "You seem to be ill."
"I do feel rather ill." said Janskv. "1
don't know when 1 felt like this."
"Von were drunk; that's all. You
were drunk when 1 left you. Did you
drink any more 7"
"Yes; in making the round of inspec
tion I discovered ltzig asleep and a
bottle of wine half gone. I drank the
: rest."
"ltzig asleep! At his post! And this
danger near us?"
"Pooh! The girl suspects nothing. A
girl of her age, even though she he a
princess, could not dissemble so well. 1
1 tell you <)lga suspe.-ts nothing.'
"Then why is she here".'"
"Well, she is eccentric, as you know,
and it is quite possible that she Mould
like to be the wife of the governor of
1 Tomsk."
I Neslerov laughed.
"She would like to kill him. rather."
"Even so. she does not suspect."
"But this thing of ltzig being asleep
at his post—we must examine into it."
"The poor devil wanted his share in
the festivities, 1 suppose. We must not
deal too severely with him. lie cer
tainly did not steal the wine. Some
one must have given it to him."
"Who? I must find that out." But,
since lie has been asleep, you had bet
ter examine the prisoners."
"They are there all right. llow could
they be otherwise."
"But you know what it means to me
» if they escai.e."
"Escape! ! will stake my head they
cannot escape. Why, to pass out from
the dungeons they must open tin 1 iron
gate and the door of the guardroom.
See. here is the key to the guardroom
door."
"Still." said Neslerov hesitifceugly, "I
wish you v < (ild make an examination."
"Oh. if your excellency wishes it. I
will do so gladly. But 1 promise you
they are there."
Jansky was still stupid from the
drugged wine, but lie knew what lie
was doiug. He went to the guardroom
and unlocked the door leading to the
dungeons. In the passage he obtained
a lantern and passed through the iron
gate, lie went down the stairs and
through tin' passages, which he knew
well, to the dungeon. lie entered and
stood horror stricken at the empty
chains banging on the wall. With
fear in bis heart he crept back to the
stairs, glancing nervously around him,
for he knew ■ strength of the Ameri
can. Neslerov, to whom he went, look- 1
ed in sunwise at the t-heti face.
'Tutsi - i:pon us ifr'" saTd Jansky
hoarsely. "They are gone!"
Jansky looked sheepishly at the gov- :
ernor, and Xeslcrov looked at Jansky
like an angry wolf.
"(lone! Both prisoners gone!" cried
the governor. "Is this true?"
"Unfortunately the tiling I thought '
impossible is a fact."
Ncslerov's face was white.
"I thought—you told me—they were j
both in chains!" he said, his voice
strained and tense.
"I did, and it was true. With my
own hands 1 chained them. The ;
American was in the dungeon at the ;
first landing and Paulpotf was down
in the lower cellar. With my own
lands 1 chained them, and I hold the j
key to the door. The key to the chains 112
still hangs where 1 placed it. This is j
a miracle. The men must be devils in '
human form."
"The American is something like a I
devil," said Xeslcrov grimly, "but I j
doubt if In has supernatural powers, j
If those chains have been loosened,
Jansky, some human agent has done
it, ami i-;re is a traitor in the pal
ace."
"Whom does your excellency sus
pect?"
"My cousin Olga."
"That girl! She would no more dare
go down in those dungeons than she j
would enter a den of wild beasts. And
how could she learn that they were
down there?"
"It Is not quite a secret. Some of J
the servants saw them brought in."
"Since the princess came the servants |
have had enough to do without talking '
about two prisoners of whom they j
know nothing. Anyway, how could
Olga, who has spent but little time in
Russia and none near (Jraslov or Perm,
ever hear of the Paulpoft's?"
"I know not. But certain it is there I
is a traitor here. This escape, if escape !
it is, will cost us dear."
"If escape it is! It may not be an es- !
cape after all! The chains are old and
rusty. Perhaps they have given way.
and the prisoners may lie wandering
around the passages. I will send for
ltzig."
Xeslcrov was terribly disturbed. He
paced to and fro in the police otticc, and
his face did not regain its color. lie
,- as playing for a high stake the high
lit stake 'ilaying for his life—and the j
V line sei ' lost.
Thins! Nt for ltzig, and he came b -
Core tin •.
"You went, to sleep last nlglit!" tliun- i
lei ed Jan-ky, whose theory was that
to obtain the truth from a culprit you ;
must terrify him at the start.
"I swear I did not, your excellency!"
replied lizig. shivering In terror.
"You lie! I went in the guardroom, t
and you were asleep. I found there a j
portion of a bottle of wine. Who gave ;
you that?"
"I! A bottle of wine! I never tasted
Wine in my life. Brandy and vodka, .
plenty, but vine 1 am too poor."
"Oh, yi.u did not buy this wine. Some 1
one at the fete gave it to you. Who
was it?"
"I know not! 1 swear I l.mnv not
who put the wine in my room!"
"Von are lying. A tray was also
there, with dishes. You had your feast
and tot drill;!. Who brought the stuff i
to you?"
"I swear no one. If there was a
feast, it was sot olle else's."
"How could one else eat there
and you no: 1-1. ?"
11i■' - I w he .<t.
"I in: ■ ha | i iiaps I slept a mo
ment."
"A moin nt! •.a slept hours, and
t!i pi «ne, you were guarding have
ps'si i
ible!" gasped ltzig. almost
-in!; eg through the lloor.
