ISSUED SEM1-WEEKI.Y. l." m. grist & SONS, Publishers.} % ^aniitj gtirspjjtr: 4or tht promotion of (he gotitirat, gotiat, ^gritullural, and (tominntial gnler^als of the |topU. { term?wole0copy>^ ESTABLISHED 1855. ~~ YOBKVXLLE, S. C., SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 1902. ISTO. 34. THE SPUR BY ASBLE1 Copyright, 1901, by Charles B. Etherlngtor CHAPTER VL PARIS TO STAVROPOL. the evening of that ^ dn>' came tlJe swartn.v fa Kilziar hastily and Tf with troubled counte- tlj uance. Vera spoke w,t^ ^'m briefly In pc ^the drawing room, p s\ and then he departed. jn Mr. and Mrs. Gordon had gone oat, expecting to return co within the boar. Vera had been writing in her room, while In a dark corner SQ ? ?f the veranda Darrell sat smoking a Qf cigar and holding silent converse with Qf an unruly heart. A servant had brought a soft felt hat , for Darrell to wear, but the young man had tossed it down upon a table ge and had gone out bareheaded Into the w warm spring evening. Some minutes ^ after Kllziar's departure Vera came to the window through which Darrell had passed to the veranda and looked out, ^ but she did not see him. and he did not ^ see her. Turning away, she noticed . the hat upon the table, and she held it In her hands for a moment. When she had gone, a servant entered, and, seeing the bat and decld- UE ing that Mr. Darrell did not require it, he took it back to the gentleman's room, where It remained unused for many days. Darrell finished his cigar and re-en- bl tered the house. He hoped to find D; Vera In the music room, but she was n* not there, and as he turned to look ac elsewhere the butler handed him a note 01 written upon cheap paper, hastily folded. and sealed with great daubs of bi . wax. He tore it open and read: The name of the lady has been reported to the JC police, and immediate action will he taken. She b will probably be arrested as an accomplice in the killing of Ladislov. She is not seriously suspected, but it is believed that her arrest will brin$ 111 out other evidence. . H The note was unsigned, but the writ- gf Ing was Fontaine's. Darrell bad re- Y< celved other communications from the th detective in similar form. m "Will you inform Miss Lorrimer that ds 1 would like to see her here?" said Dar- cc rell. Vera had passed in that house as a at cousin of the Miss Lorrimer who had e3 been a guest before her and had been q, called by that name before the serv- ^ ants. at The butler summoned a maid, who ju went upon her errand and was gone so y[ long that Darrell became anxious aud w himself ascended the stairs. j0 At the head of the stairway he met the maid, who said: l(( "We cannot find Miss Lorrimer. 1 j0 am told that she has left the house." _. "Have further search made Instant- tl] ly," replied DarrelL "I wish to see her upon a matter of great lmpor- jj tance." e( He descended the stairs and in the j lower hall met Mr. and Mrs. Gordon, to whom he disclosed his news. He bad scarcely done so when the maid returned with the positive assurance that ^ Vera had gone out. "Kllzlar must have told her that her 1 retreat was discovered," said Gordon. "She could not find any of us!" groan- J? ed I>arrell. "The poor girl fled alone. What a series of fatalities!" They bad passed from the hall into the drawing room. Gordon now turn He tore it open. sc ed back and, addressing the butler, ai who stood with the maid uoar the door, ordered that Francois be summoned at w once. It appeared upon Investigation that J1,' Francois could not be found, and upon the back of this Instructive Incident the police arrived in search of Vera. Naturally they did not find her. Gordon ' and Darrell lied with calmness and dignity. They denied all knowledge of ^ Mile. Shevaloff, and they nearly con- ^ vlnced the officers, though those Individuals had come with their minds full of perfect certainty. At the expiration of a fruitless hour the police detail departed, doubtless A leaving scouts posted near the house. Presently Darrcll went out to scarcu for Vera, ami he returned after mid- t night, having learned nothing. No j word came from her during the night rJ or the succeeding day. Late in the afternoon both Cordon and Darrcll were summoned to the police station of the district and were questioned closely. Like the boy who put r? cents into the contribution box 0 at church and took out half a dollar. ?j they gave little and gained much more. They returned from the station with a very fair idea of the condition of the t Ladislov Investigation. It appeared