Newspaper Page Text
THE MYSTERY
OF GRASLOV
- ■•-:-== By Ashley Towne
OopyNyM, 1901, by Chariot B. Elhertngtsm
have no authority!” said Itzig,
•cowering before the pistol.
‘‘l have this.”
She showed him the paper. His face
grew white, and he sank shivering to
>tbe floor.
“The seal of the czar! Oh. princess,
jjjjid not know! I obey! I will do any
*'•!• *•
thing. *
“Hein ( nen the door.”
• soon off and tin?
r The binges wen, re
'door was opened. The iron
listed the united efforts of the two. but
they sawed out the lock.
“Take the lantern!” commanded the
ju-incess.^
v,Tremunng in every uoer, iuii,
cd a lantern.
! “Lead the way to the dungeon where
Vladimir is concealed.”
“1 obey.”
* “And I will guard you, princess,”
said the officer.
Thus they descended the stairs, Itzig
leading with the lantern, Olga follow
ing and the officer close behind her
ready to protect her. Potent was the
seal of the czar.
They found the giant blacksmith in
'his chains. The hunger he felt had not
yet supped his strength. The key the
princess had taken from its peg soon
released him
“Come!” she said.
“But who are you. and what does
this mean'.'" lie demanded.
“Come! V,‘e have no time to waste
with words Tonight you have the
work of your bfe to do. Come!”
The four ascended, and Itzig extin
guished his lantern. The eyes of Vlad
imir blinked us he entered the great
hall, which was kept lighted all night.
“You are Vladimir.” said the prin
cess. "1 am Oign of the NVslerovs. Ho
you know the story of the picture?"
“The little picture.” cried Vladimir
eagerly—“the little one that Papa Paul
poff said he’found? Yes; be tokl it to
me and to the American one day in the
but at Tivoloffsky."
“Then you know the truth. The
’American was to goto Perm -ami start
the Invest I gat ion "
“Yes, but h, was brought here.”
"1 released him last night. He went
from here to Tivoloffsky to bring Papa
Paulpoff to tell his story before the
governor general, who has net yet ar
rived. Jansky, the superintendent of
police, and Unsgethop have gone to
fetch him. They will kill him; they
will not risk taking him alive. It is
your duty to ride to Tivoloffsky—ride
as for your owu life —anil save the
Americau and Papa Paulpoff. Bring
them here. Do you understand?”
“Yes; but a horse.”
“Lieutenant, in the name of the czar,
the fleetest horse iu the stables for
Vladimir.”
“1 obey—the fleetest horse.”
“You must be famished,” said Olga.
“Will you eat?”
' “Eat! With the American and Papa
Paulpoff in daugerl No; but a drink of
vWiue.”
lie watched her as she Btepped into
Nesterov’s room. lie saw the governor.
“Neslerov!” he said. “Is he dead?”
“No. 1 drugged his liquor. Here is
wine. It is not drugged. I drank of It
myself.”
He drained the glass, and the officer
entered.
“The horse is at the door, princess. 1
woke no one at tlie stables. I saddled
the steed myself,”
“Good. You will be a captain tomor
row. Now', Vladimir, go!”
He mounted * and was off. He fol
lowed the line of tlie new railway and
could not lose his way. His horse was
fast, the best horse in Neslerov’s sta
ble.
"For the American! For Frances!
For the honor of Graslov!” muttered
Vladimir as he strove to increase his
horse’s speed. *
He passed through villages asleep
under the bright stars. The hoofs of
his horse rang out on the pebbles of
cue road or sank into the mud of an
other. But on he went. Tivoloffsky,
like all the other villages, was asleep.
Its quidt was rudely disturbed by the
hammering of the iron shoes as the
horse bore him through the silent
streets. Right well he knew the way
to the hut where Mamma Paulpoff was
murdered. Two horses stood before
the door. His own dashed up and
whinnied. They were from the gov
ernor's stables. Like a madman he
leaped from the to the ground.
He heard shouts, a pistol shot.