"i!i ot'gli of this!" said Xeslcrov.
"ltzig is heie, an I if he has permitted !
the men to escape he can be punished
any time. We are wasting precious .
moments. Let us get down to the dun
geons and find them."
Jansky took a pistol, and so did Ne
slerov. They went to the guardroom.
Jansky took the lantern and opened
the door and iron gate. He led the
way, Xeslcrov and ltzig following.
"Sea? He has gone," said Jansky,
pointing to the chains.
"Are you certain this is the room?"
"Certain? .vV I am alive."
"Then for the other, and keep a
watch Tin \ are not armed, but re- i
member Paulpoff's strength, and the
other is no pygmy."
Again Jansky led the way. ITo did
r.ot tell Xeslcrov he had not been to
visit Vladimir. In Ins agitation at
finding the American gone he had as
sumed. of course, that if one could es
cape both could. K !<•!. ng an obsi-un;
coiner, toward which licnton had not
nanccd togo in his - .ireh. they found
another stairway had .ig downward.
This short flight brought them to a
horrible place more limi •!•• than the
one where I>eiitoii had been chained.
This was a drt >on made cold ami
damp by tk.e water t! stood two
inches deep en t!..' lioor, and in which
blind reptiles that had never seen any
brighter place ct.-u i. I .round in the
slimy ooze. Long string of rotten
moss hung from the walls. Here, in
this noisome and terrible place, was
Vladimir, chained in th aine manner
as 1 lenton had been.
"I thought you said hi' had gone too!"
exclaimed Xeslcrov. a tlood of hope
end courage showing in his voice.
"I though' so. In my excitement l
believed both had golle. but it Oil. Is
here the other must lie. We will
search the dungeons."
They did not speak to Vladimir, who
was suffering awful tortures, but turn
ed and ascended to the upper floor.
Here, winding and turning among the
passages, they crept stealthily three
armed men searching for one man who
was unarmed, yet fearing that the one
might leap upon them and slay tliein as
they walked. But they did not fiud
the American and returned crestfallen
to the office of the superintendent of
police.
"That man did not set himself free,"
said Neslerov. "Some one who knows
my secret has done this. Olga is here.
Who else but Olga could do the thing?"
j "Did the l'rincess Olga come to you
j during the ball?" Jansky suddenly ask
ed ltzig. "Was it the princess who
I gave you that wine?"
j The pallor of the man's face gave
' Jansky his answer.
' "Heavens!" he exclaimed. "The wine
must have been drugged! It was Olga
I who set him free!"
"Then we must act with extreme cau
tion, for if she knows this much s 1 «»
| will ruin me. For a short time we must
] act as if we did not know the Aineri
i can had escaped. But you and I nsge
i thop must find him -find him- before
! he gets cut of Tomsk. T.ien, with him
j again in our grasp, I will deal with
j Olga. Ft I.to put her strength against
| mine, and in Tomsk!"
i "What about Vladimir?" asked Jan
j sky.
"Leave him alone. Let him starve!
1 He can do no harm."
Jansky went quickly to work. 17ns
-1 get hop, upon whom he depended most,
had go-ic to another place in the dis
charge of his duty. Jansky made sev
eral fruitless journeys during the day,
but no trace of the American could he
find.
Olga, when, late in the day. she join
ed the governor, noticed the studied
calm and the steely glitter of his eye.
She knew h< had discovered the escape
of Denton, but the resolute girl did not
fear him. She merely nerved herself
to finish the work she had set herself
to do. She had frequent errands that
took her near the office of the superin
tendent of police, and she kept her ears
alert to . aieli the slight" st whisper.
It was cvenyig when she went for the
seventh time, and loud voices came
from the superintendent's office. So ex-
•f'-.'.v'T .' -V
".tri. "'V-Wr' j
L .
Winding und tummy mnou'i tht %Ki9-1
kikjcs, then cni>t stealthily.
cited were the speakers that they did
not realize that their voices reached
into the hall.
"I tell you it is so!" said the voice of
Unsgethop, who had returned and who
seemed to bo angry. "llow was I to
know that a man could escape from the
dungeons? 1 heard it—that the Ameri
can had passed through Dorky on his
way to Tivoloffsky. I supposed Nesle
rov had changed his plans."
"Is he going to Tivoloffsky? Old
Paulpoff is still there!" said the gov
ernor.
"But explain this thing." said Unsge
thop. "llow could a man who was
chained to the wall in that dungeon get
out?"
"By the iletp of a. traitor, and 1 will
know that traitor and slay liini!" said
Neslerov. •.-ome one drugged some
wine, anil Jansky. like a fool, drank it.
Also ltzig. who guards the door. Inur
ing the time ihey were asleep the Amer
ican was set free. The other, Paulpoff,
is still the.v. Your work is to capture
that American and bring him here."
"If lie knows', he may have told some
one," si: g« sted I'lisgcthop.
"This is no time to talk! Whether he
has told or not, he must be brought
back! If I am to be destroyed, I will
destroy my enemies first! Go! Bring
him back to die!"
Olga quickly disappeared up the
stairs.
■ CHAPTEK XVI.
MAMMA I'M I.l'Ot t AVK\i;cn
IT was midnight in Tomsk, and the
palace ■ 112 the governor v\ • still.