that the police had traced Ladislov to the point where the capture of Vera had been made and a j OF FATE. r TOWNB. I. >ry little fartner. They baa then lost ack of the carriage In which the incess was belnc taken away and j id failed to get any bint about the cts of the rescue by Darrell. The ihicle had been found, of course, and ere was an inference that it must ive been attacked somewhere, but the dice were tumble to understand how arrell or Gordon could have figured the matter, and they dared not make i arrest upon the evidence of Franis alone, for he proved to be a man such a shady record that, having Id his information to a minor officer police, he had disappeared because fear that his inconvenient past ould cause him trouble. Thus the whole matter hung in the lnd, like a vessel taken aback, for veral days, which were among the orst that John Darrell could remem>r to have experienced. No word .me from Vera, no hint of her fate, id the conviction grew stronger In arrell's mind that the agents of the ar had agaiu laid their bands upon sr. "It Is a certainty." tie said to Gor?n; "otherwise she would have sent i word. She is not the woman to be lilty of Ingratitude. I am going to avropol."' "To Stavropol!" echoed Gordon. "She told me "that she would probay be taken there for trial." replied arrell. "It is a loug chance, but I ive no other, and I cannot remain in tlve. This thing is eating the heart it of me. Robert." Gordon attempted to dissuade him. t it to no purpose. t "I must go." be said. "I rely upon t >u. Robert, to do everything that can 1 > done here. Get to the bottom of the ^ idislov case If you can. Spend all the ^ oney you can use to advantage, t ere's a check for my balance at Mor- t m's, and you'll see It Is not small. 1 au'll keep me posted. Thank heaven, 4 ere are telegraph wires leading to 4 ost regions of the earth In these y lys. You can reach me through our 1 nsuls." . t Darrell took a train that afternoon 1 the Gare de I'Est, where he had the 1 :traordinary fortune to. encounter etchikoff, whom in the past few 1 Lys?be had made many .Ineffectual 1 tempts to find. The Russian was * st alighting from a very elegant pri- 4 ite equipage belonging to a young I idow of enormous wealth and excel- ^ ut family, but of a reputation some- 4 mes attacked In whispers. GetchJ- 1 iff was evidently starting upon a long 1 urney, and his farewell to the lady * as somewhat strenuous, considering 1 ie public place in which It occurred. * As he was about to board the train ' arrell accosted him. Getchikoff seem- 1 I startled, yet neither surprised nor ? together pleased. His manner was * imowhat puzzling to Darrell. It did j jt lack cordiality. Indeed Getchikoff as making arrangements that they ' iould travel together, and before they 4 id riddeu five miles he confided to the merlcnn that Ue was engaged to the 1 dy in whose carriage he had come to ie station and that the marriage, for rery reason, was the most desirable ling in life for him. From Paris to Stavropol Is a long ay under the best circumstances. To arrell. with the burden of his nearly jpeless mission, it was almost unenlrable. In conversations with Getchiiff he approached the object of his j uirney ns nearly as he dared, and he 1 itained the other side of Vera ShevnfT's story. Naturally her father was presented by Getchikoff to have been ; traitor to the czar and justly con.Miined. Yet Getchikoff treated the i ibject without malignity. almost with ruipnthy. speaking often of the priite virtues of Count Konstantin and ' the noble character of his wife. As i Vera he professed ignorance. "She was only a child then." he said. [ knew little about her. It is rumored int she is now high in the counsels of ic nihilists, but 1 cannot speak of that om my own knowledge. If she were i trouble in Stavropol, my father ould spare her to the last limit of his nver." ? And somehow this final sentence . fomed to ring true In DarreH's ears j id to give bin) hope. Otherwise the Journey was without icideut, except that mysterious men ^ ere always bobbing up from unex?eted places to hold long aud serious ilks with Orctchikoff. "I will accompany you to a good ho 1." said (JetchikofT as they prepared ? leave the train at the end of their >ng Journey. "Later I hope to have ou for my guest at the palace. But lis matter of your connection with era Shevaloff"? ?l.ntv /to. \\ Hill UU juu LUUIT ui iuui.i i landed Darrell. "To bo frank, I have heard rumors," as the answer. "And Russia is not I mcrica, you know." t "Thank God, America is not Russia," 1 lid Darrell. "If ever a man learns i > love Ills country, it Is when he appre- < atos its liberties and regard for the ] glits of its people. Yet I anticipate f 0 trouble here." i "Pardon, colonel. By orders of his 1 tcellency!" Two men had stopped before them I 1 the street. ] "What is It?" asked Getchikoff. < lave you a message to me from my i Lthor?" 