It was something like a demon that
Jansky and Unsgethop saw coming in
tike a whirlwind. In a corner crouch
ed Tapa Paulpoff, trembling and white
with terror. On the floor lay Denton,
unconscious, with the mark of a bullet
in his forehead and the blood stream
ing over his upturned face. Jansky
was bending over him.
“Who is this?” cried Unsgethop as
Vladimir entered.
The blazing eyes of the avenger took
in the whL* scene. A small lantern
stood on the floor.
“I am your master!” cried the black
smith, and the words were as if roared
by a lion.
With a leap he landed between the
two. Jansky’s pistol and Unsgexhop's
knife were drawn. Vladimir’s right
I hand closed on Unsgethop's neck. His
left shot toward Jansky, and the super
■Jtendent of police was powerless in
that terrible grasp.
r~
He brought their heads together udth a
crash.
“Now pray~to heaven,” cried Vladi
mir, “for this hour Is to be your last!
Id this house you killed that poor old
woman who had loved me. Here you
have come to kill the American and
Papa I’aulpoff. Hie like the dogs of
murder that you are! For your crimes
take this! And this!”
With hte muscles of iron he brought
their heads together wdth a crash.
“And this!” repeated Vladimir, swing
ing them apart and then together
again.
Flinging Jansky from him with a
curse, he stooped quickly, seized Uns
getliop by the legs and swung him in
the air. He brought his head against
the rude wooden wall, and the blood
spurted from his mouth. Jansky, with
chattering teeth, tried to get his pistol
aimed at the giant’s head, but Vladimir
caught him round the waist and sent
him, as an Indian throws a spear, into
the corner of the room, where he lay
motionless with a broken neck.
“Come, Papa Paulpoff,” ordered Vlad
imir. “You are not injured. You are
needed at Tomsk at once. But first I
must get this poor fellow to a priest.”
lie picked up the bleeding and un
conscious Denton and set off with him
to a nearby cottage. The priest admit
ted him, knowing his voice.
“What is your burden?” cried the
priest. '“W hat terrible thing has been
done in Tivoloffsky tonight?”
“Nothing much,” said Vladimir calm
ly. “1 have killed two wolves.”
CHAPTER XVII.
“1 AM GOING TO MAURY YOU!"
IT was noon in Tomsk, and the Prin
cess Olga had not yet slept. She
sat at her window, which faced
toward the great plaza, and watch
ed and listened. Suddenly there came
to her ears tlie faint sound of n bugle.
It came from the direction of the new
railway station. The princess smiled.
Then came a knock at her door.
“Open it, Therese.”
Therese was pale and trembling. Tlie
events of the past two nights had shak
en her nerves till she was on the verge,
of collapse. But she obeyed, and the
same lieutenant who had assisted dur
ing the night came in.
“1 fear for your life!” he said. “Ne
slerov has recovered and is cursing like
a madman. He called for me and or
dered me to fetch you to him.”
"It will not be a difficult task,” said
the princess. “I will go.”
“Bnt he will kill you. He Is speak
ing words that no sane man could ever
speak. He says if he is to be destroy-
ed he will destroy you first.”
“Does he know that Vladimir Is
gone?”
“He suspects it. He has not been to
see.”
Olga looked from her window. Three
men were riding abreast, coming to
ward the palace, and after them a de
taohment of the soldiers always at the
station.
“Some one conies!” said the officer.
“Yes. Do you know who that Is?”
“1 do not.” replied the officer. “It
must be one of the generals.”
“You will see,” said Olga. “Come!
We will go to Neslerov!”
The governor glared at her in mad
fury.
“You- drugged that wine! You put
me to sleep!” lie shouted.
“I drugged the liquor, for I had work
to do,” she answered.
“What have you done? Let us be
frank. Y'ou came here as an enemy
and as a spy.”
“I came to right a wrong; to avenge
the crime of Graslov.”
“What do you know?”
“I know tlie truth.” '
“What do you iutend to do?”
“Restore that which is lost and undo
what was done by wickedness.”