Jansky aml I m '!•• ' i had i ■ hlen
awa.v to ovenaki I teuton at Tivo
lofTsky. ltzig was at his pot in the
guardhousi ami the new lieutenant of
the palace guard paced his mea- rea
through the deserted corridors.
But Neslerov was not a leep. Fever
ish and Impatient, lie sat in his room,
•waiting the return of his pol'ce with
the Ann r.' in wh se liberty w.is a
menace to the li!'• of Neslerov He
drank deeply 112. >m time to time frmn a
bottle that -li d ill hi table It he
spoke, lie did it with a loud voice, but
1111 one wa near. 11l thoughts were
spoken thus, a - with a man halt mad
with fear.
"Heavens!" he lid lis he drank
again. "If lie reaches perm, and the
truth is known, I shall what will be
come of llie?
lie started a a 1 lit loot step sound
ed on the hard ami his haggard
face grew paler a: I'iiaci Olga eu*
tend.
"Why are you i ••?" he asked
harshly. He was too exeiied to think
of phrases
"i could not sleep ami I knew vou
wen- not in bed," she answered. J
came to ti»lk."
lie stare.l at her. In his eyes she
V, ■;- Jis ' . liitiful • veil si- rranees Gor
ilon. I>:■! !;i danger made him think
js (_.i a 11.to - seeking to devour him.
Vol hi i i-il not show it.
"NVlij are you alone?" asked olga.
"Vim -: 1!y have Jansky, the super
init ii<!< lit of police, with you?"
' litiisky away. A noted prisoner
ha < -cap I and the superintendent
ha- irone to retake him."
"I heard a commotion. 1 supposed it
was something of that kind. Was it
a liu>siaii7"
"Yes a nihilist."
"I hope they will capture him."
"They will! They must!" said Ne
j slcrtn fiercely.
Olga's eyes were veiled—they did
not hetrsiy her thoughts.
"There is inueh concerning tliis sys
tem that is new to me, and it will take
long for me to lcaru it all. 1 am
ready weary with the little I have
done."
"Better leave it siloiie. It is a busi
ness for men, not* princesses," said Ne
slerov.
"The study lias made me wakeful.
Bring me some wine."
lie opened a bottle.
"It has puzzled me why you do not
marry,' he said, trying to hid' l his
fear of her as he poured out a glass of
wine.
"Why should I?" she asked. "I have
not yet found amoVg the nobles if
Russia the man I would marry."
"What sort of man must lie be to
please you, cousin?"
lie was sparring for time. Any hour
might bring Jansky back with Denton.
Then he could play his part in safety.
But with Denton at liberty he dared
not act.
"Oli," said Olga, "to please me.a man
must be honorable, strong and wise.
He must not be bound by custom, nor
yet must he scorn it. There are ways—
in the world we live in there are ways
—of being great without being eccentric
and without following the lead of oth
ers. A man whom I love must be pa
tient and must not use his strength
against the weak."
A sarcastic smile crossed his lips.
"You must look outsid? of IJussia,"
he said.
"Ferhaps." she answered. "But you
have not pledged me. Must I drink
alone?"
His eyes snapped with the remem
brance that Jansky and Itnig had Iv en
dfigged. Bill she was so h:indsomcV«
smiling, that no sign of evil intent wa<
in her face.
"From your hand," he answered, with
a show of gallantry.
She poured him a glass of wine, and
they drank. I-'or a moment he waited,
as if half expecting to fall asleep. But
the wine had no ill effect, and they
chatted on. But Neslerov grew more
impatient as the night wore on. Why
did this <Jrl persist in staying up and
talking to him? What was in her
mind? Was there another plot? lie
paced to and fro in the room as he
spoke. When his back was turned, she
made a quirk movement and dropped
something- not into the wine bottle,
but into the bottle of liquor from which
Neslerov drank.
"I think I will retire," said the prin
cess. "It is late, and perhaps I can
sleep now."
"I hope you will lind rest," he said.
•She went out. Neslerov watched her
with a dark, saturnine face. What did
she mean? He poured out a liberal
dos<» of liquor. The wine was too weak
for him. He needed something to
steady his shaken nerves. He drank
it. In live minutes lie was staring
blankly at himself in a glass.
"What is this—this feeling?" he
muttered. "That she devil! I am poi
soned! What trick is this? Ilelp!
Guard! Lieutenant of th<» srunrd"'
The young officer heard, and ran to
him.
"Your excellency called," he .said.
"Yes—quick—l am poisoned—l sun !
drowsy bring I'rincess Olea—aniek!" 1
The lieutenant, wild with apprehen
sion, rushed to Olga's room.
"His excellency the governor wants j
you!" he panted. "lie is poisoned." j
"lie is not poisoned," answered Olga
calmly. "He is merely going to sleep.
I want you to stay away from him,
and I want you to keep quiet."
The officer stared.
"What do you mean? He is ill! The j
governor called me and sent for you." |
"I am goiug to him. but you must 1
not."
"But I must. It is my duty!"
"Whom do you obey?" '
"Neslerov. tro' nor of Tomsk."
"Then i oin ii moment you obey
inc. Itea ! this!"
Slit placed before him the same pa
per she had shown Dermsky.his fellow
officer. His eyes started from his head.
"The seal of the czar!" he cried, and
he, like Dermsky, fell to his knees. "I
obey—corn in aml me!" he exclaimed.