1 "None, colonel; but we have orders i i arrest at once Sergius Rilowski, the 1 an at your side." I "Bilowski!" exclaimed Darrell. "My line is Darrell. I am an American i tizeu." 1 "Your name Is JSergius bllowskl, and fou are a prisoner." was the reply. [)ne of the men laid his hand on Darnell's arm, but the American thrust ilm aside. At the same time the other handed 3etchikoff a paper. As he read It he aimed white, but at the close he set lis teeth firmly together, as one who ins taken a strong determination. "For heaven's sake, Getchlkoff, tell Ihese men they are mistaken!" cried [)arrell. "I'll knock one of them down n a minute!" "For God's sake, you will only make t worse!" said Getchikoff. "Go witb hem. I will intercede witb my fa:her." "But they want a man named Bilowikl," said Darrell. Getchikoff made no reply. Indeed le seemed unable to utter a word. "Do you deny your Identity?" denanded the officer who had made the irrest. "I not only don't deny it," rejoined Darrell, "but I am prepared to prove t Have the kindness to glance at my mssport." The man, with the calmness of a nechanical dummy, took the passport -and kept it. Then; turning to Getchi:off, be said: "You have traveled from Paris with Ills suspect. What do you know of lim ?" "I believe him to be Sergius Bilowiki!" replied Getchikoff. white as a fhost. "Why, you whelp," exclaimed Dar ell, "you were Introduced to me by an ittache of the British embassy who las known me for ten years, as you are veil aware." If Getchikoff had any reply to make, le was not permitted to utter it for he police officer immediately comnanded Darrell to follow him, and at he word four guards "fell in" around lim with military precision. Resistmce would have been a grotesque foly, and Darrell did not attempt it. He narched away, surrounded by his capors, who led him to a low, stone strucure fronting a public square of a nean appearance. Within this bulking he was brought before an official, vho heard the charge against him, vhich was not properly an accusation, rnt merely a name, and committed him ;o custody. No defense was allowed. Che prisoner, indeed, declared his name ind nationality, but not the slightest ittention was given to his words. The vhole proceeding did not occupy four ninutes, and it ended by the magisrate's signing a document of comnitment which was suspiciously handy lpon bis desk. Darrell was then conducted to a room vhich was much more habitable than le had expected his prison to be?inleed, except for the basic injustice of he matter, he had no cause to eom)lain of his treatment. He was subected to search, but nothing was taken rom him except his watch, his pockettnlfe, some unimportant letters and a imall part of bis money. The prin:Ipal portion of his cash was in large lotes, which be carried in an Inner >ocket of his waistcoat. It appeared ;o him that the failure to take It was i genuine oversight on the part of the learchers?that they really did not see ;he pocket. On the other band, the noney might have been left with him :hat he might buy his way out of the irison and get shot by a guard just >utside the walls. Such things will nappen in the east. His traveler's ;heckbook was in his baggage, which, >f course, bad fallen Into the hands of :he police. As a matter of form he requested pervtlcolnn tn (inmmnnlpntp with the Ampr can consul, and It was granted. But Darrell was not so simple as to suppose Lliat his letter would be delivered. He realized fully that he was in a trap, though he could not understand the precise object of the proceedings. Doubtless his arrest was connected with the affairs of Vera Shevaloflf. He might be seriously suspected of complicity In her designs, whatever they were, and he smiled grimly in his cell it the thought of his own complete Ignorance of the matter. It would have been hard for the governor general's secret police to iind a man who knew less, though they had searched the city for the most iurocent within its limits. Reflecting upon the problem during i long and tedious evening, Darrell was nf the opinion that he had been arrestE>d as a mere precaution and would be held until the affair