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FOI‘ r mending students ohomd enter at beginning oi .. or an soon after as poaoiblo. I'm. 01.00 per month. VI. JOHNmU, Cupital Authorized . . .82,000.000 Pair! Up ............ 1.000.000 BoserVe Fund ........ 850.000 Opposite Middaugh House Stables. P. REID. DURHAM AGENCY. HEAD OFFICE. TORONTO. Agricultural, Domestic and Dairy Implements of all kinds. “'0 A VI NG purchase Mr Charles P. SA UNDERS RU '35: N SON CORBETT, Good horses at reasonable priCcS always at hand. That is; sure to please can always be purchased hem. Also a First Class Hearse always in connection. Em Machine Oil, Harness Oil, Axle Grease and Boot Ointment, go to THE SAVINGS BARK. STAFF AND EQUIPMENT. {)EERING mutant Agency ! In \\‘ L‘k‘irmn. warrants: RELLY. Agent. I’RUI’RH‘ITORS HM In in Markers. "customs and Monuments. W purvhasml the stock 0! harles McKinnon, and karerooms. we beg re- imimute to the public I be found at the old full line of Farm Sup- WORKS. AGENT. s from European Canadian Quarries The Harnmmaker. .t l‘ SDe( MA} iaity Orders taken Bell. c. L. GRANT. DURHAM. ONT. NAGER CHAPTER VI. AN AMERICAN GIRL’S PLUCK. NOTHER glance from the win- dow showed Frances that the car had come to a stop near a new bridge over a branch of the Irtish. Involuntarily she sighed for the man who had built that bridge â€"Denton, whose eye was keen and steady, whose muscles ‘were of iron. rButhenton was miles farther on, at the Obi. “Now.” said Neslerov, as the girl ' sank back in her seat, “let us face this situation, my dear. Let us realize the ; true significance. We are practically’l alone. you and I. Save for the poor; wretches in that village yonder, we; are the only people on this earth just . now. Can you realize the fullness 0:3 that statement? You are mlne-abso- i lutely and wholly mine.” | “Oh, you cur! You coward!” ex- claimed Frances. Her hand went as if by instinct toward that pocket from which she had drawn her revolver on a previous occasion. Nesierov saw her face turn whiter still. and he laughed pleasantly. “Of course I guarded against that.” he said. “I knew you would, with your American in‘ipulsiveness. try to shoot me again. So. while you slept, I quietly took your little toy pistol from your pocket. I have it here. This, I believe. deprives you of the power to do any more miselnvf." “Oh. you mlserahle coward! You thief!" said Frances in a tense voice. “I wish there was a good American fist here to strike that grinning face of yours!” “Undoubtedly." said Noslorov. with an oxasporating coolness, "that would he pl'asant for you. hut it would he unfortunate for the American who ownml the fist. Ono hlovcâ€"mosM He would be torn apart by my agrwahlo savages yonder.” She could not resist the temptation to follow his finger as it pointed through the window on his side of the car. A short distam‘e. on the hanks of the stream. she saw a wretched. miser. able village of rude huts. Men and wo- men. dressed in leather. undressed skins. hoary cloths from Moscow mer- chants. stood in groups, all with their faces toward the ear. “\Voro I to say the Wiml." said N0919- rov. “tlwso pmpio would tvar you limb from limb and would pm'fm'm thv same agz'c-vahie smwiw fur any foul who at- tvmpzmi to intm'i'c-re hetwvvu us." “Munster!” she gasped. “Uf marge I am a monster to you." he said. “All Russians are monsters to those who (10 not like us. We may have our littio pvcuiiaritios. One of tiwm is that what wv (-ammt get by fair means we gvt sumo othvr way. I spuke to your t'mlu-r, and I spoke to you. I ofl‘vrml tlm imnvst love of a Russian prince. l was spurnvd. But now tlw game is mine, and I shall win. You shall lm'nme my wife before your fntlwr has time t0 return from the Obi." @iél' “Never! I would meter to be torn apart ”5 mm villageis'" "You llt lime that now while YOU are in the he at of anger but a short period of test uml Ctmtemplation will show you the folly of your refusal. Think of this. I shall go out now and obtain some food. We may