"Remain quiet. I did not come to
Tomsk for nothing. This night will
mean much to Russia. Work will l»e
done that will right si terrible wronsr.
All you need do is to remain quiet and
tlo not attempt to interfere."
"I dare not!" he said. "You have the
real of the czar' It commands all to
obey you! I obey!"
She left him. staring and wondering,
and went to Neslerov. The governor
was dt lopini,. He opened his eyes as
r-he entered.
"You!" lie hissed as he tried to regain
his strength. He would have killed
her.
"Yes. I!" she answered quietly. "You
will sleep. Ii will not be long."
"Wlisit "ill you do?" he sisked.'with
a curse.
"My work." she answered. "I shall
release him Vladimir."
lie made a tremendous effort to rise
and smite her. but fell with a grnni to
the lloor. Quickly Olga, taking si pistol
from her pocket, ran across the hall to
Itzig.
"You!" he cried as she entered. "You
hp light me wine that was drugged,
and my prisoner escaped."
"True." said olga. "And now the
other. You were with Jansky siml the
governor when the\ visited him. You
know where he is." i.
"I know not." grumbled Itzig.
"That is false. I heard them speak
of you to I'nsgethop Will you guide
me to hi< dungeon? open the door!"
"I cannot. The key is with Jansky.
It is never out of his hands."
"Oh. heaven!" cried olga. "Have I
made Ihis terrible mistake?"
"The kej !• Jansky's," said Itzig.
"No one go' to the dungeon sa\e by
his orders." ./ »
"Break down the door."
"Impossible! It is heavy oak. I
have no ;i \
Sin- turned from him and tied to the
stairs.
"Lieutenant!"
The young officer, with visions of
mines and the knout and wondering
where this complication would end,
answ cred her. '
line here," she said. "I'want this
do< opened."
Ii looked at the door and at Itzig.
"Jansky ha- the key, and'he is gone,"
said Itzig. i '
"We must open it. if the princess
says so," said the officer.
"What! You disloyal to Ne-lerov?"
The officer smiled and looked at olga.
"We must take off the hinges," ho
said. "1 will get the tools."
He i\as gone but a moment, and
when he returned he attacked the
screws that held the great iron hinges.
"I will alarm the governor!" cried It
zig. leaping upon him.
i "Stand back! Keep your hands oil'!"
ordered (»lga. sliming her revolver at
him. "1 have commanded, and 1 \\ ■ #
be obeyed!"
"You have no authority!" said Itzig,
cowering before the pNiul.
4 I have this."
She showed hii.i the paper. His face
£row white, and h< sank shivering to
the lloor.
"The seal of the czar'. Oh. princess,
I did not know! I obey! 1 will do any
thing!"
"Help ;.pon door."
The hitigi s were soon off sind the
door was opened. The iron gate re
sisted the united efforts of the two, but
they sawed out the li i k.
"Take the lantern!" commanded the
princess
Trembling in every liber, Itzig light
ed ii lantern.
"Lead the way to the dungeon where
Vladimir is concealed."
"I obey."
"And 1 will guard you, princess,"
said the officer.
Thus they descended the stairs, Itzig
leading with the lantern. Olga follow
ing and the officer close I ehind her
ready to protect her. Potent was the
seal of tin czar.
They found the giant blacksmith In
his chains The hunger lie felt had not
yet sapped his strength. I'lie key the
princes ? had taken from its peg soon
rel« asi d him.
"Coine!" she said.
"But who are you, and what does
this mean?" he demanded.
"Come! We have no time to waste
with words. Tonight you have the
work of your life to d<>. Come!"
The four ascended, and itzig extin
guished ilis lantern. The eyes of Vlad
imir blinked as he entered the great
hall which was kept lighted all night.
"You sire Vladimir," said the prin
ce--. "1 :ni Olga of the Neslerovs. Do
you know the story of the picture?"
"The little picture," cried Vladimir
Dagi rh "the little one that Papa Paul
poff aid lie found? Yes; he told it to
me and to the American one day in the
hut at Tivolofl'sk ."
"Then you know the truth. The
American was togo to Perm and start
the investigation."
"Y. -, but he was brought here."
"I i> ieii.-ed him hist nig Jit. lie went
from here to TivoloTi'sky to bring Papa
Paulpoff to tell his story before the
' governor . ie ra' who ha- not yet ar
j lived. Jaiisl.y. the superintendent of
j police, and I '.'ctlicip have gone to
| fetch him Tin \ will kill him; they
iv. ill :• i»t risk 1.-1' in.: hi;., aiive It is
j your duly to i ide to Tixoloffsky—ride
si- for your own life ami save the
American :h i 1 Paulpoff. Bring
j tht in here. I»oyoii understand?"
"Ye-: but a hoi
"Lieutenant in the nan eof the czar,
the I'ecte-l se in the stables for
1 Vladimir.'*
"I obey—the lle«*t« st horse."
"You mils' b famished." said Olga.
"Will you tat
"Eat! With the American anil Papa
i Paulpoff in danger! No: but si drink of
wine."
He watched h< r as she stepped into
Neshrov's room, lie saw tie governor.
"Neslerov!" he said "Is he dead?"
"No. I drugged his liquor. Here Is
wine. It is not drugged. I drank of it
myself."