bad been thoroughly sifted; that Vera was also a prisoner n the city, her plots more or less fully tnown, her liberty and indeed her life it the mercy of the governor general, rbe thought of his own present helpessness weighed upon him like lead, ind many a vow of vengeance he made vith the name of Ivan Getehikoff as he chief victim. CHAPTER VII. A BAD JUDGE AND A GOOD JAILEB. f ?Vft|ARRELL had been XMrtf&k served with a good dinner, and on the morrow tbere was breakfast, after which IMlinW leniency augured well, t had the look of mere brief deteuion, and if there had been no ques:lou of Vera's safety lie would have !elt little anxiety. It was therefore a >omplete surprise to him when, about LO of the forenoon, he was snnjiioued .0 trial! The announcement was coldly uade by the officer who had managed jis arrest upon tlie previous eveuing. Darrell demanded counsel and was nformed that it was not customary. Ele insisted upon an interview with the official representative of his country ind received the reply that his letter aad been forwarded and that nothing nore could be done. There was no alternative. Pie was forced to accept :rial on the prosecutor's terms. He was led before a singular tribunal. The judge sat in a courtroom jare as a barn, and there were not a dozen persons present, Including pris- I oner, guards and clerks. A villainous looking Individual with a face so unsymmetrlcal that he seemed to be made from the halves of two very different men that had been split longitudinally acted as state's attorney. He charged the prisoner with being an escaped Siberian convict, Sergius Bllowskl. His opening remarks wiere brief, and he galloped through them at such a gait that Darrell had bard work to follow him. Witnesses were then admitted, ? ? -1- ? ^MAm on osi4svlnfn | id every luuu. oui >u must commit a crime to be sent t< prison." "I know, 1 know," said Kevskl, eage to display his knowledge of the dlstan land of freedom. "My cousin, Andrei Kevskl. Is there. He wrote me a lette once. He is now a merchant, and hii children go to school. He sits ever: Sunday in a church, and no Inspeeto of police searches his bouse In bis ab sence. It Is a great country, that Amer Icn." "It Is, iDdeed," said Darrell. "1 wlsl It could know where I am. I thlnl Stavropol would be treated to a sensa tlon." "Hush! My cuusin says that In Amer lea your people treat our people wltl friendship. He says that it is a grea country, where railroads go every day that many of our people have largi farms, and the taxes are so light tha they can save money. Is It so?" "I think so. I know that there ar< many Russian villages In our grea west." "So. That Is what my cousin callet It but I know little of these things Could I get to America?" "Well, if it was really an object ant I got out of here. I think you mighi reach America." Ivevski seemed to think that the con versatlon had gone far enough in tliii direction. lie suddenly asked to se< the musical instrument, which he ex amined with cniniisn wonuer, nuiMiij a laughable attempt to extort a ton< from It. Then he returned it and has tlly left the cell. That evening Dar rell had a much better supper thai usunl. On subsequent occasions tin conversation was resumed, and at las Kevskl was led to a definite statemen regarding the possibilities of escape. "It can be done," lie said. "The offi cers of the prisoner trains do not can for persons. They convey only names You are Sergius Bilowski. There ar< In Gredskov men who have lived in tin north and whose friends are near tin Urals. One can be found to take youi name and place." "Very good. That gets him to SI beria. But what about me?" "You and I must find a way to gei to America." "We'll find it," replied Darrell "have no fear." The days now passed less miserably Kevskl proved to be a youth of Intel ligence, and the hours spent In tellinf him about America shortened the pris on days for Darrell. "Soon we shall he away from here,' said Kcvskl one flay wlien a month had been spent In the Grcdskov prison. "Orders have come to form a prison train for Siberia." "Are there many to go?" "Yes, many. You see. there Is war In the Caucasus since you came to Gredskov. The Circassians have risen." "A revolt?" said Darrell. "Who leads It?" "A mysterious prince called Motman Khan. No one knows who he Is. But he holds all the Circassians in bis power. Prince Kilzlar, the traitor, is one of the lenders also." "Kllzinr!" said Darrell He fell to studying. What might this new turn of events mean to him? With the