remuin here a week. Who knows? Before 1 leave you I wish to say that until you con- sent to have the priest of that village make ynu my wife you shall not be per- mitted to leave this ear. I much pre- fer. as would any mm. a willing bride; but. denied this. I will compel you to obey. It will be the worse for you. I offered loveâ€"an affectionate embrace. You refused. Now I command! Think this matter settled only when we are married.” @{éi- @331- (MEI- “Never! You have my revolver and, I suppose. one of your own. Shoot me if you will. I will not marry you!” “It will not be you I shoot. What do you think your father will do when he finds you are left behind?” “Without doubt he will obtain a. spe- cial train and come here after me. Then. Prince Neslerov, beware!” Ile smiied like a wolf and showed his teeth. “That is what I wanted you to say. If when your father comes here you are not my wife. I will shoot him dead.” “You dare not!” she gasped. “I dare anything. No report of mine would be discredited at St. Petersburg. I could prove that your father was a conspirator against the government and was shot while fighting my sol- diers.” She looked about her for some metb. 0d whereby sku- mnld. if the m». should come. take her own life mu; ,, than submit to his demands. Shy new that If there were a priest in “There Is a government of the United States of America I" “True, but at a distance. I do not fear it. But consider what I have said. He left the car. securing the doors to prevent her escape. When she saw him striding toward the village. she leaned against the window and studied the rude 'people. I will return with food.” “I am helpless-absolutely helpless!” she moaned. “Oh. If he had nut taken my revolver l cpuld have shot him- or myself.” By Alhley Towne Copyright. 1901. by Charles B. Etherinatrm THE MYSTERY OF GRASLOV this squalid place he would obey Ne- slerov, and mumble some words per- fectly meaningless to her, but which would give Neslerov power over her. She walked the length of the apart- ment like a caged lioness. Women turned into their huts and came out again. She saw Neslerov start back toward the car carrying a wooden tray. She shuddered again. “God give me strength, courage, calmness!” she murmured. “To lose consciousness would be to fall a vic- tim to him.” She nerved herself to meet him as his footsteps sounded] on the platform. The door opened, and he entered with a bowl of gruel, some stemming pota- toes, roast fowl. coflee and some coarse bread. “It is not quite like our usual fare," he said, “but It is- better than being hungry.” He set the dishes on a table he Im- provised out of the back of a seat. He had a large traveling bag with him. and from It he took a bottle of wine. "We will pledge each other,” he said, with a laugh. “I do not wish any,” sald Frances. “Come, don’t be churllsh! Let us get over the unpleasant part. Drink a toast to your future husband.” “I will not. I will not touch it!” “Drinkâ€"drink my health!" be com- mangled. "I 'will not!" “I will make youi” IIe hold the cup in his right hand. With his left he. grasped her by the hair. He bout back 1101' head. Curses deep and terrible burst from him. He clutched her round the waist and struggled with her. She exerted all her strength. She was like a fero- eious tlgress. IIer nails scratched his face and tore his hair. ller blows out his lips on his teeth. But he was a pmveri'ul man and used his strength a:.raiust this eaptive wnmau. With a gasp she sueeumhed and sank helpless and exhausted almost in his arms. "(‘urse yn‘ul" lie splintered between his swellen lips. "I have wasted my kindness on you! i should have starv- ed yuu. But i will delay In: ledger. l'll drag you tn the priest. and in ten minutes you will lie llit' l'i'illcvss N0310- rnv~~tihd my slave i'ni‘ life. I'll lit'euk yuur heart. you devil!" lle elnsed his arms tightly almut her “Open your muutl). Swallow the wine. I will choke you!” he cried. Her eyes wvrv glaring with despera- tion. She clinched her 