He drained the glsiss, and the officer
| enter. d.
j I lie liorif I- >M lilt- ilmn. ||| 'IHTM. I
| woke no one at the -tables I saddled
the steed 111 \ self."
"Hood. You will be a captain tomoi
i row. Now. Vladimir, go!"
He mounted and was off. He fol
' lowed tin lin oi the new railway and
i could not lo> hi way. His horse was :
i fast, the be-' horse in Ncslerov's sta- j
ble.
"For the American! For Frances!
For the honor of Craslov!" muttered
Vladimir a- he -trov to increase his
| hor.-i'- sliced
j lie passed through villages asleep
I under tlie bright s*;i'S. The hoofs of
I his horse rang out cm ti: • pebblej of
one road or sank into tht mod of an
i other. But on he went. Tivoloffsky,
1 li e sill the other villages, was ii sleep
its quiet was rudeh disturbed by tin
hammering of the iron shoes sis the
horse bore him through the silent
stints. Right well he knew the way
to the hut where Mamma Paulpoff was
murdered. Two horses stood before
tin* door. His own dashed up and
whinnied. I hey were from the gov
ernor's stables. Like si madman he
leaped from the saddle to the ground.
He heard shouts, a pistol shot.
It was something like a demon that
Jansky si lii I \' <getljop saw coining ill
like a whirlwind. In a corner croucli
11c hrott'lht thill html* tni/i thcr with "
. rush
cd Papa Paulpoff. trembling and while
with terror On the lloor la\ I'eiilnii.
unconscious, with the marl, of a bullc'
iu his forehead and the blood stream
ing over Ins upturned face. Jansky
was bending over him.
"Who is this v " cried Fnsgethop as
Vladimir entered
The blazing eyes of tin avenger took
in the whole scene \ small lantern
Stood oil the thiol'.
(To be continued.)
A »> illy Pauper.
While walking through SB old street
Iu Stuttgart recently a man found n
purse, ami. thinking that it might con
tain something valuable, ho stuck it
hastily in his {ockctand hurried home.
He examine It then and was dis
gusted to And that it contained noth
ing except these four lines In German
on a slip of paper:
When you find this purse, refrain from
Joy:
I'll toll you why In a minute —
I only threw It nv iy because
I hadn't si cent to putin It.
THE FIRST
Of the child is an event in the mother's
life. How proud she feels when the
attempt to v\alk is begun so earh as to
evidence childish courage and sturdy
strength. Such pride should be enjoyed
bv evfery mother. But it often happens
that the child is timid,
weak and deficient in /
vitality, and clings to the
mother's arms with no VS'jTjf&k
desire to walk or play. BMP
Mothers should learn [ mS
that to have strong chil- k ■ffjf
dren they must them
selves be strong, for the Jf! /fV
child's strength is Mr
th« gift of the . V;"),iI. A
mother. 1
The use of Dr.
Pierce's Favorite / ;
Prescription by II I j
expectant mothers / Ij 112, JB
gives them health / | «l~
and strength to / Ii V
give their chil-/ J I MfljlW
oren. It nour-
ishes the nerves,
strengthens the body and gives great
muscular strength and elasticity, so that
the baby's advent is practically painless.
"I have been using Dr. Pierce's Favorite Pre
scription. and can nay it is j-.ut what yuii :i<lv«r
-ttsr it to tie.and can cliecrf illy recommend it M
writes Mrs. Victor J. Iladiii, ol I,eonnrdville,
Kiley Co.. Kansas. "I began taking it just two
months before baby came and was ure itly bene
fited by its use. Th« doctor who attended ine
said I nid Hb'iut as well as any one he had seen
(a* I was sick only about three hours and also
that your Favorita Prescription ' was th< one
pateut medicine' which lie did have faith m
" W« now have a darling baby bov, strong and
licalthv who weighed utile pounds when born
(July istlii During this month he lin- r tied
three aud otic-half pounds."
"Favorite Prescription" makes weak
women strong, sick women well. Accept
no substitute for the medicine which
works wonders for weak women.
The People's Common Sense Medical
Adviser, a book containing uxjS pages, is
given away. Send 21 one-cent stamps
ior expense of mailing only , for the book
in paper covers, or 31 stamps for the
vol une bound iu cloth. Address Dr.
K. V Pierce, Buffalo, N. Y.
A BLESSING I\ niS«;riSK.
The excess of summer moisture
which this year litis prevailed over
nearly all the north central states
brought many benefits as well as some
trouble aud loss sin its wake. For one
thing, it finished up the chinch bugs
and box elder bugs, both of which ex
isted in such numbers as to 1»e gresit
pests. It gave the earth such a soaking
up sis it had not enjoyed for y.ars and
induced a healthful, vigorous growth
. of tree life both in orchard and forest
1 sueli as has not been seen for many
! seasons. It has replenished the water
supply, started the springs to flowing
\ again, tilled up the lakes and einpha
, sized the value of tile drainage 011 all
low lands. Faradoxieal though it
i seem. It has dried up the evil propheis
who siiid that the removal of the tini
tier lessened the rainfall and the drain
age of swamps would convert the land
into an arid desert.
Classified.
Isabel—l think that editor man is
simply horrid.
Judith—Why?
Isabel—He olaced the engagement
announcement of myself to young
Sloppington under the head of "ISusi
nesa Opportunities."
MliAtK at tlie ilnrsaln Sale.