An evil look came iuto his face, and
he stepped toward the door. The lieu
tenant blocked it. .
“Out of the wify, dog!” cried Ne
slerov.
“I protect her highness.”
“You! Y’ou protect against my
•rders!”
“There is a higher than you. I obey
the czar.”
Neslerov started back, so powerful
in effect is the name of the czar.
“The czar!"
At the very door of the palace a
bugle blew Its blast.
Make way'! Admit his excellency
the governor general,” came a voice.
Neslerov went white and leaped at
Olga.
You sent for him, and this means
my death! We die together!”
“In the name of the czar!” cried Olga,
and tlie sword of the lieutenant touch
ed the breast of Neslerov.
“What means this?”
The voice came from a tall and sol
dierly man wearing a brilliant uni
form, who blocked the doorway with
Ills burly form.
“De Muloflf! Governor general!” gasp
ed Neslerov.
Sit down, said the governor general
sternly. “Y’ou sent for me In haste,
princess. I came as soon as
Fortunatelv there was a train.”
“The railroad has saved pie and the
Duke of Graslov,” said Olga.
Nesterov darted a look of hatred to
ward her.
"Hues i'liero.se, my attendant,” said
Olga to the lieutenant.
There was another commotion at the
entrance, and three soldiers and an offi
cer came In with two prisoners.
"To the governor!” cried the officer.
“There was murder at Tivoloffsky!"
Olga started up, aud so did Neslerov.
The governor general turned calmly to
see who had come. The two prisoners
were Vladimir and Papa Paulpoff.
“Bring them In here,” ordered Olga.
“Let them he brought before the gov
ernor general.”
“'Fills man murdered the superintend
ent of police and Unsgetbop,” said the
officer In charge.
“True,” said Vladimir, “I did.”
Neslerov was the picture of despair
nml baffied rage and hate. His glance
was venomous, but his very helpless
ness made him haggard. Therese,
white lipped anil shivering, came In.
Neslerov looked from one to the other.
He knew that something was coming—
the end of his career. The governor
general waited, looking chiefly at Olga,
for from her he expected the first
bomb.
“Look at that man, Therese!” com
manded Olga.
It was a dramatic scene as the girl
stood with perfect poise and pointed
her finger at Neslerov.
“I see him,” faltered Therese.
“Who is he?”
“Prince Nicholas Neslerov.”
“Prince Nicholas Neslerov, let me tell
you what the governor general already
knows,” said Olga, and her voice was
cold and steely. “For many years my
youth prevented a clear understanding
of things. I was born after the death
of my unfortunate cousin and so did
not full}’ take in the significance of the
mystery of Graslov till a few years
ago. But when I did learn of it I re
solved to sift it to the bottom and make
certain that the one who caused her
death should be punished. For years
my efforts were unavailing. I pursued
every line of investigation that occur
red to me, and in them all I had the
sanction and assistance of the czar. At
last, during a sojourn at Graslov in an
other name, I met this woman whom
you have heard me call Therese. Do
you know who she is? She is Mine.
Deudoff, widow of that Dendoff who
was the slave of your wicked father
and yourself.”
Neslerov was too crestfallen already
to show further effect of her w r ords.
He made no answer.
“For twenty years this woman has
lived w’itli the truth locked in her bos
om because she feared her husband.
Tlie governor general Is here and will
hear this case at once, and from that
moment when he hears the truth you
are in his hands. Therese, who is that
man?”
She pointed at Vladimir as she spoke.
“That—is—the Duke of Graslov!” said
the woman firmly.
“Tell your story.”
“It was twenty years ago, your ex
cellency,” said Therese, speaking df
reetly to the governor general, “that
the little Prince Alexis was lost. He
was missing from the palace at Graslov
one evening, and the poor princess was
beside herself with grief and anxiety.
A search was made, and my husband,
who was in the service of the duke, re
turned from the Kama and reported
that the child had been seen wandering
on its banks, and he lyouglit back a
portion of its garments, which he said
he found close to the water. It was
believed that the child was drowned,
and the princess grieved for her dead
boy. The poor princess did not sur
vive the shock long, and when she died
there was trouble between the two
branches of the Neslerovs. Her fam
ily claimed that the duke had misused
her and caused her death. It was nev
er settled, and the two families have
since been enemies.