11st and ruined blow upon blow upon his face. With a powerful effort she wrenchod herself free mu] to hvr foot. and the Wine wont to the- Ihmr with a smash. :lTHl th'mrueil her from the ear. The \‘llitsgers stared in astonishment as the) saw him mining toward them with his hurtlen. “What means this Strange happen- ing. little father?” tlSkt'tl a wmzmn of an older man of the village. “Is the man killing her?" "Let be!” growled the man. “Use yo ll' eyes in your house. hut lilt'tltne not with others. The man's guhl is good. He will not hurt her. She is pmhnhly his Wife." Russian wives are m-eustomml to eru- elty from their husbands. .\ heating is but part of their demonstrations of authority as head of the house. The women looked on with apathy. while the men smiled. “He has married a Tartar.” tlmy said ammig themselves. “Help! Save me frum this man!" gasped Francvs as Noslm'ov lmlf drag- ged. half 'ill‘l'lt‘d her into tlw nearest group. “Where is your priest NUSIOI'OV de- mandml. “Get him at once. Not only be. but all in tlw place). will receive pay. Call the priest at once!” 9-" “Save me! I am an Auwrican! Gor- don~the man who builtâ€"the roadâ€"ls my father!” cried Frances. struggling again. A bent old man was seen shambling toward them. “Come,” said Neslerov rough!) . “This young woman and I are to be married. Hurry. We have been left behind in that car, and to save her good name she must become my wife. Proceed!” “No! For pity’s sake. do not!” cried “No! For plty’s sake. do not!” cried Frances. “My father will pay you well! Do not compel me to marry him! I hate him!” “I command you to marry us!" shout- ed Ncslerov. A tall man of about middle age step- ped from the crowd. “It is wrong.” he said. “Who you are I know not. but it is not the way to win a wife. Release the young woman. Let us hear what she has to say.” “What she has to say! Curse you!” howled Neslerov. He did release her for a moment and sprang forward. His fist shot out against the man’s face. Without an effort in his own behalf he fell. “I am Neslerov. governor of Tomsk!" shouted the prince. now perfectly fren- zied. “I command you.'old dotard. to say the words that will make this girl my wife.” “He is ht excellency, the governor,” muttered the old man. “We must obey.” “Please do not!” cried Frances. “He has stolen me from my father! He is a cruel monster! I cannot marry him!” Neslerov sglzed her by the wrist and @fiéi 37.1 swung ner toward the priest. The v11- lagers crowded round. awestruck at the great name they had heard. They well knew the governor. Many of them had felt the knout at hfis command. “It must be done." again muttered the priest. “No. no!” cried Frances. trying to wrench away from Neslerov. A boy slid quietly away from the crowd and ran. “Stand there. curse you!" said Such» rov. grasping Frances by ”w mm- The pain of his rude band on lwr Inn-w hair made Franovs My out In ton-m; pain and shame. “I'll kill you if ynu move again!” There was the sound of a quick and stealthy tread. There was a swish in the air. There was a gasp, a murmur from the crowd. which fell back in consternation. A heavy Russian riding whip swung through the air in an arc and, descend- ing, cut the skin across the face of Neo slerov. “Jack! Oh, Jack!” cried Frances, and then, the last vestige of her strength deserting her, she fell uncon- scious into Jack Denton’s outstretched arms. “Curse you!” said a hearty American voice. “I’ll have your life for this!” CHAPTER VII. A DUEL. ESLEROV recoiled. and the N writhing of his face in pain and fury, together with the long red cnt made by the whip, gave him the expression of a de- man. “You! You!” he gasped. “Yes, I!” said Denton. “Fortunately, I arrived in time to foil this dastardly attempt of yours to take advantage of a defenseless girl. I have been riding along the railway from stream tc stream examining the bridges. I reach ed this place on my horse a moment ago. A boy saw me coming and hur- ried to tell me what was going on. I had no idea I should find a friend in need of help. lint. thank God, I was in time.” ° 1011 will nevvr leave this place alivo!” said Noslvrnv. llu plucked :1 rm-nlwr from his pock- ot and aimed at Ill-mun. iie turned without a look at the fall- en man and started toward the hut into whieh Frances had been carried. “Look out!" cried a woman. \t the cry . “hit in “as echoed in the cumd. Iienton tinned suddenly. 