Nell—l stopped in at a bargain sale
today.
Belle—Did you see anything that
looked real cheap?
Nell—Yes; several men waiting for
their wives.—Philadelphia Ledger.
A Bad Breath
A had breath means a bad
stomach, a bad digestion, 3
bad liver. Ayer's Pills are
liver pills. They cure con
stipation, biliousness, dys
hvt'ifche.
IT~:. All druggists.
: | Want yonr moat! ich »or lx .:i a beautiful
browu or rich blai U.' l"li<->- use
BUCKINGHAM'S DYEfcWa&r,
I st O I r- | *
Wii OH Ihi St limp.
| It mil'.-! hive l it n rsiiln r disconcert ,
ing to the <: clair tl<»r. ; | al:cr win, !
di --pising sill tii .idealities, tried to
storm his hem rs by sheer force of el
o'p.fnee. but who on utt. ring the
wonts "in the book of nature it is
written" wsis Interrupted by a quiet
looking gentleman with a mild request
that he Mould "name the page." Some
times. how. m i-: the interrupter re
eeives a "retort courteous" lie hardly
bargain d for.and :i cap al story illus
tralivt in' ihi is told of Lord Fa liners
ton Ilis I nlship. who was an invet
i-iat i >ker. po.s>,-sst'd a readiness of
!:• | rt and a quaint sense of humor
that i I ten stfxnl him in good stead.
O.c when canvassing Hampshire in
c tion wltli Sir t«e.>rue Staunton
h • I. I a meeting at a hotel which
w s li it dim!} lighted at each end hy
two small window *.
During the noble lord's speech lie
w.• . frequently Interrupted by cries
of "Si*'. NO!" proceeding from a little
fat man iu one of the windows, who
wsis bull -r to an old iidmira! in the
nei:l , oorh<M)d. There were loud calls
to ' ring him forward, but Lord Fal
m rston promptly said: **l*r:i > don't
interfere wi.li the gentleman. Let him
rein iin in the window. Providence has
denied him any intellectual light. It
would be hard indeed to deprive hiin
of the light of heaven:" London
Standard.
*M»1I McKpeet,
.Maintain your -elf respect its the
mo>t pre ioi;s Jen | of all and the only
true wa\ to win tin res|M'et of otners,
and then remember what I'merson
says, for what lie says lieri i- ; true;
"No young man can he cheated out of
mi hoia '.i ie career in life unless he
cheats himself."
CATARRH fajA
In «» ' Ammtl
eliould lie cUanliiii-^.
Ely's Cream Halm J*
r!i ai-rH.soottn - mill 1 '•* I
j| ''' ' V,C)S %
II curoi" i atarrhandilrivn Jf Vtf
away it cold Iu the In t
quickly.
4'ream Balm i' jilarcd Into (hp nostril?, ei>rr i
ovrr tlie inemt>rano and is
mcdi»t<* and a cure follow*. It i* ii"t drya
nut profliiro snecxin ■ l-'i-»-•«• s /o, .*-•« rum l»r
girti. or l»y mail; Trial Si/..-, 10 c.-nt- by n i
liLV BKO'l tIEKS. 5.1 W tfren strci t, K< w V k,
WORE F.IVIES ARE SAVED
...BV t'SINO...
Dr. King's New Discovery,
Consumption, Coughs and Colds
Than By All Other Throat And
Lung Remedies Combined.
This wonderful m dicirse positively
cures Consurr ption, Cougfis, Colds,
Bronchitis, Asthma, Pneumonia, Hay
Fever, Pleurisy, L.tGi 'f>pe, Hoarseness,
Sore Throat, Croup and Whooping
Cough. NO CURE. WO PAY.
Trice 50c. & sl, Trial Bottle Free,
I), U , MUROM,
TlM•«, TABLE,
Corrected to May r, 1901.
Itarelay -I I
• 1 • >l'
41•>) k. •
NTatili';
AM AM |'\-
> .. ' Ml I >
I'.ellcvu- •
Tay lorvi I . i i so
l.iti-k a wmij
-1 hi i ■ca
I'itt -u-i
Su.-.|uelianti ove
. .
WfOlu .Km . . J" in "l 'J
Forty Kurt
Dennett • -I HI • U :;l
Kinyston. ..... :ir„ • Ml i 2 4*'
U'ilki -Isarre At " ''' 11 I" 3 ."ill
\V ilki>-i!;irri I w J I' " 2 0
KinuPton I\
Plymouth Juno... . j
Plymouth • ill- 34-
Avondale • iii
Mantieoke • 1 • 11 II u ,»
Hunlock
Shickshinay v 1 1 . % '
lii< kV Kerry . ...
Ilea Ii ) yJu ...
HerWiCk i 1 844
liriar (.'reek I."»•
112 .; ; I
Units Khlae ,v ' fl2 1 • s
;
H looui e barn 112 11 4 ij
.... ' 1 ' - : 4 .:
' _ J 4VJ
1•a1:v i 11 e i. 17 4
CbflUfky • ■ 44j
'icieroii
f4O"tTHI M IIKKLAND 1 Ml 6 I*l -
Ar. AM I'M I'M
QQiHQ lABT.
t'M" i
.Mtw V ''it I'M
Hurclay St. Ar. " 1 ii'to
I'iiristopher ssv.. 1.!£••">
Hoboken in o 11-
SSeranton AM 13 •>">
|»M \M AM
itutruio \i «h> I.;> : uo
Nr ranton I.v IV. '4- ii ■>
i. I'M: I'M- P>*
Scranton - I- U> 460 x **i
Kellevne 4 45
Taylorville '-'a-' 4 ! ..*
I.arkawanna . , ' 4 »-7
Duryea JM 42' *
Plttston. !» I • \-i n 4:i * -'1
Susqui li. !» I' . l'i 14 42' -I s
West Pitt !» 1 • 417 h ii. I
Wyom i ij IIJ s l'i
Kortv I >» .... I n7 ....