“It was not less than two years after
when, one night, while he was intoxi
cated, my husband said something that
aroused my suspicion—that he knew
what had become of the young prince.
I taxed him with it. and he was maud
lin enough to confide in me. He had
been poor, but since the loss of the
young prince he had not worked, but
had plenty .of money. This also caused
me to suspect. He told me, in his
drunken fashion, that the Duke of
Graslov did not wish the sou of the
princess to inherit the title or estate.
As the father of the boy had died he
was tlie heir, but the duke preferred
his younger sou, Nicholas.
“The two, the duke and Trinee Nich
olas. paid my husband to take tlie
child and drown it. He was a wicked
man. my husband, and he agreed. He
did take the child to the Kama and
was about to take •front it the telltale
clothes when it cried lustily, and a
powerful man sprang from the bushes
and t.- k the child. There was a tight
in which my husband was badly whip
ped. But he did not dare report to the
duke that he had failed, and so he car
ried out a • is aud reported the
fiudiug . i thing at the river.
I This wag the clothing he had taken off
I preparing to throw the child In the
river. To me this revelation was a
great shock, hut my husband threaten
ed my life if I ever breathed a word of
| it to a single person. I knew he w'ould
| keep his threat, aud so I dared say
j nothing, for the house of Graslov was
rich and powerful, and I feared to
j speak even to the police.
“Thus I lived year after year with
the shadow of my husband’s crime up
on my heart, until I thought I would
go mad. Moved by an impulse I could
not control, I determined to learn If
the child was alive. I found it-in the
house of the blacksmith Paulpoff at
Perm. Having learned that the little
Alexis was well and happy I felt eas
ier, but resolved that when my oppor
tunity came I would reveal the truth.
The old duke died and Nicholas be
came his heir and finally became gov
ernor of Tomsk. A short time ago my
raißOnnn aiea, auu I was to tell,
There came to Graslov one day a beau
tiful girl, giving a name that was not
familiar, hut she was the picture of
that lovely princess who had died, and
I wntched her. I knew she was search
ing for the truth, and I told her what
I knew. We went to St. Petersburg,
where she told the czar, and he gav4
her authority under his seal. We went
back to Perm, but the Pafllpoffg were
—"v to Siberia. The princess
Oil liltUt •—. iiippf ing
resolved to follow, and t—. ns
is tlie result.” _
“llow did you know the boy m
poff’s bor- pr '<-
asked the ~C“eral v
“I saw his mother’s picture which
had been around his neck. I recog
nized his face, his voice, his manner,
and Paulpoff told me how he came into
his possession.”
“This is strange," said the governor
general, turning to the old man stern
ly. “How was It that you kept the
young prince and did not disclose the
fact that he was alive?”
“It was the prayer of his poor moth
er,” said Tapa Taulpoff. “I, too, have
my story. On that day I was wander
ing by the river and had been fishing.
I heard the cry of a child. I ran to
ward the sound and saw the man tak
ing off its clothing. He cursed it and
struck it and said that its voice would
soon be stilled. 1 knew he meant to
murder the child, and so I attacked
him. I was a powerful man then,
though not nearly so powerful as Vladi
mir—as the prince—is now. We fought,
and I severely whipped him. I then
took tlie child home with me and re
solved to restore him to his parents, for
I supposed he had been taken for re
venge by enemies. When Isaw r the
beautiful face of the*princess, I knew
it must be the boy’s mother, and so I
began to think who among the nobles
who lived near tlie Kama had such a
woman. I had heard of the beauty of
the Princess Neslerov, and so I went
to find her, leaving the child at the
forge. I saw her at Graslov and asked'
to be alone with her. She ordered her
women away. I showed her the por
trait.
“ ‘My picture!’ she cried—‘the picture
that was on little Alexis! Oh, what
have you to tell me?’