'lhe dastardly Neslerm‘ had feigned. 119 had risen to his feet and was creeping upon his e nemv with a d: lgwor drawn. "Uh. you are an assassin. eh?” said Denton as he drew his revolver. “Let me see if we (ain't settle you once for all." A woman standing near hold out her hands and vaught the form of Frances and bore it mm 1101' house. Donton. v. ith flashing (-ws 1v: mod forward and Llusml W i111 .\(*sl( I'm. “It is you or 1! One of us must die!” criml \‘vslvruv. A sv. ingin; . mashing blow from the Ann-n" u -':m 5 right ham] sent the gov- ernor to the ground, where he lay as if shrnnmi. V The pistol fvll from the grasp of No- sloruv, and the whip before wielded by Dvnton drumwd to the ground. The iron lingers ot' Dentou would rlose on the throat of Neslerov, and it soothed as though the struggle would end that moment. but Neslorov would wrem-h himself free and leap at hls enemy with a rurse and growl. “It is :1 battle to the death between giants!" cried :1 1mm in the crowd. “Take care of him. somebody,” said lh-uton in Russian. “1 don’t want to kill him." plavv loukml upon the eagerness of .‘Jmluruv to lw marrivd to so beautiful a girl as natural. (mo of tlwm. realizing that the gov- vrnm"s safety was nvcvssury to their own. sprang upon Dvntuu and drove :I knife through the fleshy part of his arm. \Vhilo it might In. that not one of tho villagnrs sympathim-d with Noslvrm‘. yi-t his art was not a crime t0 thvm. With tlwir sordid mulerstamling of Mum-n having no rights. no t‘rm-dnm. no lilwrtios save what their lords and imistvrs gme them. the mom of this ’ilw pistol fell to the 031111 near th: 11 0t Xvslmov and No \illugers picked thmn up and hid them. Likv :1 flash Noslorov was upon his unm'mml foe. and his knife was raised to strike. but Danton. with a quicker And now began a duel the like of which the banks of the Irtlsh or lts branches will probably never see again. Steel flashed on steel. The blood from the wound ln Den- ton’s arm was flung over the face and movement, drew a knife from his belt. He had ridden too often over the tun- dra to go unprepared for enemies. hu- man and otherwise. And now began a duct. clothing of Neslerov. while that from the bruises on the governor’s face grew thick and dark. making him truly hide- With a grasp as of Iron Denton seiz- ed the hand of Neslerov that held the dagger. but with a wrench the govern. or got it away and cut to the bone lanlf the length of Denton’s finger. But the American scarcely felt the wound. He was not fighting now for life. nor for vengeance. He was tight- lng for that girl who lay in the hilt. He knew that if Neslerov killed him and was not k‘Hml lHL‘ifiVll. would he mama such :1 1:qu powvr of this mumtvr 0f lsrnm death would be [H'i‘ff‘l‘flhlt'. A year ago she Emd told him she did not and never eonid love him. It had been a quarrel. Sine didn't want to get married. and he a»ked her if his rough exterior.the result of years of hard work in rude and dangt rous places. was dis- agreeable to her. He said there were fine gentlemen at Paris. New York. London and St. I'etersburg. She had answered that she knew it. She preo terred their company to Doors. They parted then and had not met till now. Denton and Noslexos kept lighting on. the villagers too mud) aghast to step bet“ (Jon or utter a word. Neslerov felt his right arm getting weaker. Denton's knife had slashed through the sleeve of his coat and found the hone near the elbow. An ar- tery must have been cut. for the blood was thrown from the end of the sleeve. Made desperate. he gathered all his strength for a final effort and sprang bodily upon his 1'00. Demon. swing an opportunity and knowing that nothing but a deathblow somnml likely to end the fight, met the plunge and drove his knife into Nesle- l'oV’s side. With :nmther curse. a splutteriug of Mum! and a groan the governor of 'l‘mnsk sunk to tho grnmul at the foot of his :ulwrsm'y mu-mm-iuus. “'l‘akv mn- of him. you fvllows; no [10m] to 1M him div." said “0111011. 