mysterious Motman Khan he had nothing to do, but Kilziar be would have given much to see. for undoubtedly Vera's fate must In some way be connected with this revolt of the Circassians. He even cherished the hope that she might hnve escaped the snares or-me ueicniKoiis nua nave jomeu me revolutionists In the field. That, Indeed, would be bad euough, for the power of the Russian government could not bo overthrown, and the fate of the leaders of such a revolt would surely be death. He had now a triple ^ reason to desire freedom, aud he prayj ed heaven that Kevskl had planned well. The man had become reticent and had begun to show traces of anxlt ety. t "The Circassians are coming," he . said one day. "A small force tbut was sent from Stavropol to meet them has . been cut to pieces. Motman Khan, the , victorious prince. Is on his way to ? Gredskov. There are here about 300 . Circassians accused of one crime or t another, all to be sent to Siberia. Motl man Khan is coming to reduce the city 1 and free his people." 1 "Tell me. Kevskl," asked Darrell, "is . there any word of a woman in this 1 thing?" "Womail! Oh. no!" answered Kev ski, staring. "Women do not lead regi) ments "Some of them might well do It f You are sure there Is no mention made - of a woman's name?" ) "No." Kevskl laughed. "The only 1 name spoken is the name of Motman * Khan. He has a large army. It Is * armed with good guns and cannon. It ? was raised almost In a night they say. r Motman Khan Is almost a god to bis 1 people. They worship him and follow 3 him to death. Village after village * has been taken. Russian rule Is broken in the mountains. Gredskov Is * doomed unless the governor general "We are doomcdl" r sends us aid. His son was here to ex j amine the defenses, nut ne leu tew j men to re-enforee the garrison." r "And whnt then. Kevskl?" 8 Kevskl shrugged his shoulders. j "Then we shall all be put to the r sword. You may not be. for Motman _ Khan will not kill the prisoners. They are mostly his own people. He will give them all a chance to Join bis j army." ? Darrell heard this with a leap of the _ heart. It was the chance he wanted. It would bring him within the CIrcas. sian lines end give him an opportunity 1 to search for Vera among her mother's t people. One day the booming of heavy guns ? was heard, nnd there was a commotion t In the walled city. Kevskl came to the dungeon pale ? with terror. t "We are doomed!" he cried. "There will be no America for me. Motman j Khan is attacking the city with his army, and no help has come from Stavropol!" j "But we may escape and join Mot. man Khan," said Darrell. "Furies of hell!" cried Kevskl. "That Is the worst of it! The commander of the city. General Stanovitch. has issued * orders to the captain of the guard to " kill all the prisoners and put all the prison guards under arms on the city [ wall." 2 "That's pleasant." said Darrell. "Are you to do the killing in my case?" "God! Do not scoff!" exclaimed Kcv1 ski, with white lips. "I mean what 1 i cnri ttonr the triimnets! The captain of the guard Is coming! There Is Just I 1 one chance for you! I risk my life to give it! Follow me!" 4 to be continued. - Tit Fon Tat.?Congressman Pue, of North Carolina, evidently believes in J "fighting the devil with fire." He has i" introduced a resolution into the house which provides for raising a commit mittee to inquire into the use of boodle In the presidential and congressional ' elections of the last eight years, which is clearly a foil to the Crumpacker res: olution to investigate the elections in the south, looking to the reduction of . southern representation in the house, on the pretext that the colored man i and brother has been eliminated from - the political equation in certain southern states in violation of the fifteenth ' amendment. Pue's scheme is lex tali onls with a vengeance. It cuts to the quick. Southern Democrats can stand Investigation as to their election methods much better than Mark Hanna and his national committee or Mr. Babcock and his congressional committee. . Nobody with two Ideas above a Hottentot doubts that the unprecedented use of boodle put the Republicans In power in 1897, and has kept them in power ever since. The amount of fat fried out of the national bankers, tariff barons, trust magnates and great corporations in 1896 has "been variously estlmted at from ten to fifteen millions. An Investigation which would twist the exact truth and the whole truth out of Hanna and his confederates would be a public benefaction. We may