“I told her what had happened, how
I had taken the hoy and that he was
safe and well in my house. She began
to weep tears of mingled joy and sor
row.
“ ‘YVho are you? What is your name?’
she asked.
“ ‘Michael Taulpoff, princess,’ I told
her.
“ ‘Oli, Michael raulpoff,” she cried,
and it seemed thdt her heart would
break—‘can I trust you?’
“ ‘With anything, lady,’ I answered.
‘You are welcome to the life or death
of Michael Paulpoff.’
“‘Listen!’ she whispered, turning
each way to see that we were not
watched. ‘I am in tlie house of ene
mies. My husband, who was the heir
of the duke, is dead. My little son
would be the heir of this estate, but
the duke prefers that his own younger
son should inherit, and so they have
plotted to destroy my child. Thank
God for placing you on this earth,
Michael Paulpoff! You were sent to
save my boy. And now listen. Were
lie to return here or were it to be
known that he was alive, no matter In
what part of Russia he might be, they
would manage in some way to kill him.
Even now I tremble lest some spy
overhear our words and reveal this
truth. Ido not wish to have you relin
quish him and will give you something
now, but you must never come to me.
Some day I will come to you and claim
my boy. Will you swear, Michael Paul
poff, to cherish my boy and preserve
this secret?’
“I gave the promise, excellency, and
I have kept It. But she also said, ‘ln
case I die, Michael Paulpoff, guard my
boy as you would your own, for I think
he will be like his father—strong, but
no match for the wicked and designing
ones. Do not permit any one ever to
know this truth.’
“I have obeyed, excellency. The boy
was named Vladimir, and we soon
came to love him as our owu. lie was,
as the princess said, strong ami of an
easy going, simple temperament. He
grew up to help me in the forge. The
princess did die. and so I held my
tongue, as she bade me. But Vladimir
—or Prince Alexis—was talented, and
he learned to paint. He discovered one
day the picture t>f his mother and be
came enamored of it. He wished to
paint it, and I permitted him. Then
one day Neslerov came and saw it. I
was frightened, for I knew he would
suspect, and I knew from his manner
that we would soon hear from him
again.
“We were charged with conspiracy,-
excellency, we who had honest hearts*
and had never wronged any one, and
were bundled off to Siberia. We were
sent to Tomsk, where no doubt Nesle
rov Intended to kill the young man
when he got an opportunity. Then one
day that American named Denton came
to our hut in Tivoloffsky. In some way
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lie had learned of the picture. 1 do not
know why he was interested in Vladi
mir, but he asked to see the picture
and questioned me.
“ ‘Paulpoff,’ he said, ‘YTadimir is pot
your son.’
“L shivered, for I did not know but
he was a friend of the governor. But
he said he was going to learn who
YTadimir was, so I told him the story.
He said that Vladimir could not be any
worse off than at present, and he could
secure the help of the government to
restore the estate to him and punish
Nicholas Neslerov. He took the pic
ture, and some one came to our hut
after that and whipped my wife to
death. YTadimir swore vengeance, and
today he has killed Jansky and Uns
gethop.”
“This is a strange story of cruelty
and crime,” said the governor general.
“But. so far as you are concerned, I
congratulate you, Prince Neslerov,
duke of Graslov. And this faithful old
man, whose life is almost run, how can
I show my appreciation of what he has
done for Russia? Paulpoff, you shall
name your own reward, and it is
yours.”
“To live with Vladimir,” said the old
man simply.
“And this American! Where is he?”
“Wounded; lying in the house of a
priest at Tivoloffsky,” answered Vladi
mir, or, as he should now be called,
Alexis.
“Nicholas Neslerov. what have you
to say?” asked the governor general.
“It is a lie,” said Nicholas.
“Y'our own face does not indicate it.
I believe this is the truth. You are a
prisoner! Call the officer of the guard!”
“I am here, your excellency!’’
“This lieutenant,” said Olga, “whose
name I do not know, assisted me in
freeing the prince from the dungeons
under this palace. I told him he would
be a captain.”