03(- :unining the wound. “His lung is not tuuvhml. Naming t‘nml lu're. l mu glad to say. Horn. you. 'l‘lw old priest cuuw mumbling to- wunl him. "Yuu know more about surgery than the rust. (lot sumo wutvr. lmtlw those wounds. lake 3 fvw slilvlu-s iu the lung cuts and lumclugv him up." "Yrs. lilllo flllllf'l'." Sillll llu- privsl. “sz. littlo fully-r." said ilu- priest. trembling. " llm Winn ul‘ yun?" “l min take (-nrv nf inysi-lf." He struck to tliv hunk of llw stream. over which lie limi lmt a fvw months bvfm‘v lmilt a bridge. and lmiln-«l his wounds. 'I‘lwn he wont inlu lln- lint to $00 Frances. as if nothing luul inm- ponml. Dentnn Went m 1110 (111'. still nu 1 main tmvk, and hruugm from it the mains of the lumlv nf winv Nt'szh-l hm] upvnml. This 110 look with him the but and ufl'vl'ml sumo to Fram-vs “I duu’t want it. I Infused it lwfur she said. 0 ll\- I'I‘-‘--- “Uh flout you “ant it?" he as! 1111 ironically “I suppose in tour km“ and Subtle mind there is no dislim'l on he meet: a. glass of wine ofl'ered by Noah» - t'ov \\ lien you Were his prisoner and by 5 me \\ hen too me ill. ” i “I did not mean that. ” she said meek 1y. She reached out her hand. took t ie can and maimed it. "Now. then. ”said Denton, coolly seat. lug himself on a stool near her [11-11. “tell me this whole miserable business from the beginning.” "I haven’t thanked you yet. Jack." she said. with a return of color. “Never mind thanking me. I did merely what any other American would have done. and. seeing you in danger. it would not have been manly. indeed. to stand off. I accept ynur thanks. but let's get to the business. How did you happen to be here~with Neslero \' ‘3" “We were in Moscow.” she said. "There was a meeting about the new railway.” “Yes. I know. That was what took Neslerov there.” “He had an interview with pupa while in Moscow4he”â€" “Why do you hesitate? It is not a new experience to have a man want to marry you. is it? You gave him the usual answer. I suppose.” ' “Oh. Jack! There was but one an- swer papa could give him. I do not like the prince. and papa knows I will never marry a man I do not love.” “Everybody knows thatâ€"who knows you.” said Demon soberly. “Never mind. we will get to that atterwand. You stunted tor .the Obi. “lle told him about you-and about Vladimirâ€"and the prince got‘augry.” “About Vladimir! Who is he?" “Vladimir Pauipofl. an ironworker. now sent"â€" still on the an it tho :1» 1in (hm [N u\' UH :0 ' “'CHCO r'v- vv--- the forge-tn hls shop-one day whllo the rallway was belng put through Perm. Papa and I went there. He ll a marvelous man. Jack. You would thlnk as much of hlm as I do If you knew him. He ls so handsome and strong. He ls"â€" where Gondbn is {6 £31“ 'I' Vashlov." “No. not yet. I must tell you about Vladimirâ€"poor fellow! I met him In _.I.II- VD; you mean young Paulpon‘. the blacksmith of Penn?" “Yes. Jack. Do you know him?" “I’ve had him turn out some iron for small bridges. We‘ll?" "lie is so intolhw-ut. and was so anxious to learn. to improve. I' helped him. I used to send him books. pa- pers. magazinos. scientific worksâ€"any- thing I could got hold of that would help him. 110 studied hard. poor fol- low! He grew toâ€"l think he lovod me -â€"lio"â€" “Of course you returned his aflec- tion. You’ve done it soâ€"l mean It came quite easy.” Tears giistened in her eyes. and she turned away her head. Shv had quar- reivd with this mam and had said she would never marry him. and their friendship had been almost out nun. der. But he had saved her from Ne- slerov. Now he was chiding her. “One could not know Vladimir with- out admiring him.” she said suddenly, with a great