never know the precise quantity of boodle used that year, but whatever it was the campaign of 1896 furnishes the only example on record where a national committee had a surplus left over after election, a surplus said to have been three millions. The nerve exhibited by Pue in thus bearding the lion in his den shows beyond all cavil that he is a young man with a future. Keep your optic on Pue, of North Carolina.?Champ Clark's Letter. BACK TO HIS OWN. Palma Left Cuba In Chain* anil Retnrned a* Rnler. General Tomas Estrada Palma, president elect of the Cuban republic, who arrived on the steamer Admiral Farragut from old Point Comfort, Va., was greeted, says a Gibara, Cuba, dispatch of Tuesday, to the New York Tribune, with great enthusiasm. Gibara's population of 6,000 was augmented by as many more who came from all quarters of the island, from Havana to Santiago, to pay homage to a man they love. When the steamer anchored in Gi bara harbor a salute o* 21 guns greeted General Palma. His face brightened at the scene before him. How different was his return to Cuba! He left in chains and came back with his path literally strewn with roses. The harbor was a kalledoscope of color and animation. From every craft flew the flag of Cuba^ llbre and the Stars and Stripes. Old friends who had known General Palma in the ten years' war and had rhared with him the hardships and sufferings of many campaigns came on board and embraced him. Many were in tears. The vessel was soon crowded with members of committees, representing different cities, who came out in steamers and launches, which were decorated from stem to stern, from the mast to the waterlirte. After- a ouarter of an hour of informal talk, General Palma and his party were taken ashore In a launch. When he put his foot on the pier there were rounds of cheers by natives as they crowded around their president-elect, which could have been heard across the bay. Mayor Caspedes spoke a few words of \gelcome, then proposed three cheers for the first president of the Cuban republc. A procession was formed on the principal street, whence the presidentelect and members of the committee were drawn in carriages by a score of stalwart Cubans to the city hall. Every place of vantage along the route was filled. Men, women and children crowded and pushed to emDrace ana shake the hand of the veteran. General Palma sat with bared head, bowing In response to cheers. He was deeply affected by the demonstration. The ceremonies at the city hall consisted of speechmaklng by the mayor, members of the council, General Palma and Gonzales de Quesada. Mayor Caspedes spoke eloquently of the gratitude that the Cuban people owed to General Palma, and the honor of being the first to receive the first chief executive of Cuba libre. His countrymen, he said, trusted General Palma Implicitly and would aid In every way toward a successful administration of his office. General Palma afterwards held a public reception, and was overwhelmed with congratulations and good wishes. He will resume his journey Monday evening. Holguin will be his next stopping place. A Wonderful Stork.?"And why, may I Inquire," said Senator Burrows to Senator Penrose, "did you Introduce that amendment to the proposition to elect senators by the direct vote of the people?" "Merely to make it more difficult" said Mr. Penrose. "That reminds me," said Senator Depew, "of the Englishman who nad been at several club gatnerings in this country where wits were assembled and thought ic incumbent upon mm 10 do something for their entertainment next time they met. He sat down and with much labor composed a conundrum. "Next time he got to the club he aired his production. "What is it," he asked, 'that has feathers, a long beak, builds its nest on chimneys, stands on one leg in the water and barks like a dog?' "Nobody could guess. Then the Englishman gravely announced that the answer was 'a stork.' " 'But, you bally ass,' one of the hearers said, 'a stork doesn't bark like a dog.' " 'I know that,' he replied. 'I only put that in to make it more difficult.' " ?Washington Letter in Philadelphia North American. ? ? - ts)" Joseph Jefferson, the acior, relates that in driving from Buzzard's Bay to Onset, Mass., he encountered a woman in bloomers who had dismounted from her bicycle and seemed to be In a quandary. She hailed him with the query: "Can you tell me if this is the way to Wareham?" "The way to wear 'em?" repeated Jefferson, looking at the bloomers. "Certainly, madam, its the way I wear mine."