Ilea i « CI 41.
Km „ Nt 4 K 1 -
NVi! - .Mm" V' K ' 11 •" 350 " '»' I
W .-liarr A i J- 1 " *
* II I *«
ymouth Junction 'J 3 ®-
1} mouth K US' ■' 4. •••
Avondale s 3 4-
Nanti. oke N I' 4 . .; ■ - • "
Hunlock « s 3 : ' 1 "
i Sliickshinny s * 'I
I Hick's Ferry - » 1 Ti\
| J-tcaeh H iven - 1 ~ 1 !
| I.erwick I ' M •'> 2•• 'f» i
I Hri;ir t.'reck ~ i ® ' - '
I Willow - 1' '* " !
1 laime KMv;e '. "
Kppy i - 1U ■- 1> 1 1
! HloonßbarK : ! lu 4'; *
i Kupert : ' io S7 - ' •; '
I t'atawixsa 1 10 al -
! Danville " ' 10 1 • - U 1
] t'tiulapky
Cameron 112 t; • ■ ,
NIiRTHfMnUUL'u. , |l
l.\ v ' A.*. '*> li P>l ;
« onnection* at Kujiert with I', ila 1 ' l[ tiia *
i Keailinit Kailrmol I r r.im.inpiil. T. i,.
| Williuucort, Sunt.urj-, PotUrtlla, At
: NorthuißberUn<l with I* ;in-' K. inv. J*. li. K. tor
Harrishnrff. Iv rk Haven, rium. Warren
t'orry. an>l Krl«..
* Daily. ' I tally except «n<lay. 112 *t«»p <>ti
' signal.
PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD.
TIME T4BLE
ID Effect May, 25, 1902-.
| A A.M..
Scranton; DxH ).v • -i |1 4U 427
: I*itt?t<in •• •• 7 of, 112 . i', -j i
A.M. A. M P.M.I'M
Wilkc-I'.irre... IT 57Si ,1 I •*
Plym'th Kerry •• t 7 11» 42 t..j H 7
' .Nanticoke •' 7 4.' 17
.Moosnaqua .... " sOl II "• 3 ti
Wai>wail->|«n.. " i«> 1 is ' 47
Ncwopeck ar HIK ll » .; 4_' T (»•
: A. .i \ M. I'.JI. '
I'ottsvllle Iv j . ii v.
. Haileton *' .... IJ ■_ - 1
: Tomhicken " 11l • 1,1
Kern < Den " ID 1
Kork Olon "I ■ —|
.\ jieck. ar >
* o**l . i
A. M A. M P Si. P M |
N" .lv . " 1> ! 1 'J' 4J 7 i"
t'reaf*. •• * x II 3"" "
Kfj.y Kerry... •• Is 4 u4. i 4 i-: 7
K. Itlooms'hurk "] 8 4 II • 4'» "- 1
»'atawi.-sa lv i 5 11.'.. 4 . 7
| South Danville •• 14 1-47. ......
j Sunhury ar v ■IB I I i.'. j
A.M. P.M. P. M p.jl —-
| Sunhury lv u 4'.' ;1- I* j j i 4'
1 ar i 0 i , 4". >4o ......
Milton... •• lu ' - 1 ' • 3-' Ml <!7
Williain?i>ort.. " 11 1 I 11 '• ; I" ......
l>K-k Haven... " 11 r,:> jjo 7
IJcnovo " A.M. "0 * »' ;
Kane " ...... s I
P.M. P. M.
I.oek Haven..l\ 1- l» !■*» ... ...
Ilellefonte ....ar 1 l Ii
Tjiii— " iW • 0,1
I'hilip-f.tirK " I ;•> i r -
Clearfield.... '• i -•"> -
v. Ml j
A.M. H. M K.M.I'M
Sunhury lv v» fco i - - ;!
llarrisburtc.... ar II 3" j 3 l."> «' :0 H> ...... ,
P. M. P. M. P. *. A M
Philadelphia., ar .3 17 6 . li> J" 4 :■ I
Haltimore .; 11 S • '4 ;: •
Wanhinuton ... ";I 10 716 .0 . 4 i
, A. M P. M.
sunlury lv -
I,.'w;-i..wti .K-. ar U >
mulmig • B SSjIW 45
A M P. M P. M. p M
HurTishurv.... lv ll i> » 1 7 l'i i>
I'. M \ >!. V M A V
Kitt.-luri< ar
P. M. ! 1' -l \ M \ *t
lMtt-buru W 7 ko mt ....
,A. -M A M KM !
HartiibßrK....tr 200 r: '' '
AM A M
PittshUilf lv
hf*i?t"Wn Jl. " 7 .... 1 .. .