acccssion of spirit. “I fall to see why I should he put through this catechism by you.” “You needn't be if you don't want to." he answered coldly. “This ll 3 nice, quiet village. Neslerov is lying not far away. somewhat cut up now. but he will get over that. I could so on my way and leave you if my ques- tions are distasteful. The thing is that there must he an explanation to thin aflair. and I’d like to know what it is to be. It is no trifling matter to cut the governor of a Russian province to pieces.” “Have you been fighting?" she asked quickly. “No,” ho replied. with a tinge of ur- casm. “Noslorov and I lndulged in I few pleasantries. He doesn‘t feel an guy over them as I do; that’s all." “Oh. I see your hand is bandagedâ€"l never noticed It. 011, J ack. forgive me!” “We were following a course of tn. qutry." he said. putting the bandaged hand hehind him. “This Vladimir- you motâ€"there was an attachmentâ€"so far. so good. Now. how did that lead to this aflair?" “Couspiriug with others to kill tho czar. “'0 were alone; the drosky driv- er went out. and Neslerov tried to kl“ me. I fought him; I shot him.” “You shot Neslerov?” “Yes. I shot him. I would again. I then returned to Moscow. but did no! tell my father anything about the mat- ter. save that Vladimir was sent to Siberia. We soon after started for til ()hi and stopped at Penn. We saw the governor. and he promised that if h! diseovered that Vladimir was innocent he would help him." “llo might as well have said that I! he dismn'vrvd the moon was cheese he'd give it to you for lunch. Things llkt that are rarely corroctvd in Russia.” “When we left Peru). Neslerov wu on the train. or course. as papa dld nut know anything :tlmut the shooting in the hullsc of the ‘anlpofl‘s he greet- ed Neslerov as :1 friend. Everythin. went Well till We had crossed the bor- de ' and route into Neslerov’s own prov- inee. At this place-l had been sleep- ingâ€"l woke up. The ear had become delm'hed from the train. I was aloud with .\'eslertw. He took my revolve! from me and dragged me here. and or- dered the priest to marry us. The. you came." “l"ranees." he said. “I do not know. of course. how this matter will end. It Neslerov wishes. he eau destroy me. I! he finds it advisable to keep silent. then i may find a way to assist thin Vladimir. I think we shall soon be on the way to the ”hi." “It wlll need no god to do that now. The case ls simply that Noslorov need. better care than you’can give him. He ls badly Injured. It ls necessary that he shall be taken to Toms]; at once. I can start wlthln the hour. There wlll not be another traln to the Chi In {our days. Do you .deslre to. keen your mo- “I wanted to see, Vladimir and went by train from Most-ow to Penn. I found a drosky at the station and was driven to the shops. Shops. houseâ€"all were deserted. I found Neslvrov there with a painting under his arm. He wu taking it away. It was a beautiful pic- ture. a beautiful face. I asked the prince where Vladimir was. lle said that all the l‘aulpofl‘sâ€"father. mother and Vladimir-had been sent to Sibe- ria." “Yes. I think I came just In time." said I'Duntuu. Thou a stern look came again upon his face. \Vith those Wards be left the but and was met at tlw door by an angry. threatening mob of villagers. “There he Is!" growlml an old man. evidently the leader. “He tried to kill his c-xwllvnvy. Kill him!" “Kill him!" said another. “It is the guvernur's command. He put the iron mad. the bridge. the devil wagons. tln'ough our country. The czar does not wish it. and we must avenge the wrong. Kill him!” CHAPTER IX. DENTON TURNS LOCOMOTIVE ESGINEEI. ENTON pl'vsomvd an unrumed from. “Take nw to the governor.” he said. “The governor is resting." growled a follow whose face was a mass of greasy hair. “You will kill him." “Why is that. builder of bridges? In there a god who avenges the death of Anwricaus?" “Nonsense! Take me to‘ the govern- or. If you kill me. he will die.” “Svnt to Siberia! That big simplo hearted {(-llow! For what?"