“Y’our name?” said the governor
general.
“Ormidoff.”
“Captain Ormidoff, conduct this pris
oner to the same dungeon in which he
had confined the prince, and see that
“/ am your slave forever
he is treated as becomes a murderer
aud enemy of Russia. This is enough,
princess. I congratulate you.”
The eyes of De Muloff were moist,
aud he took Olga’s hands and pressed
them.
They heard Neslerov cursing as he
was led away. He was chained in the
dungedkand. in au effort to free him
self that night. burst a blood vessel
and died, with no hand to help.
As 'governor general turned away
Olga smiled at Alexis.
“You are not quite my cousin, yet we
are in a way related,” she said. “I
am glad that I have succeeded in giv
ing you your own.”
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“I am your - slave forevt*;” be an
swered, stooping, with his great shoul
ders almost covering her, and his lips
met hers—and she did not resist
*******
In the house of the priest at Tivo
loffsky Denton was recovering from
his wounds. His first feeling as he
gradually came to himself was off
great weakness. A cool small hand 1
was placed upon his brow, and he;
looked up into the face of
Gordon.
“Do you know me. Jack?”
“Y’es, I know you, Frances. What,
has happened?”
“Y*ou have been ill. Y'ou were shot
two weeks ago in the house where the!
Paulpoffs lived. Do you remember?”
“Y’es—they came—did they kill poor
old Paulpoff?”
“No. Vladimir—the one we know as
Vladimir, but now the Duke of Gras
lov—came and killed them instead. He
killed Jansky and Unsgethop and
brought you here.”
“Then it is proved already!” he said,
staring.
“Yes. A princess, Olga Neslerov,
cousin of his mother, having penetrat
ed the veil of mystery, came to Tomsk
to pursue her inquiries. She unmask
ed Nicholas Neslerov before the gov
ernor general, and he died that same
night in the very cell In which Vladi
mir had been confined.”
“I am glad,” lie said, with a sigh.
“I knew he was not the son of the
Paulpoffs, and, since you loved him, I
did not w ish you to marry an unknown.
That was why I tried to restore him to
his rank. I did not do it, but lam glad
it was done —glad for him and for you.”
“Poor, Jack!” she said, nestjing her
head close to his. “Did you think I
was g(sing to marry him?”
“Yes; I thought yon loved him. That
was why I wanted to bring him to his
own.”
“Poor, noble Jack! Do you know
who I am going to marry? There was
never any love between Vladimir and
me. I helped him. and he appreciated
it. But I am going to marry the no
blest. bravest, best man on this earth/
“I hope you will be happy, Franees.
“I know 1 shall be. Jack. And—can
you forgive me, Jack, for all those ugly
things 1 said? And will you love me—
just the same as you used' to—for ii s
you—you. Jack, I want to marry if—
you want me.”
“Frances!”
“That’s right,” said the-soft voice of
the old priest. “He is all right now.
I say to you, Denton, that an an-" 1
hovered at your bedside, and it ""
not the angel of death. It was a strong,
fine young woman.”
“I nursed you, Jack, and papa has
been here every day.”
“And I’m ftfire now.” -said the voice
of Gordon. “Is he awake?”
“He is awake, but he hasn't sa ■!
wants to marry me,” said Iran ''-
with a laugh. .
“He don’t need to say it. Hell." 1
chap, I’m glad you’ve pulled thr
but I’m hanged if J think you wou:
if it hadn’t been for Frances. <( ,
“I am sure of it,” lie answered.
( I am going to speDd all the rest c. Ii --'
life paying her for it.” .
She laughed—the happiest laug ‘
her life—and stooped and kissed
THE END. ,
WHAT’S YOUR FACE WORTH!
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if you have a sallow complexion,
a Jaundiced look, moth P aU ‘ ’
and blotches on the skin, -all sign
of Liver Trouble. But Dr. E” K
New Life Pills give Clear bkin r
Rosy Cheeks, Rich Complex’"-"
Only 25 cents at Young *
Drug Store-