Sunhury ar •> •
KM. A M V M AM
Wafhlnxton... lv 10 40 7 1" ■ .. . i
Halt I more *■ II <* ■ 4 i * ll H t ... j
Philadelphia... "11 • - I • •••• i
A. M A M A M. I' "•!
Harriaharic.... lv 7 I |
Sunhury ar •'« o N ... I
• ' I
l'ltt>hlirK Is 4i '*» '* j
I leiirtleld.... " j .... I
l'liill|>Hl>urg.. I 4' 10
Tyrone " 7 P.... t" I- -• ....
Itellefonte.. ' N M ... •• " • ' ....
|I. " J
P M V >1 V M P *
Krle,. lv .... ....
Kane " -;.... '» 1 <■
Kinifo " 11 '*> '■ 4 ti
I.OCW Haven.... " 7 11
A..M I' M
Wtlliam-iH>rt- 'l 4
M lit"ii ! 1 S 4 _
Hc» . hur« " ....
Sunhury ar :> .'4 »)■ I
A. A M P M I' M
Sunhury ... ..lv - •> .■ { v <
south Danville" 7 . 017 .
C I'.l « • I • •
I. HhK>tn>hurw .. "
Kmpy Kerry 7 4 Ii I
t'reasy " 7 >- i >
N.~..o lM ck " »i' »l » •I" ... I
AMAMP M. P M
I :lt«VVl«--U . IV
Ncwojx'ck lv
K<M-k I Hen ... .ar
hnttln l"i
ll.izlet"n tl «t «6 " [I
PottfVllle i
. ■■ :
Mr'sc<)|>eek Ii * til
Wapwallopcn ar * l il
Nant ii "kt .... * 11 £>4
Plym'th Kerry mm j>a 17 >
W .. •• 0 !•* U1 4
ampMp mr *i
Pittsion I'.iHlar oi ■ I- 4' « .
Srraiitnii " " 10 08 I "*l ill a <*">
i i
Pullman Parlor a-.l .-tcrplnK » nr. mo <>• j
.
aiol lirli Iwtwoer -ml ry hi. ' Philolc ; . ;
'
hurir antl the Kelt,
lor further informal ion apply to Ti« ket Agent* i
/. If. Ul TCIUNSOS, J. li. WOOD, j
(Jen" l . Managtr. Qtn'l /'"**'n'r Ay |
Shoe Shof?<
St3^lisix!
Ciisap !
oie i
Bicycle, Gymnasium and
Tennis Shoes.
IHK ("KI.KHk ATKD
( sirlislc Mkm's
AND Till-.
Snaj? I'i'oof
UIIIiIM'I* liools
A SPECIALTY.
A. SCHAT/.
iiflni
A Reiiatoi©
TIH SHOP
Tor all kind of Tin Roofing
Spouting and C«n«ral
Job Work.
Stoves, heaters. Ran«*a,
Furnaces, etc
PRICES THE LOWEST!
QLJLITT THE BEST!
JOHN HI XSON
NO. 116 E. FEONT BT.
111 i
We will ha\*e a full line of
HOLIDAY GOODS!
-COXSjsTIXO «>F
Book?, Stationery,
Leather (Joods,
Fancy Baskets,
(Jold Pens,
Fountain Pens,
Sterling Silver Novelties
and mnnv other noveltie- at
Lowest Prices.
a.hTgrone,
112 MILL ST.
PHILADELPHIA ami
READING RAILWAY
IN KKKE4T XOVCSKI Mttfc. V*K
rn\i>s i.kavk p\w n if
Kor Pltiiadelphia II 2 a. m.
Kor »« 1 ork llnSSa. m.
Kor < ita*i«M» l| jia m
for WwiRwIIUII 11 St a ni.
I ..r M tltoß air . anil I p. ru.
Ko tn»| • .ft « .i -I ; p. ■
I Train- for Hal! outre. Waal thr s. itto
I mi l «.»« \i:i H.* K K. (Uad rtv-
IVrm nal. Philailrlpitta at! 7:' '. II » •. aa .
»H. • P ft • 4 tll» i:i*« J -it ;« ti. . 7 • • t>.
♦1 . !7 p. n idil tM i tra - f'or-' .¥ tl
and < Msnt utrwl •tal;»n i|:i|s t
>:4I, * p. in., *im«l»v I S. « ;; (». m
•rii VlJi" K.'R i'WMI ! K.
I .«*are PliM»flel|»lita Wrll a. m
j l.eavr R ii.iTu-Iwirt fit Ma-»»-ftt t I a|> at.
| . i\. M tiiti II ia>a aa.. j aa.
iMVe l!lnnainlait> . M*a. at.. M j». m.
liHvrijiliiiwn: Ha m.. '. »p m
j • It v - in - • •*' *«vh . -
I' * Hntnrduv ' via <ant»way. "V" MMk
4 * » _ ■»
I IMMT " J M T M
lHl.ill. ll lira, lahi. - :.t t!«-fcr» ofTl.-.-v rate
andl ».i* v.i i hr*4nut -i . i*a^»i 1v. 1 .1
i .t St .112 '
■Mathma.
In ton Tfar»»fer n-m, any m I rail (hr ial
■'heek taaggaae from hou-l* and W«I4 »« t -
PE(J(J
The Coal Dealer
SELLS
WOOD
—ANO—
COAL
A—
T-344 Ferry Street